Lots of ideas on keeping your cats physically and mentally engaged by enriching their environments in Episode 110: Cat Environments.

Click below to play.

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Check out these topics mentioned in the podcast:

• DIY Valentine’s Day Toys for Dogs
• DIY Valentine’s Day Toys for Cats
• Bonito Flakes
• Maru

Row 1

1. knitted & felted hearts
2. more knitted & felted hearts also available in German and French
3. crocheted heart

Row 2

1. hand-sewn felt hearts
2. crocheted cupcake (I would leave off the beads)
3. hand-sewn felt cupcake (I would avoid using glue and sew everything, if you do use glue make sure it’s non-toxic)

Row 3

1. knitted cupcakes 
2. knitted chocolates
3. crocheted chocolates

Row 4

1. hand-sewn felt chocolates & heart box
2. knitted strawberries
3. crocheted strawberries

Row 5

1. hand-sewn felt strawberries
2. crocheted rose with leaves
3. knitted rose with leaves

Very dapper mice to sew for the discerning feline.  And a great way to upcycle out-of-date menswear hanging in the back of a closet or at your favorite thrift store.   You can hand stitch these or use a machine.  I wouldn’t use beads for eyes—just embroidery floss.  You’ll need:

• Assorted menswear fabrics (such as wool suiting, cotton shirting, corduroy, and cotton velvet)
• Iron
• Fusible webbing
• Sewing machine and sewing supplies
• Loop turner
• Fill
• Catnip
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle

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Festive stuffed green olive to knit for the martini loving cat. (via i-like-lemons)  These are super cute.  These can be left as-is or you can lightly felt them.  You will need:

• 2yds (1.8m) sport weight or baby weight wool. Mary Jane used Jamieson and Smith 2ply jumper weight #83 dk olive, FC11 bright olive, and #9436 Dale of Norway Baby Ull pale olive (Baby Ull, a superwash yarn, won’t felt much, but it will get fluffier)
• 1.5 yds (1.4m) Jamieson and Smith 2 ply jumper weight #125 pimento
• 1 set dp needles size 2 (3.0mm)
• catnip
• 1 crewel embroidery needle

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Soulful owls to crochet for the serious cat.  You can make him just the size you want.  If your cat might eat off the eyes, use yarn instead of safety eyes.  You’ll need:

• < 25g of scraps of wool, in at least two colors
• 17mm color safety eyes (x 2)
• catnip
• A 3.5mm crochet hook, a little stuffing and a needle and thread

Both dog foods are being recalled due to unacceptable levels of aflatoxin.  Learn more about aflatoxin and aflatoxin toxicosis.  Possible signs your pet has been affected include: lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea or black-tarry stool, yellow mucous membranes and possibly seizures.

Therese over at PetSitUSA learned that the food being recalled by Arrowbrand was also made by Cargill at the same plant where the previously recalled Marksman and River Run were manufactured.  The affected products are:

• ARROWBRAND 21% Dog Chunks   SKU #807  40 lb. bag
• ARROWBRAND Super Proeaux Dog Food  SKU #812 40 lb. bag
• ARROWBRAND Professional Formula Dog Food  SKU #814 50 lb. bag

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes 4K0335 to 4K1335.  Return product to place of purchase for a refund and for more information, call 800-256-2769 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

PetSitUSA also notes that Cargill manufactures these brands of pet foods:

1. Cargill
2. Nutrena®
3. Agway®
4. ACCO®
5. Loyall®
6. Purina®
7. Sportman’s Choice®

Make your own feather spinner cat toy similar to the Da Bird cat toy.  The tutorial shows you what to do.  You can make it as simple or elaborate as you like.  Be sure to pay special attention to the instructions in Step #5 on the placement of the larger feathers to insure the toy spins.

You’ll need:

• 2 pheasant tail feathers
• small body feathers
• snap swivel for fishing
• tinsel
• hex nut
• hot glue
• vinyl carburetor cap
• felt, two colors
• scissors
• glue gun
• needle nose pliers

The second tutorial shows you how to make the wand to go with the spinner using:

• acrylic or wood dowel 3/8″ and 18″ long
• 2 vinyl carburetor caps sized to fit on dowel
• hex nut
• medium strength fishing line, string, or cording
• scissors
• glue gun

Crazy-Easy:

3 No-Sew Dog Toys

2 No-Sew Cat Toys

2 Braided Dog Toys

Slingshot Ball for Dogs

Some Sewing (some can be done with just needle & thread):

Felt Sushi Cat Toys

3 Easy to Sew Cat Toys

2 Squeaky Dog Toys

Felt Mouse, Bird, Fish Toys for Cats 

Foxtail Dog Toy

Fortune Cookie Cat Toy

Pretty Birdie Cat Toy

Knitted:

3 Knitted & Felted Dog Toys

Knitted & Felted Mouse Cat Toy 

While Ginger goes green by upcycling an empty tissue box.  Clever boy!

Pork-Cat Syndrome—it sounds like something about obese cats, but it’s actually an uncommon cross-reactive allergy where some people who are allergic to cats are also allergic to pork.  Who knew?!