Since my wife and I have two cats, they mostly keep each other entertained when the family is out of the house. Also, when we’re home, the cats are kept busy through the best method possible—a toddler. My daughter loves to follow them around, hug and pet them, and make up songs to sing to them. However, when we are out of the house, the cats are pretty content to laze around on the couch or lie in the windowsill and watch the world go by.
All in all, since cats are more self-sufficient than dogs, we don’t have a big issue in our house with pet boredom. When they were kittens and there was no three year old to keep them company, though, it was definitely important to provide them with lots of toys, both when we were at home and when they were left alone, as well as trying to keep them mentally engaged through interactive play with laser-pointer toys, wand toys, and giving them lots of attention.
Bill R.
CPNA
Friday, October 1, 2010
No Bored Dogs!
When I’m at work and my wife is at school, we keep our two dogs entertained by leaving them lots of toys. Both of them have a KONG Genius toy, which they can play with until they get a treat out of it, as well as a variety of other toys (like Lola's favorite-- Gumby). We also leave the blinds open so they can look out the window at people and cars going by.
As soon as we get home, one of us lets the dogs outside to run around the yard and “do their business” for an hour or so. When they come in, it’s time for dinner, and then for all of us to watch T.V. for a little while before bed. Since we both spend so much time out of the house, both of us try and give the dogs extra attention when we’re at home, and take them on car rides whenever possible!
Chris A.
CPNA
As soon as we get home, one of us lets the dogs outside to run around the yard and “do their business” for an hour or so. When they come in, it’s time for dinner, and then for all of us to watch T.V. for a little while before bed. Since we both spend so much time out of the house, both of us try and give the dogs extra attention when we’re at home, and take them on car rides whenever possible!
Chris A.
CPNA
How to prevent Kitty boredom
Luckily for me, my two older cats are just as lazy as I am—while I’m at work they’re mostly content to lay on my bed waiting for me to come home, pet them, and cuddle up for bedtime. My little Bengal, however, is another story. If left to her own devises, Jeanie will eat the mini-blinds, viciously stalk and kill innocent loaves of bread, torment the rat (by perching on top of his cage and “talking” to him for hours), pounce on the heads of the other cats while they’re napping, and generally anything else that pops into her mind.
To keep Princess Jeanie occupied while no one is home, I switch out her toys frequently, discarding the ones that have been mostly destroyed (like the little fur mice that make it about 12 hours), and hiding the survivors to bring out later when they’ll seem new again. If we get a new cat toy in my store, it comes home with me. Jeanie has toys that give her treats, toys over-stuffed with catnip, toys that hang from doorknobs, and toys that run on batteries. Honestly, the living room floor looks like the den of a toy-eating monster—feathers, balls, and gnawed-on stuffed mice all over the place.
Another thing that helps entertain Jeanie is her kitty condos. She has three, of varying heights and styles, placed around the apartment. She enjoys both running in a giant circle and leaping onto and off of them until she tires herself out, as well as curling up on top of them to sleep. Initially, I was hesitant to spend the money on them, but now that I haven’t had to reupholster the couch, replace the carpet, or buy new blinds for awhile, I’m very pleased with my purchases!
Kristin B.
CPNA
To keep Princess Jeanie occupied while no one is home, I switch out her toys frequently, discarding the ones that have been mostly destroyed (like the little fur mice that make it about 12 hours), and hiding the survivors to bring out later when they’ll seem new again. If we get a new cat toy in my store, it comes home with me. Jeanie has toys that give her treats, toys over-stuffed with catnip, toys that hang from doorknobs, and toys that run on batteries. Honestly, the living room floor looks like the den of a toy-eating monster—feathers, balls, and gnawed-on stuffed mice all over the place.
Another thing that helps entertain Jeanie is her kitty condos. She has three, of varying heights and styles, placed around the apartment. She enjoys both running in a giant circle and leaping onto and off of them until she tires herself out, as well as curling up on top of them to sleep. Initially, I was hesitant to spend the money on them, but now that I haven’t had to reupholster the couch, replace the carpet, or buy new blinds for awhile, I’m very pleased with my purchases!
Kristin B.
CPNA
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