The 3 best ways to keep your dog or cat from getting bored and destructive and acting out
Got a destructive pet? Keep it from getting bored and acting out by stimulating its mind and keeping its body moving.Many behavior problems are the result of our cats and dogs getting bored. If a dog is left alone in the house for too long, they might start chewing on the furniture. If left in the backyard unattended, they might start digging in the yard.
Cats might get into some mischief by knocking over a house plant or batting everything off the kitchen counter, but mostly their boredom presents with excessive grooming, litter box accidents, hypervocalization, overeating and oversleeping — which is saying something since cats already sleep an average of 18 hours a day.
Mental and physical stimulation can help them stay out of trouble. Here are the top three ways to provide it.Steve Clancy Photography /Getty ImagesFirst and foremost, make physical exercise part of your pet’s everyday routine. For dogs, take them on walks or play games like fetch, hide and seek or scent games where they have to find hidden food treats. You can easily bring out a cat’s hunting instincts to pounce, swat and chase things with the use of laser and teaser toys.