DIY Catnip Cat Toy - A Super Easy Cat Pillow Kicker

Homemade Catnip Cat Toy

Buying cat toys from the cat toy aisle of the pet store can be pricey.  You can save lots of money by making cat toys yourself.  Cats love catnip so make your furry friend a few catnip pillow kicker toy.   Each pillow is the purrfect toy to keep your cat entertained for hours.

Catnip is a euphoric herb for cats.  When a cat smells catnip it stimulates their senses, elevates boredom and makes them a little crazy.

DIY catnip pillow rolls or kickers are surprisingly simple and cheap to sew.  If you have about 15 minutes, a sewing machine, scrap fabric, polyester fiberfill, catnip along with minor sewing skills you can whip up a catnip toy to get your cat playing in no time.

For other cat toys and projects, you can make yourself, go to our DIY Pet Projects page.

Learn how to make a catnip cat kicker by watching our video or continue reading this article for a step-by-step photo tutorial.

INSTRUCTIONS for making a catnip toy:

STEP 1: Cut Fabric

To begin making the homemade catnip cat toy, cut a piece of cotton, fleece or flannel fabric into an 8" x 12" rectangular.

Every sewer has a stash of scrap fabric so this project is an excellent way to use up some of those scraps.

STEP 2: Fold Short Ends

Once the fabric is cut, go to the ironing board and press the short ends under to the wrong side 1/2 inch.

STEP 3: Fold and Sew

Fold the fabric lengthwise with pretty sides together aligning the raw edges and pin the fabric in place.  The piece should measure approximately 4 inches x 11 inches.

At the sewing machine and using a straight stitch, sew along the long side using a 1/2" seam allowance.  You now have a fabric tube.

Turn the fabric tube right side out.

STEP 4: Edgestitch

On one short end, edgestitch making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.    Edgestitching is a straight line of stitches made along the edge of the fabric.  Our edgestitch tutorial may be helpful.

STEP 5: Stuff

Stuff the fabric tube with about 1 inch of polyester polyfill stuffing, add some dried catnip, add more polyester fill, more dried catnip, repeat until the roll is filled.

Finally, close the catnip roll by sewing a row of straight stitches close to the edge (edgestitching again).  

It's that easy.  The catnip toy is finished.

STEP 6: Give To Your Cat

This catnip filled toy is guaranteed to be a hit.  Your cat will love hugging, kicking and rolling all over the toy.  Play a game of cat hide and seek by hiding the catnip roll in a box or paper grocery bag.  Watch the cat as it tries to find the toy.

If you have cats on your Christmas list or you are making items for a bazaar or craft fair, these can be whipped up in no time.  This project is so simple even kids can make it.

Tell us what you think of this project.  Don't forget to bookmark or pin this page for future reference.  

Want more easy sewing projects?  Go to our Pinterest DIY Easy Sewing Projects Board.

Some other projects you may be interested in are:

• Yarn Pom Poms - A super simple cat toy that can be whipped up in about 5 minutes.
• Cat Remembrance Shadowboxes - A shadow box is the perfect container for making a pet memorial keepsake box. Learn how here.
• Mouse Cat Toy Machine Embroidery Project
• DIY Pet Bed - Sew a bed with bolster sides for your cat or dog.