**Collaborative post**
Don’t let this summer be like last summer, uncertain and slightly dull. Arrange plenty of activities for you and your family, pets included. Animals can get bored the same as children, the same as people, so why not make some easy toys for them to play with over the summer months. Instead of buying expensive dog toys, use materials you have in the house anyway to save money and help the environment. Read on for ten awesome ideas.
Ball tug toy for dogs
When your dog is bored this summer, encourage them to the garden with a ball tug toy where they can tire themselves out but testing their strength against yours. This is an excellent activity for dogs, but unfortunately, the toys can break easily.
If you make your own homemade toys for your pets, however, there’s no end to the supply of them, and for a reasonable price. Find an old t-shirt and a tennis ball. Wrap the t-shirt around the tennis ball and cut the t-shirt into strips. You can then braid these strips to make them tougher.
A hanging scratchpad for cats
If there’s one thing, cats love to do its scratch. You’ve probably noticed this, especially if your good furniture is all torn to shreds. The reason cats love to scratch is that it removes old claws and spreads their scent.
Help them do this and save your sofa at the same time with a hanging scratchpad. This is made from a plank of wood with two holes drilled in the top for hanging it. There is then sizzle rope wrapped around it from top to bottom.
An interactive dog feeder toy
Never let your dog’s food get boring with an interactive dog feed that is super easy to make yourself. Although dogs love the food, they also love a challenge, and combining these two things is an excellent way to keep them interested during the summer.
Get a piece of PVC pipe from a local hardware shop and drill some holes into it. Make the holes large enough for dog biscuits to fall out of. Remember to sand the holes after to protect your dog’s snout. Wash the treat holder, then fill it for hours of entertainment.
Wands for cats
Cats have a reputation for being a little bit magical; maybe that’s why they like wands so much! Only kidding, these wands are for chasing, and the real reason they like them is that the feathers or ribbons look like a mouse or small animal.
To make one of these, all you need is a piece of doweling rod bought from the local craft shop, attach the feathers or ribbons to the rod using staples, and there you have it because you’ve made this toy, you will know how to repair it when it gets damaged.
Plastic bottle tug toy
Dogs love to chew on things, it could be a dog toy, but it could equally be your shoe or slipper. How annoying. Since dog toys are expensive to bu it makes sense to build your own; then you know how to source the cheap materials and repair them for longer life.
The plastic bottle tug toy is made using a two-liter plastic bottle and a bedsheet. Cut four strips off the bedsheet; these will be one inch thick. Cover the bottle with the bedsheet and wrap the stips around the bottle. Tie them tight.
The cat Olympics
The Tokyo Olympics have been canceled for now, but not for cats. Cats are brilliant athletes, and they are always performing amazing stunts, amazing to us humans at least. So why not create your own mini cat Olympics this summer?
This involves putting your cats in another room while you create a passageway out of pillows you something else. You stand toilet roll holders up in the passageway as an obstacle course. You could even put treats under the rolls or at the end of the course. Markdown how many each cat knocks over.
T-shirt rope toy for dogs
This dog rope toy is different from the tennis ball version because it doesn’t have a ball, and it is made purely for tugging. Your dog can grab the toy anywhere and tug away until it’s content. These toys are very easy to make and benefit from easy repairs.
To make the t-shirt rope toy, take a t-shirt and cut it into strips; you must remember to keep it joined at the collar. You then braid the strips together, incorporating braiding rope to make it stronger. Use the scoubidou technique to make the braids.
Treat-filled mouse for cats
If you have outdoor cats, you will know how they love to hunt and bring small animals to your door as trophy kills. Indoor cats like to hunt, too; it’s in their nature; unfortunately, they don’t get the same opportunity.
But they can work with an indoor treat-filled mouse. This toy is super easy to make, just grab a toilet roll holder and close off one end. Now fill the holder with treats and close the other end – you have one edible, vegan-friendly mouse.
Simple sock toy for dogs
If you’re like most people, you will have a drawer full of single socks; they somehow get lost in the wash or somewhere. You can put these to good use with the sock toy for dogs. It’s also easy to repair and replace.
Take one of those single socks from your drawer and cut off the toe. Now insert a small plastic bottle and tie the two ends. It’s a bit like a Christmas cracker, but your dog will love to chew away on it for hours.
Build a cat castle
Finally, the cat castle is perfect for the summer of the sun for your cats. Take an old TV stand and turn it on its side. Cover it with a bedsheet and make a roof with the bedsheet and some canes. Remember to leave an opening for your cats to get in and out and make the space super cozy inside. Where are those cats, you will ask? They’re in the cat castle!
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