DIY fishing pole toy for cats
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My cat is kind of a big deal in our house. I’m sure other cat owners will say the same about their feline friends. But, Chloe? She really does rule our world some days – and most nights.
Chloe was an adult when we adopted her 7 years ago. We think she may be around 10 years old. She is spoiled rotten, temperamental, sweet when she wants to be, and we really want her to be around another 10 years, so I’ve made it a point to provide only the best for her. I’m careful with the treats we give her, and especially with the food we provide.
Because Chloe is an indoor cat (occasionally going outside if she’s on a leash), we do have to watch her weight. We don’t want her to become lazy and overweight. As a result of her age, we have other things we have to watch, such as joint issues and her oral health. Lucky for us, IAMS™ is making it easier to customize her diet through the food and treats they offer, including Hairball Care, Digestive Health, and Oral Care.
We’ve started introducing the IAMS™ Proactive Healthy Adult Dry Cat Food to her and she’s over the moon about it. (I make sure to mix some of her new and old food, so her system isn’t completely shocked.) With the change in seasons, she gets a lot more hairballs – leaving a mess for me to clean up. We’ve tried the treats to prevent hairballs, and she would eat the whole bag if I let her. I’m lucky that Walmart carries such a variety of IAMS™ food and the treats for my favorite cat.
To get more exercise, I needed to come up with something fun for her to do indoors, but also something I could play with while sitting down. During my last pregnancy, we had a really cool fishing pole for Chloe. The company has since done away with the particular one Chloe liked, and she hasn’t liked the others I’ve bought. (The poles were too short, the string wasn’t long enough, the fish was kind of lame.) So I decided to try my hand at making a fishing pole. She totally digs it.
What you need:
Fabric (a fat quarter is MORE than enough!)
Poly-fill
Jingle bells
Elastic
A pole – in this case, I used glow necklaces I found at Walmart
Scissors
Sewing machine or thread and needle
1. Sketch your fish pattern onto the fabric. I used a fabric pen so all marks will wash off and I sketched an outline. I folded my fabric over so I could cut two shapes at one time.
2. Place your fish with the right sides facing inside. When sewing, make sure to leave space to turn the fabric right side out, but also insert your elastic at the “mouth” of the fish, on the inside of your two pieces of fabric, so you can sew it in.
3. Sew your fabric. Lay the elastic in between the fabric, with a small amount coming through the mouth, but at least 12 to 18 inches on the other side. I left enough outside the mouth to also tie in a knot.
4. Turn the fabric right side out. Add stuffing (the poly fill) and bells if you have them.
5. Sew the end (the tail fin) closed. Tie the elastic string to the pole. I knotted mine a few times, but you can also use glue to keep it in place.
I shouldn’t be surprised at how much Chloe loved her new toy.
Are you a cat lover? (Maybe you’re just an animal lover!) What do you do to keep your cat active?
What a great idea! Looks like it’s a hit with Chloe. 🙂
Nice. DIY fishing pole. I bet if you add a magnet to the end and make some more fish, the kids can have their own fishing game.
Iams has such a complete line of products available. Each cat is different, and Iams has got all of their needs covered.
This is such a cute idea! We made something similar for our cat with an old guitar string- kept the cat occupied for hours!!!
Sweet Chloe! She is getting the royal treatment!
We love our kitty too! My daughter made a similar toy (with feathers) for an instructional presentation at school.
Omg my two fur babies just love Iams!!! Such a great food! And so good for them!
I love cat and we have two cat in our home. Thanks for sharing!
I never realized how important for indoor cats to stay active. The fishing pole toy is a fun way to keep them moving!