The Play Paws Project

Handmade enrichment toys inspired by foster cats, fiber arts, and the quiet joy of comfort, play, and connection.

Mission

To support foster and shelter cats through handmade enrichment, comfort, and meaningful moments of joy.

Why This Project Exists

The Play Paws Project began through foster care, crochet, and the belief that small acts of kindness matter. What started as handmade toys for foster cats slowly became a creative space centered around enrichment, emotional well-being, and connection through play.This website is a home for the project, a place for care instructions, and a journal for foster cats and creative work.

Why Enrichment Matters

Play is more than entertainment

Enrichment helps reduce stress, encourage healthy movement, build confidence, and support emotional well-being — especially for foster and shelter cats adjusting to new environments.

Ellie

The Cat Who Inspired This Project

Ellie was my first foster cat — and the beginning of The Play Paws Project. At first she was nervous and shut down, but we kept working with her to gain her trust and bring her out of her shell.One of our earliest breakthroughs came from something small: a handmade mouse toy. Through play, Ellie began showing curiosity, confidence, and comfort in ways she hadn’t before.During a difficult season in my own life, those quiet moments of trust and play became deeply grounding. The Play Paws Project exists because of Ellie — and the comfort and connection she found through play.

Nip, Stitch & Whiskers

Handmade toys for play, comfort, and confidence

My cat toys are handmade individually, one stitch at a time, during quiet moments of crochet, cat companionship, and creative flow. Each is designed with a different play style in mind. Colors, textures, shapes, and details naturally vary, making every piece unique.

Natural Fibers & Handmade Details

Most toys are made using wool and farm-grown catnip sourced through my family's fiber farm and mill in Maine.The mill works with a variety of natural fibers, including alpaca, mohair, rabbit fiber, cotton, and silk. Because these fibers are processed in the same environment, incidental fiber contact may occur.Some foster projects—including beds, bags, and the occasional silly hat—may also incorporate cotton, acrylic yarns, or synthetic fiber fill when a particular texture, color, or level of durability suits the design.Because these toys are created with natural fibers and made entirely by hand, each piece will develop its own character over time. Wool may naturally felt through play, handling, or washing, creating a softer, more blended texture as the fibers settle together.The catnip scent may gradually fade with use, and small variations in color, texture, shape, and stitching are part of the handmade process.No two toys are ever exactly alike.

Toy Care & Safety

Every toy from The Play Paws Project is handmade with care and inspired by the cats and kittens who have shared my home as fosters and companions.These toys are created to encourage enrichment, play, comfort, curiosity, and connection. They have been enjoyed by many cats over the years, but they have not undergone formal laboratory, veterinary, or safety testing. Because every cat plays differently, no toy can be guaranteed to be indestructible or suitable for every pet.Please use your best judgment when introducing any new toy and supervise play when appropriate, especially with enthusiastic chewers or cats who tend to ingest non-food items.

Care Instructions

When to Retire a Toy

Please discontinue use if you notice:

Materials & Sensitivities

Many toys may contain natural fibers, wool, cotton, or farm-grown catnip. If you or your pet have known sensitivities to any materials used, please avoid handling or use.By using these handmade toys, you acknowledge that playtime always carries some level of risk and that you are responsible for determining whether a toy is appropriate for your individual pet.Thank you for helping keep your cats safe while they enjoy the simple pleasures of play.

Foster Friends

Current Foster Cats

Past Foster Cats

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Play Paws Project?

The Play Paws Project is a handmade enrichment project inspired by foster cats, fiber arts, and the belief that small acts of care can make a meaningful difference. It combines creativity, comfort, play, and storytelling in support of cats in transition.

Who is Ellie?

Ellie was my first foster cat and the inspiration behind The Play Paws Project. One of our earliest breakthroughs came through a handmade toy, which helped encourage curiosity, confidence, and trust. Her story became the foundation for everything this project has grown into.

Can I buy toys through the website?

Not at this time.I occasionally participate in local vendor events, but most toys are given to shelter cats, sent home with my foster adopters, or shared with friends and family. This website is primarily a home for the project, the cats who inspire it, and the stories behind the toys.

What is Underhill Fiber?

Underhill Fiber is my family's fiber farm and mill in Maine. Most of the materials I use in Play Paws toys come from the farm and mill, including the wool and the catnip grown on the farm.Many of my toys are filled with leftover wool, fiber scraps, and mill remnants that might otherwise go unused, giving those natural materials a second life as enrichment toys for cats. I love being able to combine handmade craftsmanship, natural fibers, and a little creativity into something that brings joy to both cats and the people who care for them.The mill was started by my sister after I had already moved away, but it has become a wonderful extension of our family's connection to animals, fiber, and handmade creation.If you'd like to learn more about the farm, mill, fibers, and yarns, please visit their website.

About the Toys

Are the toys handmade?

Yes. Every Play Paws toy is handmade individually. Because each piece is crocheted and assembled by hand, small variations in color, texture, shape, and stitching are natural and expected.

Do all cats play the same way?

Not at all. Some cats enjoy chasing and pouncing, while others prefer batting, carrying, wrestling, or sensory exploration. The variety of toy designs is intended to support different styles of play and enrichment.

What materials are used?

Most toys are made using wool and farm-grown catnip sourced through my family's fiber farm and mill in Maine. The mill also processes alpaca, mohair, rabbit fiber, cotton, and silk, so incidental fiber contact may occur. Some projects may also include cotton, acrylic yarns, or synthetic fiber fill depending on the design.

Why does wool change over time?

Natural wool fibers may felt through play, handling, or washing. This is a normal characteristic of wool and can create a softer, more blended texture as the fibers settle together.One of the joys of working with wool is watching a well-loved toy change over time. A new toy may begin with clearly visible stitches, gradually develop a soft halo of fuzz, and eventually become a smooth, felted piece where the individual stitches have blended together into a single fabric-like surface. These changes are a natural part of the toy's story and a sign that it has been thoroughly enjoyed.

Foster Cats & Updates

Can I adopt one of your fosters?

All of my foster cats and kittens are fostered through the Atlanta Humane Society. Adoption applications, approvals, and placement decisions are handled directly through them.If one of my fosters speaks to your heart, I encourage you to visit their website to learn more about the adoption process and available animals.

Will you share foster updates?

Yes. The website will continue to grow with foster updates, kitten stories, toy experiments, creative projects, and reflections from life with foster cats.
Because this is a personal passion project, updates will appear as time, energy, and foster adventures allow.

If I have photos of my cat playing with one of your toys, can they be featured on the website?

Yes! I would love to see them.Please send photos to ThePlayPawsProject @ gmail.com and include your pet's name. I am happy to review submissions and may share them on the website or project pages.While I cannot guarantee that every photo will be published, I am always excited to see cats enjoying their toys and will gladly consider any clear, high-quality photos for sharing.

Contact

How can I contact you?

Please email any questions, comments, stories, or photo submissions to:ThePlayPawsProject @ gmail.comI enjoy hearing from fellow cat lovers and will do my best to respond when time and foster adventures allow.