Homemade Pet Toys

Millions of toys are marketed toward dog and cat owners. Some people find that their pets go through more toys than food, and more than one pet owner has thrown up her hands in frustration and exclaimed that she would purchase no more toys. Consider homemade pet toys. They are often quick and easy to make and can be repaired or replaced with the skills and materials you already possess.

  1. Materials

    • Choosing materials is largely up to personal preference. Consider the skills you have and work with materials from those skills. Knitters may have an abundance of wool on hand, which makes an excellent material for dogs that are tough on their toys. When wool is subjected to heat, moisture and agitation, the fibers "lock up" and become harder to break. Sewing enthusiasts may find that braided fabric scraps make excellent tug-of-war toys. Casual hunters find that their bones don't go to waste.
      Similarly, cat owners have found that nearly anything can become a cat toy. A braid of yarn with long, hanging fringe or squares of fabric sewn and stuffed with catnip will entice even the pickiest feline.

    Types of Toys

    • Think of the activities your dog or cat likes to engage in. A dog that enjoys a game of fetch may not be as inclined to sit and chew on a plush toy for hours. Similarly, a dog that enjoys tug of war may not like a toy that she has to retrieve. Some cats prefer mouse toys, while others like balls that jingle or "trailing toys" that make them hunt.
      Take your pet's preferences into account when making homemade pet toys. Popular toys for dogs include chew toys, balls, tug ropes and squeak toys. Cat toys tend to be jingle toys, toys that roll, toys that can be trailed across the floor or stuffed toys that simulate the cat's prey. It may be worthwhile to examine these toys in the store and try to recreate their allure at home. Some are easier to recreate than others, and you may have to seek out additional supplies such as squeakers, jingle bells, fresh catnip or handles for tug toys.

    Safety

    • Safety is an important consideration of pet toys. Any materials that could be chewed or broken off should be omitted. This includes plastic eyes, trims, ribbons, threads and buttons. Materials that splinter or break should be avoided or used in toys that will be played with under strict supervision. Hard plastic can shatter under the pressure of a dog's teeth and become lodged in the soft tissue of his mouth and should be avoided at all costs. If the item you have made contains long pieces of string or rope, always supervise your pet. If the string is pulled from the toy and ingested, it could require surgical extraction.
      Try to see the toy from your pet's eyes when he is at his most mischievous--ask yourself whether you can tear it apart, rip it to shreds, break it or shatter it. If the answer is yes, reconsider your use of that material.