Our cats love to play, but they can be somewhat picky about what they’ll play with. Instead of spending countless amounts on cat toys your favorite feline may or may not play with, why not create some instead? By doing that, you’ll save tons, and your pet will have all the toys it could ever want or need! The idea of making cat toys can sound challenging and overwhelming, but you’ll find that many cat toys are incredibly easy to make. Whether it’s making use of a cardboard toilet paper roll or incorporating cardboard boxes into something cool and creative for your kitty, you’ll find a range of plans to make toys below. These plans come in all different skill levels, from beginner to advanced, so there’s sure to be something you can make (even if you lack craftiness). Keep reading to find a cardboard toy your feline will have a blast with!
The 15 DIY Cardboard Cat Toys
- Cardboard Mouse Cat toy by Instructables
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 3/16” piece of cardboard, template
Tools: Tape, X-acto blade, cutting mat, Elmer’s glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
One of kitty’s favorite things is mice, which makes this cardboard mouse an excellent toy to have around. And this cardboard toy is so simple to put together since it’s essentially a matter of “insert slot A into slot B”. You’ll begin by downloading the template found on the site and taping it to your piece of cardboard. Then it’s time to break out the X-acto blade to cut out your mouse shapes. After that, you’ll put a dot of the Elmer’s onto one of the cardboard pieces to hold it together when you finally insert slot A into slot B. That’s literally all there is to this mouse! It should only take minutes to put together but will hopefully create hours of fun for your kitty.
- Soda Box Whack-a-Mole Cat Toy by Cuteness
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 12-pack soda carton, bamboo skewers, feathers, 2 pipe cleaners, paper towel tube
Tools: Scissors, X-acto blade, cutting mat, glue or hot glue gun, decorative or duct tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Though this cardboard cat toy will take longer to make than the last, it’s still relatively easy to create. Once you’ve gathered your needed supplies, you’ll cut some holes into the soda box, stick in a support beam of sorts with the paper towel tube, then create a fun feathery stick to maneuver around the box to entice your kitty to play. Easy peasy, right? This may not be a toy your cat can play with on its own, but playing together with your pet will enable your bond to grow stronger!
- DIY Cat Food Puzzle by Food Puzzles for Cats
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper roll
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Felines are very food-motivated, so your pet will love this food puzzle that will take minutes to make! Just take your toilet paper roll and cut a shape into one side (a hole, a diamond, a triangle, etc.). Then toss in some pieces of food or a few treats and fold in the ends (put a piece of tape on them to help keep them closed if needed). That’s it! Now you can toss the food puzzle to your favorite cat and watch it engage in endless fun as it tries to get the food or treats out!
- DIY Catnip Toy by Darcy and Brian
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper roll, yarn, catnip
Tools: Glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This catnip toy is another simple one to make that will only consist of a few minutes of your time. You only need to put some glue on the outside of the cardboard, then roll it around in catnip. Once the catnip has dried onto the tube, wrap in yarn until the catnip has been covered entirely (you’ll likely need to employ a bit of glue here as well). After that, you can throw it to your cat and watch them go hog wild over it!
- Mouse Cat Toys by PetDIYs
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Enough cardboard to cut several circles, piece of rope
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Yep, it’s another cardboard mouse! This one is a bit more involved than the last but still super simple to put together. You just need to cut out several small circles in varying sizes from the cardboard, then cut out some tiny mouse ears. When you’ve finished that, you’ll poke a hole in the center of all those circles, then thread the rope through to connect them. Tie the ends of the rope with a knot, and you have yourself a mouse! Our Pick for Best Catnip Toy: Well-designed toys will keep your cat happy and engaged. For a sturdy, fun toy that will look nice in your living room, we recommend Hepper’s Catnip Stick Toy! These toys are designed to look like prey and double-bagged to stand up to your cat’s sharpest claws and teeth. Plus, they’re filled with organic catnip and handmade in the USA.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
- Cardboard Cat Play Box by Charleston Crafted
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard box big enough for your cat, items such as feathers, string, pom-poms, etc.
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, packing tape, glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Felines love batting at things, so this play box should be a hit! Plus, it’s a breeze to make—in fact, if you have kiddos, this is a cat toy you can invite them to help make. First, you’ll tape up the box and cut out the sides. Next, you’ll add holes at the top of the box to hang things. Finally, let those creative juices flow and create all sorts of fun, dangly items for your kitty to play with! String up some feathers or make fun shapes out of pipe cleaner, whatever strikes your fancy. This play box should provide hours of fun for your favorite feline!
- 2-Minute DIY Toy by Thrifty Jinxy
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper roll
Tools: Scissors, glue (optional)
Difficulty Level: Beginner
As the name indicates, this cardboard cat toy is quick to make! That means if you have several empty toilet paper rolls lying around, you can make a few at a time in less than 10 minutes. All you need to do is cut your tube into a few rings, then shape them into a sphere shape. Voila, cat toy complete! You can add a bit of glue to hold the rings together if you’d like, but your cats might have more fun figuring out how to take the rings apart. Experiment to see which they enjoy more!
- Whack-a-Mole Cat Toy Game by Joeyful Dog and Cat
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard, popsicle sticks
Tools: Compass, ruler, power drill, hot glue gun, pencil, X-acto blade, scissors
Difficulty Level: Advanced
This whack-a-mole game is a bit more difficult to make than the last one on our list, but with a lot of measuring and a touch of patience, you should have a toy your cat adores. Unlike the previous whack-a-mole game, where you used skewers to play with your pet, this toy creates a whack-a-mole your cat can do by itself. Not only will this cardboard cat toy entertain kitty, but you’ll have loads of fun watching your pet. Just ensure the cardboard you use for this is sturdy because chances are your feline will jump on top of it at some point. And even though it’s a tiny bit harder than the last, you’ll be able to follow along step-by-step with the video tutorial.
- Cardboard String Cat Toy by I Love Green Grass
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard, yarn or thin rope
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, thick needle
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Here’s another easy-peasy cardboard cat toy that you can assemble in only three steps! This toy involves cutting out some cardboard circles and stringing them together. The nice thing with this one is that you can either keep the string short, so your cat can play with the toy on the floor, or you can have a longer string so you’re able to dangle the toy for your cat. Whichever way you choose to play with your pet, your feline should enjoy this cardboard string toy!
- DIY Cardboard Cat Play House by Martha Stewart
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 3 cardboard boxes, template
Tools: Pencil, bone folder, ruler, X-acto blade, cutting mat, hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Advanced
There aren’t many steps to this one, but it’s definitely more involved than most of the cat toys listed here (and it’s a Martha Stewart plan), so we’re labeling it as advanced. You’ll find the door and window templates on the website, so you’re ready to begin once you download those. With the template, you can cut out windows and a door for your cat to get through; then, you can start assembling the rest of the playhouse. This cat play house will take a bit of time, but it’ll be well worth it to see your favorite furry friend having a blast!
- Pom Pom Cardboard Tube Toy by One Crazy House
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper or paper towel tubes, pom poms, string, pipe cleaners
Tools: Hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Beginner
As you’ve probably ascertained by now, cardboard tubes are incredibly versatile and excellent to use for cardboard cat toys. This toy plan involves using empty cardboard tubes and either poking holes in them to push pipe cleaners through or gluing pom poms onto the outsides. You can even go further and pick other fun things to go through or on the tubes, such as feathers. Any way you choose to decorate, these simple toys will keep your kitty engaged!
- Interactive Kitten Box by Jonasek The Cat
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 22 x 22 x 5 cm box, small ball (like a ping pong ball)
Tools: Duct tape, scissors or X-acto blade
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This interactive kitten box looks like it would be moderately challenging to accomplish, but it’s really not. Following the video tutorial, you’ll find you only need to put some tape around your box, then cut out some fun shapes—including one that’s large enough for your ball to fit through. Place the ball inside, and you’re done! This toy is so simple, yet it will keep your kitten entertained for ages as it bats around the ball and attempts to get it out.
- DIY Cardboard Ball Toy by Instructables
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 2mm thick cardboard
Tools: Glue, scissors, compass
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Make a toy for your kitty that’s quick, easy, and loads of fun! All you have to do to create this ball is cut out a bunch of same-size circles and glue them together. It really couldn’t be easier. You’ll probably need to shape the toy into more of a ball shape once the glue is dry, but then it’s ready to hand over to your favorite feline. They’ll love rolling this around, playing fetch, and even sharpening their nails on it!
- Box Fort for Cats by Kitty Cat Chronicles
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard boxes
Tools: Scissors, box cutter, duct or packing tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
You’d think a fort would be more difficult to make, but with this plan, it’s a breeze! You’ll need to develop a design of sorts for your fort, then cut out door holes that match up with each other. Once that’s finished, you can tape your boxes together into a nifty area where your cat can wander around and play in. This one will likely end up being on the larger side, so ensure you have the space for it before you begin.
- DIY Mega Puzzle Toy by Cat Lessons
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper or paper towel rolls (about 150), cat-sized basket for making the shape
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, hot glue gun, clothespins
Difficulty Level: Beginner
You’ll need to save up a lot of toilet paper rolls for this one, but once you’ve managed that, you’ll easily be able to put together a fun and engaging puzzle toy! This one will be time-consuming as you’re going to be gluing a ton of cardboard tubes together, but your pet will absolutely love this. Once you have everything glued together, randomly add a few treats to the insides of some of the tubes. Then, sit back and watch your cat figure out where all the treats are!
Final Thoughts Cat toys can get expensive to buy, especially if your cat is picky about what it’ll play with or uses toys for a short time before ditching them altogether. So, why not make a few quick, easy cardboard cat toys for your furry friend? With the plans above, you can create a good variety of cat toys, no matter your skill level, and pretty soon, your kitty will have more toys than it knows what to do with! You might want to read next:
10 Awesome DIY Cardboard Box Cat Beds 15 DIY Projects to Make for Your Cat (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: ginkoveyka, Freepik
Our cats love to play, but they can be somewhat picky about what they’ll play with. Instead of spending countless amounts on cat toys your favorite feline may or may not play with, why not create some instead? By doing that, you’ll save tons, and your pet will have all the toys it could ever want or need!
The idea of making cat toys can sound challenging and overwhelming, but you’ll find that many cat toys are incredibly easy to make. Whether it’s making use of a cardboard toilet paper roll or incorporating cardboard boxes into something cool and creative for your kitty, you’ll find a range of plans to make toys below. These plans come in all different skill levels, from beginner to advanced, so there’s sure to be something you can make (even if you lack craftiness).
Keep reading to find a cardboard toy your feline will have a blast with!
The 15 DIY Cardboard Cat Toys
- Cardboard Mouse Cat toy by Instructables
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 3/16” piece of cardboard, template
Tools: Tape, X-acto blade, cutting mat, Elmer’s glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
One of kitty’s favorite things is mice, which makes this cardboard mouse an excellent toy to have around. And this cardboard toy is so simple to put together since it’s essentially a matter of “insert slot A into slot B”. You’ll begin by downloading the template found on the site and taping it to your piece of cardboard. Then it’s time to break out the X-acto blade to cut out your mouse shapes. After that, you’ll put a dot of the Elmer’s onto one of the cardboard pieces to hold it together when you finally insert slot A into slot B.
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 3/16” piece of cardboard, template
Tools: Tape, X-acto blade, cutting mat, Elmer’s glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
That’s literally all there is to this mouse! It should only take minutes to put together but will hopefully create hours of fun for your kitty.
- Soda Box Whack-a-Mole Cat Toy by Cuteness
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 12-pack soda carton, bamboo skewers, feathers, 2 pipe cleaners, paper towel tube
Tools: Scissors, X-acto blade, cutting mat, glue or hot glue gun, decorative or duct tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Though this cardboard cat toy will take longer to make than the last, it’s still relatively easy to create. Once you’ve gathered your needed supplies, you’ll cut some holes into the soda box, stick in a support beam of sorts with the paper towel tube, then create a fun feathery stick to maneuver around the box to entice your kitty to play. Easy peasy, right?
Materials: 12-pack soda carton, bamboo skewers, feathers, 2 pipe cleaners, paper towel tube
Tools: Scissors, X-acto blade, cutting mat, glue or hot glue gun, decorative or duct tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This may not be a toy your cat can play with on its own, but playing together with your pet will enable your bond to grow stronger!
- DIY Cat Food Puzzle by Food Puzzles for Cats
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper roll
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Felines are very food-motivated, so your pet will love this food puzzle that will take minutes to make! Just take your toilet paper roll and cut a shape into one side (a hole, a diamond, a triangle, etc.). Then toss in some pieces of food or a few treats and fold in the ends (put a piece of tape on them to help keep them closed if needed). That’s it!
Materials: Toilet paper roll
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Now you can toss the food puzzle to your favorite cat and watch it engage in endless fun as it tries to get the food or treats out!
- DIY Catnip Toy by Darcy and Brian
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper roll, yarn, catnip
Tools: Glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This catnip toy is another simple one to make that will only consist of a few minutes of your time. You only need to put some glue on the outside of the cardboard, then roll it around in catnip. Once the catnip has dried onto the tube, wrap in yarn until the catnip has been covered entirely (you’ll likely need to employ a bit of glue here as well).
Materials: Toilet paper roll, yarn, catnip
Tools: Glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
After that, you can throw it to your cat and watch them go hog wild over it!
- Mouse Cat Toys by PetDIYs
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Enough cardboard to cut several circles, piece of rope
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Yep, it’s another cardboard mouse! This one is a bit more involved than the last but still super simple to put together. You just need to cut out several small circles in varying sizes from the cardboard, then cut out some tiny mouse ears. When you’ve finished that, you’ll poke a hole in the center of all those circles, then thread the rope through to connect them. Tie the ends of the rope with a knot, and you have yourself a mouse!
Materials: Enough cardboard to cut several circles, piece of rope
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Our Pick for Best Catnip Toy: Well-designed toys will keep your cat happy and engaged. For a sturdy, fun toy that will look nice in your living room, we recommend Hepper’s Catnip Stick Toy! These toys are designed to look like prey and double-bagged to stand up to your cat’s sharpest claws and teeth. Plus, they’re filled with organic catnip and handmade in the USA.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Well-designed toys will keep your cat happy and engaged. For a sturdy, fun toy that will look nice in your living room, we recommend Hepper’s Catnip Stick Toy! These toys are designed to look like prey and double-bagged to stand up to your cat’s sharpest claws and teeth. Plus, they’re filled with organic catnip and handmade in the USA.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
- Cardboard Cat Play Box by Charleston Crafted
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard box big enough for your cat, items such as feathers, string, pom-poms, etc.
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, packing tape, glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Felines love batting at things, so this play box should be a hit! Plus, it’s a breeze to make—in fact, if you have kiddos, this is a cat toy you can invite them to help make. First, you’ll tape up the box and cut out the sides. Next, you’ll add holes at the top of the box to hang things. Finally, let those creative juices flow and create all sorts of fun, dangly items for your kitty to play with! String up some feathers or make fun shapes out of pipe cleaner, whatever strikes your fancy.
Materials: Cardboard box big enough for your cat, items such as feathers, string, pom-poms, etc.
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, packing tape, glue
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This play box should provide hours of fun for your favorite feline!
- 2-Minute DIY Toy by Thrifty Jinxy
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper roll
Tools: Scissors, glue (optional)
Difficulty Level: Beginner
As the name indicates, this cardboard cat toy is quick to make! That means if you have several empty toilet paper rolls lying around, you can make a few at a time in less than 10 minutes. All you need to do is cut your tube into a few rings, then shape them into a sphere shape. Voila, cat toy complete! You can add a bit of glue to hold the rings together if you’d like, but your cats might have more fun figuring out how to take the rings apart. Experiment to see which they enjoy more!
Materials: Toilet paper roll
Tools: Scissors, glue (optional)
Difficulty Level: Beginner
- Whack-a-Mole Cat Toy Game by Joeyful Dog and Cat
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard, popsicle sticks
Tools: Compass, ruler, power drill, hot glue gun, pencil, X-acto blade, scissors
Difficulty Level: Advanced
This whack-a-mole game is a bit more difficult to make than the last one on our list, but with a lot of measuring and a touch of patience, you should have a toy your cat adores. Unlike the previous whack-a-mole game, where you used skewers to play with your pet, this toy creates a whack-a-mole your cat can do by itself. Not only will this cardboard cat toy entertain kitty, but you’ll have loads of fun watching your pet. Just ensure the cardboard you use for this is sturdy because chances are your feline will jump on top of it at some point.
Materials: Cardboard, popsicle sticks
Tools: Compass, ruler, power drill, hot glue gun, pencil, X-acto blade, scissors
Difficulty Level: Advanced
And even though it’s a tiny bit harder than the last, you’ll be able to follow along step-by-step with the video tutorial.
- Cardboard String Cat Toy by I Love Green Grass
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard, yarn or thin rope
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, thick needle
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Here’s another easy-peasy cardboard cat toy that you can assemble in only three steps! This toy involves cutting out some cardboard circles and stringing them together. The nice thing with this one is that you can either keep the string short, so your cat can play with the toy on the floor, or you can have a longer string so you’re able to dangle the toy for your cat.
Materials: Cardboard, yarn or thin rope
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, thick needle
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Whichever way you choose to play with your pet, your feline should enjoy this cardboard string toy!
- DIY Cardboard Cat Play House by Martha Stewart
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 3 cardboard boxes, template
Tools: Pencil, bone folder, ruler, X-acto blade, cutting mat, hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Advanced
There aren’t many steps to this one, but it’s definitely more involved than most of the cat toys listed here (and it’s a Martha Stewart plan), so we’re labeling it as advanced. You’ll find the door and window templates on the website, so you’re ready to begin once you download those. With the template, you can cut out windows and a door for your cat to get through; then, you can start assembling the rest of the playhouse.
Materials: 3 cardboard boxes, template
Tools: Pencil, bone folder, ruler, X-acto blade, cutting mat, hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Advanced
This cat play house will take a bit of time, but it’ll be well worth it to see your favorite furry friend having a blast!
- Pom Pom Cardboard Tube Toy by One Crazy House
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper or paper towel tubes, pom poms, string, pipe cleaners
Tools: Hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Beginner
As you’ve probably ascertained by now, cardboard tubes are incredibly versatile and excellent to use for cardboard cat toys. This toy plan involves using empty cardboard tubes and either poking holes in them to push pipe cleaners through or gluing pom poms onto the outsides. You can even go further and pick other fun things to go through or on the tubes, such as feathers.
Materials: Toilet paper or paper towel tubes, pom poms, string, pipe cleaners
Tools: Hot glue gun
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Any way you choose to decorate, these simple toys will keep your kitty engaged!
- Interactive Kitten Box by Jonasek The Cat
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 22 x 22 x 5 cm box, small ball (like a ping pong ball)
Tools: Duct tape, scissors or X-acto blade
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This interactive kitten box looks like it would be moderately challenging to accomplish, but it’s really not. Following the video tutorial, you’ll find you only need to put some tape around your box, then cut out some fun shapes—including one that’s large enough for your ball to fit through. Place the ball inside, and you’re done!
Materials: 22 x 22 x 5 cm box, small ball (like a ping pong ball)
Tools: Duct tape, scissors or X-acto blade
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This toy is so simple, yet it will keep your kitten entertained for ages as it bats around the ball and attempts to get it out.
- DIY Cardboard Ball Toy by Instructables
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 2mm thick cardboard
Tools: Glue, scissors, compass
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Make a toy for your kitty that’s quick, easy, and loads of fun! All you have to do to create this ball is cut out a bunch of same-size circles and glue them together. It really couldn’t be easier. You’ll probably need to shape the toy into more of a ball shape once the glue is dry, but then it’s ready to hand over to your favorite feline. They’ll love rolling this around, playing fetch, and even sharpening their nails on it!
Materials: 2mm thick cardboard
Tools: Glue, scissors, compass
Difficulty Level: Beginner
- Box Fort for Cats by Kitty Cat Chronicles
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Cardboard boxes
Tools: Scissors, box cutter, duct or packing tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
You’d think a fort would be more difficult to make, but with this plan, it’s a breeze! You’ll need to develop a design of sorts for your fort, then cut out door holes that match up with each other. Once that’s finished, you can tape your boxes together into a nifty area where your cat can wander around and play in.
Materials: Cardboard boxes
Tools: Scissors, box cutter, duct or packing tape
Difficulty Level: Beginner
This one will likely end up being on the larger side, so ensure you have the space for it before you begin.
- DIY Mega Puzzle Toy by Cat Lessons
Check Instructions Here
Materials: Toilet paper or paper towel rolls (about 150), cat-sized basket for making the shape
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, hot glue gun, clothespins
Difficulty Level: Beginner
You’ll need to save up a lot of toilet paper rolls for this one, but once you’ve managed that, you’ll easily be able to put together a fun and engaging puzzle toy! This one will be time-consuming as you’re going to be gluing a ton of cardboard tubes together, but your pet will absolutely love this. Once you have everything glued together, randomly add a few treats to the insides of some of the tubes. Then, sit back and watch your cat figure out where all the treats are!
Materials: Toilet paper or paper towel rolls (about 150), cat-sized basket for making the shape
Tools: Scissors or X-acto blade, hot glue gun, clothespins
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Final Thoughts
Cat toys can get expensive to buy, especially if your cat is picky about what it’ll play with or uses toys for a short time before ditching them altogether. So, why not make a few quick, easy cardboard cat toys for your furry friend? With the plans above, you can create a good variety of cat toys, no matter your skill level, and pretty soon, your kitty will have more toys than it knows what to do with!
You might want to read next:
- 10 Awesome DIY Cardboard Box Cat Beds
- 15 DIY Projects to Make for Your Cat (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: ginkoveyka, Freepik
