DIY toy guide
Sock-Ball Catnip Kicker
A sock stuffed into a firm ball makes a bunny-kickable catnip toy
A clean sock stuffed with more socks or fabric scraps and a little catnip, then knotted into a firm oval, makes the perfect grab-bite-and-bunny-kick toy for cats that love to wrestle their prey.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- One clean, sturdy sock for the outer shell
- Fabric scraps or a couple more old socks for stuffing
- A teaspoon of dried catnip
- No thread needed — a tight knot seals it
🔧 How to make it
- Push the fabric scraps into the toe of the outer sock to build up a firm, oval kicker shape.
- Sprinkle the dried catnip into the middle of the stuffing as you fill.
- Pack it firm but not rock-hard, leaving enough sock at the top to tie.
- Knot the open end tightly, close to the stuffing, so nothing can escape.
- Trim any long tail of sock above the knot and toss it to your cat.
💡 Tips
A firm, sausage-shaped kicker is ideal because cats like to grip it with their front paws and rake it with their back feet — the classic 'bunny kick'. Refresh the catnip scent by squeezing and rolling the toy, or untie and top it up when the appeal fades.
Safety: Tie the knot securely so the stuffing cannot spill out, and use a whole sock rather than loose small pieces. Supervise heavy chewers and replace the toy if the outer sock starts to tear.
📝 Notes
It costs nothing but a stray sock and reuses odd socks that have lost their pair. Make it bigger for a large, enthusiastic kicker, or smaller and lighter for a kitten just learning to wrestle.