You may do all you can to reduce plastic in your routine, but your fur babies are a different story and it can be a challenge to reduce the waste associated with an industry that is highly commercialized.
But here’s the thing: our pets really don’t care if their toy came from the pet store or the recyling bin. They just want to play!
In this blog, we’re sharing a few ways to make enrichment toys from things you probably have lying around RIGHT NOW, plus our favorite low waste alternatives to your everyday pet products.
DIY Your Pets’ Toys with Stuff You Have
Pet toys are some of the hardest things to unplastic, with big box stores selling colorful, cheap options made of plastic and destined for the landfill. But if we take a step back, we can realize that entertaining our furred loved ones doesn’t need to mean buying more stuff. Plus, making your own pet toys is far less expensive, creates less waste, and is easier than you may expect.
Getting pets to sniff, forage, chase, and solve little puzzles you made is incredibly satisfying for both your pets and you.. a tired dog is a happy dog, after all!
A quick safety note: Always supervise your pet. Cardboard, fabric, tape, etc have choking and intestinal blockage risks if swallowed.
Making toys from toilet paper or paper towel tubes:
Treat Releaser
Fold in the sides of a cardboard tube, cut a hole or an X in the side, and add a few treats or your pet’s regular dry kibble. They will love batting the roll around (or in my dog’s case holding it down and ripping it apart) to get the treats out one by one.
Treat Shelves
Cut the roll into loops, then tape them to the wall and use them as shelves, placing treats inside. This is especially good for cats, and can be used in tandem with a wall scratcher to really get them stretching and reaching.
Spider Roller
Cut slits about a third of the way up your roll on either side, and fan them out to create spider-like legs. These toys roll around easily, and offer some fun texture for your dog or cat to chew on safely. (We don’t recommend letting your pet ingest toilet paper rolls or any cardboard, but it is safer and softer on their gums than plastic can be.)
Making toys from old clothes or excess fabric:
Sock Cat Toy
Fill an old sock with crumpled paper and some catnip, then tie off the end. Cats will love batting it around and bunny-kicking it!
Rope Toy
Cut an old towel or T-shirt into strips, then braid them together and tie off the ends. Bonus points if you use old denim; it’ll make your toy even more durable for tug of war sessions.
Snuffle Mat
Crumple a dish towel or some packing paper in the bottom of a box, and sprinkle treats throughout for a DIY snuffle mat. Pets will wear themselves out sniffing through for the treats. You can also use with their regular dry food to slow down eating and prevent indigestion.
Easy Pet Product Swaps
Sometimes unplastic-ing your routine is as simple as replacing what you already use. When it’s time to replace things you’ve run out of or are worn out, choosing a lower-waste option can keep a little more plastic out of your pet care routine.
Dog Shampoo Bar
Shampoo bars are concentrated, long-lasting, and easier to use than their liquid counterparts because you can hold the bar in one hand, running it directly over their wet fur to work up a lather, without repeatedly reaching for a (plastic) bottle. Just be sure to choose a bar formulated for dogs, rinse thoroughly, and let the bar dry completely between uses so it lasts as long as possible.
Dog & Cat Treats in Bulk
Pets can be picky, and they have every right to be. Wouldn’t it be nice though if we didn’t need to buy a whole bag of treats, just to find out Fluffy won’t touch them? And once you’ve found a treat that your baby goes crazy for, why re-buy the packaging every time? Buying treats in bulk lets you choose the amount you need and refill your container, skipping the plastic packaging altogether.
Collapsible Silicone Bowl
If you like to take your pet on hikes, or even just to the local park, having a water bowl on hand is a great idea. And one that is reusable, collapsible, and can clip to the outside of a backpack or belt, is an even greater idea!
Felted Wool Little Bee Toy/Air Freshener
Berta the Bee is made from 100% wool, sourced from New Zealand, where there are laws to prevent cruel shearing practices. Cats and dogs love the lanolin traces still present in the wool; it gives Berta an animal smell that is undetectable to humans but irresistible to our little predators. You can also use this little bee as an air freshener with just a few drops of your favorite essential oil – just be sure to keep out of reach of playful paws once you’ve done so!
92% Plants Poop Bags
Picking up after dogs creates unavoidable waste, but these bags are made with 92% USDA-certified biobased plant material and only 8% polyethylene. They come in 2 convenient sizes, and are numbered so you know how many you have left on the roll. Yes, they will still be sent to the landfill, but we like that we are sending less conventional (fossil fuel-derived) plastic. Progress, not perfection.
Bamboo Pet Brush
It can seem impossible to find a plastic-free brush for human hair, not to mention one for pets… but these double-sided brushes from Me Mother Earth are the answer. The handle is bamboo, the bristles are stainless steel or sisal, and the pad is natural rubber.
Check out all our Pet Supplies here!
Looking for more Plastic Free July content? Check out our cleaning blog here, or our food and drinks blog here. Follow along on our Instagram @unplasticgnv to get these tips & tricks in visual format throughout the week!