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Fabric Scraps Plus Catnip Equals One-of-a-Kind DIY Mice

PetSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:30:07 -0800

Did your lil kitty get everything her heart desired over the holidays? If you've got extra time to kill – or think your pal could use an extra toy to kill – check out these one-of-a-kind catnip mice. Wouldn't you rather see this laying around than a real mouse?!
Get started on the DIY project spotted by a pal of mine (Thanks, Casa!) by gathering the following supplies:

Patterned fabric for mouse body
Scrap fabric, preferably with a loose weave, for catnip pouch
Cotton cord, ribbon, or rick rack for the tail
Embroidery floss for face details
Catnip
Polyfil stuffing
Needle and thread

Get instructions when you

8 Inexpensive DIY Projects That Make Perfect Presents

PetSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:00:13 -0800

Looking for a craft project or inexpensive gift idea? I never seem to find time to perfect recipes for humans or knit sweaters, but I am always game to test out doggie treats or home toy kits. I've put together a selection of eight simple, inexpensive and fun DIY projects that could make the perfect gift for any furry friend.

Baking These Homemade Dog Cookies For Holiday Gifts Is One Yummy Idea!

PetSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:15:49 -0800

'Tis the season of giving and my pup's wagging tail tells me homemade snacks definitely get the message across! TeamSugar member kristyy is team captain for a Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services site, and wants to treat the 20 pups in her group with something she baked up herself.

I'm recommending North's fave four ingredient snack recipe – grab a pet-themed cookie cutter and festive holiday baggies or cellophane and get started when you

On the Ball: DIY Cat Bed/Charging Station

PetSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:00:38 -0700

I'm always amazed by the creativity that comes out of pet lovers, and how they are able to incorporate their pets into all aspects of their lives! Take this insanely smart DIY Charging Station made by a ModernCat reader that was recently featured on the site. Not only is it a charging station for all of her gadgets (iPod, phone, camera, whatever), but it has a drawer for her owner's manuals (do people really keep those?), a laptop cozy, and most importantly, there's even a place for her cat!

By taking an inexpensive Ikea desk organizer, and customizing it to fit her needs, MC reader Breanne got herself a very organized desk. . . and a happy kitty! Isn't it always the case that your cat wants to sit on top of whatever you are working on anyway? Find out how she made it here, while I brainstorm about how to make a dog-friendly version!

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On the Ball: Freeze Pumpkin For Poo Probs

PetSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:00:37 -0700

Why the sad face, North? You're all out of pumpkin I see. Even though my pooch didn't get to sample the organic canned pumpkin that time around, I've got a special Summer treat that I'm gonna whip up this weekend.Frozen pumpkin cubes! Many pets are crazy about ice or frozen PB and banana shapes, and pumpkin cubes are no different.

To make, simply fill trays with a mixture of canned pumpkin (the pure stuff, not pie filling) and water, using just enough liquid to get a smooth consistency. Freeze it, then offer to a lucky pup as a special treat. In addition to working miracles on kitty's hairballs, yummy pumpkin can also help with your pets' constipation or diarrhea issues. Seriously. But even if your doggie's doo is fine, I bet he'd appreciate this special snack during the Dog Days of Summer.

Compost Your Pup's Poo Safely . . . and Stink Free!

PetSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:18 -0700

Remember when I was talking about composting your pet's poo with an easy DIY solution? Well, if you aren't the do-it-yourself type, you can get an auto composter that leaves the results safe to plant and your home stink-free.

The Nature Mill Pet Friendly Composter ($399) is made specifically with your pets in mind. It gobbles up your compostable kitchen scraps (along with your doggie's doodie), and, in two weeks time, you can be planting those tomatoes, carrots, or whatever your green thumb desires.

And what's cooler, it's ultra quiet and compact, so you can store it almost anywhere – even under your kitchen sink!

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Got the Day Off? Get Out With Your Pup!

PetSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:30:44 -0700

It's Memorial Day and I'm using today to take an extra long walk with my Boston. He's a fairly energetic dog who can walk quite quickly (as long as it's not too hot), and we're gonna go on a street roaming adventure! I know some of you have big dogs and others have little ones, so everyone's speed needs will be different. The latest issue of Self magazine provided a couple tempo tips that I wanted to pass along:

Stroll: 3 mph Breeds including French Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do well at a leisurely tempo like this.
Brisk Walk: 3.5 mph Higher energy small dogs can benefit from this speed, like Miniature Poodles and Yorkshire Terriers, for example.
Jog: 5 mph Golden Retrievers and Jack Russells have lots of energy . . . best burned off at a quick pace!

Now see my advice when you

On the Ball: Make a Terrarium

PetSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:30:09 -0700

I think this hanging aquarium would make a fab self-contained terrarium. While my suggested version of this enclosed habitat doesn't include any animals, it's a great way to bring growing life to your office . . . or to that household where your furry family is already at capacity! Click below to begin the slideshow and get started on this DIY project.

On the Ball: Make Cat Toys From Your Extra Yarn

PetSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:00:51 -0700

It seems that cats can be entertained by the simplest of things! If you're a knitter and have cats, this DIY Cat Toy project is perfect for you, since you won't be wasting an inch of that expensive yarn from your last handmade scarf. These simple and easy-to-make kitty toys that a pal of mine caught on The Thrifty Knitter (Thanks, Yum!), are just bunches of yarn wrapped inside a stocking or a pair of nylons, then tossed in the washing machine. Pretty simple for an easy toy that this cat in particular seems to love. To find out how to make your own,

Street Team: Sock-turned-Sweater for a Lil Pooch

PetSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:30:05 -0700

Yay, it's yet another great idea shared by a TeamSugar member! DeJaVuE found this clothing idea on the internet, and decided to test it out on her four-pound-pup, Belle. Even though she says she didn't spend that much time on it, I think it looks pretty sweet! To see how she made it (and another cute piccy),

On The Ball: Peanut Butter Bones

PetSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:00:08 -0800

I'm counting the hours until the kickoff of this year's Puppy Bowl festivities! There's sure to be hours of fun watching the adorable little pooches run around the field. I have all the people food planned out for the Super Bowl party, so now all that's left to do is get some super snacks ready for North. Since we all know he's peanut butter's number one fan, I've decided to make him some special P.B. bones for the big P.B. day. And don't think I've forgotten the cats! In case you missed it, there's even a treat suggestion for all you cat owners to spoil your felines this weekend. Do you plan on including your pets in Sunday's party? Get my peanut butter bones recipe, and tell us what you are making when you

On the Ball: Rocco's Nutty Mix-Up

PetSugar — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:00:05 -0800

No time is better than the present to make up a special treat for your small pet! I created these treats a few years back using people food ingredients listed in a Dwarf Hamster book that would be okay for little Rocco. These nibbles increase rodents' natural desire to forage, and help their teeth, too.

To see how to mix-up a nutty treat for small rodents,

Celebrate National Cookie Day With North!

PetSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:00:26 -0800

Hooray for National Cookie Day! All too often, I can't find the time to bake up special snacks for myself but, when I do have a moment to spare, I love making treats for North. After all, that keeps me safe from those extra calories! I'm not a fan of preparing food that involves meat so this recipe is still a surefire hit with me. . . and with my lil' guy. With only four ingredients, no extra trip to the store is needed!

To see how to whip up North's favorite cookie recipe for your pooch,

On the Ball: Advent Tree-at For Pets

PetSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:15:37 -0800

When I saw the Littlest Pet Shop Advent Calendar for kids on lilsugar, I was instantly motivated! Being a fairly crafty gal, I decided to make an advent calendar for my lil' guy, North. I stopped off at a hardware store after work for some creative inspiration and was actually able to conceptualize and make this calendar from items I purchased or had lying around my house. It was so easy to make that when I sat down to work at the beginning of last night's Gossip Girl episode, by the end, I was done! To see how to make an Advent Tree-at for your pooch, kitty, or kiddie,

On the Ball: D.I.Y. Cat Toys

PetSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:35:42 -0800

Wow! All the above items are PetSugar readers' great suggestions for my D.I.Y. challenge! From wrapping yarn around a satchel of catnip to adding jingle bells to existing toys, you certainly know how to please your kitties.

If your cats love found objects, try other recommendations such as tying 10 hair ties (with no metal) to a piece of yarn or cutting used gift bows into poofs as impromptu creations. As with any toy, monitor your pets when they play, paying close attention for small, broken, or loose parts. Happy crafting!

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On the Ball: Freeze Poochie a Pop

PetSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:45:29 -0800

For this snack, the live bacterial culture in yogurt can aid digestion while the high protein peanut butter is so appealing to most dogs that you can even sneak medication into the sticky stuff to get them to take it. Don't feed pets too many treats – snack servings should be limited to no more than 5 percent of a pet's daily food intake.

Here's an easy three ingredient puppy pop recipe:

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 banana
1 tablespoon peanut butter

Plus, you'll need the following kitchen tools: a bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a hand mixer, and an ice-cube tray.

Mix ingredients in a bowl with the hand mixer, and then divide into the mini ice-cube tray. Freeze, and store in freezer. Serve one up in your dog's food dish. This recipe makes about one dozen pops... but it takes about one minute for pooch to lap it up!

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On the Ball Challenge: D.I.Y. Cat Toys

PetSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:42:42 -0700

Okay, it's time to get on the ball! My friend's cat ignores all store-bought toys – she loves toilet paper (after she has pulled it off the roll) as well as crumpled paper from the recycle bin (after she has fished it out). So, let's get creative and brainstorm cat toys you can make with products (read: trash or clutter) laying around the house. And think of all the money you'll save!

For this challenge, I want you to share your best homemade cat toy idea with PetSugar. Please send all ideas to PetSugar in a private message (click on the envelope that says "Private Message Me"). I'll feature a few ideas in a later post! Get ready, get set, create!

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Busy Bees: All-She-Can-Eat Kitty Salad Bar

PetSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:00:09 -0700

Despite a French fries habit, you recognize the importance of fresh greens in your daily diet, but what about your pets? Grow a salad bar in your house and offer your cats the vitamins, minerals, and live enzymes found in raw foods and also aid their digestion and hairball control. Start with seeds like wheatgrass and oatgrass ($4.50 each, six oz. of seeds), or check with the vet for other feline-safe plants. Place the seedlings in a sunny spot where kitty can easily reach them. Mix up offerings with the modern Mesa Herb Planter, including three pots and stylish tray set from Chiasso ($3. Grow a small amount of catnip
there too—they’ll purr with delight!