20 Cat Toys and Enrichment Items from Eco-Friendly Materials

Corrugated Cardboard Box Cat Scratcher

Cat toys are your second best friend.

Your cat is your first, of course!

I’m currently fostering a litter of kittens and their mama for my local animal shelter, which means that I have SEVEN cats inside my house right now. Four of them are month-old kittens full of energy, one is a semi-feral nursing mother who regularly patrols the place looking for gaps in security, one is a ginger guy who never seems to get a turn at the brain cell, and one is a cranky old lady who wishes that all the other cats (and the dog, and maybe half the people) would just hurry up and die already.

We rely on a LOT of cat toys, treats, puzzles, and other cat enrichment around here.

Cat enrichment is so important to the physical and emotional well-being of your cats. Don’t let your tiny hunters suffer from boredom; instead, check out this list of my favorite cat enrichment items below, and make your best friend their new favorite toy!

Corrugated Cardboard Box Cat Scratcher

corrugated cardboard box cat scratcherCats LOVE sharpening their claws on corrugated cardboard. Upcycle several corrugated cardboard boxes into an easy DIY cat scratcher and save your couch!

macaronYour kitty likes the occasional bougie treat, too! This toy is easy to make from either fleece or felt, and is a good little scrapbusting project.

rope scratching post via Cuteness
rope scratching post image via Cuteness

rope-wrapped scratching postCats who love to stretch up and scratch will love this rope-wrapped wood post. Dye the rope for even more cuteness!

no-sew refillable toyI LOVE the idea of a refillable toy. Pop in a regular serving of catnip, or put in the occasional crinkly cellophane or jingle bells.

crocheted doorknob hanger via A Crafter XD
crocheted door knob hanger via A Crafter XD

crocheted door knob hangerThis fun toy hangs from a door knob, so your cat can play even when you, yourself, are otherwise engaged!

cork toysCorks are the perfect size and weight for a cat to bat around. Add some embellishments for extra fun (and to help you find them under the couch…).

catfish via Mamma That Makes
catfish image via Mamma That Makes

catfishCrochet this simple little fish using any scrap yarn. Fill with dried catnip for an extra treat!

magnetic toyThe magnet makes this dangling cat toy come alive.

corrugated cardboard toy via I Love Green Grass
corrugated cardboard toy via I Love Green Grass

corrugated cardboard toyUse up the cardboard scraps from your cat scratcher project to make this toy that’s super fun for cats to bat.

cardboard hidey hole puzzleMake this puzzle toy by cutting holes in the top of any sealable cardboard box, then putting a toy that’s larger than the holes inside.

felt mouse via Rhythm of Play
felt mouse image via Rhythm of Play

felt mouseThe extensive walk-through tutorial for this felt mouse makes it a wonderful beginner hand-sewing project, even for younger children.

hollow cardboard shapes
hollow cardboard shapes via Prodigal Pieces

hollow cardboard shapesBuild your own or thrift cardboard or papier mache shapes, then add catnip and embellish.

knotted T-shirt toy via Muslin and Merlot
knotted T-shirt toy via Muslin and Merlot

knotted T-shirt toyThis no-sew toy is a great way to use up old, stained or torn T-shirts. Make it in batches, add some catnip, and donate to your local animal shelter!

no-sew fleece toy via Simply Sara
no-sew scrap fleece toy image via Simply Sara

no-sew scrap fleece toyThis no-sew toy is a great way to use up some of your fleece scraps. Cut the twine after tying it off to make a toy a cat can bat around, and leave the twine on to make a toy that you can dangle. Long twine is a strangulation hazard, so put the fun dangly away when you’re not supervising.

kicking toy via Nifty Thrifty DIYer
kicking toy via Nifty Thrifty DIYer

kicking toyIt’s adorable to watch cats get their murder on with this fun toy. It’s long enough that they can hang onto it with their front paws while kicking the snot out of it with their back feet!

rainbow cloud toy via Orange Bettie
rainbow cloud toy via Orange Bettie

rainbow cloud toyMy favorite thing about this easy-to-sew toy is the hook-and-loop tape, so you can easily refill it with catnip!

play gymIt’s like a baby gym, but with ribbons!

DIY Ribbon Wand

ribbon wandI originally made this ribbon wand for kids to play with, but you know who else LOVES ribbon wands? CATS, that’s who!

toilet paper tube ball via Red Ted Art
toilet paper tube ball via Red Ted Art

toilet paper tube ballBased on your search keywords, y’all LOVE yourselves some toilet paper tube crafts! This toilet paper tube ball is so light that it skitters gloriously across the floor just like a terrified prey animal–my cats LOVE it! I don’t use the staple, though; I just let my cats take the ball apart, then recycle it as usual.

toilet paper tube puzzle via Massiel Dominguez
toilet paper tube puzzle via Massiel Dominguez

toilet paper tube puzzleEncourage your favorite cat to put its thinking cap on and score the treats from this puzzle. Bonus: you can upcycle SO many toilet paper tubes!

Do you have any great enrichment projects that your cat loves? Tell me about them in the Comments!

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