DIY Tutorial: Scrappy Cat Toys
Easy instructions (with FREE downloadable pattern!) to make your cat their own custom toy from fabric scraps.
Is your cat a chaotic little gremlin that needs to let out energy? Treat them to a customized toy made perfectly to their liking by you, the one who knows them best! Follow this tutorial to make a mouse-inspired cat toy from fabric scraps, bits of yarn, odds and ends, and whatever else you might have. Included is a free printable PDF sewing pattern and various modifications you can make to customize the perfect toy for your kitto. This pattern was designed, made and tested under the direct supervision of my own cats, Frida and Frito.
Materials
- Fabric scraps
- Since the pattern pieces are small, this is a perfect project to use up your scrap materials.
- Sturdy fabrics like canvas cotton, sweatshirt material, or denim are recommended to hold up over time against your cat’s claws and teeth!
- Sewing machine
- Needle and thread
- Scissors
- Filling material:
- fabric scraps
- polyfill
- foam
- optional add-ins:
- catnip
- jingle bell
- crinkly plastic
- crochet tail
- requires yarn scraps and crochet hook
Terminology
- Right side:
- the ‘right’ side of the fabric is the side that you want facing outwards in the end.
- Right sides together:
- face the right sides towards each other when sewing so these sides are exposed when the pattern is turned inside out.
- Seam allowance:
- the distance from the edge of the fabric and the stitch line. A 1/4 inch seam allowance is included in the pattern for this project.
Download Free Pattern
Click the button below to download the PDF pattern file for printing. If you don’t have access to a printer, you can also hand-trace the pattern.
Instructions
Step 2: Make the tail
If you want to include a tail for your mouse, now is the time to make it. I like to use up my scrap yarn to crochet the tails for my cat toys since it is a great way to use up those small bits of yarn.
There are lots of fun and simple ways to customize your toy with various stitches and lengths.
You can also opt not to have a tail at all, especially if your cat is the type to swallow string.
To make a simple chained tail:
- Slip stitch onto your hook and chain as many or as few as you’d like.
- Chain 100+ stitches for a toy with a lot of range to play.
- Chain 20 stitches for a toy that will be thrown around for them to chase.
To make a curly and bouncy tail:
- Chain the length you want, keeping in mind that the next row will curl the tail and make it appear shorter.
- Do a row of single crochet back to your first chain. If the tail doesn’t twist into a curl naturally, you can help it form that shape by holding one end steady and twisting the other end.
This part of the project is very customizable and I encourage you to try out some fun stitches here!
Step 3: Construct the toy
Place the right and left body pieces right sides together and sew a seam along the curved edge using a 1/4″ seam allowance. This will form the top body of your mouse.
For extra reinforcement, sew over the seam once again. I recommend sewing over your seams twice if your cat is the kind that likes to play rough or chew on their toys.
Opening up the top body of your mouse, pin the tail to the rounded side where the left and right pieces meet.
You want the tail facing the right sides of your mouse. The longer side of the tail should be facing inwards towards the pointy end of the mouse.
Sew a short line to attach the tail to the mouse.
Place the top and bottom pieces of your mouse right sides together and pin at the rounded and pointy ends.
Position the tail so that one end is poking out where we will leave a small opening. Make sure the tail is not in the way of the seam you are about to sew.
Sew around the mouse, starting at the rounded end until you reach the tip of the pointed end.
With your needle lowered, lift the presser foot of your sewing machine and turn the mouse around the point to continue sewing down the other side.
Leave an opening about an inch wide so you can turn the toy right sides out.
For extra reinforcement, sew around this seam once more, making sure to sew over the tail a few extra times.
To turn the toy right-sides out, we will pull it through the small opening we left in our seam.
Start by pulling the tail and work the toy out by pushing and pulling the fabric through the opening until it is all the way out.
Insert the end of a chopstick into the opening and use it to push the pointy end of your seam outwards.
Step 4: Fill the toy
There are tons of options for filling your toy using what you have on hand. I like to find ways I can use up my scrap materials, so I grab all my tiny fabric and yarn scraps and cut them up even smaller to make a dense filling. My cats also love catnip and toys that make sound, so I like to add in their favorite catnip and a jingle bell or bit of crinkly plastic that will make fun sounds when they play. What you put in your toy is totally up to you, and I would love to hear what you add to make your cat’s ideal toy!
Step 5: Seal the toy
Thread a needle with matching thread, tying a knot at one end.
Insert your needle into the opening and bring it up where the machine stitching ends.
Slip stitch your opening closed and gently pull your thread to tighten the seam.
Bring your needle back down next to your previous stitch, creating a loop. Bring your needle through the loop and pull taut to create a knot.
For additional reinforcement, slip stitch back along your seam to the original starting point and tie another knot.
To finish off the toy, insert your needle right next to your knot and push it through the toy to the other side.
Pull your thread taut and snip from the other side. This leaves a long tail of thread within the toy, making it very unlikely your knot will come undone.
Step 6: Enjoy the toy!
Your new toy is ready for playing with your kitto! I would absolutely love to see how your toy came out, feel free to share the result(and your cat!) with me on instagram @jacquelyn_creates. If making one of these toys isn’t in your wheelhouse, I also sell them in my shop! Each one is unique and there are options for catnip and catnip-free toys.
Safety Warning:
Make sure you monitor your cat with their new toy as the long tails can be a choking hazard if swallowed.
Put toy away when not in use.
If your toy is starting to show signs of wear and tear or has broken, you should discard it.
