DIY toy guide
No-Sew Denim Catnip Kicker
A sturdy bunny-kick toy cut from an old pair of jeans
The tough denim of a worn-out pair of jeans makes an almost indestructible kicker toy — the long, firm shape cats love to grab with their front paws and rake with their back feet, stuffed with catnip and old fabric scraps.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- One leg cut from an old pair of jeans
- Clean fabric scraps or an old sock for stuffing
- A generous pinch of dried catnip
- Strong string, or a needle and thread if you prefer to sew the ends
- Scissors
🔧 How to make it
- Cut a straight tube about 20 to 25 cm long from the leg of the jeans.
- Tie or stitch one end closed tightly so nothing can work its way out.
- Stuff the tube firmly with fabric scraps, mixing a good pinch of catnip through the middle.
- Tie or stitch the second end closed just as securely, leaving a firm, sausage-shaped cushion.
- Offer it to your cat and let the bunny-kicking begin.
💡 Tips
Make the kicker long enough that your cat can hold it with the front paws while raking with the back — that full-body grapple is exactly what makes a kicker so satisfying and burns off pent-up energy.
Safety: Tie or stitch both ends very securely and check them regularly; a loose end that spills stuffing or string is a swallowing hazard. Retire the toy once the denim frays or a seam gives way, and supervise the first few play sessions.
📝 Notes
A firm kicker gives cats a legitimate outlet for the hunt-and-disembowel instinct that they might otherwise aim at your forearm, and denim outlasts almost any shop-bought version.