Is your pet bored?

This month, we tackle the idea or problem of pet boredom.

It’s a tricky question because pets, by definition, usually tend to help their humans fill their disposable time, not the other way around. I am guilty of this mindset. I have one cat in my house, one lonely cat. When I am in the mood to lie around and one of my girls isn’t around to cuddle with, then I welcome my Softball like a warm, summer breeze. Most of the time, though, I am preoccupied and have no interest in my cat keeping me warm. Most of the time, I do have my wife or one of my two daughters (or both!!!) around to lean on my shoulder and, in those times, I have no interest in my cat.

When I had my dog, I fell prey to similar routines and bad habits. She was mainly an outdoor dog, so she served my needs when I was looking for some exercise or companionship. Shamefully, more times than not, her needs weren’t forefront in my mind.

In turn, it’s good to maintain that perspective when identifying ways to keep our pets stimulated when we aren’t looking for them to stimulate us.
A couple months ago, I purchased a laser toy from my store that I will drive my cat crazy with while I am lounging around on the couch. It takes little to no attention away from my college football game, and it wears him out for hours.

With dogs, boredom can be a tougher equation to solve. Would it be as cute if they were following a laser around the living room? Totally, but only until the bigger dog starts destroying the furniture and knocking over lamps.

If we aren’t in the mood to exercise with our dogs, one might try putting a treat in a Kong toy and watching the dog wrestle with it for an hour or so.

Obviously, the only cure for long hours in a crate or a dog spending most of its days outside in the yard is some good TLC coming from her owner. Sometimes, disposable time is harder to find than disposable income. And if you have some money to spend, we have plenty of tricks and treats to help your pet find their way through a boring day at home.

Kevin O.
CPNA