DIY toy guide
Shower-Ring Chain Batting Toy
Link a few plastic curtain rings into a clacking chain to bat and carry
Plastic shower-curtain rings clip together into a light, clattery chain that skids across the floor when batted and is just the right size for a cat to hook a paw through and carry off.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Cost
- Under £2
🧺 You will need
- 4–6 plastic shower-curtain rings (the smooth C-clip kind)
- Optional: a strip of fleece to knot through one ring
🔧 How to make it
- Clip the first two rings together so they interlock.
- Keep clipping rings on until you have a short chain of four to six.
- Make sure every clip is fully closed so the rings can't spring open.
- If you like, knot a short fleece strip through the end ring for extra grab and drag.
- Toss it across a hard floor and let your cat chase the clatter, or dangle it for a swat.
💡 Tips
Hard floors bring this toy to life — the rings skitter and clack, which mimics scuttling prey. Rotate it out of sight for a few days now and then so it feels new again when it reappears.
Safety: Use smooth plastic rings only, with no metal clasps, beads or small parts that could detach. Check periodically for cracks and bin the chain if any ring splits, since sharp plastic edges can hurt a mouth or paw. Put it away between sessions if your cat is a determined chewer.
📝 Notes
This is about the cheapest enrichment toy there is — a spare pack of curtain rings makes several. Keep one by the sofa for quick five-minute play breaks that break up a long indoor day.
