Guide
Cat toys tested: analogue or automated - which is better?
by Darina Schweizer
These DIY cat toys won’t break the bank
22/1/2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Darina Schweizer
Think high-tech toys and fiddly contraptions make cats happy? Think again. My feline friends still prefer these simple DIY classics.
Oh, how naive I was! When my cats Jasper and Joy moved in with me a year ago, I thought I’d be able to keep them occupied with automated toys throughout the day. Convinced that sophisticated equalled better, I bought them everything from motorised UFOs to smart balls to remote-controlled mice.
Although the ideas behind many of these toys were sound, few managed to win over my cats in the long run. And the suggestions pushed by catfluencers proved to be no better. You’d practically need a master’s degree in Cardboard-ology to build some of the contraptions I came across on social media. On one occasion, I glued together an impressive feeding tower using what felt like 265 pieces of cardboard. Jasper and Joy couldn’t have been less interested in it.
With this in mind, I decided that simple, effective toys were the way to go. Here are the most popular, most straightforward DIY classics I’ve made so far.
How to make balls that crackle without aluminium foil
Let’s start with the easiest DIY project: paper balls. They take five seconds to crumple up, with rustling tissue paper producing the best results. Ideally, they won’t be big enough to frighten your cat or small enough to be swallowed. The balls I made are about four centimetres in diameter.
Joy’s especially keen on toys that make crackling or tinkling noises. So I hid a little bell inside the tissue paper, then wrapped transparent, tear-proof parcel tape around the ball several times. Be careful with this step if you’re using regular sellotape. It can easily come loose and be swallowed by your cats.
If there’s one thing Jasper likes even more than paper – unfortunately – it’s aluminium foil. The problem is, cats can injure themselves when biting on it. I’ve certainly seen red blotches left on foil balls too. So you’d be advised to give them a wide berth. My cats particularly like it when I throw a ball down a long hallway or stash it under a play mat (a great purchase, by the way!)
Verdict
Homemade paper balls keep my cats entertained for much longer than ones made of fur, soft rubber or felt. They also take just seconds to make and cost practically nothing.
Construction paper
Quantity discount
EUR6,46 per piece for 3 units
Creativ Company tissue paper 50 x 70 cm
20 g/m², 25 x
Adhesive tape
Quantity discount
EUR11,16 per piece for 4 units EUR0,08/1m
tesa Packaging tape 50mmx132m
50 mm
A play fishing rod that doesn’t fall apart
My second idea takes a little more than a few seconds, but less than five minutes to make: a play fishing rod. It’s best to get yourself a wooden rod (mine is one metre long and one centimetre wide) and drill a hole in one end. Then, thread a string through it and knot it several times. The nifty thing about this rod is that the thread doesn’t slip off while your cats are playing with it, and you can replace it if need be. If your cats are into feathers, you can tie them onto the string too.
Jasper and Joy are particularly fond of thin threads, as you’ll see in the video below. This is because they curl up more than thicker ones when you drag them across the floor. Maybe the resemblance to a wriggling snake awakens my cats’ hunting instinct?
Verdict
Store-bought play fishing rods are usually busted within a few days or weeks. You don’t need any special skills to make your own, and it only takes a few minutes. In return, you get a sturdy toy and threads that are easy to replace or make more interesting.
How to make a surprisingly rustly play mat
To wrap up, here’s another idea that’ll only take you a few seconds to make a reality: a crackling play mat. Simply grab an old, rustly shopping bag and stick it to the floor, leaving a small opening in one area. You can either stick your fishing rod underneath and move it around, or pop a motorised ball or mouse under there and let it whizz around. To prevent my downstairs neighbours from flipping out, I also put a towel under the bag to minimise the noise.
As you’ll see in the video below, Jasper and Joy are nuts about this toy. My bonus tip? Rather than sticking the bag flat to the floor, keep it slightly curved if you’re using a motorised toy. Otherwise, it’ll get stuck.
Verdict
Hide-and-seek toys are sometimes too fragile, and their motorised movements are too monotonous. Plus, the tech inside them usually breaks down eventually. The good news is, you can easily recreate them using things you already have at home.
Just us – and a little material
Having lived with my two cats for a year, I’ve realised that toys don’t need to be particularly smart or elaborate to win over my feline friends. Simple materials and, most importantly, human playmates, are usually more than enough.
Have you ever made toys for your cats? Tell me about them in the comments. To avoid missing out on any future tips for entertaining cats, feel free to follow me.
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI love anything with four legs or roots - especially my shelter cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. My favourite things to do are stalking around with police dogs and cat coiffeurs on reportages or letting sensitive stories flourish in garden brockis and Japanese gardens.
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