DIY Projects for Your Pet!

August 3, 2021

We want our dogs and cats – our fur babies – to be as healthy, well-adjusted and comfortable as possible, right? So, take a look at some of these DIY projects for your favorite pets, from a hammock and cooling mat for your dog, to treats and habitats for your kitty cat, this is a great time of year to focus on our beloved companions!

Beds, Houses, Toys, and Treats

The DIY Network goes all out for your canines – pups, adolescents and adults – with 30 projects for hanging out in and around the house. From a bed with a built-in blanket your dog(s) can burrow into when the temps drop, to a dog run complete with an upcycled pallet doghouse. And if the dog run you build is fully shaded and grass is difficult to grow there, instead of pea gravel (so unattractive and who’d want to run on that?!), consider installing artificial turf! On the DIY Network you’ll find toys to create, frosted biscuits to make – even a canine version of meatloaf (muttloaf?) with carrots, peas and hardboiled eggs to show your love.

5-Minute Crafts for Pets has some awesome ideas for dressing up your dog or cat. From collars and ties on a furry Mister to kangaroo pockets-carryalls for kitty sister. This show-rather-than-tell YouTube video steps through projects that seem fairly simple. Turn an old cozy sweater into a dog bed with a pillow and some fiberfill (pick up a few bags at Michael’s), or a pair of jeans and old socks and t-shirts into a seat on the couch. Two water bottles become a self-feeder for cats, and wait till you see this toilet paper roll transformed into a toy – that the author’s cat, can’t get enough of!

At DIY Projects for teens you’ll find 41 projects curated for older kids to make. Scroll through the ideas, from tents for felines, tipis for canines, “mice”, wands and Kit-Tea catnip toys as well as homemade sweet potato dog chews, and pet bowl holders. 

We’re well into the dog days of summer, when temperatures hold pretty steady in the 90s so this cooling mat for dogs is just what the vet ordered, especially for a senior dog who needs a break after a walk in the heat. The pet-loving blogger, Susan, at Organized 31 used two thick bathmats sewn together with an opening large enough for stuffing in bags of frozen peas.

The Spruce Crafts has a collection of the usual suspects, toys and treats, but also sweaters and coat, made exclusively for your fur baby. You’ll find tutorials for a dog sweater (three sizes) from See Kate Sew, made of an old sweater with a ribbed hem. Or this warm and toasty little coat that’s a bit more work from Spruce Crafts. You’ll need fabric, fleece, batting, hook and loop tape and reflective tape – optional but always a good idea! 

Dog Collars, Treats, and Cat DIYs

And these no-sew collar sleeves, can change the look of your pet’s collar using sleeves decorated with rhinestones, ribbon, sequins or ricrac from Pretty Fluffy. You’ll also find more dog treat recipes here (60+) and plenty of things to read and buy, from on-trend bowls for them to sweats and hoodies for you!

Transform an old vase into a seemly scratching post for your four-legged friend with this idea from Meow Lifestyle. This is one pet accessory that you won’t mind displaying in the family room; it has a rustic rope finish and can be filled with fresh blooms or decorative branches. Just be sure to secure the vase sturdily to a tile or board to keep it from tipping over.

DIY Projects will show you how to make 23 more projects, from a fancy cat hotel with hammocks and hiding places, to plus you’ll find more treat and toy ideas (“sushi catnip”), a self-petting station project, as well as a quiz to determine, “Which Breed Are You?!”. 

Furbabies Love Southshore!

We’ve seen you out and about, walking your furbabies at Southshore, and know there are even more playing and hiding and creating mischief inside. Our neighborhoods are full of pet lovers and they seem to magically connect with each other in this master-planned community of Southshore. Check out the brand new homes from Taylor Morrison, , Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers (and coming soon — Century Communities!). Life at the Lake comes in ranch and two story design options, priced between the $400s and the $700s.