Indoor Games and Fun Activities with our Pet

How to play and entertain your pet indoors?

CANINE – Aim to play with dog or puppy twice a day
for at least 15 minutes

Cup game – commonly played by many pet owners to break the boredom. It’s an incredible way to train your pet mentally and physically. Turn empty cups upside down. Hide some treats inside one of the cups. Command your pet to find the treats and see how they will find it.
Hula Hoop jump – Lean the hula hoop up against the wall and let your dog sniff it. Put lead through the hoop opening. Do it in repetition and reward.
Light Toss – toss a small toy or ball from one point to another. Do it in repetition and reward.
Mat Explore – keep your pet busy with a small round mat or soft rug. Stuff it with a portion of tasty treats and watch them explore.
Splash in a pool – Give your dog a splash at 10 minutes maximum. Some pet daycares in Dubai also have temperature-controlled and chlorine-free pools you may want to try for your dog. Should be done in a shaded pool as overheating also occurs in pools in full sun.
Tasty treat freeze – frozen toys and treats are fun and refreshing delights for pets. Inside a rubber toy, try to insert treats or ice cream. Freeze it then give it out after long a playtime.
Tug of war – use some rope toys or blanket to play tug-o-war. Pause the game at different points if your pet gets over-excited. More than having fun, this also helps teach our pets to control and improve agility. It also teaches more dominant dogs to be in charge, creating sometimes issues, tug of war is only for confident owners.

FELINE – Aim to play with cat or kitten for at least 10 minutes daily
most especially during their active-awake time

Cup game – Turn empty cups upside down. Hide some treats inside one of the cups and watch how long it takes for your pet to find the treats.
DIY obstacle challenge – grab an empty box and creatively build a little maze inside. Put your pet’s treat at the end of the maze. Place your pet at the starting point and let them wander and explore every corner of the maze. See how will your pet reach the end.
Find the ball – Most cats are driven by their instinct to hunt. With the use of ball toys that mimic the movement of small animals to hunt, put some treats or bells inside to give a more enticing effect. Leave it for 10 minutes and try to alternate different toys daily.
Hide & seek treats – hide a treat inside a tub or your mom’s muffin tray. Cover each container with plastic or bigger fluffy toys and watch how long it takes for your pet to find the treat. Then bring them back with another set of treats.
Hunt with string – Attach a feather, fake plastic insect, or even a small tissue at the end. Lift the string to encourage your pet to jump up and catch the toy. Twist and turn in a few seconds until your pet gets tired.
Remote-control toy chase – If your cat likes to attack your feet under the blankets, remote-control toys may very well be a good option to play with. Try different speed modes or place the RC toy on slides, boxes, floor, and other surfaces safe for your cat.
Scratchpad roll – Some pet loves to scratch and stretch to exercise their paws and keep their claws in good shape. During their active hours make sure to place a nice small scratching pad in their play area and change it after a few days. Get a free scratchpad after your consult.
Unboxing games – empty boxes are simply the best toy of our pet, what more if there are gifts or little surprises inside. Excites them a little and after unboxing, don’t just leave all the items on the floor. Try to put 1 or 2 toys alternately every other day for them to explore.

RABBITS – Aim to play with a bunny or rabbit for at least 30 minutes
a day with drinking water placed near the play area

Cardboard tubes play – Pin some holes into empty tissue rolls and insert hays, twines, or treat sticks inside. Add treats inside the tube. Watch how your pet reaches the treat.
Comb & take photos – Comb your rabbit’s hair repeatedly and try different hairstyles or directions on them. Arrange a quick photoshoot and flaunt their “best hair” moment
Cuddle & massage – sit down and spend a few minutes cuddling your pet. Before you ever touch your rabbit, you want to make sure your hands are approaching them in a way that is not scary. Show your hands and gently massage the ears, head, and body to one side.
Empty box playhouse – give your furry friend empty or old shoe boxes to play with. Decide on the size and cut the cardboard to build a cute little playhouse. You can find DIY tiny house inspirations on Pinterest.
Spin & up drill – Be creative and flexible when you play and train them to spin and get up on your lap. Lure your rabbit in a circle with your hand. Move your hand in the direction you want to spin and jump, but don’t make the full gesture and enjoy.
Tunnel race – Lay on the floor and let your pet hop up on top of a toy tunnel or under your knees. Make it even more interesting by draping a blanket at the end. Pay attention to your pet’s body language to make sure they are having fun.

RODENTS – Rats and hamsters are highly social animals.
Allow them to play out of their cage for at least 1 hour (as both are nocturnal this will have to be done in the evening/night)

Finger walk – rodents have an incredible amount of energy to walk and run. When there is no running wheel, play with your little pet in your palm. Use your fingers or paper to dangle and climb on.
Green peas fishing – rats love pea fishing because it helps to cool them down. Pour clean lukewarm water into a flat dish. Add frozen green peas and place the dish flat surface. Bring your pet near and watch how they dive and count how many peas will they catch. The problem is this may create gastrointestinal issues, high energy, causes fermentation and dysbacteriosis, cold on top, gives diarrhea and anorexia.
Roaming around – place your pet on a defined surface out of their cage or regular playhouse and just let them roam or wander around the same place with little toys to hop or roll.
Roll-a-dice – when you play board games, allow your extraordinary pet to join the game. Create a small slide for your pet using wood or cardboard. Show your pet playmate where and how to glide or roll the dice for you.

The above list is just the tip of the iceberg. There can be many other ways to enjoy indoor games with your furry pet. All you need is motivation and a little creativity! Probably, you will come up with even more fun ideas as you finish reading this blog.

Watch these videos for more creative ideas and inspirations:
Dog games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YTB_mzSckc
Cat games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF__nnhcfWs
Rabbit play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwsUWkoa2Mo
Rat games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMMJtk6TXZk
Hamster/Rabbit race https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmtgPF2pnQY
Cat cup game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfx3BsXB4M0

Should your pet shows physical problems, signs of fatigue, or any symptoms during or after the playtime, contact us for a consult or ask the nearest vet in Dubai for professional pet care and trusted veterinary clinic services.

Written by Monica Bruno