Quick DIY Catnip Toys

These quick DIY catnip toys are a fun, easy, and fast sewing project. Like, under 10 minutes fast. And it’s an incredible fabric scrap stash buster project (try saying that five times fast). I have a few containers of fabric scraps of varying sizes I’ve accumulated over the years in my craft room (see one scrap container below, cat head for scale) and I’m always looking for ways to use them up.

While casually perusing Pinterest, I came across Jamie Sanders’ blog, Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom. She has a post about sewing up a quick catnip toy, and I knew I just had to try this project out for myself and our cats. Her tutorial was really easy to follow.

Getting Started

I rooted through my stash and found some cute fabric scraps with the perfect patterns for cat toys. These catnip toys can really be any size, so don’t feel like you have to make yours the same size as me. I opted for 3″ squares because that worked the best for my fabric scraps. You just need two pieces of fabric that are the same size to make one of these toys, so use what you have!

You start by cutting your scrap fabric into whatever size you choose. Here are my 3″ squares.

Next you pin wrong sides together. Yes, wrong sides. I told you this project is fast! There’s no need to turn inside out or anything. Pin three sides, leaving the fourth unpinned.

Ready to Sew

Sew three sides around, making sure to leave one side open so you can stuff it full of catnip. You can use a 1/4″ or 3/8″ seam allowance here.

I sewed the two toys one right after the other to save time.

You can see the pocket we’ve made by sewing only three sides.

Fill with some ‘Nip

Stuff that pocket with catnip! I stuffed pretty generously…

Pin and sew that open side closed. Trim the threads.

Then, if you’re feeling fancy and if you have them, use some fun zig-zag scissors to give the border a little pizazz. Not that the cats really care…but it looks cute. Be careful not to cut your seam.

Look at how cute these are!

Next, we need our product testers!!! We have to make sure these toys are actually cat-approved.

Mac, our energetic and goofy grey tabby, took to these nip squares immediately. I tried to get a non-blurry action shot, but had little success, so please enjoy this blurry gallery below.

I think it’s safe to say he really enjoyed his toy.

Kib, our beautiful black cat, approached the toy a bit more delicately. She tried to play coy because the camera was there, but when I went back to the craft room, I found her shoulders deep in the catnip bag.

I plan to make a ton more of these quick DIY catnip toys because I know several people with kitties in their lives that would probably get a kick out of these! I think it would also be great to make a large batch of these catnip toys and donate them to the animal shelter so the cats there can enjoy them, too!

Let me know if you decide to make these, it was fun and fast and both cats love their new toys!