Our pets are a saving grace when we’re stuck inside. Their happy wagging tails and sweet purrs offer a welcome pick me up when we’re feeling down, but after a while, they can get bored of being cooped up. We’ve created this guide with our top 10 tips to keep your dog or cat happy indoors.
When it comes to being stuck inside, there’s no doubt that pets can make the time at home feel a whole lot more enjoyable.
They’re there when we need to vent or just need a good cuddle, and their care provides a productive outlet that’s beneficial to both pets and people.
But being stuck at home with your pet can also present its share of challenges. Here you can find some tips on how to keep your pet happy and engaged when you’re stuck inside.
1. Stick to Their Routine
Your routine has likely been disrupted in some pretty significant ways. In times like these, it can be tempting to let your pet’s routines fall to the wayside, too.
Purina behaviourist Dr. Annie Valuska warns against this: “It’s important to try to keep your pet’s routine as intact as possible. Feeding, potty, and walks should all happen when they normally do.”
She also reminds us that continuing to ask for good manners, like sitting before going through a doorway or not begging for table scraps, is another important way to maintain consistency in your pet’s routine.
2. Be Intentional About Rest Time
Your pet may be used to having time to themselves while the family is away, so try to give them plenty of rest time throughout the day.
As Purina behaviorist Dr. Francois Martin reminds us, “It is not a good idea to change your pet’s routine with a lot of socialisation. Pets are not kids. Owners don’t have to keep them busy with things to do all day.”
Parents, breathe a sigh of relief: your kids may need activities to fill their days, but your cat or dog will be just fine, and will even benefit from having some quiet time.
3. Let Them Chew It Out
For those conference calls, homeschooling sessions, or just moments when you need some rest, it can be helpful to give your pet a long-chew treat to help keep them entertained.
Dr. Sverine Ligout, a Purina behaviorist, reminds us that while these treats can be a fun activity for your pet, it can also be easy to overfeed them. Keep calorie counts in mind and compensate for extra treat calories by feeding a little less at mealtime.
4. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
Keep nerves in check and channel nervous energy into a productive outlet - exercise. Staying active during this time is as beneficial for you as it is for your pet.
You may not be able to take your dog to the dog park for exercise, but you can still find ways to get their energy out. Even a trip to the mailbox can provide a little exercise. If you’re stuck inside, clear away some furniture to make room for a game of fetch or tug of war.
Get out in the backyard if you have one and play a game of chase. We recommend using exercise as another way to reinforce your pet’s schedule. Have planned play sessions at around the same time each day, this will encourage your pet to follow routine, while also providing physical and mental stimulation, as well as promoting the human-animal bond.
5. Play Some Mind Games
Another great way to tire your pet out is with mental stimulation, like teaching them a new trick or two! Have you always wanted your dog to be able to roll over or for your cat to dance? Now is the perfect time for those lessons.
“Just like people, pets experience what we call the ‘Eureka Effect,’ or the emotional response to problem solving,” Dr. Ragen McGowan, Purina behaviorist, explains. “That ‘ah ha’ moment when you finally figure something out. You feel a positive surge of emotions. Our pets experience this as well.”
You can also use feeding time as a way to mentally enrich your pet’s day. Scatter their food around the house and let them use their sense of smell to find it or incorporate a puzzle toy into feeding to give them a little mental challenge.
6. Be a Considerate Roommate
Nobody appreciates a roommate who is always making noise, and your pet is no exception! Now that you and your pet are spending a whole lot of quality time together, be mindful that pets can hear a lot better than us and try to keep excessive noise to a minimum.
This will give them some time to rest. If background noise is a must, consider subbing in some classical music (which studies show can help calm pets) for the TV, podcasts, or radio occasionally.
7. Get Children Involved
If you have children in your home, get them involved in keeping your pet happy and healthy indoors. Now is a great time to reinforce good pet etiquette and help kids understand pet body language. It can also be fun to involve pets in your child’s learning.
Children still need to learn, and pets have been shown to help children in some areas of learning (e.g., reading). If the pet is amenable, then implement and encourage reading-to-pets sessions as part of your child’s routine. Find out more about the benefits of dogs and children growing up together.
8. Stick to a Healthy Diet
You may be indulging in mac and cheese and one too many brownies these days, but that doesn’t mean your pet can’t stick to their healthy diet.
Don’t start feeding table scraps just because your ‘table’ happens to be your couch. Continue your pet’s feeding schedule and stick to providing their regular food as much as possible.
If you’re feeding your pet more treats than usual to reward them for being such a great companion (because let’s face it, they deserve it!), keep in mind that no more than 10 percent of a pet’s daily calories should come from treats.
9. Create a “Safe Spot”
Your pet may need some personal space to feel safe and comfortable during a time when there are suddenly more people around. This is especially true for cats, but dogs can benefit from having a designated “safe space” as well.
If you think your pet is overwhelmed by all the sudden ‘togetherness,’ make sure they have a safe space the whole family respect. When they’re in there, they are off-limits, it can even help to consider them ‘invisible’ in that space.
This helps little pet lovers understand that pets who are in their special place are to be left alone until they are ready to play.
10. Get Creative!
To keep pets occupied and happy during a time when venturing out for new toys isn’t feasible, think outside the box with DIY toys and enrichment.
Provide fun toys that your dog or cat has permission to destroy. This can be something like a cardboard tube with kibble hidden inside, or a plastic bottle they can chew through to get treats from within.
Having a productive way to get any destructive energy out can be beneficial—both for your pet and your leather shoes.
Looking for more innovative ways to keep your dog or cat entertained inside? Read our guide on our top 9 creative cat and dog enrichment ideas, next.
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