15 DIY Cardboard Cat Toys You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

Cats like to play! And that’s a superb factor as a result of getting loads of train and psychological stimulation are essential for psychological and bodily well being. When you can all the time head to the shop to purchase cat toys, making your personal at residence will also be enjoyable, notably after we’re speaking about utilizing cardboard, just about each cat’s favourite substance.

Cats love to cover in and soar out of cardboard packing containers, and there’s in all probability not a cat on earth who can resist giving corrugated cardboard a superb lengthy scratch. Learn to find 15 DIY cardboard cat toys you can also make as we speak! Whereas most are nice for upcycling outdated supply packing containers, a number of require journeys to the shop, new supplies, and a few critical crafting abilities! Take pleasure in!

The 15 DIY Cardboard Cat Toys

1. DIY Whack-A-Mole by Fishki Present

This cute whack-a-mole undertaking makes use of cardboard to create a enjoyable interactive toy you possibly can take pleasure in along with your cat. You employ cardboard to assemble the field that’ll maintain the disappearing balls. Tongue depressors and dowels kind the mechanism that strikes the balls up and down. Whereas it’s not a very troublesome or concerned undertaking, it requires a glue gun, drill, and utility knife, making grownup supervision obligatory.

Except you’re a critical crafter with a glue gun and tongue depressors available, you’ll in all probability want to go to the shop to get began. Remember the fact that that is an interactive toy, and also you’ll have to hit the levers in your cat to benefit from the sport!

2. DIY Egg Carton Scratcher by Sunflower

Cats like to scratch, they usually like to dig into cardboard much more! This straightforward egg carton cat scratcher is an effective way to upcycle not solely these outdated cardboard packing containers you will have sitting round the home from on-line deliveries however cardboard egg cartons as nicely!

There’s a enjoyable tutorial video in Spanish. Fairly truthfully, the undertaking is very easy that you simply don’t really want to grasp the instructions. However simply in case, seize a field that’s barely greater than 4 inches excessive and simply over 12 inches huge. Take your egg cartons (you’ll want a bunch), take away the tops, and stack your cartons on high of one another. Flip the stack sideways and place it within the field.

3. DIY Cardboard Field Cat Scratcher by Greater than Thursdays

This enjoyable cat scratcher is one other straightforward undertaking that upcycles merchandise that you simply in all probability have already got at residence. As an alternative of egg cartons, this undertaking makes use of strips of cardboard from outdated packing containers to create a scratcher, which suggests tons and many chopping.

Lower sufficient 2-inch strips from outdated cardboard packing containers to fill your base, then add a little bit of catnip. Glue the strips to the underside of your base and enhance the surface of the field utilizing the shelf liner paper. Be sure to make use of non-toxic glue, as cats are infamous for his or her tendency to gobble up absolutely anything they’ll get their paws on.

4. DIY Cardboard Cat Enrichment Toy by Massiel Dominguez

Cats thrive on enrichment toys and actions! Not solely do puzzles and video games hold them entertained, however these kinds of actions are essential for feline happiness. Poke holes at the back of the field and run the rope by them; this lets you fasten the field to a stationary object and stop wholesale chaos.

Glue the person bathroom paper rolls (opening facet up) to the underside of the field and let the whole lot dry for a bit. Add snacks and toys to your creation and let your cat lose for some enjoyable. Maintain it attention-grabbing in your cat by various what you cover, and keep in mind to not put a reward in each tube. The purpose is to stimulate your cat’s thoughts by participating their curiosity.

5. DIY Recycled Cardboard Mouse from Feline Residing

In case your cat’s bored and in search of a brand new toy, you possibly can string an cute cardboard mouse collectively in a snap. Seize an outdated cardboard field, open it up, and lay it flat. Draw a sequence of more and more giant circles on the cardboard: small circles for the tail and head and bigger ones for the center part.

Punch a good-sized gap in the midst of every. Don’t fear about getting the whole lot simply  proper, variation is a part of what makes this toy so engaging. After you’ve lower all of the separate items out, seize your rope and string the items collectively so that they resemble a mouse. Add little ears to a bit near the snout when you’re actually going for a “practical” look!

6. Lovely DIY Cardboard Lower-Out Mouse from Instructables

This enjoyable toy presents an effective way to upcycle your outdated cardboard packing containers hanging round the home. And better of all, the whole undertaking solely takes minutes to finish. Keep in mind these paper toys that used to return in cereal packing containers: those with cutouts, tongues, and grooves you used to place issues like vehicles and pretend home equipment collectively?

This easy undertaking is a riff on that theme! It basically consists of two items of cardboard that slide into one another and are glued collectively for safety. There’s a useful template that will help you get the cling of issues, however when you get the gist, you possibly can rapidly provide you with your personal designs, which is an effective way to have interaction the creativity of youthful crafters!

7. DIY Cardboard Playhouse by Kittycat Chronicles

Don’t let the listing of instruments required to finish this tremendous cute undertaking dissuade you; it’s a Martha Stewart design, so there are tons of how you possibly can adapt it to simplify issues. This snazzy cat home is manufactured from cardboard, and it appears nice and offers kitties a beautiful place to cover, relaxation, and nap.

You must lower the sides of a field’s high flaps to create a triangle for the roof. The directions present a fairly elaborate airhole template. You may all the time make your undertaking a bit much less concerned and simply lower air holes.

8. Easy DIY Cardboard Meals Puzzle by Kittycat Chronicles

This extremely easy toy is created with a bathroom paper roll and a few cat treats. Put a number of treats within the roll and fold the ends shut. Poke a number of holes within the roll so your cat can knock bits of kibble out, and also you’re performed. All the undertaking will take minutes to finish, value you nearly nothing, and entertain your cat for hours.

9. DIY Rest room Paper Pompoms or Straws by Kittycat Chronicles

These easy initiatives are the proper option to upcycle your bathroom paper rolls! The pompom model is the simplest choice; simply glue a bunch of pompoms to the surface of a cardboard bathroom paper roll, and also you’re set. The straw model requires extra effort as you’ll have to poke holes within the roll and use glue to lock the straws securely.

To create a design you could cling on the again of a door, loop a little bit of rope by the roll and tie a safe knot. Keep in mind that straws, pompoms, and cord might be problematic in case your cat ingests them, so all of those toys require shut human supervision!

10. DIY Cardboard Field Cat Fort by Kittycat Chronicles

The undertaking requires substantial planning, as you’ll want to determine the best way to join your packing containers to create a fort. However who cares if issues don’t fairly line up the primary time, there are methods to trim these different leftover packing containers to get issues again on target.

To create his cardboard fort, seize a field, lower a gap, and lower a mirror picture gap in one other field. Use tape to lock the packing containers collectively. Maintain going till you will have the fort you envisioned. Your creation can encompass any variety of packing containers; no matter you will have available is ideal. Be sure to present any tape you utilize a superb trim to maintain your pet from nibbling on adhesives and different chemical substances.

11. DIY Rest room Paper Ball by Cats Herd You

These cute balls are made of bathroom paper rolls headed to the recycling bin. They’re cute, straightforward to place collectively, and excellent when you’re in search of a easy home made cat toy. Seize your pencil and ruler. Place a mark each 2 centimeters or so alongside the roll. Take your scissors and lower alongside the traces you marked, creating rings.

Put these rings over one another to create a ball. Add a drop of non-toxic glue between layers to make the toy sturdier, and also you’re performed. These cute toys are an effective way to present new life to rest room paper rolls, they usually’re nearly cute sufficient so that you can give to your cat on their birthday!

12. DIY Cardboard Bus by eHow

This cute cardboard bus will brighten up your room, offer you a enjoyable undertaking to finish, and supply your cat with a cute hideaway. Tape a cardboard field shut, leaving one facet open. Take away one high flap after which snip out triangular items on both sides.

Make a windshield out of cardboard by chopping out two rectangles, leaving a little bit of area between every, and tape it to the physique of your bus. Draw a door and home windows on the edges, and use the field cutter to create openings your cat can use to get out and in of the field. Put down some paper, seize the paint, and personalize your creation.

13. Easy DIY Cardboard Cat Teaser by I Love Inexperienced Grass

This can be a tremendous easy undertaking excellent for protecting your fingers busy whereas watching TV or listening to a podcast! Seize 4 otherwise sized spherical objects, like a coaster, a roll of tape, or a bathroom paper roll. Get artistic; the precise measurement or what you utilize doesn’t matter!

Place your objects on the cardboard and hint them along with your pencil. You’ll want two cutouts of every measurement. Load the massive needle with the rope and poke the rope by the primary circle. Make a safe knot after you add every circle. Depart a little bit of rope on the finish if you wish to cling the toy on the again of a door.

14. DIY Cardboard Exercise Field by Catreesco

This cardboard exercise field supplies a ton of feline enjoyable and psychological stimulation. Seize a cardboard field and lower off the flaps on one finish; that’s how your cat will get into and out of the field. Make small holes within the field utilizing scissors. Thread the rope by your button after which by a gap within the cardboard.

Make a knot and repair the rope with a little bit of tape on the highest. Add buttons or different dangly issues in your cat to bat at. As a result of your toy entails buttons and cord, you’ll positively have to supervise your pet once they’re utilizing the toy.

15. DIY Rest room Paper Roll Cat Puzzle by Cat Classes

Cat puzzles work along with your cat’s pure curiosity to offer enjoyable psychological stimulation by encouraging your cat to “hunt” for his or her treats. This cute meals puzzle appears wonderful. It’s just about assured to wow your Instagram followers, to not point out your cat!

Begin saving these bathroom paper cores now since you’ll want a ton of them to make this toy. The undertaking requires you to make use of a spherical object as a brief base: a basket or hamper is ideal. Glue the person rolls collectively utilizing clothespins to make sure the whole lot stays collectively whereas the glue dries. Start to construct your puzzle by including rolls across the base. Begin on the backside, and don’t neglect the glue. Take away the bottom after the glue has set and add cat treats randomly all through.

Conclusion

Cats love cardboard greater than something on earth, aside from their favourite folks, after all. As a result of these initiatives contain cardboard, you received’t have to spend a ton of cash on supplies. And when you use outdated packing containers, you’ll be doing one thing nice in your cat and the atmosphere.

There are tons a number of initiatives to select from, together with fast and simple choices to tremendous detailed initiatives that’ll hold you busy for a number of hours! Both means, your cat might be a contented creature when you current them with their new toy, and hopefully, you’ll have enjoyable making one thing cool along with your fingers!

Featured Picture Credit score: JulieK2, Shutterstock