5 Easy Crafts to Make for Your Local Animal Shelter

Most animal lovers want to do what they can to help local shelters, but donating money and adopting more animals isn't always in the cards. But you can still do things to help the homeless animals in your area without breaking the bank (or your rental agreement!)

We've sniffed out 5 fun crafts you can make yourself and donate to local animal shelters for nearly nothing.  From one-of-a-kind blankets to fun catnip toys, here are some easy pet crafts that residents of your local shelter are sure to love!

The shelter can be an intimidating place for homeless pets. But blankets can remind frightened pets of home and, for some pets, provide a sense of comfort they've never felt before. Unfortunately, blankets are almost always in short supply due to wear and tear and the number of pets that come through shelters.

Here's how to make custom blankies for your local shelter with just a handful of supplies. I've made this craft myself, so I added a couple of notes from my own experience to help you out!

Estimated time: 30–45 minutes per blanket

Difficulty:  Moderate

Cost: $25+     

Supplies    

• 1.5 to 2 yards of fleece per blanket (for medium or large blankets)
• Fabric marker
• Ruler 
• Fabric scissors
• Rotary cutter and cutting mat (preferable, but not required)

Instructions

1. Start by trimming off the selvage edge with your fabric scissors. The selvage edge is the thicker edge around the fabric, which may have colorful dots or writing to identify the manufacturer.

2. Cut the other edges as necessary to ensure they are even and straight. 
   

3. Place one piece of fabric with the patterned side down on your floor — this will be the side that faces out on the bottom of the finished blanket. Smooth your fabric to ensure there are no wrinkles or bunching.

4. Place the fabric you want to be on the top of the blanket right side up, on top of your other piece. Flatten it out.  

5. Cut the edges of both pieces to match in size, making sure to square off your corners in the process. You'll want to cut your fabric a little longer and wider than you want the final product because once you add the fringe, the blanket will shrink down a good bit.*

6. Next, determine how long your fringe needs to be. Blankets for small breeds only need about 4 inches of fringe, whereas blankets for large breeds need 6 inches or more of fringe. 

7. Once you've figured out the exact size you need, cut squares measuring that size out of each corner of your blanket. For example, if you're making a blanket for a small breed, cut squares that measure 4 inches by 4 inches. A rotary cutter and mat works best for this purpose, but a pair of scissors, a fabric pen, and a ruler will also work.**

8. Double-check to make sure you cut through both layers of fabric. If you didn't, you'll need to go back and cut the bottom layer.

9. Next, cut strips as long as your squares but only 1.5 inches wide along all sides of your fabric.  

10. After all your sides are done, tie each set of fringe together using a regular square knot, and voila! You've made a fringe blanket!  

Notes:

* I skipped Step 5 on the first tie blanket I made, which caused the corners to become rounded (which is fine, just not the look I was going for). While the rounded edges don't interfere with the blanket's functionality or structural integrity, I suggest cutting out the corners if you like the look of clean angles. 

** For Step 7, I used a ruler, fabric scissors, and a Sharpie for the blanket pictured above, and they worked fine! Although your hands will get sore if you cut everything with scissors!

There's nothing like a snazzy bandana to add pizzazz to a pet's adoption pics. And luckily for you, they are super easy to make!  

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate        

Cost: $20 (but you can make countless bandanas with the initial supplies purchased) 

Supplies      

• Upcycled fabric   
• Ruler
• Cutting mat 
• Straight edge
• Fabric scissors (pinking shears or a rotary cutter work too)
• Fabric glue      
  

Instructions

1. Determine what size fabric you need based on the size chart below. 

2. Measure your fabric, and cut out a triangle according to the desired size in the chart below. 

3. Flip your fabric over so that the patterned or visible side is down. Apply a thin line of fabric glue along the edges of your bandana (skipping the corners). 

4. Fold the edge of the fabric over the glue to create a finished edge. That's it!
   

Sizes

• Giant breeds: 40 inches wide x 17.5 inches long
• Large breeds: 34 inches wide x 14 inches long
• Medium breeds: 28 inches wide x 12.5 inches long
• Small breeds: 23 inches wide x 9.5 inches long
• Toy breeds and puppies: 17 inches wide x 7 inches long

Shelters go through a lot of toys, and with most facilities operating at max capacity nearly year-round, they are almost in constant need of them. Toys — especially interactive ones like rope toys — boost morale and help pets bond with animal shelter volunteers and potential adoptive parents.  The cool thing is, rope toys only take a few minutes to make and are a great way to repurpose old shirts.  

Estimated time: 20 minutes    

Difficulty: Moderate    

Cost:  $12  

Supplies   

• Sturdy fabric scissors
• 2 to 3 old cotton shirts (if you don't have any t-shirts you're willing to part with, hit up your local thrift shop for some 50¢ tees)

Instructions

1. Lay your shirts flat on the floor. Cut along the sides of your shirts so that they come apart in two pieces that more or less match. 

2. Take each half of your shirts and cut a slit through the bottom hem every 2 or 3 inches. Use your scissors to cut through the hem and then use your hands to tear the strip the rest of the way.   

3. Lay out the strips and cut them to a uniform size (they can be as long as you'd like.)

4. Once you have all your fabric strips, make three bundles of strips, with between 3 and 5 strips in each bundle. Tie the bundles together about 2 inches from the end using another fabric strip. (Make sure to tie the string super tight so that the toy won't unravel). 

5. Section the 3 bundles back out, and braid them together, leaving a little 2-inch tail at the end.    

6. Tie another strand around the bottom of the braid (like you did at the other end). Again, ensure the knot is tight to prevent the toy from falling apart. 

7. Trim the fringed "tails" on each end or leave them if you prefer — that's it!
   

Scratching is a natural way for cats to relieve their stress, groom their claws, and unwind. By making your local shelter kitties a DIY scratching post, you're doing more than just giving them a place to sharpen their claws — you're giving them a sense of normalcy and an outlet to help them relax.

We made a similar scratching post in our DIY cardboard crafts article, but this one is even easier (and cheaper!) to create.     

Estimated time: 1 hour     

Difficulty: Easy

Cost: $7 

Supplies    

• 3 large cardboard boxes
• Masking tape
• Box cutter
• Straight edge
• Dried catnip (optional)

Instructions

1. Flatten your boxes. 

2. Use your box cutter to cut the boxes into 4-inch-wide strips.

3. Once you have prepped all your strips, take one of your strips and roll it up tightly.

4. When you reach the end of the strip, take another strip and tape it to the free end of the rolled strip. 

5. Keep taping your strips together until you are satisfied with the size of your scratching post. (You may need more or fewer strips than you have.)

6. Sprinkle some dried catnip over the top, and you're done!  

There are few things cats enjoy more than catnip. It can make cats hyper and playful or relaxed, but one thing is for sure: cats go nuts for it. Luckily, catnip toys are a cheap way to repurpose old socks and cost next to nothing to produce, and here's how to make them.

Estimated time: 5 minutes

Difficulty:  Easy         

Cost: $10   

Supplies

• Children's socks (or ankle socks)
• Poly-fil (polyester stuffing)
• Dried catnip

Instructions

1. Start by washing your socks to ensure they are clean and free of chemicals. New clothing can come contaminated with PFEs, phthalates, and even lead, so it's good to give them a quick wash before offering them to pets to play with. 

2. Once the socks are clean and dry, stuff a handful of polyester stuffing in the toe area and sprinkle catnip over top of the stuffing inside. Do not overstuff the sock. You'll want to leave some excess fabric for you to knot. 

3. Tightly knot the end of the sock to keep the stuffing and catnip inside. That's it! 
   

Don't have time to craft? Consider donating pet food, blankets, towels, or cleaning supplies to your local shelter.

Most shelters have a public wishlist on their websites. If yours doesn't have a published wishlist, call the facility, or stop by to ask if they accept donations and what they need. Most shelters will gladly accept any supplies you're willing to part with!

Are you planning to show your support for local pets by making a craft for your local animal shelter? We'd love to see what you create! Share your creations with us in the comments below, or tag us on Instagram @wag! 

We know your donations will surely bring a smile to homeless pets in your area!