I was recently wondering how to entertain my cat. The toys you buy in stores are expensive, and I didn't like them. Besides, many pet owners often report that their pets love to play with random objects they find around the house. I thought, what if I created my own entertainment for my pet? Here's how.
What I needed to make the toy
When making a craft for your cat, consider its personality and habits. Does it enjoy active play or prefer to hide in secluded spots? Does it love to scamper around the room, climb the curtains, or "hunt" from ambush? Mine, for example, is often on the lookout for new distractions. After playing with one thing, it leaves it in a "secret spot" and, with a bored look, looks for something else to do. Sometimes its antics cause quite a bit of trouble for the family.
The internet is a treasure trove of life hacks these days. I found a product that seemed most suitable for my quick-witted, cognitively inclined son.
To make the toy, I used the following things:
- five-liter bottle;
- scissors;
- knife;
- a piece of wire (I have twisted pair);
- nylon thread;
- woolen threads;
- transparent tape;
- nippers;
- candy wrappers.
As you can see, everything you need can be found in any home, and making the craft won't take much time.
How I did it. Step-by-step instructions
Even a housewife can make this toy. It's very simple:
- Carefully make a hole in the middle of the cork with a knife. You'll need this hole to thread the thread through.
- Take a five-liter bottle and cut holes around the perimeter. They should be large enough for the cat to easily fit through.
- Using wire cutters, carefully remove the winding from the wire.
- Use your fingernail to smooth out the edge of the winding. Use it to hide the sharp edges of the holes: the top and bottom.
- Glue the end of the woolen thread to the tape and secure the end to the back wall of the supports.
- Wrap the thread around these walls as tightly as possible. There should be no gaps.
- Take another skein. Measure the required length based on the height of the bottle, leaving a few centimeters extra.
- Thread the string through the cap and secure it with a knot so that the bottom edge hangs freely in the bottle.
- Roll several candy wrappers into a ball, wrapping each one inside the next one.
- Cover the resulting ball with tape on all sides for strength.
- Using a large needle, thread the string through the center of the ball and tie it around the ball, tightening the knot.
- Screw the resulting structure to the bottle.
You should end up with a toy your cat won't be able to put down. Mine turned out just as good as the store-bought ones. My cat is happy; it's now his favorite pastime. Plus, the bottle has spots where he can sharpen his claws.
I hope you enjoyed my idea. Enjoy spending time with your pets.
