Home

DIY Cat Toys You Can Find at Home

Cat toys can be unnecessarily expensive. Using items you already own, you can provide your cat with new and fun ways to play. Look around, you may have dozens of potential cat toys that will occupy your cat for days to come!

1. Hair Ties

Cat love hair ties. You can fling them around and cats will bite them, chase them, and carry them around in their mouths

Black hair ties stacked on a flat surface.

2. Floss

Break off a long piece of floss and walk around the room. Your cat will go crazy for this minty treat! But please be careful, they may love it so much that they will digest the whole piece of floss. Definitely hide this toy when you're not around!

Johnson & Johnson Reach Mini Waxed Dental Floss Packaging

3. Paper Towel Rolls

The cardboard from paper towel or toilet paper rolls can be tons of fun for your cats. They can stick their paws through the hole or they can roll it around the room.

Roll of mesh material on a white surface.

4. Crumpled Up Pieces of Paper

Cats love items they can roll around and chase after. Crumpled up pieces of paper are no exception. Throw a few around and watch your cat chase after it in delight!

Cat playing with a pink object on wooden floor.

5. A Cardboard Box

Everyone knows that cats love boxes. Try leaving a few empty ones around and let your cat hide and play in and around the box.

Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates are packed with new features, and you can try them before almost everyone else. First, check Gadget Hacks' list of supported iPhone and iPad models, then follow the step-by-step guide to install the iOS/iPadOS 26 beta — no paid developer account required.