DIY projects for pet owners

To keep your pets safe and healthy, they need stuff. And quite a bit of stuff, at that. The list can feel endless, and the cost quickly adds up. Luckily, our Woodgreen staff and volunteers have some great money-saving tips. Take a look below at their easy and creative ways to cut costs.

Visit a pet charity shop

Many pet charity shops, like ours at Woodgreen, stock nearly new pet items at a fraction of the normal price. There are beds, bowls, brushes, leads, and toys on offer! What’s more, the money you spend goes to help even more pets, so you’re also making a difference.

Small pets

For small pets, almost any local charity shop can be a treasure trove! There’s so much you could give them for exploring and climbing. For example:

• Children’s tables and chairs are great for rabbits to hop on and off.
• Magazine racks can be stuffed full of hay.
• Wine racks can make small rodent climbing frames.
• Plastic children’s toys, like small dollhouses, can make brilliant mouse bedrooms and climbing frames.

Forget the fancy food bowl

If you’re buying pretty pet food bowls, you might be barking up the wrong tree! Many pets would get a lot more out of digging, sniffing and hunting for their food. So, why not use their food bowls as water bowls and get creative with mealtimes instead?

You can hide food in old cereal boxes wrapped in newspaper, scatter it in the garden or hide it around the house. This is called ‘enrichment’ feeding and it’s great fun for pets – it gets their brains working and tires them out.

Find out more about enrichment feeding for dogs and for cats.

“For my dog, I get a pepper, cut the top off and remove the seeds, fill it with dog food and then freeze it. Once frozen, it’s a fantastic way to feed a meal and the whole thing can safely be eaten.” – Kattie, community education officer at Woodgreen

DIY pet homes

Do you have rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets or chickens? Their all-important space could come from something you have already. Outgrown Wendy houses and unused sheds can often be converted into ideal accommodation, often at a fraction of the cost of buying new. Pet runs can also be made at home, working out much cheaper than buying ready-made.

Need help getting started? Check out our advice on How to house your rabbits and How to house your guinea pigs (with handy videos, too!). We also have articles on Converting a shed for ferrets and Converting a shed for chickens.

Remember, it’s very important to make sure your pets’ housing is safe, suitable, and the right size.

DIY pet beds and bedding

Why not make your own pet bed for a little pocket-friendly luxury?

Cat beds

Most cat owners have been through the agony of buying a lush, super-soft cat bed – only for the cat to be more interested in the delivery box!

Instead, try a large cardboard box with a pillow inside. And for a super-quick, DIY flourish put the box inside an old t-shirt and use the head hole as an entrance. This will give your cat a safe hidey-hole that they love!

If you’ve got more than one cat, offering extra beds helps to avoid squabbles. So, for two cats, you’ll need at least three beds.

Dog beds

For dogs, a basic single duvet with a washable throw on top works wonders. You could also try trusted selling sites where people give away free, used cot mattresses. These are great for giving older dogs the extra support and comfort they need.

Remember to put pet beds away from draughts – near a radiator is usually a good spot!

Rat and mouse hammocks

Rats love a soft, snuggly hammock to sleep in. But they can be pricey to buy ready-made. To make your own, you can buy anti-pill fleece at a low cost. Or you could use old duvet covers, pillowcases, t-shirts or old jumpers! It’s easy to cut these up and make them into hammocks.

Find out how to make your own rat hammock.

Soft bedding for small pets

Our small pets at Woodgreen enjoy a variety of main cage bedding – including aspen, hemp and soft paper bedding. Sawdust or wood shavings, although cheaper, can cause skin and breathing issues. This leads to uncomfortable pets and pricey vet bills when they need treatment.

Remember, sleeping areas need softer bedding than the cage floor. So, what better way to keep your rodents busy and save some pennies than with torn-up toilet paper? Just make sure it’s a basic toilet roll, unscented and with no added oils. This is for use in any area they sleep, including hiding spaces.

For rats, you can also try hanging up a full toilet roll. Your little pets will pull off what they need and arrange things exactly how they want. We do this for the rats at our centre and they love it!

DIY cat scratching mats

Do you know someone with old carpet samples? These make great cat scratching mats to help keep your cat feline fine! Put them by entrances and exits so they’ll get used. And, if you can, wedge the corner under furniture to keep them in place – under the leg of a sofa, for example. Sturdily attaching carpet samples to a vertical surface gives your cat the chance to stretch up as they scratch, too!

DIY pet toys

We all know the sinking feeling of buying a pricey pet toy, just to watch your pet sniff it and walk away! Making your own toys is great fun, low cost and a wonderful way to get your pets playing.

Easy tunnels for small rodents

Looking for a super-quick DIY toy? A simple, empty cardboard tube or kitchen roll tube makes a fun tunnel for small rodents. And you won’t have to spend any extra money!

Fun pet toy projects

We have plenty of guides on how to make DIY toys for your pets. Check out these four below to get started:

• Dog tuggy toy
• Tube enrichment forage feeder
• Catnip sock
• Cat or dog snuffle mat (one of our all-time favourites!)

“Snuffle mats are so easy and fun to make, and my dog absolutely loves using her nose and searching for food.” – Jo, community support team manager at Woodgreen

DIY dig boxes

Small pets are born to dig! And you can give them the chance to do this without a lot of the mess that tends to go along with it.

For rabbits and degus, fill a large cardboard box with lots of hay, and cut a hole in the side big enough for them to get inside. Then they can dig away to their heart’s content!

For rats and ferrets, recycle a plastic storage tub by cutting a hole in the lid large enough for your pets to get through. Sand down the edges and then, for ferrets, fill it with shredded paper or sand for them to dig in. For rats, fill it with a substrate they don’t already have in their cage such as damp coco coir, or a shredded card material like Greenmile

Looking for more tips? Visit our page on how to save money as a pet owner.