I have a cat and a dog that I like to spoil and interact with. So, I wanted to make some toys or items for them. Cat toys worked for my cat. I have not found something to knit for my dog yet. She is part Alaskan malamute and any type of sweater would make her too warm. Not only is the size of her body large, but her claws and teeth, too. Many toys do not last long with her before being ripped. Stuffing goes flying, too. To make her a knit toy would be a waste of time and yarn. Also, I would have a mess to clean up. I am still trying to decide what to make for her. For her, I should stick with chew toys.

Cat Toys To Hunt

My cat, on the other hand, is not quite as destructive with toys. I have made him a few toys. Besides playing with my yarn while I am knitting with it, he likes small toys to bat around. I have noticed that he tends to like my kids’ stuffies. He gravitates to the small ones, which are about the size of a baby bunny or very young kitten. I take the small stuffies back into my kids’ rooms throughout the day. A few hours later they are in different spots around the house. The chair in the living room, or the kitchen floor are popular places he chooses to leave his catch. Though, I rarely catch the culprit in action.

I found a few different patterns online for cat toys. However, really almost anything smallish that he can bat around would suffice. Polyfil stuffing and dried catnip stuffed inside make the toys even more enticing.

Ensure Cat Toys are Safe

For pet toys, is it imperative to keep in mind the pets’ safety. Small items, such as button eyes or jingle bells on the outside of the toy, pose a choking hazard. The pet could chew a small part off and swallow it unintentionally. Keep that in mind when selecting what to make, what details to use and the embellishments desired. Buttons for eyes can look cute and finish the project. However, a small puppy with sharp teeth will chew them off. Likewise, a metal bell gives similar concerns. An added element of the possibility of danger is crumpled or distorted metal cutting the inside of the pets’ mouth. Of course, there are danger possibilities with everything. Pet owners should always monitor use and inspect for the safety of any toy.

A Scare with Copper

I had a scary few days with our cat, Copper, when he swallowed something he was playing with. For a few days he kept getting sick, or trying to get sick and instead just making a horrible screaming sound. If anything came up it was pieces of a red fabric ribbon that my son was playing with a few days prior. We ended up taking him to the emergency vet. They treated him for severe dehydration and gave him meds to keep him from vomiting. The X-ray showed a wad of something in his body. We guessed it was the ribbon. After we were home we gave him meds every eight hours. Also, we had to try to force feed him baby food through a syringe.

Copper’s Outcome

Copper became very lethargic and would not eat or drink. We were so concerned for his life. The doctor told us to monitor his output for any trace of the ribbon, if there was any output. If the ribbon did not come out within a day or two, the vet suggested a return visit and possible surgery to remove it. That had a price tag in excess of $6,000! The next day or two was filled with much prayer, little sleep, lots of tears and uncertainty. Every time he would turn his head away from eating or drinking I felt discouraged. Soon, though, he did start eating, and then he ate on his own. A few days after that he started to get his strength back. Then, another few days later, the ribbon came out, thankfully. Shortly after that he was back to his normal, playful self. I certainly don’t want to go through that experience again, nor do I wish that on any pet lover. Now we try to be more cautious with what is lying around and what we see him playing with.

Creating the Bunny Toy

After ensuring as much safety as possible, it is time to gather the materials for the project. Certainly, the pattern is necessary. Also, obtain the yarn and required needles that are suggested in the pattern. Stuffing material is also needed for a cat toy. Such material includes polyfil, yarn scraps or other soft and squishy item. Dried catnip and/or silvervine can be added inside the polyfil to make a toy more enticing.

Copper has a mint green bunny filled with polyfil and some catnip that I made for him. He likes to lounge with it. I don’t really see him play with this cat toy. Instead, he licks it as he licks his own fur. Over time it has pulled at the yarn in a way that makes it look so fuzzy, I hope the felines in your life enjoy this as much as my cat does.