"Boyfriend" Stuffed Cat Toy (the large toy):
Size: 2 1/2 to 5 inches x 16 inches
Color: 4-ply worsted scrap yarn
Pattern: My own
Hook: D
Date: December 2004
Time to make: About 5 hours

"Chili Pepper" Stuffed Cat Toy (the small toy):
Size: 2 inches x 4 inches
Color: 4-ply scrap yarn
Pattern: My own
Hook: E
Date: December 2004
Time to make: About 30 minutes

Cleo likes to "kill" blankets and newspapers and rolled up magazines and towels and...by laying on her side, grabbing the object between her front paws, then biting it and scratching her back feet across it. Of course, we encourage this cute behavior quite often!

While wondering what fun and short-term crocheted project I wanted to tackle on the last day of 2004 (before again working on the solid-color Twists & Turns afghan for Deb), it flashed on me that I could make a tube-like cat toy object and stuff it with polyester fiberfill sprinkled with catnip. So, that's what I did! Texture was added with loops and front post triple and double crochets to make sure teeth and claws could grab onto and get caught in stitches. The tail allows us to tease our cats with the toy!

Cleo and Jasmine love this thing! They grab it, rub their heads on it, wide-eyed and heavy breathing - which is why Bill named it the "Boyfriend". They slobber and chew on it. And, of course, they "kill" it with their back feet claws. It's really quite cute! (No photos available...yet!)

Since Jasmine like to hide toys under the couches, inside shoes, and in other mysterious places, I made a smaller cat toy also stuffed with fiberfill sprinkled with catnip. She slobbers on it, talks to it, and tries to stuff it under the couch (so far without luck!). Bill named this toy the "Chili Pepper" because it's made with bright red yarn and sortof resembles a chili pepper.

Bubba hasn't yet decided these toys are interesting enough to give them much attention. Picky picky picky.