This year, everyone is getting into the giving mood of the season. Even our pets deserve a little something. However, instead of spending money on your furry friends, why not make them something they will love? What’s more, you can use items you have around your home to create some of our DIY gifts for your cat or dog.
DIY Gifts for Cats
Kitty wants her gift right meow! Homemade doesn’t have to be “cheap.” When creating a gift for your cat, keep in mind what they love to do. Does your dog love toys? To sleep? To hide? Here are 4 fun DIY gifts for your cat.
Make a Holiday-Themed Cat Toy
Can you sew or crochet? Then this one is easy for you! Making a holiday-themed cat toy is as simple as sewing two pieces of fabric together. We suggest making a cute gingerbread man and decorating with simple embroidery. Don’t add buttons or anything they can pull off and swallow. Gingerbread men are just one idea. Here are some simple holiday shapes you can cut and sew together:
- Ornaments
- Trees
- Wreaths
- Mistletoe
- Stars
- Santa
To make the toy extra fun, you can add some catnip to the inside of the toy.
Make a Tent for Your Cat to Lounge In
All you need for this one is a clean, old shirt and wire coat hangers. You can form the coat hangers in a way that creates a dome. Then, just pull the shirt over the frame and leave the collar of the shirt open for your cat to walk in and out of. Easy-peasy! If your cat likes to hide and sleep, this is a perfect idea.
Sew a Cat Bed from Scrap Material
If you have old bed sheets or fabric from other sewing projects, you can use them to create a bed for your kitty. You may need to purchase some batting for the bed, but all you need to do is sew 2 pieces of fabric together and leave a small hole to stuff the batting in. Then, sew the small hole shut.
Plant Some Catnip
A really nice thing to do for your cat would be to plant catnip. Catnip is a common herb that is easy to grow, so you can start a pot in the winter. You can plant catnip outdoors as well, just remember that it’s an aggressive grower so it can easily take over your yard. Your cat will be sure to enjoy the aroma and taste of their own catnip plant.
DIY Gifts for Dogs
You shouldn’t freak out about getting your dog a gift. They’re certainly going to love just sitting beside you during normal holiday festivities. But if you want some gift ideas for your pooch, take a look below.
Make a Dog Blanket from Scrap Fabric
If you like sewing, this is an easy project that your dog is sure to love. Take any scrap fabrics you have, sew up the edges of it to make it nice and thick and prepare for your dog to relax. Your dog is sure to love a nice warm blanket during colder weather. And if you have any extra batting laying around, stuff that blanket to turn it into an extra comfy bed.
Create a Gift Basket with Dollar Store Goodies
A dollar store doesn’t usually have the best quality goods, but the price is right. And for under $10, you can find everything you’ll need to make a goodie basket for your dog. Pick up some chewy treats, maybe a small blanket or some new toys for your dog.
Create an Ornament with Your Dog’s Photo
This is an easy way to make a personalized gift for your dog. Take a piece of cork or even cardboard and cut it into a house shape. Cut a popsicle stick in half and use hot glue to attach them to the top to create the roof of your “doghouse.” Color the roof, add tinsel or decorative light bulbs and don’t forget to attach a great picture of your pup to the front of the house.
Bake Dog Treats
If you’re looking to give your dog a great gift, why not bake them some treats? Baking dog treats is super easy to do and can be as simple or complex as you want. You can start with a recipe that’s one baby food jar of your choice and two parts flour. Mix them together and cut out your cookies. In 25 to 20 minutes, you’ve got a tasty treat your dog will enjoy.
Another popular choice are peanut butter treats. Mix:
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
Once everything is mixed well, roll out the dough to a thickness of a quarter inch. Cut your cookies and bake for 25 minutes at 350 F. Your dog will love them and you can feel good about indulging your dog with homemade treats. Wrap them up in a cute baggie and gift them for the holidays.
As can see, DIY gifts for your cat or dog are very easy to do! Include your furry friend in this year’s festivities and find ways to make entertaining homemade gifts.