DIY toy guide
Bathtub Ping-Pong Chase
The simplest solo game there is — balls that can never escape
Drop a couple of lightweight ping-pong balls into a clean, dry bathtub and let your cat bat them around a smooth surface they cannot roll away from — an instant, self-contained chase game.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 2 minutes
- Cost
- Under £2
🧺 You will need
- A clean, dry bathtub or a large smooth-sided storage box
- Two or three ping-pong balls
🔧 How to make it
- Make sure the bath is completely dry and free of any cleaning-product residue.
- Drop in two or three ping-pong balls.
- Encourage your cat to hop in, or set them beside it and give a ball a flick to start it rolling.
- Let them chase, pounce and skitter the balls around the curved sides.
- Scoop the balls out and store them away between sessions to keep the novelty.
💡 Tips
The high sides mean the balls stay put, so a cat can play alone while you get on with something else. A curved bathtub gives the best unpredictable roll; a smooth-sided crate works nearly as well.
Safety: Only use full-size ping-pong balls that are too big to swallow, and replace any that crack, as sharp shards of split plastic can hurt. Never leave a cat in a bath with any standing water.
📝 Notes
One of those toys parents of both toddlers and cats swear by — endlessly entertaining, almost free, and it packs away in seconds.
