DIY toy guide
Pool-Noodle Ball Track
A foam pool noodle bent into a rolling-ball chase toy
A pool noodle sliced lengthways makes a curved channel that sends a ping-pong ball rolling and rattling in loops, giving a cat an unpredictable, self-resetting target to bat, chase and pounce.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Low
🧺 You will need
- One foam pool noodle
- A sharp craft knife or strong scissors
- A few lightweight balls, such as ping-pong or plastic jingle balls
- Tape or non-toxic glue, and a large box lid or tray to mount it in (optional)
🔧 How to make it
- Carefully slice the pool noodle in half lengthways so you have a long, curved half-pipe channel.
- Bend the channel into a gentle curve, wave or circle inside a box lid, taping it down so it holds its shape.
- Drop a ping-pong ball into the channel and give it a push to show your cat how it rolls and rattles.
- Let your cat bat the ball along the track; the curved walls keep it in play and rolling back for another go.
- Store it flat when not in use so the novelty — and your cat's interest — stays fresh.
💡 Tips
- Set the track on a hard floor so the ball rattles louder and rolls further, which most cats find more exciting.
- Join two noodles into a longer or looping run once your cat has got the hang of a single curve.
Safety: Cut the foam away from your cat and bin the offcuts — foam is not a toy and can be a choking hazard if chewed. Use balls too big to swallow, and retire any that get cracked or gnawed.
📝 Notes
The magic of a ball track is that it resets itself: the ball keeps rolling back into reach, so a cat can play solo in short bursts between your interactive wand sessions.