Homemade Catnip Toy

My crew has become picky over the years. They have decided all catnip toys are a waste unless they are the Yeowww! Catnip Brand ones. Now, granted, I don’t blame them. Yeowww packs the whole toy with catnip which is hard to find in anything else. Plus there is something about Yeowww! Catnip itself…..

BUT, being that we are on a budget, and being that I have destructive beasts who go through toys quickly……I decided it was time to make some catnip toys on my own.

Here is a VERY easy sock catnip toy.

Step One:
Leave purchase of new catnip in bag on counter while you go upstairs and check emails real quick.

Step Two:
Gather supplies and contemplate why you should probably do this in a room away from the cats, but instead decide you are glutton for punishment.

Catnip (we are using the favorite of course, Yeowww)

Filling (You could use poly stuffing, or maybe scraps of cloth or other socks cut up….)

Socks (In this case, I used boys dress socks as my crew likes smaller toys. You could easily use any old socks that are missing pairs, ect.)

Optional, crinkly cellophane or plastic bag type material if your cats like noisy toys

Step Three:
Make a mess.

Stuff the socks with catnip and filling material. I dumped 2-3 tablespoons of catnip in the bottom, stuffing, more catnip, stuffing, and then topped it off with another 2-3 tablespoons. The meadow crew prefer heavy on the catnip.

Because my socks were a little small, I turned them mostly inside out, and used a deep spoon to scoop the catnip inside. I still made more of a mess then my cats though.

Step Four:
Tie a knot in the end…..tightly

I made four out of the one bag of catnip.

Step Five:
Prepare for destruction.

The crew at this blog have a ‘kick pickle’…and since I cannot get the pickle name out of my head…..Well, I think these will be pickles as well! (hope you don’t mind Tanj, Vladi, and Uschi)

BEHOLD….the Pickle!!!!

HUG….the Pickle!!

EAT….the Pickle!!

Step Six
Quickly clean up all trash associated with the project, or you may find a cat playing with sock wrappers rather then the toys you just spent time and love putting together!

Additional Links

Here are some various sites showing how you can make your own cat toys at home:

Squidoo – Make your own cat toys

Green Cat – Flappy Flag

Sausage T-shirt

Sock Spider Toy

Crochet Patterns