4 Cool DIY Cat Toys Made from Wine Corks

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

So, what do you do with the cork from the wine bottle after you are done with it?

If you are like most, you probably just toss it in the trash, right? Well, start saving them and instead make these cool DIY cat toys!

We love upcycling things that would otherwise end up in the trash. New toys keep things exciting and engage our kitties’ minds, but sometimes they’re just not in the budget.

Let’s be honest, pet toys can get a little pricey considering how long they last once our beloved furkids get their paws (and teeth) on them. Fortunately, our cats are easily amused.

These DIY wine cork cat toys take minutes to make, but they’ll keep your kitty entertained for hours! Let’s check them out!

DIY Cat Toys Made From Wine Corks

Boiling or steaming the wine corks: Before you start making your cat toys, you want to boil or steam the wine corks first to kill any germs, bacteria, or mold spores that may be present on the corks.

To do this, bring 3-4 cups of water to a boil on the stove. Place the wine corks in a wire strainer and steam over the boiling water for 5-6 minutes.

1. Feather Wine Cork Cat Toy

Materials:

• Wine corks
• Feathers
• Screwdriver
• Hot glue

Instructions:

Using the screwdriver, make a hole in the middle of the wine corks, about half way down the corks.

Add some hot glue into the hole in the corks and stick in the feathers into the whole, by the stems. Allow drying for a few minutes.

2. Shoelace Wine Cork Cat Toy

Materials:

• Wine corks
• Shoestrings
• Screwdriver

Instructions:

Using the screwdriver, make a hole in the center of the wine corks, ensuring the holes go all the way through the wine corks.

Cut the ends of the shoelaces, then cut the shoelaces in half, then cut in half again.

String the shoelaces through the holes in the corks and then just tie a knot on both ends of the shoelaces, close to the corks.

3. Wool String Wine Cork Cat Toy

Materials:

• Hammer
• Large nail
• Wine corks
• Pliers
• Knitting wool
• Large darning needle – A darning needle is a large needle that features an eye that is big enough for the yarn to be threaded through.

Instructions:

Using the hammer, pound the nails into the wine corks, ensuring the holes go all the way through.

Use the pliers to pull the nail out from the corks. Using the darning needle, thread a string of knitting wool through the eye of the needle.

Next, push the needle through the hole in the wine cork, leaving about 6 inches of knitting wool on the bottom and about 2 feet of knitting wool at the top.

Then, just tie a knot on each end of the shoelace, close to the corks.

4. Raffia Wine Cork Cat Toy

Materials:

• Scissors
• Raffia – Raffia comes from the raffia palm and is a fabric that is used for weaving.
• Permanent craft adhesive
• Screwdriver
• Wine corks

Instructions:

Using the scissors, cut pieces of raffia into 8-inch-long pieces. Group 4-5 pieces of raffia together, twist around the middle and then, bend in half.

Apply a drop or two of permanent craft adhesive to the bundle each of the raffia. Using the screwdriver, punch a hole into the wine corks, ensuring the holes go all the way through the corks.

Push the raffia bundle through the hole in the wine cork, glue end first, until it reaches the hole on the other side, but not going through the hole.

Add a few drops of permanent craft adhesive to the hole, securing the raffia in place.

Of course, you could just toss the wine cork on the floor and let your cat play with it as is.

Wrap-Up

One word of caution, though: if you have a dog, make sure he doesn’t get a hold of your new wine cork cat toys.

They’re just too tempting to chew up (because they’re made of wood, silly, not because your dog is lush!) and he could choke.

Have you ever made DIY cat toys from wine corks? How about other things that usually end up in the trash? Tell us all about it below!