My cats are overweight, and are bored. LOL. My cats love to play with shoelaces, but arn’t very in love with store bought toys, i can’t figure out a good toy, that i have here at home. Please respond
Here are some ideas to get you started:-
Puzzle Feeders
Cut holes in cardboard boxes and lay the bottom of the box with some treats that your cat must paw out.
Empty toilet tissue and paper towels rolling fun
Punch holes in the toll, fill with treat and tape the ends. As the cats push and roll, treat will drop out
Plastic bottles/jug
Alter plastic bottle and jugs by cutting tiny holes in them. Fill with treats and replace cap.
Yogurt cups
Punch holes in the sides and lids and fill with treats.
Egg Carton/Plastic easter eggs
Punch holes in a clear egg carton and fill with treats
(adapted from Cat Fancy magazine)
Other toys:-
Milk Jug Ring - just throw them on the floor and watch your cats go insane!
Shoelace - drag along the floor to keep the cat chasing
Twisty drinking straws - They love to chew on them and makes great hunting toys
Pillow Tunnels - line a few pillows on the floor to make a tunnel and watch you cat dash into them!
Crumpled paper - instant ball with sound effects!
Card box Tower - This requires some assembling but it’s a hit with all cats!
Materials needed:
1. One cardboard box
2. Ugly fabric any print or solid
3. Glue sticks
4. Sandpaper any grade
5. Catnip toy (optional)
6. Old sock (fill plastic bag with sand and insert in sock)
7. Extra cardboard
8. Pencil or marker
Tools needed:
1. Duct tape (personal favorite tool of mine)
2. Scissors
3. Glue gun
4. Serrated knife (steak knife works- so I hear)
Instructions:
1. Open cardboard box on one side by separating at seam. This will allow placement of a sandpaper shelf.
2. Cut a flat piece of cardboard to fit box, allowing enough for a 2 inch flap on 2 sides. These flaps will be used to glue shelf inside box. This will be a shelf or middle landing area. Glue sandpaper, rough side up, onto cardboard shelf.
3. Center the shelf inside cardboard box, this doesn’t need to be exact, just eyeball it, sand paper side up. Using glue gun attach shelf. Use duct tape and apply multiple layers to shelf and wall area to securely hold it in place.
4. Use duct tape to secure cardboard box back together at seam to hold its original shape.
4. Mark on the box, with pencil, where entry holes should be located. Carefully cut out holes.
5. Cut fabric to cover entire cardboard box.
6. Cover entire box with ugly fabric, even holes, these will be cut out later. Use glue gun to secure fabric to box, it works well.
7. Now find "holes area". Here you will snip the fabric in the center of each hole, then cut in a + sign pattern stopping ¼ inch away from cardboard. Pull these fabric flaps to the inside and secure with glue gun.
8. You’ve wondered now about the sand filled sock? The Cat box needs weight or kitty will surely knock it over, multiple times. So take the sock and duct tape it to the back of the box near the bottom. Sock can also be used in the bottom inside the box; cover completely with tape or kitty will find the sand.
Optional: Catnip toy can be attached to inside top of box.
You can also try making a cat hammock out of old pillow cases.
Visit the link for a pictorial guide and on how to set it up nicely..
http://irene-sheehy.com/cat-hammocks.htm