Crocheting for Pets

Hello, everyone!

I have two questions:
1. I’d like to crochet some little mice for my kitten. Has anyone made these before, and can you tell me how they go down? Would it be okay to put a little bell inside to make it more fun? Or could there be a choking hazard?

2. I’m currently doing some research on “dog fashion,” but somehow I can’t find the right thing.
How well do small dogs handle a sweater like this, for example? A friend needs something nice for her Chihuahua. Is it warm enough for winter? Does anyone know about this?

Best, Olivia

HUHU... the bell is a good idea—just make sure it’s big enough, or use material that your cat can’t easily tear apart.... Maybe put it in a Kinder Surprise egg capsule instead? Or sew it into a piece of fabric and then use fabric as stuffing?

Or you could buy one of those cat toy balls that jingle and crochet around it


I think if you use the right material, it’ll keep a little dog warm too.... why not :)

Hi CreativBennett
I’d try catnip—cats love it, at least mine do. Mine don’t really react to little bells, but you’ll just have to try it out. Don’t be surprised if you spend ages crocheting a toy and the cats don’t want it afterward—that happens. They can be a bit picky. It’s often the simplest things that go over well with cats, like ballpoint pens, pencils, clothespins, cardboard boxes from shopping, aluminum foil balls, Styrofoam packaging, or similar things. All those expensive cat toys just end up sitting in the corner—at least at my place—because they don’t play with them after all. I have a whole box full of cat toys, bought and homemade, that the cats won’t even give a second glance. But what always works is a small hard-rubber ball; they play soccer with it. And what also always works is anything I’m busy with: the book I wanted to read, the exact pen I just needed, sitting in front of the monitor, walking across the keyboard, wanting to sit in my chair, digging me out from under the blanket at night and then not knowing whether she wants to get under it too or maybe not after all. Well, okay, that’s less toys and more quirks.
Just give the bell and the little mouse a try. Either the cat(s) will enjoy it or they won’t. Maybe they’ll like it for a day, maybe two. Maybe even longer. You’ll just have to see how it goes with your cat.

As for the choking hazard—well, just use a slightly bigger bell, then there’s no way she can swallow it.

As for dog sweaters, I’m never quite sure whether they’re cute or totally silly.
There are some dogs you’d never even think of putting a sweater on. ;)
The sweater in the pattern looks good and everything, and it’s nicely made, too.
It’s still a long way off until next winter, so you can try it out and see whether the dog would like it, and you can also try different versions on. I guess it’s just something they have to get used to.

Have fun with the cat toy and the dog sweater, too. It would be great if you could share your experiences once you’ve tried it out.

Hi Olivia,

I also think the little mice for the cat are totally cute. I’m not sure if cats actually like the sound of the bells, though. Other things you can sew in or crochet around are little squeakers. They’re about 3 cm in diameter and pretty flat, so they’re big enough that a cat can’t swallow them. The squeak might sound more like a mouse ;-)
I’ve used them before for baby and dog toys.

As for the sweater for the dog, I’d also point out that it depends on the dog whether he’ll actually leave it on.
Maybe try something else first to see if he’ll actually keep it on at all, or if he’ll just chew on it and rip it apart ;-)
My dog recently had to wear a sock over one leg because he’d torn off a claw. I had to put the sock back on dozens of times a day—and eventually tape it on ;-)—because he kept pulling it off. But then again, he’s a Boxer, not a Chihuahua.

Best regards,

Nici

Well, I wouldn’t crochet toys for my cats. I’d be really worried that a thread might come loose and they’d swallow it. If that happens and a thread ends up in their intestines, you’ve got a huge problem on your hands. They say a cat’s intestines are three times as long as its body—pulling it out or operating isn’t really an option.... The little balls with bells that I use are made of plush, and the bells are encased in a thick plastic sleeve, which means that by the time the bell falls out, the plastic sleeve is so battered and chewed up that I just throw the toy away.

But I also have to say that, for one thing, I’m very, very particular when it comes to my “babies.” And for another, we have two Maine Coons, which are very large and strong. A little mouse or ball lasts two days at most.



I think everyone knows their cat and its play habits best and should make decisions based on that. Best regards

 

@berlidesign: Wow, the Kinder Egg capsule is a fantastic idea!! I'll definitely do that. Maybe I'll try it with a fabric cover first, or I'll try both. My cat will be so happy :)


@muetzekatze: I know most of the annoying and lovable quirks you described very well :D My cat is also a master at demanding attention. But I’d be careful with Styrofoam. Mine ate a little piece when I wasn’t looking for a moment. Well, it all came back out the front after a few hours :/  My cat was fine afterward, but it wasn’t exactly pleasant :'D
My kitty loves anything that jingles, which is why I thought of the little bell. But we’ll just try it out. As you said, it might be uninteresting after 2 days. 
But it’s certainly worth a try. 

@Sternen-welt: I’ll definitely try a squeaker sometime too. We’ll see what the little one likes best. 
My friend’s Chihuahua is already used to sweaters, but only store-bought ones. We’ll try it out. 

@MellesDeZign: Hmm, somehow that gives me pause too. On the other hand, I know many people who give their cats strings to play with. I don’t think I’m that worried about it. But I know what it’s like to be particular... I’m also constantly worried that something could go wrong.

Thanks for your quick reply! I’ll write how the things are received. 

 

Hi... another idea might be to use that fabric yarn for crocheting—I think “Zphagetti” was a brand...

Otherwise, if you'd rather use yarn, make sure it's really good quality and tear-resistant. I'd use “Jorney” by Schachenmayr.

Best, Nicole

Hi everyone,
my cats have their quirks, but they don’t eat Styrofoam. That’s probably healthier anyway. They just play with it.
As for eating yarn, they used to like to chew on it, but without actually swallowing it. Now they’ve lost interest in playing with the yarn. At most, they might fall asleep on it or use the ball of yarn as a pillow. They also like to sleep on my crochet projects or in the yarn box.
I crocheted a mouse for the cats once, but they weren’t interested in it at all. They didn’t even want to sleep on it. It was too big and too heavy to just toss around and stuff. Oh well. I made that one when I was still just starting out with my crocheting. ;)

I’ve been crocheting for my cats for many years now and prefer to use sturdy cotton yarn. You don’t really need to put anything inside. My boys love playing with the crocheted items even without bells or mint. Mint also loses its appeal quickly if it’s always available, so it should only be given as a special treat every now and then.
It’s best to use a small cardboard box and seal it tightly. Cut holes in it or drill them with a hole saw so their paws just fit through, and then stuff the crocheted items (mice, balls) inside. Fishing the crocheted items out of the box through the holes is a ton of fun, and since they can easily hook their claws into the crocheted fabric, the chances of a successful “crocheted catch” are pretty high. :D
Just make sure not to leave any long threads hanging, both because of the risk of swallowing them and the risk of strangulation.

@moal72: I’m definitely going to try that tip! I’m already looking forward to seeing the reaction!