Kicking Cat Toy Tutorial

The Angry Cat and I have moved to a smaller place and I had noticed that he was getting frustrated by not having a lot of room. So in an attempt to avoid him taking his rage out on me I went to the internet in search of a toy that would keep him entertained for a while! I came across the Kickeroo made by Kong, they looked great and all the reviews were positive but I didn't want to invest money unless I knew that Jack would play with it, so I set about making my own version. The end result is not exactly the prettiest toy I've ever made but boy does he love it! (oh an apologies for poor picture quality these were taken on my phone quickly as the Angry cat was very curious about what I was up to!!)

So to make your own Kicking Cat Toy you'll need:

1 pairs of socks
toy filling
catnip (leaves or spray)
small plastic container
rice

materials

To begin with put the 1 sock inside the other, so that it is doubled up to give extra layer of protection. Next start to stuff the socks with toy filling:

When you get to about the ankle point of the sock you'll need to stop filling and add the noise maker! This is the little plastic container, I used a small container that we had lying around the house. Anything small enough to fit inside the sock will do the trick. Add some rice and catnip. The noise of the rice rattling around the container drives the Angry cat mad!

Put the container in the middle of the sock and continue to stuff with toy filling. Don't completely stuff the sock, leave enough sock to be able to tie in a knot. Add some catnip as you go, or spray the whole sock later. Et voilà your own kicking cat toy.

It's all about the dogs

This week has been great fun (she says sarcastically while drinking coffee), the Angry Cat has decided that I need to be awake at 4am. He feels that its important for me to appreciate the morning chorus of the birds!! I'm pretty sure I say this every year, but, its getting brighter so much earlier these mornings! I think anyone who has a cat can feel my pain, they must be fed as soon as there is sun!

On the bright side (!) I have been able to get some more work done. I decided this week to concentrate on the dogs! During the summer I cut my little dog's (Ruby) hair short, she is half Pomeranian half Sheltie, her coat is very heavy and she really suffers in the heat. Since she wouldn't have her beautiful long coat I decided to make her a pretty flower for her collar (she is a very girly, dainty dog!!) 

Ruby

Here is the finished product (I haven't been able to get her wearing it yet as she is staying with the parents, I hope she likes it) I made some more for my Folksy shop, I reckon there are more little doggies out there who's owners would like this! 

While I was on my holidays in Canada a few weeks ago I got to stay with the most beautiful (and enormous) Great Dane named Millie. She very graciously let me stay in her house so I decided to make her a doggy bandanna to say thank you. This was the end result. 

I'm going to start working on a little keyring for carrying poop bags, I always seem to forget to bring them with me when I leave the house! 

Until next time! 

The slow start to a career in crochet!

1 month ago today I took those first steps out into the big world of selling my crochet items. It was scary, and still is but I am starting to get used to the idea of creating items and setting them free. I set up a store on Folksy, tried to take some artistic photos and hoped for the best! 

It was only 4 years ago that I learned how to crochet, I had spoken with a woman who made crochet hats for premature babies. I remember being so inspired by her, by the crochet process and by the impact of these tiny little hats. 

I set about learning to crochet from videos on-line, after about 2 days of trying to master the tension (anyone who knows crochet can feel my pain here!) I quit! It was so frustrating trying to manage so many delicate actions all at once, but thankfully I stuck it out and slowly but surely I got the hang of it and I haven't looked back since!

After 4 years of making items for family, friends and charity I decided to try my hand at selling my stuff on-line. I love being creative and coming up with new ideas, I am hoping that my enthusiasm comes through to the people buying my stuff. So I hope you keeping coming by to check in on my blog for more crochet and cat inspired posts!

The is the Angry Cat Himself- Jack