Ask A South Florida Expert: The Best DIY Cat Toys

We love our furry companions, from dogs to cats to even hamsters. We can care for them with the best food, love and attention, and regular visits to the vet. But one of the most important parts of being a pet mommy or daddy is making sure your best friend is entertained, whether you are home or away. When you're a cat owner, there are tons of toys you can buy on the market, some of which can run a pretty big bill.If you want to keep your kitty happy for a price that will keep you happy as well, check out these ideas for "do it yourself" cat toys.

The Catnip Cafe
(610) 933-8518
www.thecatnipcafe.comWhen owner Linda's daughters came to her asking for her to make a quilt for a friend's cat, she thought it sounded silly. But after it was done, she found that it made a fantastic toy that both owners and cat enjoyed. That spurred an idea: 100 percent organic cat nip toys that cats will love while their owners can know are reasonable, safe and built to last.

The website regularly features inexpensive cat toys from around the web, but for some that you can make yourself (like Linda) here are some simple starter ideas.

Pom Pom Cat ToysAny crafter with a few spare yards of string lying around the house can make this easy and fast toy. When you're done, your cat will have something to gleefully bat around the hose. The best news is that if your cat destroys or loses one, it takes only about 10 minutes to replace with another.

Materials:

Cotton or wool strings
Scissors

1. Hold the end of the string in your palm, and wrap the string repeatedly around your four flattened fingers
2. Slide the string off your hand, then tie it off around the middle with remaining string
3. Put your scissors through the looped sides of the string and cut them to create the pom pom

Puzzle FeederThere is a double benefit to this toy -- it both entertains your cat, and exercises her brain. They will love puzzling over how they can make their treats appear again, and if your smart kitty catches onto the trick, you can always make another, more complicated version.

Materials:

A plastic bottle
X-ACTO knife

1. Clean the bottle thoroughly
2. Cut several holes in the bottle big enough for small treats to fall out of
3. Put a small handful of treats inside the bottle and seal the entrance 

Feather Pouncing ToyWhen you are looking to spend some time entertaining your cats, this is one classic toy that can't go wrong. You can buy similar versions at pet stores, but why do that when it's so fun and easy to make yourself?

Materials:

Scissors
Feathers
Jingle Bells
Satin Cord

1. Add a jingle bell to each feather at the base, about four or five should be sufficient
2. Put one yard length of satin through a jump ring
3.  Tie the feathers to the cord using a square knot
4. Knot both ends of the cord to prevent fraying