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Content Sponsored by 24Petwatch

If bad weather causes your dog to miss their routine walk or interrupts your cat’s window-watching, they may have some extra energy to burn off. Meanwhile, if your pet doesn’t get enough regular stimulation, being bored can cause them to act out. Unfortunately, negative behaviors in cats and dogs can become a habit and even be hard to stop.

Signs Your Dog Is Bored

• Chewing
• Destroying
• Clawing
• Whining
• Barking

Signs Your Cat Is Bored

• Change in appetite
• Overgrooming
• Sleeping too much
• Inappropriate soiling
• Crankiness
• Destructive behavior
• Demanding attention

Keeping your pet entertained during bad weather helps to avoid these behaviors. So, we compiled a list of the best ways to engage them while you’re all stuck at home.

Indoor Activities for Dogs and Cats

Indoor Obstacle Course

Create a homemade obstacle course using basic household materials to help your pet stay active. The best exercises include jumping, weaving, climbing, and tunnelling. Baskets, pillows, and hula-hoops make a fantastic start.

Training

The best time to teach your pet a new trick is when the weather is terrible; you’re stuck inside and have a few hours to help your pet focus and nail it!

24Petwatch can support your training efforts with the Lifetime Protection Membership Plus. You can get customized pet training with simple, easy-to-follow lessons for you and your pet (complimentary for one year, provided by Petcademy).

Led by experts and behaviorists, you can learn everything from the basics to complex issues like navigating behavioral challenges. Teaching your pet how to smile, speak, or play dead are just a few of the more fun lessons available on Petcademy.

Blow Bubbles

Who said you always have to match your pet’s boundless excitement? Blowing bubbles is a great activity when your pet has a lot of energy and you don’t. Blow bubbles while relaxing on the couch and watch your pet chase them around the room.

Puzzle Toys

Don’t forget to work out your pet’s brain too! Being challenged mentally is essential for a pet’s overall well-being. Puzzle toys give your pet a sense of purpose, teach them problem-solving skills, and stimulate their minds as they sniff out their food.

Getting new pet toys can be expensive. But the 24Petwatch Lifetime Protection Membership comes with a $25 Petco discount so that you can save. So, pick out the best puzzle toy for your pet.

Hide and Seek

Hide treats in a small room or around the house, and get your pet to seek them out! This fun and time-consuming activity is intellectually fascinating to your pet and mimics their instinct to hunt.

Indoor Dog Activities

Indoor Digging Challenge

Feed your dog’s impulse to dig with a homemade digging box. Layer goodies (biscuits, kibble, etc.) in a cardboard box between scraps of paper or old towels and watch your dog search through it instead of your couch.

The Cup Game

Everyone has played the cup game at one point! Include your dog by hiding a treat under one of the three cups and encourage your pet to sniff for it. When your pet gets comfortable, shuffle the cups around for extra complexity.

Bake Together

Kill some time during bad weather and bake a pet-friendly snack or dessert your dog will love. Try these delicious maple-infused recipes or another yummy and healthy goodie.

Towel Unrolling Game

Place a treat at the end of a towel, roll it once, then place another in the towel. Keep adding goodies until the towel is rolled up. Next, show your dog what to do by rolling out the towel to expose a treat. Once your dog gets the hang of it, you can add a second towel and layer of treats for another dimension.

DIY Flirt Pole

It’s a giant feather teaser, but for dogs! All you need is a stick or the handle of a broom, rope, and your dog’s favorite toy. Flirt poles cater to their natural prey drive as they try to chase and capture the fast-moving lure.

Indoor Cat Activities

Laser Pointer

If you don’t already have one, add a laser pointer to your bag of tricks to entertain your bored cat. It’s a low-effort activity for you, but a highly effective way to keep your cat active and fulfill their desire to hunt. You can even get an automatic laser pointer to keep your pet busy for hours.

Note: Pointing a laser directly into your cat’s eyes could cause permanent vision damage.

DIY Cat Toys

DIY cat toys are a creative and inexpensive way to keep your cat entertained indoors, especially if they have catnip! Try making these no-sew catnip bunnies next time you’re stuck inside.

Empty Cardboard Boxes

What cat doesn’t love a cardboard box? Create an indoor obstacle course or a cat tree out of cardboard boxes for your cat to jump, climb, and scratch.

Hunting Prey

This game is similar to hide and seek, but with a stuffed animal. Entice your cat to stalk the plushy by peeking it out from behind corners and throwing it across the room to mimic the chase.

Cat Apps

Believe it or not, there are apps for cats now too! Your cat can track lasers and birds safely from your home using a smartphone or tablet.

Nobody likes terrible weather, but it doesn’t have to signal the end of a fun day with your pet. These indoor activities and all the possible variations will keep your pets entertained and out of trouble whenever mother nature doesn’t want to play along.

For more information about enhanced Pet Protection Services, contact a 24Petwatch Lost Pet Recovery Specialist today at 1-866-597-2424.