11 Homemade Cat Toys Your Kitty Will Love

Forget those expensive cat toys that your cat completely ignores — chances are, they’re happier playing with the Amazon delivery box.

So, if you want to spice up your cat’s playtime, try these affordable, easy-to-make homemade cat toys. Grab some household items, breathe new life into that old t-shirt or toilet paper roll, and watch your cat go wild.

And if all else fails, a sprinkling of catnip can make your DIY cat toys truly irresistible.

1. No-sew pom-poms

Materials: String or yarn, scissors

Pom-poms are big with kitties, and they’re perfect for pouncing, batting, and chewing. They’re also ridiculously easy to make if you have some extra yarn. Within 10 minutes, you’ll have a toy that will keep your cat entertained for the whole afternoon. 

The best part? No sewing skills are required for these soft kitty pom-poms. All you’ll need is string or yarn, scissors, and a piece of fleece 2 inches wide and 1 foot long. Experiment with different sizes by using longer or shorter lengths of string. You can find a full tutorial on YouTube.

However, it’s important to always supervise your cat when they’re playing with yarn toys to make sure they don’t ingest any. Accidents can happen and it’s always best to play it safe. Pumpkin cat insurance plans can help protect your kitty and your wallet when facing unexpected accidents, illnesses, or emergencies in the future.

2. Toilet paper roll chaser

Materials: Toilet paper roll or paper towel roll, ribbon or string

Optional: Cat treats or catnip

Finally, something to do with your old toilet paper rolls. Grab a roll, cut each end into fringe strips, punch a small hole on one end, and tie a ribbon or string through the hole. Voilà! You have yourself a fun fishing rod toy for cats. 

For another bonus toilet paper tube toy your cat will adore, simply cut the roll into five rings and insert them into each other to create a ball. Throw some of your cat’s favorite cat treats or catnip inside and watch them go wild.

3. Cardboard house

Materials: Cardboard box, scissors

Optional: Decorations, construction paper, hot glue gun or tape

As a cat parent, you’ve probably wondered about your cat’s obsession with cardboard boxes. Cats are natural nesters, and enclosed spaces actually help cats feel safe and reduce their stress. 

So if you’ve got a cardboard box lying around, turn it into a cozy hideout for your kitty. Cut a hole in it for your cat to use as a doorway and throw in a blanket to make it extra comfy. 

Pro tip: Combine multiple boxes together with connecting holes and create the kitty palace that your cat king or queen deserves.

4. Cat tent

Materials: T-shirt, 15″ by 15″ piece of cardboard, two wire hangers, tape, four safety pins, pliers

Here’s another idea for your feline friend’s top-secret hideout. If you’ve got an old t-shirt that you don’t wear anymore, repurpose it to make the perfect cat tent. 

Just follow these steps and surprise your cat with their very own hideout. All the materials for this DIY project are household items you probably have already. 
Of course, there’s no guarantee your little tiger won’t destroy the tent you lovingly created for them. But hey, that’s life with a cat.

5. T-shirt bows

Materials: T-shirts, scissors

While you’re looking for ways to reuse those old t-shirts, try making these easy bow toys. Just cut an old t-shirt into a 3″ by 10″ rectangle and tie it into a knot. 

You can even cut up a few different colored shirts and tie them together for a colorful twist. Bonus tip: use colors that cats can see well, like blue and yellow, for extra stimulation.

Always make sure there are no loose accessories on your shirts that could cause a choking hazard.

6. Fish sock toy

Materials: Socks, paper/parchment paper

Optional: Catnip, marker

You know how one sock always mysteriously disappears in the dryer? Well, this toy makes good use of those leftover socks.

Crumple up some paper (with or without catnip), stuff it in the single sock, and then tie a knot at the end of the opening. To make it extra fun, use a marker to draw eyes or other details on your fish sock. 

This little fishy, with its crumply paper sound, is great for batting around and chasing, especially if you add catnip.

7. DIY cat wand 

Materials: Wooden dowel, twine, fabric scraps, hot glue, scissors

Optional: Feathers, bells

For the playful pouncers out there, nothing does the trick like a wand toy. To make a cat wand, wrap twine around a wooden dowel and leave about 12 inches of twine at the end to dangle. Glue the twine in place at both ends of the dowel. 

Then comes the fun part. Find fluffy items you can dangle from the end of the wand such as feathers, fabric scraps, bells, or yarn. Tie or glue them onto the end of the twine and you’re ready for playtime.

8. Egg carton puzzle feeder

Materials: Cardboard, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, plastic cups, treats 

This upcycled puzzle feeder is simple to make and takes care of all your recyclables. If you have some paper rolls, paper or plastic cups, and egg cartons, you’re all set. 

Glue them onto cardboard to create a maze. Then, scatter some treats and let your cat work for them. Not only does this toy encourage your cat to forage, tapping into their natural instincts to search for food, but it also slows down those fast eaters.

Once your cat gets the hang of it, design new mazes with a variety of containers for different difficulty levels.

9. Whack-a-Mole toy

Materials: Cardboard, wooden dowel or skewer, string, pennies, hot glue, drill

Want to take your DIY cat toy game to the next level? This Whack-a-Mole cat toy will make you the best cat parent on the block. While it may take a tad longer to make, it’s worth it to see those little paws fly at lightning speed.

The unpredictable movement of toys popping out of the holes keeps your cats engaged. This toy also provides a healthy dose of mental and physical stimulation for your feline friend. (And if these homemade cat toys feel beyond your DIY skill levels, you can find ready-made Whack-a-Mole toys for sale online.)

10. Scratching post

Materials: Sisal rope, rug, wood glue, post cap, wood screws, wire nails

Scratching posts are a great way for your kitty to keep their claws, and your furniture, healthy. But if you’ve got a chronic scratcher on your hands, you may find yourself replacing their scratcher a little more often than you’d like. 

A DIY scratching post is a more affordable option. If you do it right, it can even last for years. For something easier, try wrapping a plastic cone in sisal rope, the best material for cat scratchers. You could even glue pom-poms or googly eyes onto it to give it some extra pizzazz.

11. DIY cat tree

Materials: Scrapwood, wooden dowel, carpet, sisal rope, wood glue, screws 

If you’re feeling really ambitious, try a DIY cat tree. You’ll probably need to purchase supplies for this one, but you might have some items lying around the house you can repurpose, like a basket, rope, or cardboard boxes. 

You’ll also need some power tools, like a drill or saw, so don’t attempt this DIY project unless you’re comfortable using these tools. But if you love breaking out the toolkit, this could be a fun project — and your cat will love having their own cat tree to scratch, climb, and nap on.

Remember: When in doubt, add cat nip

Is your kitty ignoring your homemade cat toys? Then create a little pocket where you can hide some cat nip. This is almost guaranteed to pique your cat’s interest and instantly transform a lackluster toy into their new favorite.

With DIY cat toys, put safety first!

It goes without saying that you need to be careful when using tools like hammers, drills, and hot glue guns. But what about your cat’s safety? Because cat toys trigger your cat’s natural predator instincts, they will try to bite and chew their new toys. Indigestible materials like yarn, feathers, googly eyes, and fabric can present a choking hazard or create intestinal blockages.

Be mindful of potential choking hazards when making your own cat toys at home. Be sure to supervise your kitty while they’re enjoying playtime.

While it takes some time and effort, making your own cat toys is a fantastic opportunity to bond with your kitty. With a little creativity, you can create a treasure box full of unique toys for your cat. So, grab a pair of scissors and start crafting.

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