DIY toy guide
Bottle-Cap Catnip Shaker
A rattly, catnip-scented pounce toy from two bottle caps
Trap a pinch of dried catnip and a couple of dry kibbles between two plastic bottle caps to make a lightweight, rattling shaker your cat can bat and chase across the floor.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- Two matching plastic bottle caps (from drinks bottles)
- A pinch of dried catnip or a few pieces of dry kibble
- Strong sticky tape or non-toxic craft glue
- Optional: a small stick-on felt pad for a softer edge
🔧 How to make it
- Wash and thoroughly dry both bottle caps.
- Put a pinch of dried catnip or two or three dry kibbles into one cap.
- Place the second cap open-side down on top so the two rims meet, forming a small closed capsule.
- Seal the join firmly all the way around with strong tape, or glue it and let it dry completely.
- Check there are no sharp edges and that the caps are held together securely with no gaps.
- Give it a shake so your cat hears the rattle, then roll or toss it across a smooth floor for a game of chase.
💡 Tips
- A smooth, hard floor lets the shaker skitter and roll unpredictably, which cats find far more exciting than carpet.
- Swap the catnip for a couple of kibbles if your cat is one of the many that does not react to catnip.
- Make two or three at once — light toys like this love to disappear under the sofa.
Safety: Inspect the shaker before each play session and throw it away the moment it starts to crack, split or come apart, as loose bottle caps or swallowed catnip filling are a choking hazard. Always supervise play with small toys, and keep it away from cats that like to chew objects to pieces.
📝 Notes
A genuinely free, five-minute toy made from recycling. The hard capsule rattles and rolls in a way that mimics scuttling prey, and the trapped scent keeps curious cats coming back. Because it is so cheap, you can simply bin and replace it as soon as it shows wear.