As we approach the holidays I cannot forget the image from last year of a husband and wife dumping handfuls of cellophane wrapped cat toys into their grocery cart. Sure the toys were cute fishes and mice made of tinsel and lame fabric but realistic for a cat to play with through the winter they were not.
The cat cannot tell the difference between a felt mouse and a felt fish so let's forget about buying toys that we recognize. Felt toys or any toy made of non-woven fabric is going to fray and become tattered almost instantly during play. Also, stuffed toys are stuffed with fiberfill material which the cat can inhale or ingest. It is just cheaper to fill the toy with "plumping" than to fill it with catnip.
An easy way to make toys that kitty will enjoy is to cut strips of cotton fabric from old shirts, pillow cases, or curtains.......any cotton fabric cut in one inch wide strips will do as long as the strips are at least 8 inches long.
Take individual fresh (not dry) catnip leaves and lay them next to each other to cover a strip of fabric. Roll the fabric, like a jelly roll with the leaves inside. Make as many of the rolls as it takes to fill a small cloth pocket. The pockets from shirts, skirts or even purses are easy to snip out.
Once the pocket is filled sew it closed. The toy is ready for kitty. Rolling the catnip releases the oils into the fabric so the herb will dry quickly and not mildew.
