Making your own cat fishing rod toy
Cats love it when their owners take the time to play with them – for example, with a cat “fishing rod”. You can make one yourself really easily. All you need is a wooden rod, wool, cardboard, a pen and scissors. Here are instructions on how to make this much-loved toy.
Shared activities strengthen the bond with your cat
It is not only kittens who love to play, but also most adult animals. Playing together with a cat strengthens the bond and feeling of trust between the pet and its owner. It is also beneficial for the body and mind. A cat that is not kept occupied can quickly gain a few grammes in weight or develop behavioural problems. This increases the risk of disease and reduces life expectancy. It is therefore important to provide your cat with plenty of opportunities for playing.
A cat is able to occupy itself to some extent, but for some games, it will need the help of its human companion. This is the case, for example, with a fishing rod toy. For many cats, the fun and games this provides are among their favourite pastimes. They never tire of sneaking up and pouncing on the toy. You should, however, not forget that a feeling of success is an important part of the fun. It will be frustrating in the long run if you pull away the feathers or pom-pom on the rod so quickly that your cat has no chance of getting hold of them. The game should be evenly balanced and in the end, your cat should be able to leave with the feeling of being a successful hunter.
What do I need to make a cat fishing rod?
A cat fishing rod toy can be made using a variety of materials. You can look for a suitable branch or twig outside or buy a ready-made wooden rod. A piece of wool, a thick piece of string, or a ribbon can be used as the “fishing line”. On the end you can attach a woollen pom-pom, a bunch of feathers, a tassel or a toy mouse. You have a variety of options. These instructions are for a cat fishing rod made from a wooden stick with a pom-pom.
What you need for the cat fishing rod toy:
- A wooden stick / rod (30 to 50 cm)
- Wool (yarn) in one or more colours
- A piece of cardboard
- Scissors
- A pen
- A compass, if required
How to make our cat fishing rod
- Draw two circles, one inside the other, on the piece of cardboard: either freehand, with a compass or by drawing around two suitable objects. In our example, the inside circle has a diameter of 1.5 cm and the outer one 3 cm.
- Cut out the inner and outer circle and make a second cardboard ring of the same size and place it over the other one.
- Cut off several strands of wool and lay them next to each other. You can use one colour or several if you prefer. Wrap the strands of wool tightly around the ring and tuck the ends in.
- Cut open the sides of the wool all the way around.
- Wrap a double thread of wool around several times between the cardboard rings and knot tightly.
- Cut open the cardboard rings and remove them from the pom-pom.
- Make a small notch with the scissors one to two centimetres away from one end of the rod.
- Trim the threads of wool on the wrapped pom-pom to the desired length and attach them to the rod.
- Your cat fishing rod toy is now ready – have fun with it!
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