Customer Reviews

Make Your Own Cat Toys: Saving The Planet One Cat Toy At A Time

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an extremely disappointing book. I assumed it would be filled with interesting and fun ideas for cat toys that you can make out of household items, craftsy stuff, and trash. Beware: it's NOT. Almost the ENTIRE book is filled with single trash items you can give your cat without any modification, things that are extremely obvious (unless you for some reason NEVER KNEW that a cat would enjoy hanging out in a cardboard box or shopping bag).

Here's a sampling of descriptions of "make your own toys" in this book. About half of the projects are as follows...and by projects I mean items of trash that the author spends at least an entire page, and often two pages, describing:
"Schrodinger's Box" - give your cat a box.
"Classic Shopping Bag" - give your cat a shopping bag.
"Tape Ball" - give your cat a ball of tape.
"Juice Pull" - give your cat a juice pull.
"Juicy Hoop" - give your cat the seal ring around a bottle of juice.
"Madcap" - give your cat the cap off a bottle.
"Unwrap This!" - give your cat the tissue paper from a gift.
"Ping Pong Pinball" - give your cat a ping pong ball.
"Nuts 'n Bolts" - give your cat a metal nut (severe choking/hospitalization hazard, NOT recommended)
"Classic Ball of Yarn" - give your cat a ball of yarn.
"Penned Up Energy" - give your cat a pen cap.

So let me make it clear, again, what this book is filled with: one- and two-page sheets of instructions and materials for giving your cat single items of trash. That to me seems like a huge, huge, HUGELY hypocritical waste of paper on Holly Tse's part. Throughout the book she advocates recycling and conserving. She could have conserved a LOT of paper by telling cat owners in a simple sentence: "Give your cat a cardboard box to play in," and maybe just filled one page with many of these suggestions, instead of wasting two sheets of valuable paper on each item, every description page as inane as the one before it. Sounds like a big fat moneymaking scheme to me: write about the trash items that are small enough for cats to play with. Look how many gullible reviewers fell for it.

And, to be fair, I gave the promising ideas a fighting chance. For example, the "Lazy Wrestle Sausage" seemed like a good idea (sock filled with plastic bag and catnip, tied to a string). My cat played with it for two seconds, then lost interest. I dragged it around the house, dangled it in front of him, hid it under a couch, hid it around corners the way he loves to play...no response. My cat's the sort of fellow who drags his toys (even the large ones) around the house and deposits them at my feet when he wants playtime, then gets frisky for an hour (which I gladly oblige to). And even HE was bored to death by the suggestions in Make Your Own Cat Toys and quickly went looking for his old favorites. Really, you don't need to buy this awful book to be aware of one very simple fact that should probably have been already made clear by your cats' behavior: cats will play with anything, including/particularly trash items, if YOU are interactively playing with them. You don't have to buy a fancy cat toy. You REALLY don't have to buy this book. Save a lot of paper by not doing so.

Length:: 1:05 Mins

I never thought a cat toy book would be a page-turner, but this one is. It's got witty writing, cute illustrations, insightful quotes, and fun ideas for making a kitty some great new playthings. The toys are innovative but super easy and quick to assemble. I like the eco-friendly angle too - you make the toys with stuff you already have lying around the house, like cardboard boxes, old clothing and CDs. And I love how the author uses her own cat's perspective to rate the cat toys. This is an excellent gift for cat-loving friends and relatives.

I purchased a number of these books as gifts for family and friends over the holidays. The books were very well received! So well received, that a friend I hadn't purchased a book for saw and started leafing through it. Minutes later, she wrote down the author name and title to purchase her own! I gave her my copy, and have put a second order for a few more.

The book is a fun read. It caters to both lazy and hyperactive cats, and has helpful insight into what type of toys your cat might respond to.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a cat. My cat hasn't been the same since. ;)

I've been trying to keep my 15 year old cat active and happy. This book is the answer! There are many toys appropriate for his "lazy cat" manner of playing now (just rolling on his back and swatting at whatever we dangle over him.) However, there are also a few toys that awaken his inner kitten! "Sweep around" is his favorite; a broom-like toy made from empty toilet paper rolls. He has gone through 5+ rolls and becomes excited whenever he sees a new one he can tear apart. I'm eager to try out some more!

Make Your Own Cat Toys: Saving the Planet One Cat Toy at a Time

Originally bought this book for my daughter to keep her busy on rainy days entertaining an equally bored cat. Have now had this book 2 weeks and it's so good I'm yet to hand it over!

Clever, funny and whilst obviously being a labour of love this book sets out incredibly well how you and your cat can be eco-friendly and still have a ridiculous amount of fun.

Purrrr-fect for all ages of owner and cats alike - this book dosn't go all 'preachy' and 'hippy' on the reader it's more based on a common sense approach to using what you've got.

Being from England, some of the brand names are unknown but logic points you in the right direction. Worth every penny and highly recommended, this book simply is a must for anyone with a cat. My cat concurs with every word!

We ordered copies for the cat lovers in our life, and could not have imagined how well received they would be!! The book is fun, well written, and clever. The ideas are simple, and the dialogue and illustrations make it a real page turner.

This is a very thoughtful book for the modern cat keeper. The author has created an always fun and methodical volume filled with charming diagrams and recipes for quality feline interaction. She encourages you to be creative with your cats and shows how you can be mindful of the environment at the same time.

This would make an excellent gift for any cat lover. This book also deserves kudos simply for being awesome DIY-publishing. Nice.

This book is Toby Approved. (@toby_cat on Twitter)

Whether your a dog or cat lover, this book inspires people of all ages to take a look at creating safe, fun and inexpensive (mostly free) toys for your cat or a cat of someone you know. Why spend money at the pet store for items that most cats take a look or one swat at and then leave behind, bored to tears? This book utilizes common household articles - many recyclable and "green" - and gives you easy step-by-step instructions on how to assemble as well as tips on being proactive with your cat's playtime and exercise routines.

If you have ever been a parent to a cat, you will laugh and smile as the author weaves her own experiences with her furried one throughout her book.

Similar to a simple recipe book, this is a must for every cat owner - or a great gift to give to others with cats!

Very creative and well-written-even for someone who is not creative. My only issue was that I found some of the suggested toys to make not safe- have to use common sense and know your cat. Also liked the narratives and stories about the author's own cat.I'd recommend this book, finding many toys for cats in stores to be limited, unsafe, and boring.