Another Cat Toy Done on the Cheap

Willow (previously known as Test Kitten, T.K. for short) has grown, and so have her needs. She gained size, but lost none of her energy, and so needs more cat safe activities to keep her out of trouble. When I noticed how excited she got over some pool noodles that hubby and I bought (to be featured in  another project), I figured that would be the perfect building block for Willow's new scratchy-batty-chew toy.

Early test to see if she's even interested. She is!

The base was the side of a drawer from my soon to be replaced (fingers crossed) wardrobe. We stabilized it using small sections of pool noodle cut in half length-wise secured with duct tape . The longer vertical section of noodle was secured with my trusty Gorilla Glue.The fuzzy ladybug toy was from a package of assorted toys. She played with it maybe 3 times since getting it, and it had a dangle to tie it to something, so I did. I poked a length of ribbon through the top of the noodle and knotted it at a length to facilitate maximum swinging. 

Shortly after this pic, the toy was attacked from above.

I covered the base using some scrap fabric I had laying around. I figured she would think the duct tape was the real novelty and so this cover seemed like a good idea. It looks better too. Although this doesn't get as much love as some other toys, she still loves to beat this mercilessly. Another win on the cheap.

After many attacks a few weeks later. As you can see, it stands up to the Willow test.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

DIY Cat Scratcher? Why not?

While perusing kitten toys, I noticed those cardboard cat scratch boards. I thought to myself, "That's brilliant." That thought was cut short however because my eyes fell to the price on the shelf. Ten dollars for the equivalent of a shoe box lid filled with strips of corrugated cardboard tightly arranged within. I figured this could easily be made for free, and set about proving that theory.

The first step, as I saw it, was finding a containing box. I had a few smaller Amazon boxes around, and so I cut one down to be about 2 1/2 inches tall. For the filler, I cut the flaps from a portable freezer shipping box. It is quite thick and sturdy, and so it seemed perfect. I then cut the flaps into strips matching the height of the box. The strips are folded into accordions to fill the entire container as tightly as possible. This is where things get tricky if you don't have a straight edge, as I found out on my first attempt. The layers are uneven, and that just seems unfinished. Also, it is too small. The test kitten liked it, but only for small stretches as she got frustrated that she couldn't sit on it and scratch at the same time.

So, because all I really did wrong was to take was to be lazy with the project was to think too small and make shortcuts, I was able adapt my same idea. I used a ruler to make the goods in the strips even and used much larger containing bow. It was the lid from a cardboard storage tote. I decided to add a bit of glue in between the slats to keep things neat. Since my test kitten loves it, I plan to dress it up by covering it in fabric, but for now, this is one perfectly serviceable, nearly free cat scratcher.

Meet Willow, the test kitten.

She likes to lounge and scratch here. I feel rewarded.