A couple of weeks ago a group of pet professionals from around the country participated in a webinar hosted by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). The speaker was an animal behaviorist. She spoke for over an hour about ways to enrich the environment for our animal friends. As one of the attendees, I enjoyed her enthusiasm and fresh approach to the topic.
Since that webinar I've noticed many advertisements directed at pet parents using the word "enrichment" to sell a variety of products. I even saw an online handout defining enrichment as "keeping your pet busy." While adding enrichment to your pet's environment may or may not keep them busy, there is more to enrichment than that.
Our domestic pets need opportunities to express their natural behaviors. For example, if a pet is running on a treadmill all day that might be great for conditioning the heart and other muscles, and it will certainly keep them busy, but running alone does not address all five senses and the way that they might use them in the natural environment. Enrichment, on the other hand, provides both mental and physical stimulation. It provides structure and routine. It decreases stress and boredom. And, while I can see the value of using a treadmill for conditioning, I think we can all agree that running on a treadmill all day would not only be tiring, it would also be extremely boring.
The importance of enrichment is being better understood by pet professionals in recent years. And, I feel we need to share this information with pet parents. It's the very least we can do for our animal friends. Creating an enriching and positive environment for your pet in your own home is not hard to do. It becomes even easier to understand when you break it down by the 5 senses: Taste, touch, sight, smell and sound.
Going for a walk in the neighborhood satisfies a pet's need for olfactory, visual and physical stimulation. If your pet cannot walk on a leash, a stroller or backpack carrier might be a good option if they are very small. But, realistically, the rest of the day you are probably going to be busy doing other things while your pet has absolutely nothing to do except get into mischief or be bored. It's great if you have a backyard for your pet to run around in, but it will not provide the mental stimulation and socialization that can be accomplished by a walk in the neighborhood. So, you might try some of these ideas to enrich your pet's home environment while you are making dinner, helping the kids with homework or are otherwise engaged:
Hide something that your cat or dog will have to "hunt" by scent. This could be a puzzle toy filled with treats placed under a bed or something as simple as placing a few treats (don't overfeed!) in the middle of a bath towel, rolling it up and hiding it. Make it a bit of a challenge, but not so hard that your pet will get frustrated. For cats you can even place a couple of treats inside a plastic Easter egg that they can bat around. Let them watch you roll it under the sofa. Their curiosity will get the better of them sooner or later and they will have to check it out. You can also use fresh mint leaves instead of a meat treat. Cats especially enjoy mint.
Science has shown that music really does soothe the savage beast. According to recent studies, the best choices for auditory stimulation are classical music or simple white noise. You can leave the T.V. on for short periods, but keep in mind that a program where people are fighting or yelling at each other over an extended period of time can cause a pet to become tense or anxious. Of course, there are now special programs made for our pets' viewing and listening pleasure. Just make sure that you're not tuning into a program with a bunch of howling or barking. If your dog is barking back at the screen this could be the start of some undesirable behaviors. The same goes for programs where cats (or any animal for that matter) are fighting and hissing. Give that kind of show a hard pass.
Want to have some real interactive fun? Try bubbles! Cats and dogs just love "hunting" them. Bubbles are great as a budget-friendly form of novel visual stimulation. Make sure the bubbles that you use are safe and nontoxic for pets. Your cat might even enjoy some Catnip Bubbles with Honeysuckle. If you're too busy to blow bubbles, you can purchase a bubble machine made for kids. It will do for short periods of time. I certainly would not leave it on for 20 minutes or more.
Probably the easiest but the most often overlooked form of enrichment is food variety. Our pet's wild ancestors ate (and still do eat) a variety of foods. It is natural for them to stalk, hunt and eat what is available in the environment. Eating the exact same processed meal every singe day is unnatural, unhealthy and just plain boring. Personally, I never feed my pets the same thing twice in one day. They eat a different, high quality food each and every meal. It is not more expensive to feed this way. It requires shopping ahead much as you would for your human family. Unless your pet has already developed digestive issues or food allergies, I recommend that you add a little variety here and there until you can eventually feed your pets something different everyday, too. They will appreciate the change of taste. Try some freeze-dried raw toppers or treats for your pet cat and/or dog to start. Your pet will be glad that you did. However, if your pet has a medical condition consult your vet before making any dietary changes.
Last, but certainly not least, our pets require touch. Hopefully, we spend a little time each day petting our fur-friends or even giving them a gentle massage. A pet that is handled frequently from a young age is more social and better adapted to life with humans. This does not mean that your pet needs to be touched by absolutely everyone all the time. If your pet is not in the mood to be petted by a complete stranger, don't force the issue. Your pet deserves the same consideration we would want. If your pet does not want to be touched by anyone at all ever, make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out pain. Rotten teeth or sore joints among other issues could cause a pet to want to be left alone.
The sense of touch can be satisfied in other ways even when we are not around. Think about having sleeping areas with different textures. A round fluffy pet bed here, a nubby blanket there. Some older, arthritic pets might enjoy a heated pet bed. (Please, do not use a human heating pad.) If you've ever practiced yoga at home, you may have noticed that Kitty or Spot enjoys lounging and stretching on the surface of your yoga mat. Unless your pet will chew it, you might leave the mat out once in awhile.
These are only a few ideas to get you thinking about enriching your pet's environment by considering each of the 5 senses. What other fun ideas can you come up with? Does your pet like to climb, fetch, something else? Tailor your environment to your pet's natural behaviors in a way that allows them to express those behaviors in a positive way.
One last thought before we go...Pets that are left completely alone all day need more stimulation than can be provided by toys and treats. If you will be gone for 6 hours or more, consider hiring a professional pet sitter to come to your home and interact with your pet. Explain that you want more than a potty break. You want your beloved fur-friend to have some human interaction and mental stimulation. When looking for a dependable pet professional, choose one that is licensed, bonded, insured and has documentation showing that they have some form of certification through a national nonprofit trade organization. Every single member of NAPPS will have a card proving their membership status. Every single bonded and insured pet professional will be able to share that information with you, too. They will also have references including, but not limited to, veterinarians and behaviorists. Ask for references! If your pet sitter or dog walker cannot produce any of the above, search for your next pet professional here: petsitters.org/
I hope you have enjoyed this article! I have a video coming out on Friday 3/14/2023 demonstrating how to make an enrichment package for your pet. Since we mostly talked about cats and dogs in this post, I'll also offer tips about other kinds of household pets and ways we can enrich their environments, too. Stay tuned!
Since that webinar I've noticed many advertisements directed at pet parents using the word "enrichment" to sell a variety of products. I even saw an online handout defining enrichment as "keeping your pet busy." While adding enrichment to your pet's environment may or may not keep them busy, there is more to enrichment than that.
Our domestic pets need opportunities to express their natural behaviors. For example, if a pet is running on a treadmill all day that might be great for conditioning the heart and other muscles, and it will certainly keep them busy, but running alone does not address all five senses and the way that they might use them in the natural environment. Enrichment, on the other hand, provides both mental and physical stimulation. It provides structure and routine. It decreases stress and boredom. And, while I can see the value of using a treadmill for conditioning, I think we can all agree that running on a treadmill all day would not only be tiring, it would also be extremely boring.
The importance of enrichment is being better understood by pet professionals in recent years. And, I feel we need to share this information with pet parents. It's the very least we can do for our animal friends. Creating an enriching and positive environment for your pet in your own home is not hard to do. It becomes even easier to understand when you break it down by the 5 senses: Taste, touch, sight, smell and sound.
Going for a walk in the neighborhood satisfies a pet's need for olfactory, visual and physical stimulation. If your pet cannot walk on a leash, a stroller or backpack carrier might be a good option if they are very small. But, realistically, the rest of the day you are probably going to be busy doing other things while your pet has absolutely nothing to do except get into mischief or be bored. It's great if you have a backyard for your pet to run around in, but it will not provide the mental stimulation and socialization that can be accomplished by a walk in the neighborhood. So, you might try some of these ideas to enrich your pet's home environment while you are making dinner, helping the kids with homework or are otherwise engaged:
Hide something that your cat or dog will have to "hunt" by scent. This could be a puzzle toy filled with treats placed under a bed or something as simple as placing a few treats (don't overfeed!) in the middle of a bath towel, rolling it up and hiding it. Make it a bit of a challenge, but not so hard that your pet will get frustrated. For cats you can even place a couple of treats inside a plastic Easter egg that they can bat around. Let them watch you roll it under the sofa. Their curiosity will get the better of them sooner or later and they will have to check it out. You can also use fresh mint leaves instead of a meat treat. Cats especially enjoy mint.
Science has shown that music really does soothe the savage beast. According to recent studies, the best choices for auditory stimulation are classical music or simple white noise. You can leave the T.V. on for short periods, but keep in mind that a program where people are fighting or yelling at each other over an extended period of time can cause a pet to become tense or anxious. Of course, there are now special programs made for our pets' viewing and listening pleasure. Just make sure that you're not tuning into a program with a bunch of howling or barking. If your dog is barking back at the screen this could be the start of some undesirable behaviors. The same goes for programs where cats (or any animal for that matter) are fighting and hissing. Give that kind of show a hard pass.
Want to have some real interactive fun? Try bubbles! Cats and dogs just love "hunting" them. Bubbles are great as a budget-friendly form of novel visual stimulation. Make sure the bubbles that you use are safe and nontoxic for pets. Your cat might even enjoy some Catnip Bubbles with Honeysuckle. If you're too busy to blow bubbles, you can purchase a bubble machine made for kids. It will do for short periods of time. I certainly would not leave it on for 20 minutes or more.
Probably the easiest but the most often overlooked form of enrichment is food variety. Our pet's wild ancestors ate (and still do eat) a variety of foods. It is natural for them to stalk, hunt and eat what is available in the environment. Eating the exact same processed meal every singe day is unnatural, unhealthy and just plain boring. Personally, I never feed my pets the same thing twice in one day. They eat a different, high quality food each and every meal. It is not more expensive to feed this way. It requires shopping ahead much as you would for your human family. Unless your pet has already developed digestive issues or food allergies, I recommend that you add a little variety here and there until you can eventually feed your pets something different everyday, too. They will appreciate the change of taste. Try some freeze-dried raw toppers or treats for your pet cat and/or dog to start. Your pet will be glad that you did. However, if your pet has a medical condition consult your vet before making any dietary changes.
Last, but certainly not least, our pets require touch. Hopefully, we spend a little time each day petting our fur-friends or even giving them a gentle massage. A pet that is handled frequently from a young age is more social and better adapted to life with humans. This does not mean that your pet needs to be touched by absolutely everyone all the time. If your pet is not in the mood to be petted by a complete stranger, don't force the issue. Your pet deserves the same consideration we would want. If your pet does not want to be touched by anyone at all ever, make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out pain. Rotten teeth or sore joints among other issues could cause a pet to want to be left alone.
The sense of touch can be satisfied in other ways even when we are not around. Think about having sleeping areas with different textures. A round fluffy pet bed here, a nubby blanket there. Some older, arthritic pets might enjoy a heated pet bed. (Please, do not use a human heating pad.) If you've ever practiced yoga at home, you may have noticed that Kitty or Spot enjoys lounging and stretching on the surface of your yoga mat. Unless your pet will chew it, you might leave the mat out once in awhile.
These are only a few ideas to get you thinking about enriching your pet's environment by considering each of the 5 senses. What other fun ideas can you come up with? Does your pet like to climb, fetch, something else? Tailor your environment to your pet's natural behaviors in a way that allows them to express those behaviors in a positive way.
One last thought before we go...Pets that are left completely alone all day need more stimulation than can be provided by toys and treats. If you will be gone for 6 hours or more, consider hiring a professional pet sitter to come to your home and interact with your pet. Explain that you want more than a potty break. You want your beloved fur-friend to have some human interaction and mental stimulation. When looking for a dependable pet professional, choose one that is licensed, bonded, insured and has documentation showing that they have some form of certification through a national nonprofit trade organization. Every single member of NAPPS will have a card proving their membership status. Every single bonded and insured pet professional will be able to share that information with you, too. They will also have references including, but not limited to, veterinarians and behaviorists. Ask for references! If your pet sitter or dog walker cannot produce any of the above, search for your next pet professional here: petsitters.org/
I hope you have enjoyed this article! I have a video coming out on Friday 3/14/2023 demonstrating how to make an enrichment package for your pet. Since we mostly talked about cats and dogs in this post, I'll also offer tips about other kinds of household pets and ways we can enrich their environments, too. Stay tuned!
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