8 Great Ways To Keep Your Home-Alone Pet Entertained And Active
Leaving a pet home alone does not have to mean a day of boredom, chewed shoes, or restless pacing. With the right mix of toys, treats, and distractions, dogs and cats can stay busy while their humans are out handling work and errands.
The trick is making the house feel safe and interesting at the same time, from food and water to cozy spots and a few clever activities. That is where these simple ideas come in, and a camera check-in never hurts either.
Here are eight easy ways to keep a home-alone pet entertained, active, and a little less dramatic about your departure.
Pets Need Stimulation
1. Safe Space
First and foremost, place your dog or cat in a room where they will feel safe, secure, and happy, and where they won't get into anything too troublesome, perhaps the kitchen? Block off a section of the house for dogs, such as the living room, where they have all of their favorite toys and a soft cave bed.
Create a space on a windowsill for kitties or set out a self-warming bed for them to nestle in.
2. Frozen Treats and Toys
Fillable toys are a popular solution for keeping pets occupied for a reason. For hours of licking enjoyment for dogs, fill a hollow rubber toy with peanut butter or another favorite filling and freeze it overnight. For a fun interactive challenge, get a similar toy and fill it with goodies that dispense as they play.
3. Entertainment
Believe it or not, there are TV networks, YouTube channels, and radio stations dedicated to keeping your dog or cat entertained and calm. Turn on DOGTV before you leave the house for programming that will help your dog cope with stress and anxiety throughout the day.
There are numerous entertaining YouTube channels dedicated to cats, featuring flying birds, moving landscapes, and kitty-approved games.
4. Window Entertainment
With a window feeder, you can feed your hungry backyard birds while also providing entertainment for your cats. Your kittens will be fascinated by the action outside as the birds gather at the feeder!
It's a low-cost, low-maintenance solution to keeping your cats entertained for hours.
5. Brain Game Toys
Treat-dispensing and puzzle toys keep your dog or cat mentally engaged while rewarding them for completing a challenge. These toys help pets avoid boredom, which can lead to destructive behavior, by appealing to their natural hunting and foraging instincts.
For dogs, try a wobble toy or an interactive puzzle, and for cats, a treat maze or a concealed toy box.
It sparks the same argument as the debate over whether it’s cruel to have pets while living alone.
That is where the clever stuff really starts to pay off.
6. Snuffle Mats and Scratcher Beds
Snuffle mats are almost too adorable to believe, and something you'll want to keep an eye on with your Nest Cam's intelligent notifications. These cute mats come in a variety of patterns, think sunflower garden, to keep your dog engaged in nose play.
Sprinkle tiny morsels of delicious crumbly treats throughout the mat's crevices and set your dog to work sniffing out every last bit. Try a two-in-one scratcher bed, typically infused with catnip, which keeps claws off your furniture while also providing a fantastic nap spot for your cat.
7. Catnip
Sprinkle some catnip on cat beds, in various nooks and crannies, or on toys before you leave so they can discover it throughout the day and get excited, lick it, or roll around until they fall asleep. Alternatively, keep some appealing catnip toys hidden behind closed doors and only bring them out right before you leave to keep them feeling new and thrilling.
8. Automatic Toys
If your dog or cat is always chasing something, try an automatic toy that hops, wiggles, and rolls. Find one that turns on and off at various times for your cat so they have something to pursue or chase when you're not around.
Try an electric toy for dogs that can be paired with a smartphone app so you can control the movements remotely, and then watch the antics unfold on your Nest Cam.
By the end of the day, your pet may be more entertained than you are.
Need more help juggling dog care while studying? See the online community’s advice for managing a dog while attending school.
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