Handmade toys that make cats happy
There are tons of toys on the market that seem like cats would love them, but many cat owners have probably experienced this: you head home all excited thinking, “This looks fun! My cat will love it!” only to be met with complete indifference and no play at all.
And then there’s the opposite: your cat ends up playing with some trash lying around the house or a scrap you were about to throw away, making you think, “You’re playing with that?”
So, how about making your own cat toys tailored to your cat’s preferences?
The toys introduced in this article are mainly simple to make using items you already have at home.
When your cat plays with your handmade toys, it’s so delightful that you’ll want to make even more!
- Made with toilet paper rolls! Exciting and fun easy handmade toys
- Easy to make! DIY ideas for Whack-a-Gator
- Handmade snake toy. A fun idea you can move and play with!
- Moving! Spinning! Flying! Fun handmade toys made with rubber bands
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- Fun crafts using straws
- Adults will be hooked! A collection of craft ideas using toilet paper rolls
- [Handmade Toys] Fun to Make! A Collection of Pull-Along Toy Ideas
- It's fun to spin! A collection of DIY toy ideas
- Simple handmade toys that will delight your beloved dog
- Made of paper! A fun collection of DIY toy ideas you can play with
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- [For Kids] Today’s Handmade Craft Ideas
Handmade toys that make cats happy (11–20)
Knit ball with a bell
For those who don’t knit or have never tried it, a hand‑knit yarn ball might look intimidating at first—but it’s actually quite easy to make.
All you need are yarn, a crochet hook, stuffing, and a bell—everything you can pick up at a 100-yen shop.
Basically, it’s just single crochet; you’ll increase or decrease stitches depending on the round.
That might sound tricky, but you’ll be fine if you follow along with a video while you make it.
Cats love the jingle of a bell, but since loose stitches can unravel and the bell could slip out and be swallowed, thread the bell onto the yarn before you start crocheting.
Even if you make a few mistakes and the shape turns out a bit wonky, your cats will still have a great time playing with it!
A ball in an empty tissue box
Cats are the kind of creatures that ignore the toys you buy thinking “They’ll love this!” and instead play with scraps lying around the house—trash you were about to throw away.
For cats that adore such scraps, there’s a perfect “toy,” if you can even call it that: just put a ball in an empty tissue box.
All you have to do is pop a super ball, a felt ball, or a tightly crumpled ball of aluminum foil from around the house into an empty tissue box.
It’s so simple, but they’ll go all out trying to stick their paws in and fish the ball out—and that determined little act is just so cute!
aluminum ball with a string
You know those balls that are basically just crumpled aluminum foil—whatever you want to call them? Don’t cats absolutely love them and go crazy for them? Maybe it’s the lightness, but when you throw one, they’ll dash off in total excitement.
This is a toy where I attached a string to that beloved aluminum ball.
All I did was tuck the string into the foil and scrunch it up tight—it’s something you can make with things you have at home, and probably the fastest toy you can make! (lol) You can use a short string so it looks like a tail coming out of the ball and throw it like that, or use a long string so a human can control it—that works great too.
String-attached towel teaser
A super easy-to-make towel teaser toy with a string that lets your cat play dynamically.
If you have a towel and a string, you can make it in under three minutes: tie a knot in the towel, then tie the string to the towel’s tag, and you’re done! If the towel doesn’t have a tag, thread the string through the knot and tie it on—it should still be sturdy.
Your cat can kick it like a kicker toy, chase it, or bite it to relieve stress.
It’s especially great for kittens during the teething phase.
And if it gets shredded, you can quickly make a new one right away.
Mouse toy
You often see those small mouse-shaped toys that cats love, right? But apparently, those toys are the number one item cats accidentally swallow while playing.
It might be because they’re made of leather.
So how about making a handmade mouse toy instead? It looks cute, and even if it’s lying around the room, it would still look adorable, right? Another great thing about handmade toys is that you can make them in a safe size that cats won’t swallow.
It would be cute to make lots of colorful mouse toys in different colors, too!
caltrops
Even if your cat breaks it, it’s all in good fun! Why not try making a handmade “makibishi” toy? It’s easy to sew by hand, so it’s great even if you aren’t confident with sewing or using a machine.
Sew your favorite fabric into a small pouch with a running stitch, turn it inside out, and stuff it with cotton.
The more cotton you pack, the more it will roll around, making it extra fun for your cat to play with.
Stitch the opening closed, shape it into a triangle, and you’re done! It will wobble and roll when your cat taps it with their front paws, sparking their curiosity.
There are lots of ways to play with it!
catnip pouch
These are handmade toys that use matatabi, which cats love.
You might think, “Sewing? But I don’t have a sewing machine,” but it’s fine to sew by hand since you’re only making a small pouch.
Stitch together a few leftover fabric scraps, or sew your favorite shapes like stars or mice, and stuff them with cotton.
Sprinkle a little matatabi powder onto the cotton inside, add more cotton on top, then sew the opening closed.
If you have some matatabi that came with a scratching post and is lying around, why not try it? You could also put matatabi fruit inside.
Hand-knitted dome house
Why not try handmaking a cute, round cat house using yarn from the 100-yen shop? Its warm, gentle texture is sure to make your kitty fall in love with it! By using three strands of yarn and crocheting tightly, it’s sturdy enough to withstand scratching and even a cat sitting on it without losing its shape.
Crocheting tightly can be a bit challenging, but since it’s crochet, it’s easy to get started.
You can also customize it by making the entrance wider or adding your own touches.
The shape and firmness will vary depending on your tension, so it might be fun to experiment and find the style you like.
Transparent hose toy
You can make a mysterious toy out of a clear hose that will have your cat totally obsessed! It’s a toy where you put bird feathers or bells inside a looped clear hose and use a string to manipulate it while you play with your cat.
You can pick up all the materials cheaply at a home improvement store.
The prey inside the transparent hose is visible but just out of reach! You can almost feel your cat’s frustration.
Watching your cat get totally absorbed, chasing the “prey” around, is so soothing too!
kick plushie
Kick toys shaped like fish or shrimp—those various shapes you see for sale.
You know, the ones cats hug while lying down and kick furiously with their back legs.
How about making one of those kick toys using leftover fabric and stuffing? Kick toys take a beating from hard kicks and claws, so they wear out quickly.
If a fish shape feels too difficult, a simple rectangle is easy—just straight seams, so it’s simple even to hand-sew.
Stuff the inside with cotton, and depending on your cats’ preferences, add some silvervine or catnip.