31 Creative DIY Cat Toys for 2025

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep your cat busy. Making your own toys is the best method to accomplish it.

You should try making them at home because you can make each one fit your cat’s personality. Moreover, let’s be honest, it’s more fun and fulfilling than buying one at the shop.

With these 31 DIY toy ideas, you’ll find countless ways to make playtime magic for your furry pet out of ordinary things.

You may repurpose things you’ve already used, add catnip, or come up with your own creative ideas.

Benefits of DIY Cat Toys

Making your own cat toys is more than just fun; it’s a chance to be creative and make toys that fit your cat’s personality, whether they like to chase, pounce, or swat things around.

To save money, you should utilize things you already have, such as cardboard, fabric scraps, or bottle caps. You may also add things like bells or catnip to make it your own.

You can make these easy DIY projects into one-of-a-kind playthings that will keep your cat interested, happy, and delighted. Plus, you’ll feel good about doing something special for them.

1. Pom-Pom Feather Cat Teaser

To make your cat feel like a hunter, you can use a pom-pom feather teaser.

To make one, tie multicolored pom-poms to yarn, add light feathers to the ends, and wave it around to seem like prey.

You may change the colors to keep things interesting. This is a simple, interactive toy that keeps your cat busy and active.

2. Ribbon and Tassel Play Gym

You may make playtime more fun with a ribbon and tassel gym.

You can use this to get your cat’s natural instincts going, including batting and hiding. It’s a simple yet fun way to keep them busy.

To do this, you need to build a strong wooden frame, tie colorful ribbons and tassels at varied lengths, and let your cat swipe and peep as they sway.

3. Cork Feather Darts

You may keep your cat busy with cork feather darts. To make these, you need to glue colorful feathers to a cork base.

Then, you need to throw them around the floor and let your cat chase and pounce on them to satisfy its hunting instincts.

The cork makes it simple to hold on to, and the feathers let it move in a fluttery way, thus this is a great toy for playing by yourself.

4. Felt Mouse String Toy

A felt mouse string toy lets you have fun with the hunt.

You need to make a soft felt mouse with a jingle bell and yarn tail, tie it to a strong string with a handle, and then drag it over the floor to start the hunt.

You can use this to get your cat to chase, bat, and pounce, which will provide them hours of joy and satisfy their natural impulses.

5. Pom-Pom Roll Toy

You may change the way your cat plays with a pom-pom roll toy.

To make it, you need to wrap a toilet paper roll with colorful pom-poms, let your cat bat and pounce on the soft texture, and watch it roll in unexpected ways to get your cat’s attention.

You can play with it alone or with other people, which will keep your cat busy and happy.

6. Fabric Knot Chew Toy

You may build a fabric knot toy for your cat by tying soft, flexible fabric into tight knots.

You should use varied colors or sizes to keep things interesting, and you should let your cat chew and pull on it as much as they want.

The sturdy shape means it will last a long time, so it’s great for kittens who are teething or cats who like to nibble.

7. PVC Pipe Puzzle Feeder

A PVC pipe puzzle feeder will keep your cat interested.

You have to join different pipe pieces in interesting ways, put goodies inside, then let your cat paw and nudge them out.

You may utilize this to make eating slower and improve problem-solving skills, turning snack time into a fun, brain-stimulating game.

8. Soft Felt Hug Toy

You can delight your cat with a soft felt hug toy.

To make it, you need to sew or tie plush felt into a shape that your cat can cuddle with. You should also put some catnip inside to make it even better.

Then, let your cat wrestle, snuggle, or hug it. This can be both a comfort toy and a play toy for your cat, so it can relax and have fun at the same time.

9. Jingle Ball Toy

A jingle ball toy will make your cat happy. For this one, put a small bell inside a light plastic cage and roll it across the floor.

Your cat will love chasing and batting at it because of the sound.

This is great for your cat to play with by itself on smooth surfaces, and it will keep them busy for hours.

10. Spring Bouncy Toy

A spring bouncing toy can get your cat excited. You throw the colorful springs around the floor and let your cat chase them as they bounce and roll in unexpected ways.

You can also notice how the motion makes your cat’s hunting instincts kick in. These light springs are great for playing alone and may make any area a delightful place to play.

11. Yarn Puff Ball

You may keep your cat busy with a yarn puff ball. To make one, wrap yarn around a cardboard circle until it creates a fluffy ball.

Then knot it off tightly and let it roll around so your cat can chase and swat it.

You can make this simple toy much more fun by adding some catnip before you tie it.

12. Pom-Pom String Toy

You may get your cat interested in a pom-pom string toy by decorating a cardboard roll with bright pom-poms.

Attach it to a string, and then drag or dangle it around the floor to get your cat to chase it.

You can use this for interactive play to keep your cat busy and enhance your friendship.

13. T-Shirt Cat Hideout

To make a T-shirt cat cave, you need to drape an old T-shirt over a cardboard box and line up the neck hole as the entrance.

Then, tuck in the sleeves for a nice finish.

You may provide a soft, enclosed room for your cat to relax in, which is an easy and inexpensive approach to give them a private place to go.

14. Wall-Mounted Cardboard Scratcher

A wall-mounted cardboard scratcher can make your home better.

To make one, you need to stack cardboard in a wave-like form, attach it firmly to the wall, and let your cat climb and scratch it.

It’s a stylish and useful addition to your home that will save space on the floor and provide them the textured surface they want.

15. Felt Fish Catnip Toys

Felt fish catnip toys will make your cat very happy.

To make them, you need to cut colorful felt into fish shapes, stitch two pieces together, and then stuff them with catnip before sealing.

You can let your cat bat, pounce, and carry them about, which makes this a simple play that will keep them busy for hours.

16. Woven Carrot Catnip Toy

You can put together a catnip toy for your cat out of woven paper or fabric.

To do this, you need to form the paper or fabric like a carrot, fill it with catnip, and make sure it is very secure so it lasts.

Your cat can swat, chew, or cuddle with it, so it’s a fun and silly toy for both play and relaxing.

17. Peek-a-Boo Box Toy

You can make a peek-a-boo toy out of a box that you don’t need anymore.

Just cut a few holes in the sides, drop in little toys like pom-poms or bells, and let your cat swat at them through the holes.

This is a green method to get your cat’s hunting instincts going, which will provide them both mental and physical exercise.

18. Treat Tube Puzzle

With a treat tube puzzle, you can make treat time a game.

Cut small holes in a toilet paper roll, load it with kibble or treats, and let your cat swat and roll it until the snacks fall out.

You may use this to keep interested cats busy and give them a nice treat for their hard work.

19. Cardboard Tube Tower Feeder

For a vertical puzzle feeder, stack empty toilet paper rolls in a box and put treats in some of the tubes.

Then, let your cat use its paws to figure out how to get the treats out.

You may use this to encourage foraging and problem-solving, which will make playtime both fun and useful.

20. Denim Feather Mice

You can turn old denim into feather mice by cutting and sewing the fabric into the shape of a mouse, stuffing it with catnip or filling, then adding colorful feathers and maybe a button for embellishment.

These toys are strong enough for your cat to swat, chase, and gnaw on, so they are a fun way to use up old things and keep playtime interesting.

21. Plush Mouse Toy

To build a fun plush mouse toy for your cat, cut soft plush fabric into the shape of a mouse, add a long tail so it can move, and sew it together with filling or catnip inside.

This is a simple and easy toy that lets your cat bat, tote, and snuggle it, which satisfies its natural hunting impulses.

22. Triangular Chicken Toy

You can make a triangular chicken toy for your cat by cutting fabric into a triangle form, adding felt embellishments like a comb and tail, and stuffing it with catnip or filling before sewing it shut.

This DIY toy is strong and entertaining for your cat to play with for hours. They may bat it around and pounce on it.

23. Hanging Yarn Heart

You can help make your cat’s playing more fun through hanging a yarn heart from a safe high place.

To do this, you need to wrap yarn tightly around a heart-shaped frame. Then, let your cat bat and swipe at it as it hangs.

You can make it more fun for your cat by adding a bell or some catnip. It’s a cute touch for your home as well.

24. Pom-Pom and Ball Teaser

A pom-pom and ball teaser can get your cat’s instincts going.

You just need to tie a pom-pom and a small ball to a string, hang it from a doorframe or high location, and let your cat jump and swat at the moving toy.

This easy setup will keep your cat busy, active, and mentally stimulated.

25. Sock Fish Toys

Sock fish toys can make old socks feel fresh again.

To make these, you need to fill them with soft stuffing or catnip, tie the ends together to make them look like fish, and let your cat grasp, swat, and hug them.

You can make less trash and give your cat a pleasant and long-lasting friend with this easy craft.

26. Sock Cat Plushie

To make a sock cat plushie that your cat will love, you need to stuff a colorful sock and sew it into a simple cat form.

Then, you need add embellishments like eyes and whiskers, and for additional fun, you should put some catnip inside.

This soft toy is a cute and fun friend for your cat to gnaw on, kick, and snuggle with.

27. Catnip Sock Pillow

A catnip sock cushion is a great way to let your cat play.

Just fill an old sock with a lot of catnip, tie it up tightly, and let your cat kick, cuddle, and wrestle with it.

You can also design the outside for fun, which makes this a fun and easy toy that your cat will appreciate.

28. Cardboard Spinners

To make cardboard spinners for your cat, cut lightweight cardboard into shapes like balls or crosses, throw them on the floor, and let your cat pursue and bat them as they spin in random ways.

You can make a lot of them at once for not much money, which will keep your cat busy and active while also tapping into its natural hunting impulses.

29. Toilet Paper Roll Ball

You can turn toilet paper rolls into a roll ball by cutting the cardboard into strips and weaving them into a ball shape.

Make sure it’s light enough to roll easily, and then let your cat bat it around and chase it.

The textured cardboard makes it easy to hold, so this is a simple DIY toy that will keep your cat busy and happy.

30. Hanging Toy Box

You can set up a fun play area for your cat by cutting holes in a cardboard box and hanging toys like balls, mice, or feathers inside.

You should hang them at varying lengths and let your cat swat and paw at them.

This can be an indoor playground for your cat, keeping it busy, curious, and happy.

31. Felt Jack-O’-Lantern Catnip Toy

To make a felt jack-o’-lantern catnip toy for Halloween, cut orange felt into the shape of a pumpkin, sew on a scary face with green accents, and then stuff it with catnip before closing it.

This is a fun DIY toy that your cat can bat, chew, and play with. It will add a festive touch to their collection.