enrichment advice for your
home-based family animal friends
cat enrichment
dog enrichment
small animal play ideas
Start with: 108 Things to Do With a Box
Experiment with: Video Catnip for cats.
Movies add stimulation to the indoor cat's environment;
check out my list of cat-friendly dvds and viewing tips and ideas :)
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Practically Free Toys & Games
| Play under a closed door. You on one side, your cat on the other side. Peek a paper towel under; they'll grab it, and pull at it. Game ensues. Let them get it almost all the way to their side before pulling it back. Poke it under different places to keep them pouncing about. At the end, let them win! Laugh at how many pieces they've shredded it into (they love to brag about the kill :) For cats. |
| Cats love to play with straws. They toss them in the air, hide them in secret stashes under the sofa or bed. Make a game out of putting the straw somewhere tricky for them to go hunt, like hanging over the edge of a shelf that's at a good height for them to reach up and snag. If you're up for a game they won't ever want to end, you can get straws that have paper wrappers on them (dunkin donuts and starbucks are my cats' faves) and blow the paper wrapper gently at the cats so they can jump and chase it. The same wrapper can be blown several times before you have to move on to a new straw. Make sure to use straws with paper wrappers only (plastic wrappers are choking hazards), and take away any straws that are bitten into pieces - usually straws are safe and durable, though. |
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Dwarf Hamster Play Ideas! Dwarf hamsters tend to be too little for regular cages and long upright tunnels. Always look for a cage system that is specifically for dwarfs (ask at the pet store if you're not sure). My favorite cage for my dwarfs is the Dingo Home by S.A.M. It's perfect for their little feet and short climbing height! Other cages have open gaps in the wheels, for example, that their tiny legs can get stuck in! Seriously. So just take extra care. And standard tunnels are too wide for most dwarfs, they can slip and have an awful fall. (The Dingo Home, for example, offers them just one short curved tunnel, that is safe for their use.) Help Them Learn to Use Tunnels  However, they still love to climb tunnels. So this makes tunnels a wonderful option for interactive play! Most stores sell tunnels individually or in a big mix-and-match bag. When you have your hammy out for playtime, let her climb on in and give it a try. Always supervise! Make sure you keep your hand cupped at the exit, so they don't escape or get hurt. They'll be happy to climb out into your loving palm. Give them praise. Keep the tunnels angled - not straight up and down!  When my dwarf Figgy first started playing this way, he'd nestle into a corner and I'd have to wait a while for him to come out. That was okay; but using shorter tunnels, like just one or two elbow-shapes, at first, made it a lot easier to get him out if he got too nervous. Check out a little video of Figgy's first day of tunnel play... Figgy's been doing great ever since; here's a video of his first attempt at a long tunnel. I added in a "lookout" recently. He loves it. Notice how I keep the tunnel at a gentle angle so he doesn't fall down it! * I did once have a dwarf who was rather large for his breed; he eventually (at age 3) grew big enough to use a long tunnel in his cage. Use your best hamster-parenting judgement :) |
Dogs and cats love to learn new things. Got an achiever-type? Give the Language Board Project a try. The folks who work with Koko the gorilla created it for dogs, but think cats could also enjoy this method of communicating. Modify their guidelines to fit your dog or cat's unique personality, and let them know your results (they want feedback). |
(with a fun approach) Cornell's Feline Health Center offers free online cat health videos that teach you how to do a variety of things including trimming claws, giving your cat a pill, or brushing their teeth. They focus on simple, loving techniques that help you and your cat work together as a team. I can't say enough good about these videos. |
(more much coming soon!)
| Page created by Sandy Stahlman. Happily, I received my formal training in animal enrichment and play at the San Francisco Zoo, the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute, and at the Marin WildCare and Terwilliger Education Center. Informally, Reggie, Apaches, and Figgy keep me busy coming up with new ideas and projects to keep them fit, happy, and learning. |
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