Bored pets = destructive pets

Providing mental stimulation for your indoor pet is vital to his health and the wellbeing of your belongings.

Indoor pets suffer from an evil unknown to animals fending for themselves in the wild. The house cat isn’t facing starvation. The lapdog is not wondering when he will find a fresh bowl of water. Yet indoor pets across the nation are literally being bored to death. All of the food and water in the world can’t replace the mental stimulation that pets need to be happy, healthy, and lively.

You think, being at home all day would be awesome. But consider that when you’re home, you’re doing something: watching TV, playing Kinect, chilling with friends, cooking, something. Your pet is just watching you do those things. Watching someone else have fun isn’t nearly as entertaining as participating in something interactive.

Think your pet might be bored? Look for these signs.

Five Signs of a Bored Pet:

1. Gnaws on everything
2. Sleeps 20 hours a day
3. Weight gain
4. Anxious or hyperactive at the least sign of activity
5. He sits at the foot of the couch and stares you down while you’re watching TV

There is hope. We’ve also got five recommendations for breaking the cycle of boredom.

1. Get another pet. If your lease and budget permits, why not add another bundle of love to the equation? Whether the pets are BFFs or they simply tolerate each other, having social interaction within the animal kingdom is good.
2. Treat puzzles rock. Instead of just handing your pet a treat, insert your pet’s favorite treat into a pet puzzle. If forces them to exert a little brain power to get the goods.
3. Exercise together. With dogs, it’s easy to click on the leash and go for a jog around the community or at a park. Get creative with cats, dashing through your house with a string or playing fetch. (Yep, some cats do fetch!)
4. Pet swap. Some pets react well to a change in environment and a change in company. If you have a particularly social pet, consider exchanging pets for a day or two with a trusted fellow-pet owner.
5. Toy swap. For less sociable animals, consider simply swapping toys. Your pet can explore a range of new things to play with and you don’t have to spend a dime.