Have you ever bought your cat a fancy present to find that they are more interested in playing with the box it came in?
If this sounds familiar then you are going to love my ‘Top 12 Budget Toys’ list.
No.1
All my cats love these, one of the easiest toys to make and yet still a firm favourite. Just get a couple of pipe cleaners, a little bit of wool and tie into a spider. Hours of fun for very little cost. You can even buy them ready made at cat shows for a few pennies and support your cat club and rescue organisations.
No.2
So if your cats are anything like mine then they love to play fetch. Just roll up a piece of newspaper or foil into a ball and your cats will go bananas for their new toy. A great way to interact with your cat and also excellent for giving them some exercise. If you need them to play without your help then try with a ping pong ball. Costs next to nothing but your cats will love it.

No.3
I learned quickly when my cats ignored my shop bought toys that I would have been better off just giving them the box. So that’s exactly what I started doing. Bonus tip cut some holes in the box, seal it back up and watch your cat hide, jump and have a ball.
One quick word of warning . . . watch out for swiping ninja paws on your way past.
No.4
Now have you ever seen a cat who did not like playing with killing a feather? No, neither have I. Great for playing one to one with you cats as they make an excellent teaser and cost nothing. Depending where you live you can either pick a great feather up on a walk or buy one from a stall at a cat show. Cost is very minimal.
No.5
You can very often find cheap cat toys in your local discount store or on eBay. They cost so little that it would be a shame not to include them on the list. My cats love them all but to keep things exciting for them I rotate them. By swapping the toys about every day it’s like they get a new toy every single day.

No.6
An excellent way to keep your cats entertained with let’s face it, a throw away toy. Cut the end of the toilet roll, fold back and you now have a . . . to be honest I don’t have a name for it . . . but the cats don’t care as they love it! Use empty toilet and kitchen rolls, either will do the job and your cats will love them.
No.7
You can pick up a tickle stick on eBay, a pet store or a cat show. They cost very little indeed and are one of the best gifts you can give your cats. Your cat will have great fun leaping around trying to catch the string which is great for exercise, stimulation and also good fun. If your cat could ask for just one toy then I think this would be top of the list.
No.8
Okay this one is a bit lazy but still deserves a place on the list as in my experience . . . cats go wild for it! Just fold a small piece of old newspaper up, tie a piece of string around the middle and your good to go. The weight of the paper helps when you jerk the string about plus your cat can bite, scratch and wrestle to their hearts content.

No.9
Now this one is way cool, takes a little more effort but is easily doable. Pick up a length of sisal rope from a cat show stall or via the internet, its dirt cheap for a short length.
Visit this page to see how this excellent low cost and hard wearing toy is made.
No.10
Use an old baby sock which you can easily pick up for next to nothing at a charity shop.
Fill with catnip, sew or tie the end and you’re done. So easy to make yet your cat will absolutely love it.
No.11
Do you have a comfy t-shirt that has perhaps become a little too comfy? Well rather than throw it out why not make it into a toy for your cat. Just cut it into strips and bunch
5 or 6 of them together. Tie a couple of granny knots and voila you have a quick and easy toy that, believe me, your cat will love.

No.12
This toy is very easy to make. All you need is a pair of scissors, a pencil and piece of cardboard box. Draw and then cut out the mouse from you piece of cardboard. Then just slide the two pieces together. If your cat truly kills the toy you can just throw it away and make a new one.
One thing to remember with any toy for your cat . . .
. . . your cat could not care less how much the toy costs, all they want is something and/or somebody to play with.
Can you let me know which toys you made and which ones your cat preferred. Just drop me a quick message via Facebook or through the site. I would love to see some photos.
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