Kitty Toys and beds

[icedtea]

Hello I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas for simple toys that I can make at home, or cheap ones, and also what is ebst for a cat bed??? Should I get a cat igloo, wicker basket, blanket, what?

[Uabassoon]

My cats favorite toys are those little furry mice, I get them at Petsmart for .99. As for beds it really depends on the cat. I've never bothered to buy a nice cat bed for my two because I don't think they would really use it. They both enjoy sleeping on my bed and they also like sleeping on my living room chairs, I did buy two small pillows and I keep one on each chair. They both seem pretty content with that.

[Laura's Babies]

For a bed, all you really need is a piece of fleece fabric, throw it where they like to sleep and they will love it.. Do you sew? There is a thread here somewhere on making the kitty beds, maybe someone still has the link and will post it for you.A bed I made for my sisters cat
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Grammy707/HPIM1795.jpg

Toys? what about a activity box? Take a box about the size of a shoe box, cut holes in it big enough for them to reach in with their paws.. have catnipped toys in it, this is one I made for mine and they have wore it out as you can see.. That tan round thing outside the box is a home made toy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Grammy707/HPIM1762.jpg

Just look around your house, you would be amazed at what can be used for cat toys.. The plastic rings off of milk jugs... Stuff a ole sock with catnip and stuffing... straws... if you sew, get some fake fur, catnip and stuffing and go to town making toys.. use plain fabric and make catnip pouches.. Catnip turns anything into a cat tod.... even small stuff animals marinated in catnip gets their attention.

[catmandu]

You can even use an Old Shoe Lace,or Crumble Up a piece of paper.
You dont have to go to a lot of expense for Cat Toys.
And put some Old Towels in a Cardboard Box,and Viola,Instant Cat Bed!!

[Felix]

Felix never sleeps in his bed he loves his fleece blankets to sleep on.As for homemade toys you can try this.

A ball of tinfoil(Its nice and shiny)
Tie something at the end of a string/rope(feather,bell,)Tie it to a door knob for hours of entertainment. :D
Large Pasta noodle(Felix loves to bat around a noodle on the kitchen floor)
Cut holes in a box and play catch me if you can with your hands or a string.


Hope these are a help.There may be tons of play toys in your home ,you will be surprised once you hunt around.Good luck with it :D

[JenBKR]

NO WICKER! Cats like wicker a little too much - we used to have a wicker chair and my two completely tore it apart.

[dab_20]

well for cat toys you cna use a simple shoe lace or peice of string. a ball of aluminum foil or paper is fun for them too.

for a bed just get a box and put some old towels in it. sometimes i like to be creative and tape a bunch of boxes together and put them upside down. put a hole in it and a few small windows. my kitten loves to play in it, it's like there own little kitty house.

[heidiv]

I have found a small fishing rod with a toy attached to the line works good for a inactive cats they love to chase the toy as you reel the line up. This is a fun game. Some of the crazy moves they make is priceless. My cats love to sleep on fleece also I just leave blankets all over our furniture. My husband loves to make blanket tents all over the furniture while we are away at work and the cats just love to play hide and seek. Milk Rings! Milk Rings! Milk Rings! they will play for hours.

[Abby&Buddy'sMom]

Here are some really inexpensive beds we have had for the kitties :D

( free box from the local grocery store )

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Helga-G-Pitacky/1-1-06abbyinbox.jpg

(cheap wicker basket with fleece insert from Wal-mart)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Helga-G-Pitacky/1-1-06buddyinbasketbright.jpg

(my computer chair..not cheap but serves as a cozy bed, as you can see)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Helga-G-Pitacky/1-1-06abbybellyup.jpg


(ok..this one is not really a good recomendation , but it can be used as a bed ,I suppose)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Helga-G-Pitacky/Abbyinkitchendrawer.jpg

and finally a free box from costco serves as a very cozy place.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid160/p19e6b239e0a872fc3359fda37abdaae1/f4df7f25.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid160/pfff34bff8fb23074439792fd52e56791/f4df7c7b.jpg

Hope this was of some help to you.

[Abby&Buddy'sMom]

I forgot to add , Yes blankets do make good resting places too:

Sometimes on top of the blankets ( as demonstrated below ;) )

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid160/p9ec1016903a9fd29821dcb85c2b451cc/f4df7d2d.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Helga-G-Pitacky/buddy-longonchair2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Helga-G-Pitacky/kissies.jpg

Or cuddled up underneath the blanket ( again, as demonstrated below )

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid159/p2ce4d890215fe60eff8912ef18e8433b/f4fe4177.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pc450e2d329829c5c58a618e803e1d2cd/f5113c32.jpg

[critters]

We like kids''s sleeping bags; I get them at Salvation Army for $2. They're warm (I put the flannel side up), soft, and very easily washed. The biggest hit at the moment are 2 of those foam chairs for kids, which have nice, furry covers; one was $1; the other was $3.

I LOVE the toy ideas and will be trying some soon. I bought 2 of the Wal-Mart connecting cubes, but I don't think they get much use. They like boxes better! :)

[smokey the elder]

My cats like old film containers with beads or kibble inside to make noise, as well as bottle caps. I have box and bag kitties too. Smokey the Elder had a shoestring that I swear she took to the Rainbow Bridge with her, since it disappeared after she passed on!

[bleupurrs]

I have to share my 'grandkitty's' favorite toy. My daughter rescued an adorable orange tabby when she was a poor college student. She made him a toy with a shoe string and a piece of aluminium foil. She formed the foil tightly into a ball around one end and tied the other end to a door knob.
His name is Virgil, and he is now 7 yrs. old and has a house full of toys, but his favorite is still the foil on a shoestring.

[bleupurrs]

and-d-d.... Virgil loves boxes, any shape or size. This is his latest Christmas present...