DIY Homemade toys for dogs, cats & pocket pets

5 DIY Homemade toys for dogs

Dogs love to play! There are plenty of toys and games you can create for them using items around the home. They can be fun to make and offer important mental and physical stimulation for your dog too! Each dog has a unique personality and energy level so keep creating until you find a toy that they really love.

1. Tennis ball toys

Push a tennis ball right down the bottom of a long sock and tie a knot just above the ball, a very simple but fun dog toy.

You can also create another simple toy using a rope and a tennis ball. Cut a hole in both sides of the tennis ball. Push your rope through the ball, then tie knots on either side of the ball to keep it in place. Tie knots at the ends of the rope to prevent fraying and offer extra grip. A great dog toy for playing tug-a-war.

2. Find the treat

Do you have a muffin tin that has lost its non-stick coating? You can use it to create a fun game for your dog. Simply place small treats in half the tins and cover each treat with a tennis ball. If you have more balls place them in the remaining holes or leave them empty. Watch your dog sniff them out and get into to their treats.

Another fun game is to fill a plastic kids pool or box with tennis balls and throw in a few treats. Your dog will love sniffing out the treats and playing with the tennis balls too!

3. Braided tug toy

Cut old kitchen towels into three long strips. Tie them together at one end, then braid them together. Tie a knot at the other end and you have a new toy for play tug-a-war with your dog. You can also cut strips from old t-shirts to make this toy.

4. Knotted ball

You can make a ball out of rope, old kitchen towels or t-shirts by simply tying a knot in the centre of the material or rope. Then continue to tie a knot around that one until you have a giant knot forming a ball shape. Cut off the excess ends and you are ready to play fetch.

5. Bottle crunch toy

You will need an empty plastic water bottle and a large sock for this toy. Firstly, remove the lid from the water bottle as this can be a choking hazard. Then push the bottle into the sock and tie a knot at the end of the water bottle. The sound of the plastic crunching during play can offer hours of entertainment for your dog.

5 DIY homemade toys for cats

Cats love to hunt. For domestic cats, hunting is more about fun and entertainment these days. Toys and games that involve pouncing, batting, chasing, hiding and seeking all provide your cat with a safe way to practice these predatory behaviours and develop new ways to catch their prey. We have a variety of toys that you can create that tap into these natural feline instincts.

1. Cardboard cat palace

Cats love a cosy place to hide. Using cardboard boxes, create a special place for your cat to chill out or play. Cut out holes for doors and windows so they can enter and check out what is going on outside their palace. You can also add soft bedding or a blanket for them to sleep on or relax in comfort. Add some toys for entertainment too! Take it to the next level by joining a few boxes together or adding a large tunnel.

2. Toilet paper roll toys

Cut an empty toilet roll into rings and position the rings over each other until they form a ball. Hide treats in the ball and watch your cat push it around as the treats slowly drop out.

You can also use scissors to cut strips at each end of an empty toilet roll and fold them back so it looks like a sun at both ends. Your cat will love batting this around.

Hide a small number of treats in an empty toilet paper roll and fold in both ends, leaving just a small opening. Watch your cat’s delight as treats slowly drop out during play.

3. Homemade wand

All you need for this toy is a stick, a piece of string and some sort of toy like a feather, ribbons, pom pom or crumpled piece of paper. Simply tie the string to the stick, then tie the toy to the other end of the string. Wave the stick around for your cat to chase after and pounce on!

4. Sock fish

We all have socks lying around that don’t have a partner. Use these socks and some scrap paper to create a fish toy for your cat. Simply stuff the sock with paper and create a knot towards the end, making sure you leave a bit of room for a tail. It should look like a fish. Take it to the next level by drawing on some eyes or scales with a marker. Pull the toy along to tempt your cat or leave it sticking out under a blanket for them to discover.  

5. Feather toy

Cats love a feather to bat around and chase after. Tie a few ribbons or small lengths of string onto the end of the feather. You can also knot in a few bells for added fun. Pull the feather along past your cat and watch them pounce!

5 DIY homemade toys for pocket pets

Pocket pets love to chew. Their teeth are constantly growing so regularly chewing on hay, fresh vegetables, cardboard and wood helps to keep their teeth trim and healthy. They also love to play. Using items around the home, it’s easy to create chewable play toys to keep your pocket pet entertained and their teeth healthy too!  

1. Cardboard pocket pet palace

Using cardboard boxes, create a special place for your pocket pet to play, relax and entertain themselves. Cut out door holes for them to enter and window holes for them see outside their palace. You can also add soft bedding or a blanket for them to sleep on or relax in comfort. Take it to the next level by joining a few boxes together or adding a tunnel.

2. Toilet paper roll toys

There are a variety of toys you can make from empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Poke holes in the roll and stuff it with hay or grass.

You can also make a treat ball by cutting a roll into rings and positioning the rings over each other until they form a ball. Hide treats in the ball and watch your pet push it around as the treats slowly drop out.

Another options is to use string to tie a toilet paper roll inside your rabbit’s cage for them to chew on and nose bonk.  

3. Paper play pit

Cut the top off a cardboard box to form a tray that your pocket pet can jump into. Fill the tray with shredded plain paper or scrunch up some paper balls to make a play pit. You could scatter some treats into the play pit to attract your pocket pet or even put some treats in the paper before you scrunch them up to keep them extra entertained.

4. Mazes and tunnels

Pocket pets love to explore. Using large cardboard boxes, tubes or even PVC pipes you can create a collection of mazes and tunnels for your pocket pet to explore. You can add some balls for pushing around as well as some jumps for added fun. Add in a few treats for them to find as a nice reward for all their exploring efforts.

5. Treat toys

Stuff fresh herbs, hay, grass or a small number of treats inside a cardboard egg carton, small cardboard box or plain paper bag for your pocket pet to play with and discover.

You can also scrunch up plain paper or flatten an empty toilet roll with these food items inside for them to push around, chew on, then treat themselves at the end.