A Simple Toy For Your Pet Cat That You Can Make Yourself

Our pet cats love to play, and it's easy to spend a lot of money on toys to keep them amused. Some of the best toys are those that are self-propelled, these trigger those hunting instincts within our cats. The trouble is, just like kids, they will still get bored with them after a while.

Here's a classic children's toy that can be made very simply, from common household items, that will do just that!

What you'll need:

Empty cotton reel

One candle

A common matchstick

Rubber Band (approx. 6 cm long)

A pencil cut to roughly 10 cms

The toy is based on the old fashioned "toy tank". Firstly, cut notches into the lip at both ends of the reel (if it's a wooden one). Space them equally arounf the reel, about one centimetre apart, these will give it grip as it moves around the floor. If you're using a plastic reel, use a file to make the notches.

Next, thread the rubber band through the centre of the reel, allowing the band to stick out of both ends. Cut the matchstick, so you have a piece that is just slightly shorter than the width of the reel, place it through a loop at one of the rubber band and pull the other end so that it presses tightly against face of the reel. Fix this in place with a small piece of sticky tape.

Next you'll need to trim about 15 mm off the bottom of the candle, then using the blade from a pair of scissors, make a hole through the centre that's wide enough to take the rubber band. Feed the free end of the rubber band through the candle and tie it off to hold the candle.

To finish, push the pencil between the knot and candle, through the rubber band loop.

Job done. All you need to do is wind up the rubber band using the pencil (approximately 20 times should do). Position it near your pet and watch the fun begin.

Ring the changes:

For added interest you can tape a piece of leather to the barrel of the cotton reel so it makes a "slapping' sound as it moves. Or, even better, if you have some cat mint in the garden, tape this to the barrel of the cotton reel, this will provide extra cat pulling power!

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