DIY toy guide
Frozen Catnip Ice Lantern
A small toy or catnip pinch frozen inside an ice block for a batting, licking game on a hot day
Freeze a pinch of catnip or a favourite lightweight toy into a block of ice and your cat gets a cooling, ever-changing puzzle: batting the slippery block around the floor, licking it down and pouncing as the treasure inside is slowly revealed — enrichment and heat relief in one.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes + freezing
- Cost
- £0 (things you have)
🧺 You will need
- A small plastic tub, cup or silicone mould
- Plain water
- A pinch of dried catnip, or a small waterproof toy such as a plastic ball
- A tiled floor, tray or lick mat to catch the meltwater
🔧 How to make it
- Half-fill the tub with water and freeze it until solid to make a base layer.
- Set a pinch of catnip or a small toy on top of the frozen base, add a little more water to hold it in place and freeze again.
- Top up with water to cover and freeze fully so the treasure sits in the middle of the block.
- Turn the ice block out onto a tray, tiled floor or lick mat where the melt can drain.
- Let your cat bat, chase and lick the block on a warm day, and mop up the puddle once they lose interest.
💡 Tips
The moving, melting block is far more interesting than a static toy — it slides unpredictably and rewards patience as the catnip or toy emerges. Use only a lightweight toy your cat already plays with safely, and make the block cat-paw sized so it is easy to push. In very hot weather a plain water block with nothing inside still works as a cool thing to paw at.
📝 Notes
One of the cheapest ways to cool an indoor cat in a heatwave while giving its brain a job — it costs nothing but a little water and a few minutes, and every block behaves slightly differently as it melts.