Pool Noodle Hacks That Are A Must-Try If You Have Pets
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The original creator of the pool noodle is debated. Constructed from a buoyant polyethylene foam, these tubes were first sold back in the '80s as a floatation device before becoming the popular pool toy that we know and love today. Pool noodles are budget-friendly, being sold at many dollar stores, and they are lightweight, making them easy to manipulate. This has led to the toy being used in a myriad of DIY projects, including a few hacks that make life easier for pet owners.
Whether you are a proud cat parent or a devoted dog mom, you'll want to explore all of the ways pool noodles can be used to create a safer and more stimulating environment for your pet. These include techniques which can help your pet recover from medical procedure and tricks for making floating devices so your pet can join you around the family pool. You can even turn pool noodles into pieces of an obstacle course to get your pet up and exercising. Implementing these pool noodle hacks is simple and inexpensive. Grab a few dollars, head to the store to pick up a few foam toys in your favorite colors, and give these hacks a try. Your pet will thank you!
Prevent toys from rolling under the couch
Playing fetch with your pet is not only fun, but it is a great way to help your furry friend get some exercise. Unfortunately, on rainy days, this game must be enjoyed indoors. When you toss a ball to your pup and he drops it with his mouth or bats it with his paw, it may go rolling right under your couch. While it isn't a big deal to retrieve the ball once, chances are you'll be repeatedly bending down and reaching under the sofa during one afternoon play session. To put a stop to this, all you need is a pool noodle!
Installing a pool noodle underneath the front of your couch will keep your pets' toys from rolling into an area that is hard to reach. This pool noodle hack to prevent toys from being lost under the couch is easy to implement, as all you need to do is simply wedge the pool noodle in between the floor and the front of the sofa. In the event that the sides are too long, you can slice them off with a knife or box cutter. If you don't want the brightly colored pool noodle to be so obvious to visitors, you can follow a tip from @social_work_therapy_dog on TikTok and wrap the foam noodle in black tape (or a color that matches your furniture) before placing it under the couch.
Tip: This hack will also work under a bed, TV stand, coffee table, or nightstand.
Create a pool noodle bed for your cat or dog
Having a dedicated bed for your pet is important for many reasons. It provides a sense of security and comfort and can be used to train an animal that it's time to go to sleep. The pet bed also keeps dander confined to one space, which is helpful for cat and dog owners who also suffer from allergies. The cost of pet beds can be quite expensive, so creating your own bed for just a few dollars might be a better option. All you need for the DIY cat or dog bed is an old flannel shirt, a pillow, and one or two pool noodles.
Slide a pillow into the torso of your old flannel shirt. When making the bed, keep the button side down, as it could be uncomfortable for your pet to lay on the buttons. Insert one long pool noodle (or duct tape two pool noodles together) through the left sleeve, underneath the upper collar, and back out through the right sleeve. Connect the two pool noodle ends together with duct tape. This creates a natural bumper for the bed. You can either sew the two sleeves together where they meet or wrap them in duct tape. To finish the homemade pet bed, sew or duct tape the collar closed so you don't see the pool noodles.
Make a buffer for your windowsills with a pool noodle
One spot pets love to jump up on is a front windowsill. They get excited when the mail carrier or a passing animal walks by and overjoyed when their owners return home from work. Unfortunately, cats and dogs have nails that often leave scratches on the windowsill. Instead of having to sand and repaint the sill every so often, you can simply protect it by erecting a pool noodle barrier.
To save your windowsill from pet damage, you'll first need to measure the length of your sill. Use a sharp utility knife to cut a pool noodle to fit this dimension. Next, you'll need to make a slit down the center of the pool noodle (lengthwise). Use that opening to slide the pool noodle over the edge of the windowsill. If you find that the foam noodle is moving around too much when your pet jumps up on it, you can add a few Command strips. These provide adhesion without messing up the paint on your sill.
Tip: Choose a pool noodle that comes in a color that is complementary to the paint on the windowsill.
Feed your pet treats with a pool noodle puzzle
Mental exercises for dogs are just as important as physical fitness when it comes to your pet's overall wellness. Placing treats inside the core of a pool noodle will encourage pets to actively try to figure out how to get the treats out. The act will get them up and moving around as they bat at the noodle, and the task itself will stimulate their brains as they work to release the delicious treats.
Creating the pool noodle treat puzzle is a breeze. Use a utility knife to cut off a section of the pool noodle. You may want to cut a few different lengths to further challenge your pet, once it figures out how to remove the treasure from a smaller piece. Stuff a treat or two into the center of the pool noodle. If you're using a long section, you can push the treats into the center using a pen, chopsticks, or anything long and slender. Set the treat puzzle before your cat or dog and watch as the pet attempts to dislodge the gift. Once the treat is out, the pet enjoys an immediate reward.
Create a pool noodle cone for your pet after a vet visit
One of the most popular ways pet owners use a pool noodle for their precious animal is to create a replacement for the cone that most vets use after a medical procedure. A cone can be awkward and uncomfortable for pets to wear. Still, it is essential that a dog or cat avoid biting or scratching at a healing incision, so something must be done to protect the area. A DIY pool noodle collar is an excellent solution, as it is soft and less bulky, yet still able to provide the same security that a typical collar offers.
To create your pool noodle necklace, you'll need to cut the foam into sections. Smaller dogs would do best with 1-inch sections, while larger dogs can handle sections as big as 2 inches. You'll need somewhere between eight and 12 sections to create the collar, depending on the dog's neck size. Once you have the sections, you'll need to connect them using a piece of string, or you can follow a tip from @annettealwell on TikTok and use a roll of gauze. A pen with an attached clip can be used to thread the twine or gauze through the sections. Once you've reached the ends, simply tie the two ends together and the collar is ready for use.
Tip: You want the collar to be large enough to fit over the dog's head yet remain slightly loose around the neck. Don't make it too tight or you will restrict your pet's movement. Always consult your veterinarian to ensure a medical collar fits properly.
Assemble a floating pool raft for your dog
Does your dog whine at the edge of the pool while you float around soaking in the sun's warm rays? If so, your pup doesn't have to miss out on all the fun. You can actually create a dog raft using a batch of pool noodles. These foam noodles are designed to float, and since they are nice and soft, they create a comfortable space for your pet to rest and enjoy time lounging around with his best friend.
To follow @jadethesablegsd's TikTok hack, you'll need a collection of jumbo pool noodles. How many you use is dependent upon the size of your dog. Lay the noodles out, and make sure your dog would fit on the float with a little bit of extra room on the sides. Line the pool noodles up, and thread them together with nylon rope and a large sewing needle. Do this down both sides about 2 inches in from the ends. Slide a washer over each end before tying knots. For added stability, Family Handyman recommends sliding PVC pipe inside two smaller pool noodles and then securing them to the sides underneath of the raft.
Tip: If you want your pup to safely enjoy a little bit of water, you can also make a laundry basket float by attaching pool noodles to the edges of a laundry basket using zip ties. For safety, never leave your pet unattended at the pool or in the water.
Make a pool noodle bumper to prevent your dogs from falling off the bed
Not all pet owners are keen on training their pups to sleep in a dog bed. They'd much rather keep their animals close and have the pets sleep in their bed. Some dogs, however, are more prone to falling off the bed, such as young pups and older senior dogs. To prevent accidental falls, pet owners can create bumpers on the sides of the bed to stop dogs from being able to roll off onto the hard floor.
To create your DIY bumpers, follow @dr.adamchristman5's TikTok hack: First, tape two pool noodles together. If you don't want to use tape, you can tie the noodles together using string or a set of zip ties. You'll need to create three sets of bumpers — one for each side of the bed and one for the foot of the bed. Remove the fitted sheet and set the bumpers in place. Cover the bumpers with the fitted sheet to hold them in place. If your fitted sheet doesn't fit once the pool noodle bumpers are installed, you may need to purchase a new set that is labeled as having deep pockets.
Make a foam and rope scratching post for your cat
Cats not only take great joy in scratching, but the process also benefits them in many ways. It can relieve stress, as well as keep their claws sharp while doubling as a way to get some stretching exercises in. The downside to cats scratching is that they will scratch the base of your sofas, dining room tables, and bed posts. You can either take measures to protect your furniture from cat scratches or redirect your furry friend to a scratching post. You don't even need to purchase one, as they are simple enough to make at home using an inexpensive pool noodle.
Purchase a jumbo pool noodle and a roll of sisal rope. You'll find Amazon even sells a roll of sisal rope for under $8 that is designed specifically for creating a cat scratching post. It's about 4 millimeters thick and has a length of 50 feet. Begin wrapping the sisal rope around the pool noodle starting at the base and working your way up. You'll need to apply hot glue as you go to secure the rope to the pool noodle. Once you're finished and the glue has cooled, cut the pool noodle down the center lengthwise. You can now wrap the pool noodle around a table leg, or create your own stand for the scratching post.
Use a pool noodle as a wall buffer for crates
There are several times when using a crate or kennel is best for your dog. It can be an excellent tool to help house train puppies, as well as a safe space for dogs to run for shelter during scary thunderstorms. Since most crates are constructed from metal, they can leave scratches on any adjacent walls as the canine moves around. To prevent this from happening, pet owners can install a set of bumpers to protect the walls. Bumpers are easily made using a few pool noodles, following a hack from The Animal Rescue Site.
Check the space in between the kennel and the wall. If the space is tight, you can simply slide a foam noodle in between the bottom of the crate and the wall. Add a second noodle in between the top of the crate and the wall. Should the area have a bit more give, you're better off cutting the pool noodle down the center lengthwise and sliding it over the bottom and top edges of the kennel. If you need to, you can secure the pool noodle to the crate using zip ties or a piece of string.
Let your dog can rest his paws on the car window with a pool noodle rest
Dogs love to take a ride in the car with their owners. When the window is lowered, they can reach up and stick their heads out to experience the breeze while viewing the neighborhood. Canines have a keen sense of smell, so to them, the wind offers a pleasant scent that they just can't resist. For both your dog's protection and the protection of your car window, it's a great idea to install a pool noodle bumper before taking the next drive; just follow this hack from @barbieover50 on TikTok.
Lower the car window to your preferred height. Use a measuring tape to measure the width of the car window. Make those marks on your pool noodle and then cut the section out using a utility knife. Slice down the center of the foam noodle before sliding it over the glass window. Your dog can now safely and comfortably rest his paws or chin on the pool noodle bumper and enjoy the ride.
Create an obstacle course for your dog
Just like with the pet treat puzzle, dog owners can create an obstacle course in their backyards to provide a way for their canine to exercise. Of course, pet owners will also benefit from added exercise and time bonding with their faithful friend. All you need are a bunch of pool noodles and a little creativity to follow this obstacle course DIY from @dogmomofmany on TikTok.
To create an agility course, press a stake down into the ground and slide a pool noodle over it. Then, repeat at various distances. You can also add additional challenges to your obstacle course. Turn two noodles into a hoop by taping them together at the ends using duct tape. The hoops can then be placed on the ground for the dog to walk over or held up in the air for the pup to jump through. If you're working on an indoor obstacle course, you can simply tape your pool noodles to the floor. Another indoor option is to bend a pool noodle to create an archway for the pup to run through. This can also be taped to the floor. Try manipulating the pool noodles to form additional pieces for your obstacle course, such as hurdles the dog can jump over. Be sure to supervise your dog to prevent any accidents.