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Cheap 'n' cheerful homemade pet toys

in Pets & pet care
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MSE_Laura_FMSE_Laura_F Community Admin
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I'd like to get a few examples going, if possible, of people's homemade pet toys.

If it's true for your pet, as it is for my cat, that bits of packaging can elicit more excitement than any full-priced toy, please show me your free/cheap 'n' cheerful makeshift pet toys.

My cat loves feathers. Especially if it's a really good flyer. I stand on the stairs and float them down to her to catch. She also enjoys jumping about in tissue paper, so I save it up and stick it in a box for her. By poking small holes in the box, I can push a stick through and make the tissue paper move - she goes wild for that.

I remember keeping loo roll cardboard tubes for my hamster when I was a kid too.



Now how about yours?
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Replies

  • TripleHTripleH Forumite
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    Cardboard boxes are loved by all.
    Judging by the destruction this afternoon a fly makes a great toy.
    May you find your sister soon Helli.
    Sleep well.
  • MisslayedMisslayed Forumite, Senior Ambassador
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    When my Patterjack (Patterdale/Jack Russell cross) was younger she loved wrestling with a small plastic bottle containing a handful of cat biscuits, and stuffed in an old sock. Took her ages to get them out! It would take her about an hour initially, but she's very clever and soon learned the way to get them out in about ten minutes.  I used cat biscuits a lot for training treats, they're much smaller than dog treats, and she can't read! 
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Competition Time, Site Feedback and Marriage, Relationships and Families boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing [email protected] All views are my own and not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
  • TripleHTripleH Forumite
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    Our recently departed tortie got one of those cat treat dispensers they bat with their paw to get treats out.
    She emptied it in about 5 seconds.
    She also once slapped me for taking a toy out of her little box she'd tidied them away in.
    May you find your sister soon Helli.
    Sleep well.
  • edited 17 May 2022 at 10:18PM
    elsienelsien Forumite
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    edited 17 May 2022 at 10:18PM
    Gitdog does love a plant pot. To the point where he’ll tip the plant out to get the pot, 
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • sherambersheramber Forumite
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    The leg off an old pair of jeans tied in a knot makes a strong tuggy.

    A knotted tea towel soaked and then frozen is good for teething puppies.
  • SensibleSarahSensibleSarah Forumite
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    Don't have any pics but I use a lot of 'homemade' enrichment stuff for my dogs. So things like rolling up some kibble/treats in an old towel so they have to unravel it etc to get the food out. I also use cardboard boxes and paper packaging a lot for similar stuff, so loads of scrunched up paper in a cardboard box, some with treats in the middle, then the dog has to root through everything to find the food. 
  • MSE_Laura_FMSE_Laura_F Community Admin
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    I didn't expect to get so many brilliant replies. Thanks all - clearly a lot of happy pets out there. @Mnoee your photos are a delight. 💛



    My cat also loves elastic bands. She's like a streak of lightning chasing after them when you ping them across a room.

    The photo on the right is a £1 card accessory from Flying Tiger. You wind it up and release so that it flits and flies for a good few seconds. It's meant for putting inside greetings cards but I've discovered it also intrigues the cat no end.
  • MurphybearMurphybear Forumite
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    A fine beam torch pointed up the wall was great fun for one of my cats.  She was agile when she was young and she could almost make it halfway up the wall in one leap.  Cats are amazing :)

    One thing to steer clear of.  I passed a house that had a lot of pampas grass and one piece was broken off and the owner, who was gardening, said I could have it.  Big mistake, cats and pampas grass.  The same cat destroyed it totally in less than a minute.  It took me ages to clear it up.


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