The pet industry is booming. Global spending on pet toys alone was valued at a whopping USD 8.88 billion in 2023. While spoiling our non-human companions is important, it is often more of a priority to spend money on quality, nutritious food—and maybe pet insurance for vet visits. 

Pet toys are generally imported and thus expensive. And let’s be honest, dogs can’t tell the difference between a branded super-ball and a tennis ball which went astray at the tennis club. Both are chewable, and that’s all that matters to them. As for cats, if there’s a Takealot box to sit in, they’re happy.

But what about providing much needed stimulation for your pet? We’ve got a few DIY pet enrichment toy ideas to make at home. Some are simple, others need more time and creativity—but all will be appreciated and come at a fraction of the price of the store-bought options.

The TEARS Animal Rescue Cattery needs help, they are at capacity, with many beautiful, vibrant kittens (under four months), juveniles (4-12 months) and adult cats that deserve to feel loved, cherished and safe!

Small kittens are in highest demand so as cats get older it gets harder to find them loving homes!  The juveniles, who are ostensibly older kittens, need homes, and are at the perfect age and size to slot into a family.   Juveniles are ready to fit in with children, other cats or cat-friendly dogs, or just to keep the humans company! They are full of life, love and endless potential, and deserve to know and feel the warmth of a loving family.

Letting go is important when fostering kittens or puppies – it’s so easy to get attached very quickly. I am proud to have, for years, been part of a very special group of volunteers who work on the TEARS Community Cat Project that manages to trap, sterilise, feed and treat so many thousands of feral cats across the peninsula.

Recently, the TEARS Feral Cat Project relocated 13 feral cats from the Cape Nature Reserve near Witsands to a horse stable in the Noordhoek area.  We are blessed to have avid Horse-Cat rescuer Erin Le Roux from Whispering Woods who has always allowed us to bring unadoptable ferals to live the rest of lives in the horse stables.  The relationship is mutually beneficial to the horses and the feral cats.

For the last 10 years, TEARS Animal Rescue has supported the feral cats in the Western Cape with a clinic that sterilises on the basis of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).  

Stray or feral cats are humanely trapped and taken to the TEARS Clinic to be sterilised and vaccinated against Rabies.  After recovery, they are then released back to their colonies.  All of the cats and kittens who are friendly are assessed to see whether they can be socialised and tamed and put up for adoption at the Shelter. 

Community cats is a term used to describe outdoor, unowned, free-roaming cats, who can be feral (wild), shy or friendly. Community cats face many challenges: They must endure weather extremes such as cold, heat, wind and rain Community cats face starvation, infection and attacks by other animals Unfortunately, almost half of the kittens born outdoors die from disease, exposure or parasites before their first year, and Community cats face eradication or injury by humans.

Beautiful Skye is a man for all seasons. At the Cattery, he was resident in our feral cat section. To begin with, he seemed to fit the description of ‘feral’ as he kept to himself and shied away from people.