Being Thrifty

If you have pets, they’re part of your family, right?  You don’t want to leave them out at the holidays, but if your finances are tight, you may not be able to buy them new toys.  If you can’t buy them, try making your own.

For dogs:

Take an old sock, preferably a man’s tube sock, tie a knot at either end, and you have a tug-of-war toy.  You can also use old rope if you have any lying around.

Old towels also work for tug and pull toys.  Just tie a knot in the towel.

You can also make a chew toy from an old sock.  Take an old tube sock and cut the top off.  Sew one end of the tube.  Stuff the foot of the sock inside the tube, and sew the other end.

Sleeves from old sweatshirts work for this as well.  Or, if you’re really crafty, you can make chew toys from fabric scraps and stuff with old socks or padding.

Dogs love balls, so if you have any old tennis balls or rubber balls around the house, your dog will love these. 

For cats:

Crumple up some foil, toss it, and watch your cat chase it and bat it around.

If your cat likes catnip, take an old sock, place a pinch of catnip in the toe, and tie off the top.  Or, if you sew, make small pillows from fabric scraps and place catnip inside.  If your cats don’t like catnip, you can stuff these toys with cotton balls or stuffing.

Place a few small pebbles or bells inside an old pill bottle or film container. Make sure the lid is secure so that the container doesn’t open.  You don’t want kitty choking on the pebbles or bells.  Rice or dried beans will work too.

A felt ball or ping pong ball attached to a piece of yarn or string and tied to a doorknob makes a great swatting toy for your cat.

If you can knit or crochet, you can make some balls or mice for your cats. 

With a little creativity, you can come up with toys that your pets will enjoy for very little money.