Cat Rattle Ball — Toy with Built-in Rattle
by SolidForm
Description A simple, sturdy cat toy with a free-rolling ball trapped inside. As your cat bats it across the floor, the inner ball rattles around — making the unpredictable sound and movement that drives cats wild. Prints fully assembled. No glue, no glass bells, no small parts that can come loose. Pull it off the print bed and toss it down the hallway. Outer ball: Ø 38 mm — perfect paw size Inner rattle ball: Ø 14 mm — heavy enough for a satisfying sound 12 openings for claws to hook into and chase across the room No assembly, no hardware Why cats love it Natural rattle sound — the inner ball moves unpredictably, no two rolls sound the same Claw-grippable — the 12 rounded openings give cats something to dig their claws into Wobbly roll — the inner weight shifts as it moves, so it rolls in unexpected directions (cats can't predict where it goes — exactly what triggers the hunt instinct) Right size — too big to swallow, small enough for paw play No sharp edges — all openings are rounded for safety Recommended print settings Setting Value Material PETG recommended (more durable, bite-safe) — PLA also works Layer height 0.2 mm Walls 3 perimeters (important — claws will work on this) Infill 15 % Supports yes Cooling 100 % from layer 2 Print time ~35–40 min Filament ~9 g Important: Do not print at 0.16 mm or finer — the inner ball may fuse to the shell. 0.2 mm is the sweet spot. First-rattle test: When the print finishes, give the ball a hard shake. If you hear nothing, the inner ball is stuck to the shell from layer adhesion. Squeeze the outer shell gently between your hands and twist — the inner ball will pop free and rattle from then on. Material safety for pets PETG and PLA are both considered pet-safe (non-toxic, no harmful additives in most filaments). However: Do not leave your cat unsupervised with this or any 3D printed toy Inspect regularly — if the shell cracks, replace it (sharp edges from broken plastic can hurt) Sand any rough edges before giving it to