Home made cat toys

Whether young or old, cats all have something in common – they just can’t resist a good game of chase. With hunting in their blood I am yet to meet a cat that doesn’t enjoy playing with toys.

It’s clear that taking time out to play games and socialize one on one with your cat is important for its mental stimulation, as more and more cats are coming into vet clinics with behavioral and weight related issues.

Although labeled as independent, a strong and interactive relationship with its family is important to most domestic cat’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Initiating healthy play for as little as 15min a day could in fact help detour problems such as, urinating indoors, shredding the pot plants and furniture, inappropriate biting, bird catching and a myriad of boredom related behavior problems.

Here are a few easy to make home made cat toys that are sure to spark a feline’s interest.

  • The string. Always a favorite with cats. Try tying some scrunched up news paper to the end, or maybe some feathers. For the Rolls Royce of string toys attach a bamboo or dowel handle. Run up and down you hallway of just flick it around whilst sitting on you couch.
  • The sock. Get and old sock and stuff the toe with scrunched up newspaper and catnip, tie off the end and cut off the surplus, throw on the floor and watch the cat and mouse games begin.
  • The fur mouse. As you groom your cat collect the loose fur, place a fur puff the size of a tennis ball in the palm of your hands, roll hands together reducing the fur to a mall mouse like log. Hey presto it’s a fur mouse.
  • The ping pong ball – no magic required cats love them just the way they are. Especially good to flick around on a hard floor, or put in a cardboard box.
  • The card board box. Get an old cardboard box and cut a few windows in it (either paw sized or body sized, be careful not to cut a hole that they may get stuck in) Throw the sock, the fur mouse, the ping pong ball or some scrunched newspaper into the box or drag the string through the holes. Your cat will be in heaven.