Tips for crafty cat lovers to make their own feline-friendly creations

Tips for crafty cat lovers to make their own feline-friendly creations

Craft-loving cat lovers will be able to keep their pets amused with their own handmade creations thanks to Cats Protection’s top tips for DIY cat toys.

One of the UK’s largest cat charity has compiled the best ideas for feline-friendly goodies which are both simple and cheap to make.

From boredom-busting feeding toys made from toilet roll tubes to simple catnip pouches to encourage play, Cats Protection is sharing the ideas ahead of its attendance at The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace in September.

Cats Protection is the UK’s largest cat charity, helping around 200,000 cats every year through a national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 36 centres.

The charity’s Events Manager Emma Osborne said: “Cats are inquisitive pets and love new toys and activities to explore. Homemade toys needn’t mean investing a great deal of time, money or energy – even just a selection of cardboard boxes arranged in the lounge can provide great entertainment, plus a cosy place to sleep.

“Making your own toys and activities for your cat means you can always have something new and exciting to keep your pet amused. Not only does this encourage your cat to exercise, it also keeps their brain active and keeps boredom at bay.”

Cats Protection’s favourite tips are:

Feeding enrichment activities: Cats love different ways to make feeding time more interesting. Commercially-produced food balls are available in shops, but homemade versions are cheap and easy to make. Hiding dry food in a clean, empty egg box will give cats the chance to enjoy batting their way to their food. For a different take, try suspending a large, clean yoghurt pot with some holes in it to allow biscuits to fall out just above the cat’s head height – cats will love working out how to bat the food out.

Catnip knots: Most cats love catnip and will spend hours engaged in energetic play with it. For a simple homemade toy – which also finds a use for odd socks – simply fill a sock with a couple of tablespoons of dried catnip, knot the end and trim off any excess.

Toilet roll puzzles: Collect a good supply of toilet roll tubes and stack them on top of each other to create a mini wall of tubes, secured with sticky tape. Hide a portion of your cat’s daily allowance of dry food or a catnip toy within the tubes – cats will love using their paws to fish out the goodies hidden inside.

Get knitting to help other cats: Knitters can make their own blankets and catnip toys to keep cats cosy and entertained over the winter months. Cats Protection’s knitting bee is a great way to get involved in helping the cats currently in the care of the charity as they wait to find new homes. Simply come up with your own design or use the popular Captain Cat-Battler knitted mouse – originally designed by Lauren O’Farrell (www.whodunnknit.com). Donations of knitted goods can be taken to any of Cats Protection’s branches, shops and adoption centres across the UK, or dropped off at Cats Protection’s stand at The Handmade Fair.

As well as tips about DIY cat toys, Cats Protection’s vintage-themed stand at The Handmade Fair will also be packed with cat-related information and merchandise.

Visitors will be able to find out more about becoming a volunteer to help cats in need, adopting a cat or how to support the charity’s work.

For more information about the charity, please visit www.cats.org.uk

To find out more about The Handmade Fair, please visit www.thehandmadefair.com

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5 thoughts on “Tips for crafty cat lovers to make their own feline-friendly creations

  1. Pingback: Tips for crafty cat lovers to make their own feline-friendly creations - Katzenworld Shop

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