DIY toy guide
Yarn-Wrapped Cardboard Ring
A cardboard ring wound with yarn makes a battable, chewable scratch toy
A ring cut from a cardboard box and wrapped tightly in leftover yarn becomes a lightweight, textured toy that cats love to bat across the floor, pin down and rub against.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- A piece of stiff cardboard
- A ball of leftover yarn or twine
- Scissors and a little non-toxic glue
🔧 How to make it
- Cut a doughnut-shaped ring about the size of your palm from stiff cardboard.
- Dab a little glue on one edge and anchor the end of the yarn.
- Wind the yarn firmly around and around the ring until the cardboard is fully covered.
- Tuck and glue the loose end down securely so nothing dangles.
- Roll it past your cat to start a game of bat-and-chase.
💡 Tips
Wind the yarn nice and tight so it does not unravel into a long strand. Rubbing a pinch of dried catnip into the wrapped surface makes the ring even more appealing.
Safety: Supervise play and retire the ring if the yarn starts to loosen — long loose threads can be swallowed and cause a dangerous internal blockage. Keep the glue well away from your cat until fully dry.
📝 Notes
Made entirely from scraps, it gives cats a satisfying texture to grip and a light object to send skittering across hard floors. Make a few in different sizes for variety.