Homemade Toys Your Cat Will Love!

Playing with cat toys not only keeps your cat in shape, but also helps keep its muscles in prime condition. However, if you've shopped for cat toys lately, you might have noticed the high sticker prices on a variety of novelty items. To defray the high cost of cat toys, try making some of your own cat toys. Your cat may enjoy them even more than the store bought variety!

Paper balls. This could become one of your cat's favorite toys. Just crumple up a piece of white paper into a ball, toss it to your cat, and watch what happens. Don't use newspaper or colored paper, use plain white paper without coatings so there are no ink or chemicals to harm your cat.

Feathers and string. Instead of buying an expensive feather cat toy, make your own from large feathers and string. You can find feathers at most craft stores. Make sure the feathers are soft and you can attach them securely to the string with glue or very strong knots.

Ping pong balls. These make perfect cat toys because they roll very quickly and will slide across bare floors or carpet with equal ease. Just make sure the ball is not cracked, because the sharp plastic edges can cut your cat.

Paper bags and boxes. Cats love to get inside things, so a large paper bag or cardboard box may not seem very exciting to you, but they may intrigue your cat. NEVER let your cat play with plastic bags, they can get caught inside and suffocate. If you do use paper bags or boxes, make sure they are big enough for your cat to turn around comfortably, so they don't get trapped inside.

Remember with any cat toys you buy or make, don't use small decorations or items on the toy that the cat can swallow. For example, if you make a fabric mouse, don't put eyes on it unless they are embroidered instead of sewn on, and don't include a tail unless it is extremely secure.

You can save money and fight high cost cat toys by discovering the type of play your cat enjoys the most and then creating toys that address that play. From chasing string and feathers to batting around a ball, there are many ways to keep your cat entertained without breaking the bank!