• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Camp Joy

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys

March 8, 2013 by Joy the Baker 117 Comments

IMG_8694

Now might be a good time for me to look you straight in the face and tell you two things:  I’m a full-blown crazy cat lady and… It’s about to get weird.  If you think you should go, I totally understand.  If you think you should stay and read about homemade cat toys…. ohmygodILOVEYOU!

I’ve had an image of little kittens playing with yarn balls running through my head ever since my grandmother bought me on of those cat-a-month calendars when I was a little girl.  I’ll pretend I don’t still have one of those calendars, for sanity’s sake.

IMG_8425Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

It turns out that making homemade cat yarn ball toys is totally easy!  Cat calendar here we come!!!

All we’ll need are styrofoam balls, catnip, an excessive amount of yarn, and a good wrapping sense.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

Just the making of these toys felt like heaven to my cat.  He was certain I’d portioned out this bowl of catnip as his afternoon snack.  He was also certain that all the strands of yarn being pulled and wrapped were for his pouncing pleasure.  He was mostly right.

Ps.  If you’re as cat crazy as I am, you’ll definitely want to check out the homemade Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats on Design Sponge.  If you’re smitten with the cat treat jars above… they’re exactly what you think they are:  mason jars, cat figurines, hot glue, and spray paint.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

It all start with styrofoam balls.  Golf ball size is great.

I also chose some larger balls because I thought that tempting my cat with giant balls would be funny.  I find that he mostly plays with the golf ball size yarn balls.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

Balls are lightly painted with Mod Podge and coated in dried catnip.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

It’s best to allow the catnip and glue to dry slightly, just so your hands won’t be a sticky mess when wrapping the balls.

In the meantime, heat up the glue gun and organize yarn colors.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

Press a bit of hot glue onto the catnip ball, press yarn into the glue and start wrapping!

It doesn’t have to be perfect, especially for the initial yarn wrapping.  Work in one direction for a few turns, then have the yarn switch directions and angles to hit another space on the catnip ball.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

After glueing the initial pieces of yarn, you won’t need much hot glue.  The yarn can be wrapped and tucked inside of itself for securing.

I also think it’s satisfying for my cat to slowly unravel the yarn ball.  He’s a destroyer of things.

Yarn Ball Catnip Toys | joy the baker

These fur legs.

IMG_8432

Just after this picture was taken, this cat flew into a yarn ball frenzy.

Yarn a-plenty.  Yarn a-everywhere.  He’s cute, but I actually live with a monster.  It’s sometimes scary.  Is that normal?  (Don’t answer that…)

Note:  keep an eye on your cat when they play with these yarn balls.  Cats shouldn’t swallow string.  Actually, no one should swallow string.

Immeasurable help on this post from Love and Cupcakes.

How to Make Yarn Ball Catnip Toys

Print this Recipe!

What You’ll Need:

– golf ball size and larger styrofoam balls

– hot glue gun (helpful but not totally necessary)

– mod podge glue

– dried catnip

– yarn in various colors and thicknesses

– a disposable paintbrush (we’ll be dipping the brush in glue, so no need for your fancy brush)

– craft paper

Place catnip in a medium shallow bowl.  Place Mod Podge in a small bowl.  For easy clean up, work on top of a large sheet of craft paper.

Using the paintbrush, lightly brush a styrofoam ball with Mod Podge glue.  Place the glue covered ball in the bowl of catnip and toss around, coating evenly.  Set aside to dry while you glue and catnip the remaining balls.

Use a bit of hot glue to adhere the initial yarn pieces to the catnip covered ball.  Wrap for several turns in one direction, then wrap in an alternating direction.  You can cut the yarn and start fresh in a new direction to make sure to cover all sides.  The initial yarn covering doesn’t have to be perfect.  the second round of yarn covering can be more directionally intentional.

When ball is completely covered and layered twice in yarn, tuck the end piece into the yarn ball (and tie into a knot if you’d like) to adhere.  Toss around the house.  It’s kitty playtime!

Note:  keep an eye on your cat when they play with these yarn balls.  Cats shouldn’t swallow string.  Actually, no one should swallow string.  

Previous PostNext Post

Categories: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « Maple Blueberry Scones
Next Post: On Toast: White Bread »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. widad

    January 10, 2022 at 2:42 am

    Many thanks.keep up the good work

    Reply
  2. Natasha Bhatt

    December 22, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    God…such a cutie pie your cat is……even my cat loves to play with yarn balls and my mum needs to keep them in hiding when she is knitting a sweater…hehehe

    Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. How to Make: Summer City Shoes | bediva says:
    September 6, 2015 at 4:59 am

    […] Yarn Ball Catnip Toys […]

    Reply
  2. Bean Bytes 28 says:
    January 19, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    […] Yarn Ball Catnip Toys via Joy the […]

    Reply
  3. These DIY cat toys are sure to make them purr! - SoEffinCute.com says:
    December 24, 2014 at 12:45 am

    […] Get the DIY! […]

    Reply
  4. Fabulous Friday Links | Polka Dots and Pastries says:
    May 26, 2014 at 4:11 pm

    […] I think when Mama and Zoey are with us again I’m going to make THESE. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Baking 101: How To Read A Recipe

Welcome to the wonderful world of baking where flour, butter, and our collective sweet tooth’s (teeth? teeth’s??) come together to create an absolute mess in our kitchens. Dirty every dish, I say! In the name of cookies, of course. Whether you’re a seasoned baker, or just tying up the apron strings for the first time,…

Read More

You Have To Make Karlee’s Peach Butter

I have the same regret every September: I didn’t eat enough summer peaches. It never fails. Every July I take peaches for granted. They’re stacked high at the grocery store and though they never do, I think they’ll last forever.  I throw a mega watermelon in my cart, grab a bag of cherries, and head…

Read More

My 5 Best Pantry Organization Tips

Friends, hi! You know Virgo season is hitting hard this year when even I take to the pantry with new canisters and labels.  Virgo season would have us holding ourselves to our highest standards and I’ve taken that on, and I’ve taken it personally. I’m working with two pantries these days. In the Houston kitchen…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

2023 CAMP JOY SUMMER ZINE – get it here!

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

MY FAVORITE CAMPING GEAR

SHOP MY FAVORITE GEAR HERE! 

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

CHECK IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

close up of strawberry shortcake recipe with soft whipped cream

Dad’s Biscuits Make The Best Shortcake

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker, author of books, lover of butter
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
📝Inquiries megan@underscoretalent.com

joythebaker
Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made wit Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made with an old sugar cookie recipe I made back in 2009 (like whaaat?) and a boatload of warm autumn spiced @taylorswift added to the dough.⁣
⁣
This cookie recipe explodes on my site every September and for good reason. We’re fall girlies and we love a little nutmeg glaze. ⁣
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile! Xo
I don’t know what it is about this year, but I j I don’t know what it is about this year, but I just need more light-hearted fun, more hugs, more breakfast made by mom, and more coffee walks in the sand. Let’s do autumn now, nice and steady.
🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeas 🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeast bagel magic for your Sunday morning. ⁣
⁣⁣
Two Easy No-Yeast Bagels⁣⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)⁣
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
The secret to really great muffins is eating them The secret to really great muffins is eating them warm, with a big smear of butter and a sprinkle flakey sea salt. ❇️ This goes for any muffin but is especially delicious on these a Vegan Carrot Zucchini Harvest Muffins because they have so many veggies they’re basically a salad. ❇️ Full recipe linked in the bio! Xo
This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is pa This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is packed with oats, @guittardchocolate baking wafers, and candy coated chocolate pieces from @traderjoes. ✌️ It’s the perfect weekend bake, babes! Full recipe linked in the profile!
Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners starting with this creamy tomato Marry Me Chicken. Disclaimer: this chicken has yet to get me hitched. Full recipe linked in the bio, bbs! Xo
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up