How to Make Free Ring Cat Toys Out of Toilet Paper Rolls

Author:
Alisha Vargas
Updated date:
Apr 24, 2022

I am an online writer with a love for animals. I love DIY pet projects—here are some of my favorites.

Kitties playing with homemade toys
Me, AlishaV

Cats Love Toys

These cat toys are free, easy, safe, and fun for your cat, and you can make them in minutes. Don't spend tons of money on cat toys that are demolished in minutes or ignored altogether. There are lots of free toys your kitty will enjoy that cost nothing and are safer than many of the toys in the pet store.

Cat Playing with Toilet Paper Tube
Me, AlishaV

Cats will play with toilet paper rolls without any special effort, but you can easily make them something they will really, really enjoy and best of all, it only takes a few minutes. After you've made them a few times, it takes even less time, so your cats can get fun toys that cost nothing in moments.

1. Empty Your Toilet Paper Roll

Recycling a toilet paper roll into a cat toy.
Me, AlishaV

2. Clean Off the Toilet Paper

Clean the toilet paper roll as much as possible. You don't want pieces of toilet paper sticking to your cats' mouths.
This is easier to do with some toilet paper brands than others. Some are nearly impossible to get clean, but try as much as you can.

Make sure the roll is completely free of toilet paper.

3. Flatten the TP Tube

Try to evenly smash the toilet paper roll down.
Don't worry too much about making it completely flat, you just want to make it easier to cut into. Just smush it straight down with your hand.

Flattening the roll will make it easier to cut.
Me, AlishaV

4. Cut Off the End of the TP Roll

Using your scissors, cut a slice off the end of the toilet paper roll.
About 1/2" inward is probably the best, though don't worry too much about the precise measurement.
Just don't make it much too wide, the cats don't like them as much, so don't go over an inch or so. If the toilet paper roll rings are much too small and the rings won't stay together well enough, don't go smaller than 1/4" or so. Anything within that range is fine.
If you aren't good at gauging size, just try to make the cut inward about the width of your scissor blades.

Use scissors to cut out the toy.
Me, AlishaV

5. Cut the Rest of the TP Roll Into Rings

Every half-inch or so, cut another piece off the end.
Finish cutting the entire toilet paper roll into rings.

Cut More off the Toilet Paper Roll
Me, AlishaV

6. Pop the Rings Into Circles

The toilet paper roll was flattened to make it easier to cut it; now you can unflatten them and shape the pieces of toilet paper roll into rings.
I do this by just holding the flattened edges and squeezing a little until it rounds back out.

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It's Hard to Keep Your Cat Away From the Toys While Making Them

Perhaps the hardest part of making these free cat toys is keeping my cat William away from them while I'm making them.

Toilet paper roll rings are his special cat toy, and he knows when I'm holding a toilet paper roll and a pair of scissors that he's going to get more of them. He'll come running from wherever he is in the house the moment he hears them starting to be made, then he tries to sneak them off before I've even finished.

Your cat will want to play right away.
Me, AlishaV

Finished Free Toilet Paper Cat Toys

You can get a pile of free cat toys in minutes whenever you use up another toilet paper roll.

Playing With Homemade Cat Toy

Alissandra and Barbi attacking the homemade toys
Me, AlishaV

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.