Keeping Busy in Winter
A Season of Four Legged-Fun
Winter can be a tough season for our pets. Depending on where you live, your pet might not be able to spend as much time outside as he would like, leaving him—a ball of energy—to run around indoors. But taking a little time to ensure your pet isn't feeling deprived is crucial to his happiness—and yours!
Chew
Like homemade treats, homemade pet toys are relatively easy to make and can lead to hours of fun for your four–legged friend. For cats, consider adding a little catnip to their toy (they can't resist), and for dogs, anything durable and chewy will do the trick!
Cuddle
A fun activity to keep you and your pet busy is making a plush spot for your dog or cat to relax in. A pet teepee is a spot your pet is guaranteed to love, and it can be adjusted to fit his size perfectly.
Organize
Take a low–key winter afternoon as an opportunity to organize your pet's belongings. Leashes, waste bags, and toys can be kept neat and tidy in an easy–to–make DIY command center, and food and water will be readily available in a homemade feeding station that's functional and decorative.
Treat
You spent the holidays indulging in your favorite goodies, so why not treat your pet to something sweet, too? Homemade pet treats are simple to make, and you can trust that your pet is eating only the highest-quality ingredients.
Delectable Pup Doughnuts
We all love doughnuts, and that doesn't stop at our pets. Dogs will be howling for these sweet treats (a baker's dozen won't be nearly enough)!
Ingredients
- Egg
- ½ cup skim milk
- ½ cup unsalted natural peanut butter
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, and then line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium–sized bowl, beat the egg, and slowly mix in the milk and peanut butter until the mixture is smooth.
- Once mixed, add in the whole wheat flour and baking powder until a dough forms. Roll the dough on a flat surface until it is ½ inch in thickness.
- With a round cookie cutter, cut out as many doughnuts as you can, and then, with a smaller circle cutter, cut out another hole in the center of each doughnut.
- Continue to combine the scraps together, and repeat the previous step until you have as many doughnuts as possible. Then lay the doughnuts on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, until the doughnuts have hardened, and allow them to cool.
Toppings: Decorate your doggy doughnuts with frostings such as plain yogurt, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, or pureed fruit, and add toppings like shredded carrots, apple bits, or chopped bacon.
Cat Grass and Salmon Bites
Felines crave the freshness of salmon and indoor cats especially love grasses and herbs they don't have access to, making these treats the perfect bites for them!
Ingredients
- 1 can of salmon, or fresh salmon, cut into bits
- ½ cup of cat grass, cut into bits
- If using canned salmon, drain thoroughly, and cut the fish into cat–friendly bites.
- Using kitchen scissors, cut the cat grass into small pieces, and combine with the salmon.
- Spread the mixture onto a baking tray, and place in the dehydrator or oven. Bake for 3 hours at 135°F. Break the hardened mixture into smaller pieces before giving to your cat.
Everyone's pet deserves a fun–filled winter, so share these tips with family and friends.
For more fur-tastic activies, visit americanlifestylemag.com/pets.
Posted in Article, How-To, January 2018 on Nov 02, 2017