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Home » Lifestyle » DIY Cat Toys For Your Fur Babies

DIY Cat Toys For Your Fur Babies

By: Liz  /  Published: August 2, 2017  /  Updated: December 24, 2022  /   Leave a comment

As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please see our disclosure policy for details. Thank you for being so supportive!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

For someone who never grew up with pets and never wanted any, I flipped the switch to crazy cat lady with an ease I’ll never understand.

Within a year’s time I went from zero cats to three cats and if I had space, I’d have a house full of them. One came to us as a “free kitten to good home,” and the other two were rescued momma cats. I have a soft spot for mommas because once their kittens are adopted, they’re left behind and have a tougher time finding homes.

I love “my girls” with all of my heart and consider them part of the family. I’d pretty much do anything for them, which is why I started making DIY cat toys. It’s all part of my plan to help the cats be active, have fun, stay healthy and eat well.

Speaking of eating, if you think Morris the Cat is the only one who’s got mad love for 9Lives, you should see my cats go to town on a bowl of 9Lives Protein Plus.

DIY cat toys

My cats are sassy but not snarky, fun but not boring… just like Morris, so it’s no wonder they love the wholesome, tasty ingredients in 9Lives Protein Plus as much as they do. They can’t get enough of the delicious flavors of chicken and tuna! They barely pick their heads up out of the bowl while chomping.

It makes me happy to know they enjoy their food so much, and I feel reassured I’m making a responsible food choice that offers them the taste, nutrition, and variety they crave.

cats eating food

But even more important to me is that 9Lives Protein Plus is packed with 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats filled with antioxidants for healthy immune support. It also has 33 grams of high quality protein (per 100g of food) to help support lean muscles and provide energy.

And since my cats love to play, run and climb, I want their food to give them all the energy they need for playtime.

A cat playing with toy

If your cats love to play as much as mine do, try making some DIY cat toys! My cats patiently watched me the entire time I was making the toys and couldn’t wait to get their little paws on everything.

DIY Cat Toys

Cat toys

You’ll need some wooden dowels, dowel caps and a bunch of embellishments. Go with whatever strikes your fancy or your cat’s fancy. I bought ribbon, twine, bells, feathers, felt and washi tape.

craft supplies

I cut the dowels to 18″ lengths and then just randomly started crafting. For one DIY cat toy, I cut strips of felt, then attached them to the end of a dowel with twine and a few bells.

felt

For another one, I cut long lengths of ribbon.

ribbons

And then I added some curly-q ribbon and a few bells.

bells and ribbons

To make a dangling feather cat toy, I cut a 1-inch section off of the dowel and glued two caps on the ends, then attached feathers, a bell and tied it to the dowel with some twine.

bells and feathers

Just have fun with it!

Cat Toys

Finally, I wrapped washi tape around the dowels for some extra sparkle. I wrapped twine around one of them too, but washi tape was much easier!

washi tape on dowel

And the cats love them!

A cat lying on a green surface
A cat playing with toy
A cat lying on a green surface

I hope you’ll try making these fun DIY cat toys for your cats too. They’ll get a huge kick out of them, and you’ll be helping keep them active and happy.

cat food

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

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I’m Liz! Thank you for visiting Eat Move Make. Here you will find a collection of easy & delicious year-round recipes, seasonal ideas, and DIY craft inspiration. Visit my About Me page for more of my story.

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Meet Liz

Meet Liz

Hey there, i’m Liz!

I’m the founder of Eat Move Make and a North Carolina mom of two humans and six cats. I love to cook, bake, craft and travel. I’m also addicted to tea (but not sweet tea).

When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

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