Home-made Cat Toys

nes

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Tasha has adopted one of my knitted mice as her security blanket
Even if you can't see Tasha, if you see that disgusting blue & white thing she's in the room somewhere. (I wish I could share the pattern but it's copyrighted)

Does anyone know how to make those crinkly balls?
Or have any other really good home-made cat toys?

I made the kitten a puzzle box but DS took it & won't give it back
(although he just takes the lid off, not much challenge there!).

I'm always trying to find easy to make and cheap cat toys to give to our local shelter but I can never find anything that seems suitable.
 

tierre0

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Oddly enough my guys most loved toys are as follows. Sassy has a shoebox that he likes to push around the house with his head...
Linus will spend hours jumping in and out of a paper bag.
Pixie like crinkled up tin foil..
They also have tons of other toys as well they play with but can pretty much make anything do in a pinch.
 

darkmavis

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I make super simple cat toys sometimes, just a little square/rectangle/triangle pillow with polyfil stuffing and catnip inside. Sometimes a tail, sometimes not.

I started making some for the first time in a long time a few days ago, and then tried again last night but my sewing machine kept getting stuck and i ended up with a ball of thread!! Several times! I know next to nothing about sewing, got the machine for free, so i am frustrated and don't know what to do about fixing it. Grr.

Genever puked on her store-bought pink knitted mouse who i call Mrs. Jinglemouse 2 nights ago and I think i should just throw it out, I tried cleaning it and it's still drying out but I am thinking should toss it. Do you make knitted mice for sale???
 

sk_pacer

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The barn cats adore their twine mice. I take a length of twine from a large bale and braid it. I make another, longer braided bit, and attach that to the shorter bit and wind and tie the short braided twine into a 'mouse' that can be led about or thrown and dragged back. House cats have a fishing pole toy with a ball...they are spoiled
 
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nes

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I think that means you need to increase the tension on your machine? I always have the same problem! I hate machine sewing!!

I'm not sure if I could make them for sale or not because of the copyright on the pattern (it's all so ridiculous!!!). There are lots of free mice patterns out & about though as long as you know your basic stitches
.

I use all cotton to make mine so if they eat some fibres it's not a BIG deal, so I throw them in the wash. It's rainy today so perhaps I should get off my butt, find my knitting, and go back on my butt to start some more
.

I didn't think I had any pictures but I was wrong! This one has bad ears though.

(It's from Stitch 'n B**** if anyone is interested
)
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by DarkMavis

I started making some for the first time in a long time a few days ago, and then tried again last night but my sewing machine kept getting stuck and i ended up with a ball of thread!! Several times! I know next to nothing about sewing, got the machine for free, so i am frustrated and don't know what to do about fixing it. Grr.
Sounds like you have the tension wrong and/or are trying to put too much fabric through. You also need to make sure you're using good quality thread. I suggest that either you get to researching online - surely you can find sites with pictures to help you, or see if there's anyone locally teaching sewing classes. Most people can use a little extra money right now so I'm pretty sure you could find someone to teach you if you asked around.


As for the mouse toy that won't dry, let the hot sun do it for you.



I've made various toys from fur, fake fur, fleece, burlap, yarn pompoms doll thingies, etc. The favorite shape seems to be smaller, roundish, and that perfect weight so that a cat can send a toy airborne.

I have a fleece ball I recently bought that I want to try making copies of. If successful I may make another and take pictures of how I made it.

My cats have a couple knitted mice that they love.. but the they've nearly destroyed them.
I don't knit.

Originally Posted by Nes

I'm not sure if I could make them for sale or not because of the copyright on the pattern (it's all so ridiculous!!!). There are lots of free mice patterns out & about though as long as you know your basic stitches
.
If you had a few people on here willing to pay a little for them and shipping, and you didn't open a store/advertise, I don't think you'd have a problem. Shipping would probably be the biggest hassle.
 

darkmavis

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To Nes: That looks so much better than Mr. & Mrs. Jinglemouse! Awesome!
Except for no bell on the tail, which could easily be added later... I better not let Genever see that, she'll be whining for me to get her one!
I wish i could knit!! I should ask my grandma to teach me when i'm visiting in a few weeks if she's up to it.. (she's almost 97 so I don't know if she is still knitting and would be up for a quick lesson)

Yeah I wish i could sew too, for that matter. haha.


To strange-wings: I know Mrs. Jinglemouse will dry, I just don't know if it's germy from being puked on and I don't know why Genever's puking so much. (i posted about it in the Health forum) That's why i will probably get rid of it.

So, INCREASE the tension, as in turn the dial to a higher number? (i'm telling you, I'm clueless) All I know is it was fine til I made a GPS case 3 days ago for my BF's new GPS, and that was thick fleece plus thin fabric, so a lot of fabric, and no problems except I did change the needle to a heavier one for it, then switched it back. But then the cat toy fabric is just thin stuff, no thicker than a bed sheet really. I'll see if BF wants to help me out with it, he loves trying to fix things and all that crap. Of course knowing him, i may never get him away from it once he starts fiddling!
 

strange_wings

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If anyone is interested I did make a guide for making fleece balls in the care and grooming section.

I think it would be nice if more people were to make detailed guides.
 
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