January 30, 2025

7 Ways To Entertain Your Dog or Cat
This time of year we are all starting to feel a bit of Cabin Fever, including our pets! So how do you keep your dog or cat entertained when it is too cold and icy to be outdoors? Here are some tips to help you and your pets avoid the winter doldrums. You can also use these tips year round to help indoor cats stay happy and healthy. Or for times your dog needs to rest or can’t be outdoors because it is too hot or smokey. Or use anytime just because these things are really fun!
FOR CATS
- Provide new toys or rotate out toys so “new” ones often appear
- Provide scratching posts or scratching surfaces. This activity is very satisfying for cats.
- Instead of putting their food in a bowl, try using a puzzle feeder. You can make your own puzzle feeder by wrapping some kibble up and a towel and letting your cat find and get the food out. We recommend you observe your cat doing this so they don’t try to eat the towel! Or you could teach them to “hunt” for their food by hiding several small containers of food around the house and letting them find it. Be sure to monitor these activities so you know that your cat is successfully finding and eating its food.
- Play with your cat. Even 5-10 minutes once or twice a day can make a difference! You can use this time to teach your cat some tricks. Or simple spend some time playing together. This can be rewarding for both of you!
- Provide high perches. Most cats love to have a high spot to climb to and observe the world.
- Cardboard boxes can be an endless source of fun. They can be a fort, a sled or a place for hide and seek. Different sizes and shapes can be used for variety.
- Provide a window seat or cat hammock where your cat can look out the window or soak up some sunshine.
FOR DOGS
- Play games together. You could try Tug of War, Hide and Seek, Indoor Fetch, Treasure Hunt (teach your dog to find hidden treats or toys), the Cup Game (hide a treat under one of 3 cups and let you dog try to find the treat), and there are many more! Get creative! ** Cats enjoy some of these games too!
- Teach new tricks or skills. This is the perfect time to teach you dog some of those things you wish they would do! You could teach them to “place” or start the ground work for good leash manners. You will be surprised how much it satisfies a dog to use their brain! Need some tips on how to teach your dog? You Tube can be a good resource.
- Provide new toys or rotate toys so “new” toys often appear
- Treat toys, puzzle toys or chew toys can be very rewarding for dogs. You can make your own puzzle toy by placing some kibble in a towel and rolling it up, then let your dog seek out the kibble. You can also use the freezer to make canned food or mashed up banana or other treats in toys be more difficult to get out. Always monitor your dog with these types of toys to make sure they are not ripping up or ingesting the inedible material!
- Take a class. Classes can be a fun way for you and your dog to get out of the house and learn something new. Another option for social dogs is to try doggy daycare.
- Set up and obstacle course in your house. You can use cushions, chairs, boxes, toys, stacked toilet paper rolls to make a jump, etc. Get creative!
- If you can manage a little outside time, take a slow “sniffing” walk. It engages a dogs brain when they stroll slowly along and sniff every little bush or blade of grass. They get so much information from their nose and it can be very rewarding and relaxing for them to have this time to inspect their surroundings.
We hope these tips help you and your pets avoid going stir crazy! And perhaps they can even help you build a stronger bond with your pet!