Cats and play — an inseparable combination by definition. A cat without a wide variety of suitable toys simply cannot be a happy cat. Yet sometimes small logistical hurdles make it difficult to provide enough of them; perhaps there is no well-stocked pet shop nearby, or toys are simply too expensive to buy as many as we would like. So what can we do to get around these problems? Simple — we can fall back on our now-familiar DIY approach. That is right; here too we can give you some tips on how to make DIY cat toys that are fun and stimulating without breaking the bank.
How to make budget-friendly cat toys
Let us start with the basics — the things that make every single cat happy, no exceptions. Gather some cork stoppers; who does not have a few lying around? Using an awl or a long enough nail, make a hole that runs all the way through the cork lengthways. Then, using the awl or a crochet hook, thread a couple of strips of colourful fabric through the hole, leaving them sticking out by a few centimetres at both ends. Done? Perfect — roll it across the floor in front of your cat and watch it chase the toy relentlessly all around the house. This DIY cat toy will cost next to nothing, and your little feline will absolutely love it, whatever age it may be.
How to make enrichment cat toys
Ready for something a little more challenging? Great — let us make one of the so-called "enrichment cat toys" together. This one is surprisingly simple to put together, and the results are guaranteed. Find a box — ideally a transparent food-storage container, you know the kind — but if you do not have one, a shoe box works just as well. Cut holes in the lid that are large enough for your cat's paw to fit through comfortably. If the box is plastic, use a craft knife and then carefully smooth the edges of each hole so they cannot scratch your cat.
Place some small toys or treats inside the box, making sure they are not too large to be pulled out through the holes, then shake the box in front of your cat's nose. Curiosity will draw it to peer inside, and once it spots the toys or treats it will dive at the holes and do everything it can to fish them out. This toy encourages your cat to work out a sensible solution to a problem, helping to develop its cognitive abilities. The cost? Just the treats or small toys you place inside the box.
DIY interactive cat toys
Now it is time for an interactive toy — our turn to play with Isidoro! Set aside some cardboard toilet-roll tubes, and once you have enough, build a pyramid by gluing the tubes together in layers that get progressively narrower, using ordinary PVA glue. Make the base nice and wide so the pyramid is large and stable enough. Next, take a stick that is long enough and attach a small colourful ball of yarn or a colourful feather pom-pom to the top, making sure it can slip easily in and out of the tube holes.
Now get your cat's attention and pop the yarn ball or pom-pom in and out of the various holes, pulling it back before it can catch it with its paws — a bit like the game of "whack-a-mole", you know the one? It will be great fun and will help both your cat's cognitive development and your bond with it; cats love playing with their owners. Again, the cost here will be virtually zero.
How to build cat wall shelves
If you want to go all out, you could dedicate a whole wall to your beloved cat. Hang a series of shelves — reclaimed wood works wonderfully — at different heights and not too far apart, so your cat can leap from one to the next. You could wrap one shelf with twine or rope using a hot-glue gun so it doubles as a scratching post; on another you could glue some toilet-roll tubes and hide small treats inside them; and so on, adding simple little features that create a kind of obstacle course, with a cosy cushion on the top shelf for a well-deserved warrior's rest. This will not be a zero-cost project, but we can assure you it is absolutely worth it — and your cat will thank you for it.
How to create play tunnels for your cats
Finally, one last idea: using two or more cardboard boxes of different sizes, create a play course for your cat by cutting holes in the boxes and connecting them with tunnels made from cardboard tubes — the kind our children usually use for poster projects. Simply use PVA glue and position the boxes at different angles rather than in a straight line, so the course includes bends and turns. Inside the course you can place virtually anything you like, and the more space you have available, the more boxes you can add to make the adventure even more exciting. Your cat will absolutely love it, and you will always know where to look when it disappears.
Here too, the cost will be minimal and you will have made use of recycled materials. You can see, then, that making your cat happy does not require spending a fortune — all it takes is a little love and imagination, and the game is on… in every sense of the word. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you once more that a cat may have all the toys in the world, from the most expensive to the most high-tech, but in its eyes they are worth absolutely nothing if there is never anyone willing to share them with it.
