Spoil your pet on a budget
Pet parents looking to make savings on their animal supplies are being offered tips to keep costs down.
The penny-pinching pros at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are offering advice on how to save big on pet products. Tips include making homemade flea repellent perfumes, creating a dry shampoo solution for stinky fur, and making the cat's litter tray smell fresher with baby powder. Mint can also be used to freshen up breath after stinky chews and naughty nibbles.
A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: "The pandemic meant that quite a few new furry friends were introduced into households across the country. However, being a pet owner can be extremely expensive. To keep the cost down, we are recommending nine do it yourself hacks for the owners of cats and dogs. The best thing about these tips is they are value for money, kinder to the environment and probably nicer for your pet too."
Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk's budget pet supply tips:
- Furry friend furniture
Making pet furniture at home couldn't be easier, especially if you have old blankets or pillows lying around. Old suitcases can be turned on their side to make a boutique pet bed with a special pillow, shallow cardboard boxes can be wrapped in blankets to make a chill spot, and old clothes can be wrapped to make pillows with familiar scents.
- Bad breath
Pets' diets aren't the nicest on the nose! When a particularly stinky meal is planned, think about adding a small amount of fresh ground mint or parsley to their food. If it's already too late and your pet has had their dinner, think about giving them a small treat to hide the mint in.
- Dog flea preventer
A cheap and safe way to keep fleas away from dogs is by mixing bicarbonate of soda with scented oils. Rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus are popular, but they can be anything you prefer. Work the powder into the fur, keeping it away from your dog's nose, mouth, eyes, and ears. Start at the collar area, as this is where fleas congregate. Leave the solution on for at least ten minutes before brushing thoroughly. The beautiful scent is a treat for both pampered pooch and owner.
- Cat flea preventer
Cats can be very sensitive to flea treatments, so it's always good to do a small patch test on the kitty's tummy before applying anything to their fur. A great at0home flea treatment and preventer can be made for next to nothing. Mix six drops of lavender essential oil and three teaspoons of baby oil into a small bottle and shake to combine them both. Warm the bottled mixture up by hand and then massage the oil into the neck and base of the tail where fleas tend to congregate on the cat, being careful to avoid contact with the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
- Dog toys
Toys and accessories can be very costly, even when purchased from a discount store. A dog tug toy can be made easily, for the fraction of the price at home by braiding strips of material from a shirt, denim, dish towels, or an old scarf. To double it up as a chew toy, poke two small holes in a tennis ball and slide the braid through. Dogs that love destroying things will enjoy and kind of plastic container, but for a bit of extra crunchy fun, cover a water bottle in a sock.
- Cat toys
It is easy to get creative when thinking of ways to keep kitties amused. If there is any corrugated cardboard around the house after a delivery, fold it down and tape it in place to make the perfect scratching post. Catnip infused unravelling yarn balls cost next to nothing and will keep cats transfixed. Simply glue yarn around a foam or ping pong ball and spray or rub with catnip!
- Dry shampoo
Bath time can be a stress on owners, so if your pet dislikes baths or becomes smelly in between grooming, a waterless shampoo might be a good option. Cornflower, mixed with the same amount of mixing bicarbonate of soda is a good base that it friendly to both cats and dogs. Lemongrass essential oil can also be added for a fresh scent. Shake a small amount of the powder over your pet, keeping it away from sensitive areas.
- Baby-fresh litter
Luckily, the most effective way to prevent cat litter odour is also a great way to save money. Between full litter box changes, you can keep even the cheapest brand of litter smelling fresh with this simple, baby-safe recipe. Litters often suggest filling the box up to the top, however, a shallow layer can work just as well. Use two or three inches and sprinkle a small amount of talcum powder over the top and give it a stir.
