If you have a pet, then you will have toys for them in various places around your home, but how many of these toys are in good condition? Your pet is probably bored with them as well-meaning you have to think of new ways to entertain them. Look no further than DIY pet toys that are simple to make and cheap to replace.
Ball tug toy for dogs
If your dog is like most other dogs, then she will love a ball tug toy. You can usually buy these toys at pet shops, but they cost money, and they aren’t as much fun. When you make your own dog toy, you can be proud of it every time to take your pup to the park.
So, How to make homemade pets toys at home? It’s quite simple really, grab an old T-shirt that you would’ve sent to the rubbish anyway and get a tennis ball. Wrap the tennis ball in the t-shirt, then cut it into strips. Tie the strips together in braids and use a piece of the t-shirt to tie the base of the tennis ball.
A hanging scratchpad for cats
Cats love to scratch things; usually, it’s the good furniture unless you have a scratching post they like. Cats have a natural urge to scratch; it helps them remove old claws and mark their territory with scent glands in their paws.
Help out your cat with a hanging scratch post. This is made using a finely sanded plank of wood. Drill two holes at the top of the plank so that it hangs vertically on a rope. Near the top, apply some glue and attach sizzle rope. Wrap the sizzle rope around the board completely, and you have your hanging scratchpad.
An interactive dog feeder toy
Some dogs are smart, like really smart, and they don’t always like things handed to them on a plate. OK, maybe they do, but some dogs like to work for their treats; it challenges them, tests their brains, and gives them a sense of satisfaction when they succeed.
This dog toy is made using a length of PVC pipe. Drill some holes in the pipe all along it, make the holes wide enough for the dog to access the treat. Sand the holes smooth and wash the tube in the dishwasher. To finish, put PVC caps in the ends of the tube and fill it with treats.
Wands for cats
Cats love wands, and that’s not just because they’re witches in disguise. A wand is a small cat toy with feathers that mimics small feathers creatures, or perhaps a feathered snack. These toys are excellent, especially for indoor cats who like to hunt but don’t get the opportunity.
A cat wand is made by attaching various interesting feathers, ribbons, and strips to a rod of wood using some glue. The rod is the handle of the toy, and the feathers or ribbon on the end mimics the ‘feathered snack.’ have fun.
Plastic bottle tug toy
Plastic bottles aren’t quite a thing of the past just yet, and every so often, you find yourself bring one home in the shopping. If you’re into recycling and have a dog, there’s no better way to give that plastic a second use with a plastic bottle tug toy.
To make this toy, you need a plastic bottle, like a two-liter bottle of Coke or something similar. You also need an old bedsheet that you can tie-dye if you’re feeling creative. Cut four one-inch wide strips to be used later as ties. Wrap the remaining bedsheet around the bottle and secure it with the ties.
The cat Olympics
Did you know that cats are great athletes? That’s right, they can jump six times the length of themselves, and they are also excellent at balancing. Can you imagine how well a human Olympic athlete would perform if they could match that?
Since it’s not possible to enter your cat into the Olympics, why not create your very own cat Olympics in your home. First, lock your cats in another room, then set up a passageway covered in paper cups. You can put treats at the end of the passageway to encourage them. Count the number of paper cups knocked over to make a winning score.
T-shirt rope toy for dogs
Dogs love to get their teeth into things and test their strength against it; they call this playing, we think! There are plenty of dog toys on the market to entertain your dog in this way, but it’s sometimes better to make your own, especially if you have a lot of t-shirts left over from your spring cleaning.
This dog toy is made by cutting the t-shirt into strips and braiding it together. You will need some yarn as well to strengthen the braid and make it suitable for a tugging dog. You will brain the toy using the scoubidou technique; there are many articles and videos online to learn from.
Treat-filled mouse for cats
When you have indoor cats, they can get bored quite easily, it’s in their nature to hunt small animals for food after all, and this isn’t an easy habit to break. Instead, you might find your kitty tearing up your nice furniture or your curtains. But a treat-filled mouse toy can help.
These toys are the easiest things to make, and they help you to recycle all those old loo rolls. Take a loo roll holder, the cardboard bit, and fold down one side of it. Fill it up with some cat treats, then fold down the other side. That’s it; your cat will have a great time breaking it open and finding the treats.
Simple sock toy for dogs
Sometimes you need an everyday toy for your dog that lets them get their teeth into something with ruining an expensive toy, or worse, an expensive piece of furniture. What you need is a simple sock toy for your dog, and these are super simple to make.
If you’re like most people, you’ll have a drawer in your home that’s filled with single socks, where the other one went is a mystery. Take this single sock and cut a hole on the toe end. Now put a plastic water bottle inside to fill it out and hem the ends. These toys are easy to make and long-lasting.
Build a cat castle
This is one of our favourite DIY cat toys on the list. It’s a cat castle, which also goes by the name cat-tipi, or cat-house. Cats all have personalities, and some are introverts; others just like a nice base to hang out in. So build them a cat-base.
Take an old TV stand and turn it on its side. Use bedsheets and cane to create a roof on top and around the side. Leave one end open for them to walk in and out of. Inside, you will want to put some comfortable bedding and soft toys and treats so that they can live like kings and queens.
To sum up
Pet toys are easy to buy from pet shops, but they can be expensive; also, depending on your pet’s personality, the toy might get broken and leave you out of pocket. On the other hand, making your own pet toys saves you the cost of buying them and means you know how to easily replace them. It also allows you to recycle materials in your home and give them a second life.
