Upcycled Engagement Items for Cats

Does your cat need a $250 exercise wheel? $20 motorized mouse? $30 play tent? 

With trendy cat toys dominating social media and new kitty products emerging constantly, it can be difficult to decide which enrichment items will benefit your cat without breaking the bank. Worst of all, many cats seem to have a radar for expensive toys and steer clear of anything worth more than the receipt you received after purchasing it. Even the most technically perfect toy with feathers, lights, chirping noises, scratch pads, and catnip can go unnoticed by a finicky feline, and every cat owner knows the sigh-inducing sight of a brand new toy being passed over for the box it was packaged in!

When you’re a foster parent cycling between litters, the price of toys can become an even bigger issue. While Southern Pines Animal Shelter provides foster parents with toys for their kittens, many will want to spoil their itty bitty kitties with tons of enrichment op-purr-tunities. (And when your fosters have such adorable faces, who wouldn’t!)

It is an unfortunate reality that many kitten and cat toys will go unused in most homes, and because they are made of unrecyclable plastics, bleached and dyed feathers, batteries, and cheap fabrics, they hurt the environment even more than our wallets. The good news is that cats don’t always need the newest, most expensive toys, and as a general rule, the less effort put into a plaything, the more interesting they find it. Use this to your advantage by upcycling household items into fabulous feline fun.

From bubbles to boxes, here’s our list items that can be recycled, repurposed, or homemade for your cats to create the ultimate toys!
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• #1 Hair rollers - If you don't have a bag of plastic hair rollers forgotten in the far reaches of your bathroom cabinet, your mom probably does! These popular plastic beauty devices might have gone out of style, but they'll always be in fashion for our kitty friends, who agree that these little cylinders are the perfect size and weight for batting practice. Throw one into playtime, and let the fun begin!
• #2 Bubbles - We don’t know what is so fascinating about soap in flight, but one thing is certain: bubbles capture cats’ attention and hold it. Lung powered or machine blown, these floating spheres enthrall cats and can easily be made by combining a little dish soap with water. Find a bubble wand to borrow, and get ready to blow your cat's mind! 
• #3 Newspapers - Print might be dead, but for kittens, your repurposed classifieds and comics are the life of the party! We don’t know why cats love crumpled newspapers… Maybe it's the pleasure of hearing crinkly paper slide across hardwood floors and tile, or maybe it’s the satisfaction of destroying something you’ve shown an interest in. Either way, it’s one of the most affordable and effective ways to keep your cat entertained! When the paper starts to wear, just toss it in the recycling bin and crumple a new piece.
• #4 Shower curtain rings - Cats might hate baths, but they love shower curtain rings. Circular and easily swatted across a room, these small plastic disks are perfect for the indoor predator. So next time you change your shower curtain, save those rings because a set of twelve will last for months of playtime fun!
• #5 Pipe cleaners - Break out the old craft equipment, and get to work making colorful pipe cleaner toys for your kitty friends. Take a pipe cleaner, and curl it around a pencil or marker. Voila! The perfect cat toy! These swirls are bound to grab your cat’s attention, and their shapeable nature makes them perfect for entertaining cats on the go. Take a pipe cleaner and wrap it around the bars of your cat’s carrier during trips to the vet or long car rides to offer a much-needed distraction!
• #6 Cardboard boxes - As the famous internet saying goes, “If it fits, I sits.” Whether it’s spare moving boxes, soda can boxes, or sturdy utility boxes, your cat is sure to find a way to play with it. Bonus points if you build a luxurious cat condo out of boxes and colorful tape!​

• #7 Tissue boxes - The addition of an oval hole and plastic flap in the top warrants a separate entry for tissue boxes, which present tons of fun playtime ideas! Try putting a smelly treat in the box, and watch as your cat flexes its problem-solving skills, dexterity, and patience trying to free the trapped treat. Some might choose to carefully fish the treat out, while others opt for a more forceful approach by wildly batting and swinging at the box. Both are acceptable, and both are entertaining for any humans watching!
• #8 Paper bags - Paper or plastic? If you have cats, it’s paper all the way (just make sure to cut off any handles before playtime)! Not only is this an excellent way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your paper products, it’s also a fantastic photoshoot opportunity for your feline friends. From playfully pouncing into the paper abyss to carefully poking ears and eyes out the rim, these candid shots show how adventurous, curious, and athletic your kitty can be. 
• #9 Wiffle Balls - Got a few spare Wiffle Balls lurking in your garage or attic? Dust them off, throw them to the kittens, and watch the fun ensue! Perfect for chasing, pouncing, and pawing, these round wonders make playtime even more enjoyable for cats and kittens. Add a few treats to the center, and your cat is guaranteed to be enthralled.
• #10 Carpet and Rugs - The old rug really tied the room together, but when it's time to switch up your style, save your old carpet to use as a scratching post for your cats. This is an excellent way to make the most of your purchases, keep items out of landfills, and give your feline friends the best clawing practice of their nine lives. Simply cut your old carpet or rug into thick strips, and use zip ties to secure onto a sturdy surface. Then, tell clawed furniture, ripped clothes, and expensive scratching posts, "Goodbye!"

While the toys listed above can be easily upcycled from household objects, there are a few items that pose health and safety risks for our feline friends. You'll want to leave these items out of any DIY cat toys:

• String, yarn, ribbons, and dental floss! Everyone is familiar with the classic image of a kitten playing with a ball of yarn, but this seemingly innocent toy can lead to emergency veterinary visits, surgery, and stacks of medical bills. When ingested, string, yarn, ribbons, and dental floss travel lengthwise down the digestive system, becoming tangled in the intestines. This can cause intense pain for cats and kittens, and in many cases, these items require surgery to remove. Never give your cat or kitten string, yarn, ribbons, or dental floss.
• Rubber bands! Just like string, yarn, ribbon, and dental floss, rubber bands can cause serious problems and intense pain when ingested, and they also pose choking risks for any cats curious enough to give them a taste. Cats can’t get enough of these stretchy menaces, so make sure to keep your rubber bands in a cat-proof drawer!
• Plastic bags! Plastic bags might seem like a fun toy for cats and kittens, but in reality, they pose a serious choking risk for pets. Best to throw these in the recycling bin!
• Plastic jars! They roll, they bounce, and they make a satisfying noise that cats love to hear: “boink!” As fun as plastic jars might be for cats, they’re also a tempting opportunity for misadventure. If your cat decides to stick its head through a hole too small, it could become stuck. This poses a suffocation risk, and it can also startle a cat enough to cause a panicked frenzy, which could lead to injuries. Best to keep these jars on your kitchen shelves and out of your cat’s reach.
• Hands and fingers! No judgement here… we’re all guilty of shrugging off the occasional love nibble or play bite from a kitten, but as kittens grow, this biting behavior becomes more challenging to redirect. Never allow your kittens or cats to bite your hands or fingers; instead, when your feline friend lunges for your digits, offer a more suitable toy in their place. Your hands will thank you later!

Our list might be over, but there are tons of household items that present fantastic upcycling opportunities for the crafty cat-owner!

What was your favorite toy idea on our list? What is your genius upcycled cat toy idea? Share your thoughts below!