Alright, so the holidays were creeping up, and I started thinking about what to get for my little furball, Leo. He’s a cat, a pretty playful one too. I looked at some store-bought toys, and honestly, some of them are just crazy expensive for what they are, or they fall apart in like, two days. So, I figured, why not try making some myself? A bit of a personal touch, you know?
Getting Started – The Idea Phase
First things first, I had to figure out what Leo actually likes. He goes nuts for anything that dangles, anything that makes a crinkly sound, and of course, catnip. So, my plan was to make a few different things: definitely a wand toy, some crinkly balls, and maybe a little catnip kicker thing. I wasn’t aiming for perfection, just something fun for him.
I rummaged around the house to see what I could use. Didn’t want to spend a lot of money on materials if I could help it. This was supposed to be a fun, kinda thrifty project.
Gathering My Supplies
Here’s what I ended up digging out:
- An old wooden dowel I found in the garage. Perfect for a wand.
- Some leftover felt scraps from a previous craft project – red and green, very festive!
- A bit of sturdy string.
- Some jingle bells I saved from old Christmas cards.
- An empty plastic bag that made a good crinkle sound (one of those cereal bag liners, washed out, of course).
- Some dried catnip I had in a tin.
- Needle and thread. Basic sewing stuff.
Nothing too fancy, really. Just everyday bits and pieces.
Let’s Get Making!
Okay, so then I actually started putting things together. It was a bit of trial and error, but that’s half the fun, right?
The Wand Toy: This was probably the easiest. I took the wooden dowel, made sure it was smooth, no splinters. Then I tied a long piece of string to one end, really tight. On the other end of the string, I attached a couple of jingle bells and some strips of felt I cut into feather shapes. I made sure those bells were super secure; didn’t want Leo swallowing anything he shouldn’t.
Crinkle Balls: For these, I took that crinkly plastic. I cut it into a few squares. Then, I just bunched each square up into a ball shape. To make them a bit more sturdy and less likely to just get shredded immediately, I wrapped each crinkle ball with some of the leftover felt, stitching it loosely so the crinkle sound still came through. They looked a bit lumpy, but hey, handmade charm!
The Catnip Kicker: This one took a little more effort. I took a larger piece of green felt and folded it over. I wanted to make a sort of long, skinny pillow shape – something Leo could grab onto and kick with his back feet. I stitched up two of the sides, leaving one end open. Then, I stuffed it with a bit of a softer fabric scrap I found (from an old t-shirt) and a very generous pinch of catnip. Really packed it in there. Then I stitched up the open end. Done!
Leo’s Official Toy Review
This was the best part, obviously. I waited till Leo was in a playful mood. First, I dangled the wand toy. His eyes went wide, and then BAM! Pounce, swat, chase. He loved the jingle bells and the flying felt “feathers.” Total success.
Next up, the crinkle balls. I tossed one, and he was immediately curious about the sound. He batted it around, chased it under the sofa. They were light enough for him to really send flying. Another hit.
Finally, the catnip kicker. I just put it on the floor near him. He sniffed it cautiously, then started rubbing his face all over it. Then came the bunny kicks! He hugged it and kicked and kicked. Safe to say, the catnip was potent enough!
So, Was It Worth It?
Absolutely! It didn’t take a huge amount of time, and honestly, seeing Leo go crazy for toys I actually made myself was super rewarding. Plus, I saved a bit of cash, and I know exactly what went into his toys – no weird chemicals or tiny parts that could easily come off (well, I tried my best on that front!).
If you’re thinking about it, I’d say give it a go. Your pet probably won’t care if they’re not perfectly made. They’ll just be happy for something new to play with, especially if it’s made with a bit of love. And it’s a pretty chill way to spend an afternoon.
