How to entertain your pet

Pets often entertain themselves but it’s useful to have some ideas up your sleeve to keep them happy. Here are some tips to help stimulate your pet and have some fun.

Entertain your cat

Treasure hunt

Stash toys around the house to keep your cat interested throughout the day. Try rotating them to maintain interest. Interactive toys and ones that make a noise can be especially enticing.

Hide cat treats

Your cat will love hunting and foraging for treats. Leaving dishes and puzzle toys containing dry food around the house can be a good way to keep your cat from eating too much and gaining weight.

Vertical challenge

Cats love exploring; the higher up the better as long as it’s safe. Put some furniture near a window and remove breakables so they can explore.

Webcam

If you’re not home you can get your pet’s attention with a pet camera that has a talk feature. It’s fun to see what they get up to when you’re not around and they’ll enjoy hearing your voice. With some you can even record funny moments to watch later.

Cardboard boxes

Cardboard boxes are a cheap way to keep your cat entertained. They are easy to come by, affordable and can be replaced when they get damaged.

Torch

Cats love chasing a light on the wall and it can be an amusing watch.

Scratching posts

Provide scratching posts for your cat. You can find these at your local pet shop. They should be placed in prominent positions at different angles.

Cuddles

Some cats don’t enjoy them but some will approach you for cuddles and like to sit on your knee.

Entertain your dog

Toys

Give the dog a variety of toys and rotate them to keep their interest.

Tricks

Make a list of tricks you want your dog to learn and teach them something every day. They could shake your hand, jump over you, find an object or play dead.

This will give them mental stimulation and tire them out. It will also be rewarding and improve your dog's behaviour as they will get better at listening to you.

Walks

Taking your dog for a walk will give them mental and physical stimulation. It’s also good to get out yourself in the open air.

Agility

Try setting up an obstacle course using different household items. You can teach your dog to jump over pillows, weave through table legs or run through a homemade tunnel for a reward.

Noise

Leave the radio on when you go out as this will help distract your dog from noises outside the house. You could even go one step further and look at the pet playlist function from Spotify, which builds a playlist based on their personality and your music taste.

Here at Co-op, we can help protect your furry friend. Take a look at our pet insurance page to learn more and get a quote.