Homemade Cat Toys

By creating homemade cat toys, you get to save money as these can be costly to buy. Of course, it also keeps your furniture safe. Here are some ideas you can work on.

Paper Balls and Strings

Get a handful of papers and shape them into a ball. Try using papers with different textures. You can use bond paper, newspaper or cardboard.

Just throw in front of the cat and let him chase it down. Because they love to scratch, using cardboard or other heavy paper may prove more attractive to them.

Get some strings and attach bells on the end. You can also use lights or even catnip. Set this homemade cat toy where kitty can reach it. You should also change the things attached to the end for variety.

Lights and Sound

A simple idea is to get a bag and fill it with toys that emit sounds and lights. These may consist of bells, flashing lights and others. Place it in front of the cat and he’ll have fun with it.

Bubbles and Bottles

Get a bottle and put lights inside. You can also put bells or other objects with sounds. This will keep your pet busy. Blow bubbles are also fun. You can also use feathers, plastics and other colorful objects as toys. Put these in bags or bottles and give them to your pet.

Make a Perch

Besides homemade cat toys, you should make a perch. Just get a piece of wood and put some carpet or soft cover above it. Place it near the window. Hang it, as cats love to jump. You can position it looking out of a window or into another room.

Scratching Post

For the post, you need one piece of wood (square, 2 ft high). Get another piece of plywood (3×3 will be okay). Nail the two pieces together. Apply some sea grass around them.

Toy Box

For this project, you should get the following equipment.

Required Tools and Materials

Cardboard box
Nail
Ping pong balls
String
Scissors
Glue

Instructions

Start this homemade cat toy by cutting the strings. Make them six inches long. Connect the ping pong balls with the nail. Put the cut strings through the balls. Fasten the strings so the balls won’t come off.

Use glue to stick the strings opposite the balls. The end result should be the ping pong balls dangling down. Finally, put a tape on the box and make a hole for your cat. You can also replace the ping pong balls with bells.

Tips and Warnings

Make sure you don’t use lead paint when decorating these toys. Don’t use objects that are too small; the cat might end up swallowing them.

Avoid using buttons as they can come off too easily. Be careful when using the strings; ensure they don’t get entangled.

These homemade cat toys are simple, fun and inexpensive. You don’t just cut back on costs, but you can take a lot of pleasure in it. After all, your cat is playing with a toy that you yourself made.

Homemade Pet Costumes

Making homemade pet costumes is a terrific means to dress-up your furry friend and have some fun without spending some cash.

Great Homemade Pet Costume Ideas

If you may think that making a pet costume is a great task for you, then think again. A simple homemade pet costume may not even need some sewing. Just let your imagination drift off to aid you in making a costume for your beloved pet.

Dressing up your pet to represent other kind of animal is a popular trend today. If you are celebrating Easter, then you can dress up your dogs as bunnies. Bunny costumes are really easy to make yourself. All you will ever create are the ears and this can be done by building ears using scrap fabric or construction paper and wire glued on a Velcro headband. Secure the ears in your pet’s head and it will be good to take some memorable pictures with your pets.

You can also dress up your pets into insects such as the ladybugs which are becoming popular nowadays even for small dogs. This homemade pet costume doesn’t need any sewing at all. Get a jacket and fasten some felt papers on it colored red and black to obtain the resemblance of a ladybug. You can also make a headpiece using pipe cleaners and Velcro.

Creating some popular superhero costumes is gaining popularity now. You can make a cape to represent any masked crusader and they are easy to make anytime.

Most of the homemade pet costumes are recycled from old infant and toddler clothes. Just attach some fabric and accessories and your lovable pets will instantly turn into a fairy, ballerina, or bumble bee. Old T-shirts are good to use for large sized pets. With a glue gun, staples, or Velcro, attach any accessories to the shirt like spider legs, tiger stripes, and wings.

If you are turning an old child’s clothes into a homemade pet costume, take into consideration the sizing. The length and breadth of the pet’s body differs to that of the child so there are areas that are tight and others that are loose. Do some repairing with the use of scissors and needle so that the pet will become comfortable with the dress it is in.

Ensure that the natural movements of your pet are not hindered and restricted. The tail, head, and legs should be able to move freely when wearing the costume of your making.

Homemade pet costumes don’t have to be elaborate unless you are really an expert pet costume designer.

Homemade Dog Treats

Not only are homemade dog food recipes potentially cheaper, but they can be healthier too. Unlike the stuff sold in stores, you know exactly what the contents will be. There’s no need to worry about any preservatives that may affect your pet.

Meat and Vegetables

A balanced diet is needed to keep your pet healthy and strong. The rule of thumb is 40% meat, 30% starch and 30% vegetables. You can use any type of meat, but most recommend cooking it. Try combining beef, carrots and brown rice.

You can replace rice with oatmeal or pasta (these will provide the dog with their starch requirements). You can also give them eggs every now and then.

Remember that homemade dog food recipes should be stored in the refrigerator if it won’t be eaten yet. These can be kept there for only three days.

Oatmeal with Apple and Honey

Ingredients

1 apple
Half a cup of water
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup of honey
1 cup of flour (whole wheat)
1 cup of oatmeal

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Cut the apple with a knife or food processor. Pour the apple, cinnamon and honey in a bowl. Add the water and oatmeal. Add the wheat flour. Mix until dough is formed. Spoon up the dough and put on the baking sheet. Adjust the size of this homemade dog food recipe as fits your pet.

Put the cookies in the oven. Cook it for half an hour. Open and flip each piece. Cook again for 30 minutes. Allow the biscuits to cool throughout the night.

Banana Treat

Ingredients

Half a cup of peanuts
Flour (4 cups)
1 egg
Oil
Vanilla (3 tsp)
Half a cup of water
1 cup of bananas
1/3 tsp of baking soda

Instructions

Turn the oven on and heat to 325 F. Gather all the dry ingredients and combine in a bowl. Form a well in the middle of this mix. Combine the oil, egg and the bananas.

Add this with the dry mixture. Mix it. Pour a teaspoon of water. Add as many teaspoons of water as needed for this homemade dog food recipe.

Knead the mixture. Turn the dough into log shapes. Make it as long as desired. Put it on the baking sheet. Allow it to bake for 40 minutes. Cool it down for 10 minutes. Take it out and slice to about ½ size. Return on the baking sheet. Bake it for 20 minutes. Allow it to cool down. Put it in a sealed container.

Tips and Warnings

Consult your vet before trying out any of these recipes. This is essential if your dog is on a special diet. It’s also a good idea to try different recipes. This ensures your pet doesn’t tire of the food. Always check the expiration dates of the ingredients. Never give your pet spoiled food.

These are simple homemade dog food recipes that any pet owner can
make. With a little bit of creativity and resourcefulness, making great tasting yet nutritious treats will be effortless.

Homemade Dry Dog Food

Commercially sold dog foods may have harmful ingredients, so homemade dry dog food is the best solution. Here are a few simple yet nutritious recipes you can make.

Recipe I

Ingredients

Wheat germ (1 and 1/2 cups)
Yeast (1/3 tbsp)
Garlic powder (1 tsp)
Powdered milk (3 cups)
5 eggs
Ground beef (3 cups)
Wheat flour (5 cups)

Instructions

Put the yeast in a cup of water. After it melts, add in the other ingredients. Mix them well. Keep kneading until the paste is made. Add some water if needed. Let the dough rest for half an hour so it can rise.

Pour some flour on the counter’s surface. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin. Continue making this homemade dry dog food recipe by chopping the dough into bite sized chunks. Set them on a baking sheet. Bake them for 45 minutes at 350 F.

Serve this to your dog. Put any leftovers in the fridge. No matter how well it’s cooked, all the food must be eaten in three days. Keeping the food longer than that is unsafe.

Recipe II

Ingredients

Salt (1 tsp)
1 egg (beaten)
Cheese (shredded, any type)
Garlic powder (half a teaspoon)
Brown sugar (1 tsp)
Broth (beef or chicken, 2 cups)
Water (half a cup)
Flour (3 cups)
Bacon (8 slices, crushed)
Wheat germ (half a cup)

Instructions

Begin this homemade dry dog food by combining the bacon, broth and eggs. Put the bacon juices there. Put the other ingredients into this mix. Continue mixing until you get the dough. Spray some flour on the counter.

Put the dough there and flatten it up to half an inch. Slice them with a cookie cutter or knife. Put the pieces onto the cookie sheet. Space each piece by two inches. Bake for 30 minutes at 250 F. Allow the food to cool for a couple of minutes at the wire rack.

Recipe III

Ingredients

Four (1 cup)
Butter (half a cup)
Beef (1 cup)
Beef jerky (2 cups)
5 eggs
Baking powder (2 tsp)

Instructions

Before baking this homemade dry dog food preheat the oven at 325 F. Put grease and flour in a pan. Toss in the butter. Wait until it becomes smooth before putting in the beef, eggs and oil. Blend everything. Gather the dry ingredients and combine with this mix.

Crush the beef jerky and put it in the batter. Bake for 60 minutes. Cool it down for 15 minutes. Optionally you can put on some cheese at the top. Make sure the meal isn’t too hot when serving it to your dog.

Tips

Some dog breeds can be very particular about the food they eat. It’s a good idea to do some research on the dog breed so you can feed it properly. You can also put in some vitamins in the recipes for more health benefits.

You can mix and match ingredients if you like. Try making and giving these homemade dry dog food recipes to your pet sometime. Don’t be surprised if they keep asking for some more.

Homemade Pet Food

Creating homemade pet food is something pet owners ought to consider. This isn’t just because it can be less costly. The other reason is there may be ingredients in commercially sold foods that contain harmful chemicals.

These won’t kill the animal, but it may cause damage in the long term. Making recipes at home eliminates this possibility.

Hamburger with Eggs for Dogs

Ingredients

Hamburger meat (1 cup)
Oil (1 tbsp)
3 small carrots (chopped)
2 eggs (boiled)
Oatmeal (half a cup)
Cottage cheese (3 tbsp)

Instructions

Put all the ingredients in a large bowl. Mix them thoroughly with a spoon. You can add the ingredients in any order. It’s also a good idea to add some vitamin supplements into this homemade pet food recipe. Just include it in this mix. Set the food at room temperature before serving.

If there are leftovers, store it in the fridge. This can be eaten again, but it must be totally consumed after three days.

Casserole with Rice for Dogs

Ingredients

A cup of brown rice (cooked)
Half a cup of poultry (boiled and chopped)
Assorted vegetables (half a cup)
Unsalted chicken broth (3 tbsp)

Instructions

Prepare a large bowl. Combine all the ingredients. Add as many vegetables as you like. There needs to be some meat, vegetables and starch in the meal. Combine the ingredients well. Serve it warm. If there’s some left of this homemade pet food, keep it in the fridge.

Salmon with Vegetables

Ingredients

1 salmon
Cornmeal
1 beaten egg
A potato
Carrot (1 piece)
A stick of celery
Peanut (1 tbsp)

Instructions

Put the egg, salmon and cornmeal in a bowl. Mix them and make patties. Put a little bit of oil in a pan and fry the patties. Slice the patties into smaller pieces. Boil the vegetables and combine the patties with them.

Add some cheese while stirring. You can top it off with some peanut butter as well. The peanut butter can be added in the homemade pet food mixture as well.

Salmon Dish for Cats

Ingredients

A can of salmon
Bread crumbs (1/3 cup)
Half a cup celery (chopped)
1 beaten egg
Unflavored gelatin (1 package)
Water (half a cup)

Instructions

Preheat the oven at a temperature of 325 F. Get a bowl and put all the ingredients together. Use a spoon to combine all the elements. Feel free to add some vitamins and supplements. Bake this mix for 45 minutes. This meal should be served warm. It can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days.

Tips

While these foods are nutritious, it won’t hurt to send your pet to the vet for checkups every now and then. Watch out for any allergic reactions to the ingredients that you add. Also make sure that the food hasn’t spoiled yet, especially when you’ve kept it in the fridge.

These homemade pet food recipes can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Feel free to try various other ingredients. By adding in some vitamins and exercise, your pet will become healthy and vibrant.