Budget friendly homemade gifts for pets

With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are turning our thoughts to Christmas gifts. However, with the cost of living crisis becoming very evident daily, most of us will be looking to buy or give budget-friendly gifts.

As a nation of pet lovers, most of us like to include our pets in our holiday celebrations, and this year will be no exception. You don’t need to spend a lot to be able to give your pets a nice treat. We have a few gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

Eco-friendly, budget-friendly gifts for your pets​

Of course many budget-friendly gifts will also be kinder to the environment, so it’s a win-win option. Why not reuse things you have around the home and garden?

Sock toys

Have a pre-Christmas sort out of your sock drawer and use these to make perfect toys for dogs who like to chew or play fetch. If you have a sock that is fairly intact, stuff old socks into it and make a large sausage shape or ball. Add a knot or some secure stitches in the end, and you have a fun toy your dog will love.

Pull toys

Similarly, if you have some old t-shirts, sweatshirts, or pajamas, cut the fabric into strips, knot several strips together at one end, tightly plait them together, and knot the other end. This makes a fantastic pull toy for dogs.

Cat toys

Cats enjoy toys that get their attention. Ours loved toys on sticks and these are really easy to make yourself by either knitting or sewing an eye-catching toy onto some string attached to a garden stick.

Edible treats

We all love edible treats and our pets are no exception. If you want to buy pre-made treats, keep an eye out for special offers and BOGOF deals in your supermarket. If you fancy having a go at making your own, there are lots of useful tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest. There are many out there that will be far healthier for your pet too, using ingredients that you already have at home. You can use old jars or tins to store them in.

Buy second-hand

Depending on the sort of toys your pets like, you could also look at car boot sales and on Marketplace or other pre-loved sites. You might be lucky enough to find new unwanted gifts or good condition second-hand items. Take care to make sure they are safe to use though. I’ve seen plenty of cat towers, scratching posts, dog cushions, play tunnels, and even Christmas outfits for pets on there.

Simple fun

Just like children, pets are often most interested in the boxes. Minimal effort and no costs are required to make a cat house from a cardboard box, or something more sturdy from wood for caged animals.

Wrapping

Part of the fun of Christmas is unwrapping gifts so let your dog or cat enjoy unwrapping their own gifts. Wrap it with several layers of newspaper or brown paper without securing it too firmly so that they can open it themselves. This is especially good for edible treats, as the smells with get them very excited. Our old dog used to love this.

Buy budget-friendly gifts from pet charities​

Buying from charities is not generally budget-friendly, but you do get the pleasure of knowing that when you buy a gift for your pet, others will benefit too. However, we have been browsing the Battersea Dog & Cats Home website and have found plenty of dog gifts for under a fiver, and they have lots of gifts and essentials for our feline friends too including catnip. You could also try growing your own catnip for next year too!

Donating to pet charities​

If you’ve opted for a budget-friendly gift for your pet this year, you might like to make a small donation to an animal charity. There are many ways to donate.

• Buy a virtual gift for the cats and dogs homed at Battersea here.
• Give an extra tin of pet food to the food bank or local animal shelter collection baskets that you find in many supermarkets.
• Make a small online donation to your local pet shelter.
• Buy your gifts from an animal welfare charity shop.

We hope that you have found a budget-friendly gift option for your pet this year. The holidays are about being together and having fun, not how much you spend.

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