DIY toy guide
Hang-on-the-Door Bouncy Teaser
A self-service dangle toy that lets your cat hunt while you are busy
A length of elastic hung over a door with a lightweight toy on the end bounces and springs at the slightest touch, giving a solo cat an all-day 'living' target to stalk, leap at and swat.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- A length of hat elastic, soft cord or a chain of large rubber bands
- A lightweight toy — a felt mouse, feather or crinkle ball
- A door, cupboard handle or sturdy hook
- Scissors
🔧 How to make it
- Tie your chosen toy securely to one end of the elastic so nothing can work loose.
- Drape the elastic over the top of an open door, or loop it onto a handle or hook.
- Adjust the length so the dangling toy hangs at about your cat's standing-reach height.
- Give it a flick to show your cat how it springs and bounces back when batted.
- Leave it up for short sessions, then take it down and store it safely away between plays.
💡 Tips
- Vary the hanging height and the toy on the end every few days so the game stays novel.
- Position it over an interior door your cat passes often so they rediscover it throughout the day.
Safety: Elastic and string are a serious swallowing and strangulation risk — only offer this toy while you can check on your cat now and then, and always take it down and put it away during long periods alone or overnight.
📝 Notes
Self-service movement toys help indoor cats burn energy and act out the full stalk-pounce-catch sequence without needing a human on the other end, easing boredom and frustration between interactive play sessions.