How to Entertain Your Pet Indoors

There are several reasons why you might find yourself needing to entertain your pet indoors. Be it the weather or just needing to keep them occupied while you get a few things done.

The weather plays an important role in pet care no matter what species of critter your pal is. Dogs need their walks and while most will go out in any weather, that doesn’t mean they will enjoy it or you can do the same interesting walks they’re used to. Rain and wind might have you sticking to pavements and avoiding muddy puddles so walks tend to get a little shorter and more boring in the winter. Outdoor cats may practically become indoor cats in the Winter to avoid the worst of the weather so they wind up with a lot more free time that isn’t occupied. If you bring your bunnies and guinea pigs in over the Winter then you have to come up with a whole bunch of different ways to occupy them, as well. Even if they stay outside and are happier in their hutch, you might still want to bring them in for playtime when they can’t go out into the garden to explore.

No matter the time of year, all pets need mental stimulation. You can take your pup on a several hour walk and they might still have energy when they get home if they haven’t had enough mental stimulation. Your bun could have all the toys in the world but if they’ve played with them a hundred times before, they’re not going to be very mentally stimulating. Mental stimulation can be lots of different things but typically, it involves some interaction with you. Setting up puzzles for your pets to work out or doing a training session together can mentally exhaust them more than a game of fetch. A repetitive game might tire their legs but not their brain. Your hamster might run on the wheel all night but will still have the energy to investigate things in the morning. Mental enrichment is an important part of keeping them happy and healthy.

Indoor time often means that your beloved pet gets time to interact with you however it can also mean that they have to spend time alone. Whether it’s a full day of work at the office or if you just need to pop to the shop, they will always have to spend some time without you. Getting them to spend time alone might mean you’re cracking into the pet toy box in search of activities that can keep them busy for a little while. It might be a toy, some enrichment or a nice chew to keep them busy but entertaining them while they’re alone can be the difference in what you get home to.

If you’ve been a little less active with your furry friend, especially in Winter, you should be looking for signs that they’re bored. Some quite drastic behaviour changes can all amount to just being bored and getting a little frustrated. Signs that your pet is bored can involve:

●      Repetitive behaviours like pacing

●      Over-grooming

●      Increasingly vocal

●      Overeating

●      Becoming destructive

●      Aggression towards other pets

●      Attention seeking

●      Lethargy

●      Toileting in the house

You might think that your kitten has simply forgotten where the litter box is or your pooch has suddenly developed a taste for skirting boards. The solution may be easier than you think. If unwanted behaviour correlates with the time of year and having fewer things to do, it could be that they just need more entertainment.

Having fun isn’t just limited to outdoors and there are plenty of ways to bring the entertainment inside even if you have a smaller space to work with.

Playing a game of fetch or getting in 10,000 steps isn't a realistic goal when it comes to keeping busy indoors so you might have to change the games you’re playing to match the environment. Games need to be a bit less energetic but can still be great fun. Instead of a ball, most pup parents can dig around in the dog toy box for some form of tuggy toy like the Happy Pet Rubber Tug O War. Playing tug with your pooch is a great indoor activity that doesn’t take up too much space and can be a fun workout for both of you!

Toys that offer mental stimulation are great when you can’t physically exercise your pooch. Sniffing out treats from the Smart Choice Pet Play & Snuffle Mat is a great way to keep them busy. If they’ve mastered a snuffle then you can get them increasingly advanced puzzles like the iQuties Wobbler Interactive Dog Toy. You can fill both interactive toys with treats or if your pup is fed a diet of dry food, this can go into an interactive toy and it will take them a little longer to gobble down their food.

When your kitty can’t get out as much to burn off their excess energy, there are plenty of ways you can help them do this indoors. You can play a game of chase with them from the comfort of your couch with the KONG Cat Laser Pointer Toy. Cats love to hunt and during the colder months when they’re not going out as much, they won’t be practising their skills and getting in a good workout at the same time. A cat laser toy can help mimic the activity they’re used to during the Summer. You can help to keep up their activity with toys that bring out those instincts. For something a little more hands on and interactive, look into wand toys like the Catnip Feather Chase Cat Toy.

For toys where you need your feline friend to occupy themselves for a little while, interactive feeders like the Catit Treat Ball Pink are a good choice. Not only do they have to work out how to access the treats inside the ball but they have to chase it around and they get a little workout in too!

If you’re looking for ways to keep your small furry friends occupied indoors then circulating lots of different toys can stop them from getting boring. It’s always better to have five toys that change every few days rather than offering them twenty toys all at once. They’re more likely to get bored by toys when they have access to them all the time. Putting some away and bringing them back out will mean they’re always interesting. Toys like Naturals Trio Of Fun Balls Medium are great because you might be getting the same toy three times over but swapping them out will give your small furry friend a different texture ball to roll around and chew on. It will keep the game fresh.

Rabbits and guinea pigs love to explore so providing new spaces with the Rosewood Boredom Breaker Chew Tube Rabbit Extra Large can be extra exciting for them. You can even join lots of tunnels together and make a little maze for them. Your even smaller pets don’t have to be left out either as rats, gerbils, hamsters, and all kinds of smaller pets love tunnels. They come in plenty of sizes like the Rosewood Boredom Breaker Chew Tube Hamster Small. You’re bound to find the perfect size for them.

Not all indoor activities need to involve toys. You can do a session of trick training and that isn’t just for the doggy parents, cats and bunnies can get involved too. You can also do some grooming with your beloved pet, it can help with bonding but also be a great way to prevent boredom. Even a little cuddle session might not feel like you’re doing much keeping them company and spending time together can be a great way to pass days stuck indoors because of miserable weather.

For all of your indoor activity needs along with your Winter essentials to keep everyone healthy and entertained, visit us in store and online.