It’s time to skip the pricey toys and accessories pet stores are notorious for selling. Why spend $30 on something your dog or cat will inevitably end up destroying? You can DIY your pet’s accessories and toys while still showing them just how much you love them.
Check out each of our creative ideas below for a list of materials you’ll need, followed by step-by-step instructions to help you out along the way.
Pet Bed
That old turtleneck sweater you’ve had sitting in the back of your closet can make for the perfect pet bed. Bonus: your pet will identify your scent on the sweater and be more likely to use the bed than the one you’d buy from a pet store.
Materials:
- old sweater
- tape measure
- needle and thread
- scissors
- cotton
- pillow
Instructions:
- Have your pet lie in the middle of the sweater and measure out how much space (lengthwise) they take up.
- Sew a line through the sweater where the back of the bed will begin.
- Sew another line through the collar of the sweater.
- Stuff cotton through the sleeves of the sweater until there is a good amount of cushioning
- Sew the ends of the sleeves shut.
- Insert a pillow through the bottom of the sweater.
- Sew the bottom of the sweater shut.
- Bring the stuffing-filled arms of the sweater around to the bottom and sew the sleeves together.
Get your dog to easily pose for photos
Trying to get that perfect photo with your pup to add to your Instagram feed? Help keep their attention with this attachable tennis ball trick!
Materials:
- headphone jack (from a broken pair of headphones)
- tennis ball
- box cutter
- hot glue gun
Instructions:
- If you have some broken headphones, cut the headphone jack off.
- Cut a slit into a tennis ball using a box cutter.
- Pipe some hot glue onto the slit you cut.
- Fit the wired end of the headphone jack into the slit of the tennis ball and allow the hot glue to dry before using.
- When ready to use, plug the headphone jack into your phone.
Cheap Dog Clothes
Are you left with a bunch of old babies onesies now that your kids are grown? Give your fur baby the perfect shirt using an old baby onesie!
Materials:
- old baby onesie
- beanie
- scissors
Instructions:
- For the onesie, cut it in half and dispose of the bottom portion.
- For the beanie, cut the top of the hat off and cut two half circles into the sides to create armholes.
Tented Cat Bed
Ever notice how your cat tends to prefer to hangout under things like the dresser or coffee table rather than sleep out in the open? Give them a comfy hangout spot that will still give them that sense of security by throwing an old t-shirt over some hangers.
Materials:
- wire hangers
- cardboard
- hole puncher
- pliers
- tape
- old t-shirt
- pillow
Instructions:
- Untie two wired clothing hangers and bend them into triangle shapes.
- On a square piece of cardboard, punch 4 holes into each of the corners.
- Diagonally place each hanger over the cardboard and stick the ends through the punched out holes.
- Use pliers to bends the ends of the hangers to keep them from slipping out of the cardboard base.
- Bring the two points of the triangle hangers together in the middle and secure with a piece of tape.
- Fit a t-shirt over the hangers and base and position so the collar opens to one of the sides. Tuck any excess material (i.e. the sleeves) in.
- Put a comfy pillow or cushion inside the tent.
DIY Pet Brush
Tired of seeing the piles of fur all over your couch and chairs? Forget going through endless sheets of the lint roller. Add some hot glue to a pair of cleaning gloves and you’ve got a HAND-y pet brush perfect for scooping up all that fur!
Materials:
Instructions:
- Dot the entire palm-side of the rubber glove with hot glue.
- Let the glue dry and harden before using.
Make bath time easier for your pooch
Bath time can be overwhelming for some pets. The added water pressure can be a big factor. Try toning down the water with this neat hula hoop shower ring. Bath time won’t be such a headache anymore!
Materials:
- hula hoop
- scissors
- PVC pipe glue
- PVC “T” pipe
- PVC plugs
- screwdriver
- lighter
Instructions:
- Make one cut into the hula hoop.
- Remove the piece of the hoop where you made the cut.
- Coat the piece of the hoop that fits inside the next piece with pipe glue to create a waterproof seal.
- Fit a “T” shaped PVC pipe onto the end of the hula hoop piece that has the pipe glue.
- Repeat steps 2-4 for every piece of the hose. You should only need to use half of the hula hoop.
- Add two PVC plugs to each end of the hula hoop. Note: Apply some pipe glue to the plugs to create a better seal and to keep the plugs in place.
- Heat the tip of a Phillip’s head screwdriver with a lighter and pierce holes through the inside of the hula hoop ring. This is where the water will come out.
- Screw the “T” shaped PVC pipe to the end of a hose when you’re ready to use.