How to Make Quick & Simple Homemade Toys for Your Pets

With the economy in the state that it is in these days, everything is a so expensive and pet toys are no exception. Here is way to save money and still provide your pets with lots of fun by making homemade toys yourself. Just use your imagination and the possibilities are endless. Here are some quick and very simple homemade pet toys to make that any dog or cat would appreciate receiving.

Cats:

Cut a piece of kite string or thick yarn and make it long enough so it dangles down far enough for your cat to reach. Make a ball out of a piece of aluminum foil and tie one end of the string around the foil ball. Hang the string on a nail or tape it to the bottom of a cabinet. Now you cat has his very own tether ball game to play.

Take an old pair of gloves and then stuff a plastic grocery bag down inside the glove and then stuff in a play mouse filled with catnip. Sew the ends together.

Take an old pair of gloves and then sew on strips of yard or kite string onto each finger of the glove. Put the gloves on and wiggle your fingers around and let your cat play with the strings.

Stuff an old sock with a plastic grocery bag and then tie a knot in the sock. Your cat will love the crunchy sound that the bag makes.

Take a cardboard box and then tape it closed on both ends and then cut out a round hole on two sides of the box big enough for your cat to get through. Now you cat has a big house to run and romp in. Glue on pieces of string or fabric strips to the top of the box for lots of playtime for your cat.

Buy a feather duster at Dollar General but just be sure you get one with actual feathers and not the one that has micro fiber magnetic dusters. Toss the duster on the floor and watch the fun begin.

Sew on pieces of string to an old sock and then tie a knot in the sock and let your cat chase the string around the house.

Cut a piece of cardboard to be 12 x 6 in size and then cut pieces of kite string long enough so that they can dangle down from the cardboard once they are place on to the cardboard. Use a large needle and insert several pieces of kite string through the cardboard. Tie a large knot in the string on the top part of the cardboard so the string will not slip through. Make sure the string is long enough to dangle down for your cat to be able to play with. Next roll the aluminum foil into small balls about golf ball sized and glue one on to the ends of all the kite strings. Take another piece of kite string and thread it through the needle and then poke it through the center of the cardboard and make a loop to hang on the wall. Place far enough down for your cat to be able to reach the balls and string. Use more pieces of the kite string or glue and attach feathers to the strings that are dangling down. You can even glue on a jingle bell ball to one end of the string.

Place a jingle bell ball inside of an old sock and either sew or tie the ends together.

(You can find a two pack of jingle balls at Dollar General for only $1.00)

Go to Dollar General and buy a pack of three mini mice that are filled with catnip for only $1.00. Place one of the mice inside of an old sock and then sew the top together.

Go to Dollar General and buy a pack of three mini mice that are filled with catnip for only $1.00 and also buy a pack of very small screw hooks that you use to hang plants from. Tie a long string to the tail of the mouse and place one of the screw hooks into the wall above a doorway so that the mouse dangles about two inches off the floor. My cat Murphy loves this and spends hours batting the mice back and forth.

Dogs:

Place a tennis ball inside of an old sock and tie the ends together. Play tug-of-war.

Put two oven mitts on your hands and play tug-of-war with your puppy. If he accidentally bites your fingers, it won't hurt.

Tie an old sock into a knot to play tug-of-war.

Make a tunnel of fun for your puppy or dog to run through by cutting off both of the ends of a large cardboard refrigerator box.

Place a rawhide chew bone inside of an old sock and tie the sock into a knot. Your dog will spend hours trying to get to the rawhide bone.

Unscrew the lid of an empty twenty-ounce water bottle and put several popcorn kernels in the bottom. Screw the lid back on and Viola! You have a cheap and entertaining dog toy.

Poke holes in the sides of an empty milk container after you rinse it out well. Stuff a few morsels of their food or treats through the holes and watch how long they are entertained trying to retrieve the goodies inside.

For some reason, dogs love to chase bubbles so to create your own, fill a bowl with half water and half dishwashing liquid and then dip a flyswatter down into the soapy water and swing the flyswatter back & forth to release the bubbles and watch the fun begin. Just don't let your dog eat too many bubbles or he may get an upset tummy.

Be sure that you do not use materials that can become splintered and become lodged in your pet's throat or that present any other type of choking hazard to your pet.