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How to make fabric cat toys with leftover scrap material and filling. These makes are ‘purr-fect’ if you are a busy crafter as you will probably have these sorts of the things lying around!

These make great gifts for friends with fur babies or furry friends. Colours and finishes of the toys can be customised, as long as they pet safe, to the aesthetic of the human owner.

What you need to make fabric cat toys

What you need to make fabric cat toys varies from project to project but if you have these key items you’ll be creating in no time

• fabric-denim, felt, cotton and old sweatshirts all work well
• pet safe stuffing
• cat nip
• wool
• thread
• needles or a sewing machine
• bells
• decorative items

How to make fabric cat toys-No Sew

These cat toys are super simple to make and need no sewing.

• Pom Poms
• Plaits
• Twists
• Felt Feathers

Pom poms

Create pom poms using a pom pom maker. When you tie the wool to complete be sure to leave the length long enough to dangle without getting your hands scratched!

Twists

Twists are simple and perfect for cats who like to ping balls around. Take two strips of fabric and sprinkle some cat nip in the middle. Then tie once in a simple knot. It will look a bit like a sweet when it is finished!

Plaits

These plaits can be quite strong and can even work for small dogs. Pick three materials and cut them into strips. The finished plait will be about a third of the original length so consider this when cutting. Plait the strips together tightly. Then knot each end.

Felt Feathers

Using flat felt and a bell you can create a dangly toy many cats will enjoy chasing. Cut a small and a large feather shape from felt with soft cut edges. Wrap the top of this with decorative thread and loop on a bell as you wrap. Cut the thread at a safe dangling size. If you want to a quick stitch does help secure the thread in place.

How to make fabric cat toys-Sewn

These cat toys take a little more crafting in the form of sewing-either by hand or with machine. Any of these can have cat nip added or not depending on preference.

• Denim Sardines
• Fabric Mice
• Fabric fish or whales
• Felt fish, mouse or owls

Denin Sardines

Denim is a tough long lasting material but it can also be tough to sew. Cut thin fish shapes from denim and place stuffing inside. Sew them together on the outside using blanket stitches. We added a single sequin as an eye detail.

Fabric Mice

These fabric mice were created using an old cotton shirt and denim on the base. With three pieces sewn together right side to right side. Turned out and then stuffed. A small wool tail can be added where the mice are sewn closed.

The bottom of the mice is an almost oval, with one end (tail) more rounded and one end (nose) more pointed. Each side is then a flip of the other, with the shape featuring a flat bottom and curved top going from the round bottom to a pointy nose. Think sugar mice.

Fabric Fish/Whales

We created these with the same shirt but each shape (fish or whale) only has 2 pieces. Two identical but reserved sides, sewn together right side to right side, turned out, stuffed and finished.

The fish feature small scraps of bobbly wool along the sewn edge. While the whales have sequined eyes.

Felt fish, mice and owls

The last three are all created similarly with finishing decorative touches of feathers, applique felt and fabric pens.

First cut two pieces of your desired shape in flat felt and sew them together (wrong side to wrong side), leaving a small hole. This is where you stuff the toy and add any details like tails (so think about where you would leave the gap before you start). Decorate as required.

If you are attaching an owl beak and wings this is easiest to do on the flat felt before assembly.