Socks have a strange habit of disappearing. No one knows where they go. All we know for sure is that drawers and dryers everywhere are home to millions of orphaned socks. Why not give your lonely, mismatched hosiery a new purpose? Make them into toys for homeless cats with Operation Happy Sock!

"This little guy looks so content with his Happy Sock," remarks Powers. "It's no wonder he was adopted right away!"

Martha Powers created Operation Happy Sock. The project takes spare socks and turns them into toys for cats in animal shelters. "When a cat or kitten is in an animal shelter, it can be lonely and scary," Powers explains. "The catnip in Happy Socks helps cats to relax. A big, warm, fuzzy Happy Sock makes life a little less difficult for homeless felines."

Sock It to ‘Em!

Making Happy Socks is easy. You'll need socks, catnip, and polyester fiberfill (you can find this at discount stores or craft shops). Just take a piece of fiberfill, use it to pick up some catnip, and stuff it all into the toe of a sock. Tie a knot in the ankle, and—voila!—instant cat toy.

Powers suggests holding a Happy Sock Production Party. For a week or two beforehand, hold a sock collection. Once you have enough socks, get together and make the Happy Socks. Then deliver them to your local animal shelter.

"Since many shelters have no budget for toys," says Powers, "these big, generous Happy Socks are a very special and welcome donation." For a free info kit, including step-by-step instructions, e-mail happysock@verizon.net. If you make Happy Socks for shelter cats, tell us about it! Send an email to kids@humanesociety.org. 

These Happy Socks are ready to be delivered to cats in animal shelters waiting for homes.