I’m not much of a crafter or builder, but as a cat lover I’ll do just about anything for my three slave masters cats. Factory-made cat toys are cute and everything, but they can get expensive (particularly if you also have a dog that doesn’t get that the cat toys aren’t hers). They are also pretty limited. So how can you make your home a fun, safe playground for cats without breaking the bank? Try these DIY options!
No Place But Up
Cats love to climb and jump. So why not give them a way to do so in a way that doesn’t cause all your stuff to come crashing to the floor? Building a modular cat exercise tower can be as easy as cutting some cat-sized climbing holes from the shelves of a particle-board bookshelf, or even re purposing a large tree branch. Modular storage cubbies can also be stacked and adorned with carpet swatches for a comfy perch. Check out these DIY cat tree hacks on Pinterest.
Create a Cat Window Perch
I don’t know if you love the sound of your kitties chittering at birds outside the window as much as I do, but if so, you can pretty easily create a cat perch on a windowsill so your feline companions can get a view of the world. Perfect solution for indoor cats in particular. And your cats are all indoor only, right? Healthier and safer for everyone! Some perches actually extend outside, allowing cats to enjoy the fresh air safely. Check out these DIY cat perches!
Make Some Cat Toys
It’s no secret that cats love to play, and a challenging toy can keep them busy for hours. One simple trick is to cut a small hole into a plastic Easter egg and to fill the egg with either cat treats or catnip. A variation on this is to place toys or treats in a plastic food storage container and cut holes in the lid large enough for your cat to reach a paw through. Another take those discarded toilet paper rolls and stack them in a tissue box from which the top has been cut. And here’s a trick one of the first veterinarians I worked with told me is particularly good for cats that can get a bit aggressive: get ping pong balls and put them in the bathtub. Your cat will go nuts chasing them around the bathroom and get some of that aggressive behavior out. Find great ideas here.
Make A Cat Tent With Stuff You Already Have
I made a couple of these when we were fostering kittens last summer and they were a big hit. The kittens loved sleeping in them together, and even the older cats would curl up in them now and again. Unbelievably simple and easy, and I promise you already have what you need around the house. Here’s the tutorial.
Make a DIY Cat Puzzle
My cats love tiny things. My ten year old daughter ALSO loves tiny things (I’m looking at you, Littlest Pet Shop). As you can imagine, my cats find the tiny things, knock them off of whatever surface they’re on, and then proceed to play with them on our hardwood floors until they disappear under a bookshelf (what: just me?). And why is a tiny Littlest Pet Shop toy the loudest thing in the world when it slides across a hardwood floor (or worse, a cap from a water bottle OH MY GOD). A great way to help cats scratch that “itch” without driving yourself crazy is to make them a cat puzzle (again, out of stuff you already have around the house). Find a wealth of tutorials here.
