In this guide, you’ll discover 17 DIY cat accessories that are both fun and functional, based on feline behavior science and what naturally stimulates their instincts — textures, movement, and scent.
Why DIY Cat Accessories Are Worth Making
For years, cat owners have debated: buy expensive pet store toys or create something special at home? The modern solution is DIY Cat Accessories.
| DIY Benefits | Why It Matters for Cats |
|---|---|
Cost Savings | More budget for quality food and vet care while still providing enrichment |
Customization | Tailor toys to your cat’s specific preferences (textures, sizes, sounds) |
Safety Control | You know exactly what materials and chemicals are in the toy |
Mental Stimulation | DIY puzzles can be more complex than store-bought options |
🛡️ Safety Rules Before You Start (Critical)
Never leave ribbons, yarn, or strings unattended. If swallowed, they can cause fatal intestinal blockage.
Ensure all paints, glues, and fabrics are non-toxic and pet-safe. Avoid essential oils which can be toxic to cats.
Any toy with small parts, feathers, or strings should only be used during supervised playtime.
All toy parts should be larger than your cat’s throat to prevent choking hazards.
If making collars, always use breakaway buckles that release under pressure to prevent strangulation.
Check homemade toys regularly for wear and tear, removing them if they become damaged.
The 15+ DIY Cat Accessories Ideas
🏗️ 1. Cardboard Cat Tunnel Maze
A customizable fortress that encourages exploration and hiding.
- Shy cats who need security
- Multiple cats who love tag
- 3-5 cardboard boxes (various sizes)
- Packing tape (strong)
- Box cutter
- Clean the boxes of any staples or shipping labels
- Cut circular holes in the sides of the boxes (ensure they are large enough for your cat to pass through easily)
- Line up the holes of different boxes and tape them together securely from the outside
- Cut “peek-a-boo” windows in random spots for paw swipes
🪶 2. Feather Wand Toy (Supervised Only)
Mimics a bird in flight to trigger the chase instinct.
- Energetic cats and kittens
- A wooden dowel (12-18 inches)
- Cotton cord or leather strip
- Feathers
- Non-toxic glue
- Sand the wooden dowel to prevent splinters
- Tie the cord securely to one end of the dowel; reinforce with a dab of glue
- Tie feathers to the other end of the cord
🧦 3. No-Sew Sock Catnip Toy
The perfect way to upcycle that one sock that lost its partner.
- Cats who love to “bunny kick” and wrestle
- One clean sock (no holes)
- Poly-fill stuffing (or crinkle paper)
- Dried catnip
- Mix the stuffing with a generous amount of catnip
- Stuff the sock until it is firm and sausage-shaped
- Tie a very tight knot at the ankle of the sock
🧻 4. Toilet Roll Treat Puzzle
A foraging toy that forces the cat to manipulate the object to get food.
- Food-motivated cats and fast eaters
- Empty toilet paper roll
- Dry kibble or treats
- Fold one end of the roll inward to close it off
- Place treats inside
- Fold the other end closed
- Cut 2-3 small holes in the side of the tube (slightly larger than the kibble)
🔴 5. Bottle Cap Rattle
A fast-moving, noisy toy that skitters across hardwood floors.
- Kittens and high-prey drive cats
- Two plastic bottle caps
- A few grains of dry rice or a bead
- Strong tape (washi or electrical)
- Place the rice/bead inside one cap
- Place the second cap on top to form a seal
- Tape the two caps together tightly
📦 6. DIY Scratching Board
Saves your sofa by providing a dedicated scratching surface.
- All cats (scratching is a biological need)
- Lots of cardboard
- Non-toxic glue
- Box cutter
- Cut cardboard into long strips of identical height (e.g., 2 inches wide)
- Tightly roll one strip into a spiral
- Glue the end, then start the next strip where the last one ended, continuing the spiral until you have a large disk
- Place inside a box lid or on the floor
🧣 7. No-Sew Fleece Blanket
A super soft, warm mat for the couch or carrier.
- Senior cats who need warmth for joints
- Two pieces of fleece fabric (same size)
- Scissors
- Lay the two fabric pieces on top of each other
- Cut a 3-inch square out of each corner
- Cut fringe strips (1 inch wide, 3 inches deep) along all sides
- Tie the top fringe piece to the bottom fringe piece using a double knot. Go all the way around
👕 8. Sweater Cat Bed (Donut Style)
Turns your old scent (which comforts your cat) into a bed.
- Anxious cats or clingy pets
- Old sweatshirt or sweater
- Stuffing (pillows or old clothes)
- Needle and thread (or yarn)
- Sew the neck opening closed
- Sew a line across the chest, from armpit to armpit
- Stuff the sleeves and the “neck” area firmly
- Stuff the belly area (this is the cushion)
- Sew the bottom of the sweater closed
- Bring the sleeves around to form a ring and sew the cuffs together. Sew the ring to the body
🪟 9. Window Perch with Board + Suction Cups
“Cat TV” access for bird watching.
- Indoor cats in apartments
- Sturdy wooden board
- Heavy-duty industrial suction cups (check weight rating)
- L-brackets
- Cushion
- Attach L-brackets to the board
- Attach suction cups to the brackets
- Clean the window thoroughly with alcohol
- Mount and test with heavy books before letting the cat on
- Velcro a cushion to the top
🧁 10. Slow Feeder (Muffin Tin)
Prevents “scarf and barf” by spreading food out.
- Overweight cats or speed eaters
- Standard muffin tin
- Tennis ball or ping pong balls (optional)
- Clean the tin
- Divide one meal portion of kibble among the 12 cups
- To make it harder, place a tennis ball or ping pong ball on top of the food cups so they have to move it
🍽️ 11. Raised Feeding Stand
Elevates bowls to reduce neck strain and aid digestion.
- Senior cats with arthritis or cats with reflux
- A sturdy decorative box, wooden crate, or plastic container
- Jigsaw or box cutter
- Trace the outline of your cat’s food bowls onto the top of the box
- Cut a circle slightly smaller than the rim of the bowl so the bowl rests on top
- Sand the edges of the cut
- Place bowls in
🏺 12. Treat Jar with Name Label
Keeps treats fresh and looks cute on the counter.
- Organization lovers
- Glass mason jar
- Chalkboard paint or vinyl stickers
- Paint a rectangle on the jar with chalkboard paint (or apply vinyl)
- Write the cat’s name or “Treats”
- Fill with treats
🧤 13. Lint-Roller Grooming Mitt
Removes loose fur while petting your cat.
- Cats who hate brushes but love pets
- An old rubber dishwashing glove or gardening glove
- Double-sided tape or velcro strips
- Put on the glove
- Wrap double-sided tape around the palm and fingers (sticky side out)
- Pet the cat. Peel off tape when full of fur
📿 14. Breakaway Cat Collar (Fabric)
A stylish, custom-sized collar.
- Indoor cats (for ID tags)
- Soft cotton fabric strip
- D-ring
- Slide adjuster
- Breakaway Buckle (Critical)
- Sew the fabric into a long, thin tube and turn right-side out
- Thread the buckle, slide adjuster, and D-ring onto the fabric
- Sew the ends securely, ensuring the adjustable mechanism works
🪵 15. DIY Cat Scratching Board (Wall-Mounted)
Cats stretch upward to mark territory; this saves your doorframes.
- Large breeds (Maine Coons) who need a good stretch
- Plywood board
- Sisal rope (not chemically treated)
- Staple gun
- Screws for wall mounting
- Staple the start of the rope to the back of the board
- Wrap the rope tightly around the board, hammering rows down so there are no gaps
- Staple the end on the back
- Screw the board into the wall studs at the height of your cat’s full stretch
🏷️ Bonus. Name Tag / Charm
Custom bling for the collar.
- Style points
- Shrink plastic sheets (Shrinky Dinks) or metal stamping blank
- Draw the design and write the name/number (remember it will shrink to 1/3 size)
- Punch a hole before baking
- Bake according to package instructions
- Seal with clear nail polish and attach to collar with a split ring
🧠 Comparison — Which Projects Fit Your Cat
| Idea | Category | Difficulty | Supervision Required? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Maze | Play | Easy | Optional | Shy/Curious cats |
| Feather Wand | Play | Easy | YES | Energetic hunters |
| Sock Toy | Play | Easy | No | Bunny-kickers |
| Treat Puzzle | Enrichment | Very Easy | No | Food-motivated cats |
| Sweater Bed | Comfort | Medium | No | Seniors / Snugglers |
| Window Perch | Comfort | Advanced | Initially | Bird watchers |
| Muffin Tin | Feeding | Easy | No | Fast eaters |
| Breakaway Collar | Practical | Advanced | No | Indoor ID |
| Wall Scratcher | Practical | Medium | No | Furniture scratchers |
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Problems
- It might smell like “glue” or “human.” Put the toy in a bag with dried catnip for 24 hours to marinate.
- Try playing at dawn or dusk (their natural hunting times).
- Take it as a compliment! They loved it. For the future, use stronger materials like denim or canvas.
- Reinforce seams with double stitching.
- Location is everything. Move the bed to a corner, a high spot, or a sunbeam.
- Place a worn t-shirt of yours inside to make it smell safe.
- Place the DIY board directly in front of the spot they are scratching on the sofa.
- Use double-sided tape on the sofa to deter them, steering them to the board.
❓ FAQs
Generally, yes, but kittens chew on everything. Avoid small plastic parts (like the bottle cap rattle) for very young kittens, and stick to soft fabric toys or cardboard.
Cats get “toy fatigue.” Keep a few toys out and hide the rest. Rotate them every 3–5 days to keep the excitement alive.
100% yes. Indoor cats can get hooked on window blinds, furniture springs, or handles. A breakaway clip ensures they can free themselves if they get stuck.
It is best to avoid Cyanoacrylate (superglue) as it can be toxic if ingested in liquid form and is very hard when dry (sharp edges). Stick to non-toxic hot glue or wood glue.
🎯 Conclusion
It saves money, reduces waste, and most importantly, it deepens the bond you share. Whether you start with a simple toilet roll puzzle or graduate to a wall-mounted scratching post, your cat will appreciate the effort (usually by sleeping in the box the supplies came in, but hey, that counts too!).
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📚 Sources & Credibility Notes
