Indoor Enrichment Activities
Summer brings sunshine, vacations, and plenty of outdoor fun. As discussed in our previous blog, scorching temperatures can turn playtime into misery and potential danger for our pets. Today, we're sharing some cool enrichment activities for cats and dogs that beat the summer heat while keeping your pet happy and mentally stimulated indoors.
Frozen Fun
For dogs, fill a Kong or similar toy with kibble, yogurt, or thickened bone broth, then freeze it solid. Licking the cool treat will take your pup time and effort, providing mental and physical stimulation. Check out these fun recipes for ideas on what to put in your kong-type toys.
For cats, freeze some low-fat milk or yogurt at the bottom of a ramekin or shallow plate and let your kitty go to town. Or, invest in a Kitty Kong, designed "specifically to tap into the natural curiosity and hunting instincts of your cat."
Scent Games
Both cats and dogs use their noses to explore the world. To stimulate the olfactory centers of the brain, hide treats around the house and let your dog sniff them out. For an easy DIY hack, try using a muffin tin with tennis balls covering some compartments where treats are hidden, and watch your best fur-end paw them off to access his reward. Because tennis balls may be heavy for a cat, try a smaller tin - one for mini cupcakes - with ping pong balls instead.
And, if you prefer to keep the enrichment to one place, consider a snuffle mat - they work for cats and dogs and you can DIY them too. Plus, you can use them as a feeding surface for pets on kibble.
Indoor Obstacle Course
For dogs, get creative and set up a safe indoor obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and tunnels. This low-impact activity will keep your dog engaged and burning off some energy. Plus, it's a great way to get the kids involved because they too can try the obstacle course! Animal Wellness Magazine has some great DIY tips here.
For cats, consider installing a cat shelf system (aka cat superhighway) so that they can run across the top of your walls instead of zooming into your feet as you walk. Retailers like Chewy and Wayfair have something for everyone and in every budget. It doesn't have to be fancy, it can be simple while functioning as a feline treadmill equivalent. Check out Cattherapy.co for awesome tips and tricks.
Puzzle Toys
Sure, you can buy all sorts of puzzle toys these days. From PetSmart to Home Goods, puzzle toys are all the rage and a great investment in your pet's mental health. Ninna Ottosson, who is credited as the original designer and developer of dog and cat puzzle toys in 1990, offers some great options here.
If money is tight, cardboard boxes are a great, free way to create puzzle toys. Cut holes of various sizes and hide treats inside. Let your cat or dog nudge and paw the box to get her yummy rewards. Or, use a covered shoe box and let your pet push the cover off to retrieve their favorite stinky treat.
Lick Mats
Cats and dogs love to lick! Spread some species-appropriate treats like peanut butter, yogurt, wet food, or lickable treats like Churus on a lick mat and freeze it. Licking the cool surface will keep your pet occupied and cool them down.
Training Sesh
Cats and dogs also love to learn. Find a trick online that you'd like to teach your pet and try it out. Cat School has awesome videos including this one to teach your cat to shake a paw, which will eventually allow you to more seamlessly trim his nails. While Cat School's videos usually work great for dogs too - you can clicker train anybody! - check out celebrity dog trainer, Chrissy Joy's, many trick training videos for dogs.
Indoor Enrichment SUCCESS TIPS
As with everything, playtime and enrichment activities usually involve some learning and training. Your pet may not take to your games or puzzles immediately but that doesn't mean they don't like them. Don't get discouraged, keep trying and make sure you're using high level treats that really entice your pet to get playing. We like small pieces of hot dogs, lickable treats like the Churus linked above, and plain old chunks of cheese. Just keep the pieces small so your pet isn't too full to participate.
Enrichment activities for cats & dogs at house of paws
As professional dog walkers and pet sitters, our team has a lot of tricks up our sleeves when it comes to entertaining pets that might be bored indoors. Whether it's an early morning dog walk or an evening stroll around the block, we are happy to help. We can also come by and play with your pet at any time of day. When we come during peak heat, we limit our outdoor time to a quick potty for dogs and focus, instead, on enrichment activities indoors.
To learn more about our dog walking, dog adventure, and dog sitting services, contact us by phone at (314) 690-5154 or email us to Houseofpawspetcarellc@gmail.com. If you're ready to book services in one of our service areas submit a new client form to begin our registration process.
House of Paws proudly serves Eureka, Wildwood, Ballwin, Manchester, Maryland Heights, Des Peres, Fenton, Chesterfield, Valley Park, Ladue, Creve Couer, Town & Country, Kirkwood, Sunset Hills, Clayton, Webster Groves, Maplewood, The Hill, South City & Affton.
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