Easy homemade cat toy

Do I treat my cats like they're my children? Absolutely.

My two cats were my family for a couple of years before my husband and I got married, before we adopted a dog, and long before we had our two kids. Belle and Nova know what it's like to be the “only children” and they still get a huge amount of my care and attention.

Sometimes they do things to attract my attention, but other times I seek them out to play with them or just show them some love. As part of our family, they deserve that affection!

They also deserve to feel great and eat great, which is why I try to do things for them to keep them energetic and playful, especially as they get older.

For example, Haiden, Piper and I recently made an easy homemade cat toy in several different colors.

Cats can play with these DIY Catnip Yarn Balls independently, or they can be attached to strings. My kids love pulling the yarn balls and letting the cats chase them around.

It rarely happens, but if Haiden or Piper grow tired of playing before the cats are done, looped string can be hung from a doorknob for the cats to bat at.

I'm not joking when I say these homemade cat toys are super easy to make. If you don't mind a rugged look, I think it's a DIY craft that's perfect for kindergarteners and older.

To be honest, I enjoyed making them, and I continued to work for a while after my kids each made two. It's an enjoyable, simple craft that's fun for all ages1

How to make an easy homemade cat toy

Homemade cat toy materials:

• 2″ Foam balls (slightly larger than a golf ball)
• Nontoxic glue
• Paintbrush
• Catnip
• Yarn
• Toothpicks

Homemade cat toy directions

1. Gather up some yarn. If you want to take pretty pictures of your finished product, go to your mom and ask her for a “rainbow of yarn colors.” Go to her basement and pick out every color yarn you'd ever want to make into a cat toy. Thank your mom.

Or you can use whatever yarn you can get your hands on. It's up to you.

2. Stick your toothpick into your styrofoam ball.

This keeps you from getting glue on your fingers. It might be very important for kids who don't love dirty hands.

3. Brush glue all over the styrofoam ball using a paintbrush.

4. Cover the ball with catnip.

We found it easiest to dump some catnip in a box and roll the styrofoam around in it. We also picked up the catnip and sprinkled it on the bald spots.

5. Take your yarn and start wrapping it around the ball.

If you're working with kids, it helps to explain that the yarn needs to go around the middle of the sphere every time they wrap the strand of yarn around it. Show them how they can wrap it around the center of the ball, shift the yarn a bit, then wrap it again with it still going around the center.

Haiden and Piper are seven and eight years old. It took them about two full minutes to get the hang of it.

6. When you've covered all (or most) of the styrofoam and catnip with the yarn, either tuck the end of the yarn under a wrapped strand or use a dot of glue to stick it down.

Repeat as many times as you want with as many colors as you have.

Belle loved our homemade cat toys, and you can make them yourself if you have a few minutes to spare!

I do things like play with my cats, pet them, cuddle them and make them homemade cat toys because I love them and I want them to be happy. Not only do they deserve to be happy, they deserve a food they love, too!

Meow Mix is a high-quality, trusted brand that cats love, and they make a variety of products to make any cat happy!

With products like Meow Mix Bistro Rotisserie Chicken Flavor dry food, Meow Mix Tuna & Shrimp Lovers wet food and Meow Brushing Bites made with chicken cat treats, there are irresistible flavors to suit your cat's personal tastes.

Belle was particularly happy with the Meow Mix Bistro dry cat food. She was ready to start chewing the package open within minutes of finding it.

I'm glad I had a chance to snap that picture before she put tooth marks on the packaging!

I found all three Meow Mix products at my local Walmart store and you can, too! Shop for Meow Mix now!