Gifts for Cats You Can Make Yourself

Choosing cat gift ideas that don't break your budget may be a difficult thing. With so many cat gifts to choose from in pet stores and websites, cat gift ideas have never been so plentiful. But if you're on a budget, sometimes making a cat gift is the best plan for your kitty. Here are ten great cat gifts you can make yourself.

ONE: A Catnip Mouse Cat Gift. A classic of cat fancy has always been the catnip mouse. This cat gift can be purchased or made using a very easy-to-use pattern found here . Most of the time, a sewing machine is preferred to make this simple cat gift, but you may hand-sew it if that is not possible. Don't worry; kitty won't criticize a crooked stitch! So how do make this homemade cat gift? You need sturdy fabric like felt, about a tablespoon of catnip, polyester batting or stuffing, a single nylon stocking, and notions like a sewing needle and thread or a threaded sewing machine. You begin by sewing the pattern, leaving the small area on the tummy open for stuffing and such. Put the catnip in the stocking and knot it to make a tummy ball. (This prevents a mess if Kitty rips open his cat gift prematurely or if it gets leaky.) Trim excess stocking. Fill the head of the mouse and part of the trunk with polyfill, and then add the ball. Fill it the rest of the way with polyfill and stitch closed. You may wish to add details with black yarn or dark embroidery thread.

TWO: A Dangle Wand Cat Gift. To make a Dangle wad, you need an 18" dowel, cloth ribbon in assorted colors, a drywall nail, a hammer, quilting thread, and feathers. Take the ribbon and make several pieces (around five to seven) in assorted lengths between 12 to 20 inches long. Assorted colors and sizes work best. Nail a single nail through the layers of yarn and into the dowel until almost flush. To attach the feathers to the ends, lay the feather with approximately 2" overlapping the ribbon and tightly wind and tie quilting thread wrapped around the connection. Do not use plastic or paper ribbon like holiday ribbon. Though these might be cute, especially if spiraled, they could cause Kitty a dangerous health emergency.

THREE: Cat Treats Cat Gift. Cat treats are a great way to express love. Some cat treats require dehydration and others storage in the refrigerator. Here is a selection of kitty treat recipes that make a great cat gift. Be sure to test a few with your kitty to decide which is a favorite.

FOUR: A Cat Garden Cat Gift. A cat garden is a garden growing lovely plants for your kitty to chew on. Start with a low box filled with potting soil. Do not use unprocessed outdoor dirt for this, or kitty may get a parasite. Plant kitty grass and catnip, and allow to grow. Be sure you use a small enough container that your cat does not confuse the gift with a new litterbox.

FIVE: Create A Cat DVD Cat Gift. Download fun active videos from Youtube (be sure to follow all copyright laws when doing so) and put them on a DVD for kitty to watch. Kitties love action, prey, and other kitties so have fun finding the right ones for your kitty's DVD.

SIX: A Snuggle Basket or Sleeping Bag Cat Gift. Kitties love to sleep in places they aren't necessarily supposed to. Commercial cat beds aren't always a hit. Instead, consider wrapping an empty box and placing a strategic hole for kitty to climb in and out of, create a tote bag just for Kitty, or sew a simple tube-style sleeping bag (extra wide) for Kitty to discover.

SEVEN: Rattle Tube Cat Gift. There are two methods for making a rattle tube. It is important to choose infant-safe products as a foundation. Take a paper towel tube and place within it an infant-safe rattle or rattle toy. Using adhesive, wrap completely in colorful fabric that can be grasped.

EIGHT: Scratching Post Cat Gift. A scratching post is a rope-covered or carpet-covered board affixed to a stand. The best base for a scratching post is an unfinished, untreated 2x4. Make a post that is tall enough that your cat will be interested, but be sure the flat square base is wide enough not to tip when played with. Secure the 2x4 to the base with screws from under the toy. You can either wrap the post with sisal rope (secured with u-nails or a screw), carpet remnants, upholstery fabric, or any other sturdy material.

NINE: Hide Out Cat Gift. To make a hide out, you need a large woven basket or laundry basket. Turn the basket upside down. Create a cover for the basket using a fabric you can tolerate for the long haul. Place a hole in the side of the basket and through the cover large enough for your cat to get in and out of easily without injury but low enough that they can enter secretly. Line the area around the hole in the basket first with duct tape and then pad with polyfill and a ring of fabric matching your cover. The ring should be a length of cloth two inches longer than the distance around the hole, about three inches wide to work properly. Fold it in as you go, and stitch through both sides and the basket itself. More detailed instructions on this project will be added to this site in the future.

TEN: Cat Ledge Cat Gift. A cat ledge is a shelf you place in a room of your home that Kitty can walk across without worrying about knocking over decorative items. Take a 1x6 and cover it with fabric that matches your décor. Affix it to the wall on studs using shelf brackets low enough for your cat to easily access it but high enough they would want to.

You may also decide to make cat gifts for your favorite cat rescue. Cat rescue organizations need cat toys and accessories to help homeless Kitties feel at home until they are adopted. Cat gifts need not be expensive or ordinary. Cats love attention most, and practical cat gifts that can be used for years to come are often the most appreciated, even by the most finicky of kitties. But even if you can't afford a cat gift this holiday season, realize that the best gift you can give your kitty is a warm night of love. Be sure to spay or neuter your kitty, keep vaccinations and wormings updated, and don't forget annual teeth cleanings to keep Kitty smiling.

Happy Holidays.