Mumsnet can you work your magic?

[sunshineinabag2]

I am looking for a very specific toy for my friends little girl can anyone at all help?

I need a stuffed cat toy that purrs, but the problem is it can't be electronic or use batteries. Has anyone seen such a thing? Does it exist?

I remember I had one in the 90's.

Budget we are looking at under £50.

Mumsnet can you use hive mind to help?

Do you mean a toy cat with a growler box? You turn the toy or teddy upside down and it growls or purrs when you turn it upright. I haven’t seen a toy with one for years! Perhaps try searching using growler box in the search terms. Maybe traditional brands like Steiff still make toys with them.

You can buy replacement boxes still.

www.amazingcraft.co.uk/product/teddy-bear-growler-traditional-millboard/

Perhaps you could get one made with a growler box from Etsy?

We have one that came free with tokens from cat food yonks ago. You press the cat's belly and it makes a purring noise, or at least it did for a bit, he's since been known as "Wheezy Bob". I've never seen anything like it since!

I had one in the late 90s from ELC that purred when you squeezed it, so air activated.

Yes I had one in the 90s called a Kitty Kitty Kitten. I don’t know if they still make anything similar now.

@Mipil that's exactly it! That's a great idea, my friend is actually a dab hand at sewing so may be able to put in herself xx

Yes those are the ones, don't look like they make them anymore!

@Mipil did you happen to find a purring growler box? I can only seem to find teddy bear ones?

Have you looked at build a bear?

I think they all make the same noise, @sunshineinabag2 😂 A kind of soft gurgling, growly purr 😂 Maybe some are higher pitched than others. Perhaps you could email or call the seller to help you choose the best one?

Sorry, I just googled to try and remember what they were called. My DGM used to make toys for charity events and we used to love playing with the growler boxes in her sewing box 😂 Almost as much as when she would let us chose a new toy from the suitcases under her bed where she stored the finished ones 😂 I’m pretty sure she used the same growler box whatever the animal!

@itsgettingweird this is also a good shout. Thank you!

My DS had the one from ELC in '90's so I do know what you mean
Is a growler box an option in build a bear?
I know you can put a heartbeat in a toy

@Mipil this is so sweet. What a lovely grandma!

@JaneJeffer Wheezy Bob is a great name for a cat.

Google suggests the larger the growler box, the deeper the growl so I guess you want a small one if you want it to be purr like.

What about the Lamaze purring Percival? He purrs when you rock him side to side.

Build a bear have a cat toy that you can put a 'kitty 5 in 1' sound box in. You can hear the sounds online before you buy them too- not sure if there is just one with purrs on though.

Aww you've just reminded me of my FurReal kitten 🥺 off to Google for a nostalgia hit 😍

I wish you the very best of luck with your search OP, I'm just here chuckling at "growler box" because I'm a complete child.