Enrichment is essential for keeping pets mentally and physically engaged and active, especially during storms like hurricanes when they may feel anxious or restless. Keeping our furry friends busy with fun activities can help distract them from the noise and stress of the storm as well as alleviate boredom.
These projects also provide a wonderful opportunity for kids (and adults!) to get creative by crafting toys or puzzles from everyday household items that you probably already have at home.
Not only do these projects keep everyone busy and entertained, but they can also foster a sense of compassion and enhance the human-animal bond, making stormy days a little brighter for both pets and the people who love them!
If you make any of these items or do any of these activities, we’d love to hear about it! You can send photos to us at [email protected].
Busy Boxes
Supplies needed:
An empty box (look around your kitchen – boxes like cereal boxes, granola bar boxes, and frozen meal boxes work great)
Peanut butter (check the ingredients first – sugar-free peanut butter may contain xylitol, which is toxic to pets)
Dry dog food
How to make them:
Spread a thin layer of peanut butter inside the empty box, covering each side. Press handfuls of dry dog food to each side so that it sticks to the peanut butter. Alternative technique: add a handful or two of food to the box, close it, and shake it up until the food sticks to the peanut butter.
Give to your dog right away or refrigerate/freeze for later. Have fun watching your dog figure out how to get inside the box!
Why we ❤️ busy boxes:
Ripping and tearing are natural, instinctive dog behaviors. Busy boxes give dogs the opportunity to safely rip and tear something that they’re allowed to destroy.
Cat Tube Toys
Supplies needed:
An empty toilet paper tube
Scissors
Non-toxic markers
How to make them:
Using non-toxic markers, use your creativity to decorate the tube. Think about what a cat might like to see and play with!
Use scissors to cut a fringe around each end of the tube. Fold back fringe to form a “wheel” on each side. Test out your tube by rolling it around on the ground!
Why we ❤️ tube toys:
This is a great toy that cats can play with independently or with you. They can help stimulate your cat’s hunting instincts, encouraging them to pounce, chase, and engage in natural behaviors that keep them active.
Frozen Treats
Supplies needed:
Ice cube tray
For dogs: peanut butter and plain yogurt
For cats: tuna, wet food, and catnip (optional)
How to make them:
Dog version: In a bowl, blend equal parts peanut butter, yogurt, and water until you have a smooth, pudding-like consistency. Pour mixture into ice cube tray. Freeze until set.
Cat version: In a bowl, mash up some tuna and/or wet food and add water until your mixture resembles a soup. Sprinkle in a very small amount of catnip for some added fun. Pour mixture into ice cube tray. Freeze until set.
Why we ❤️ frozen treats:
Frozen treats can help pets stay hydrated, engage their senses, and offer a fun, interactive experience – kind of like when we eat popsicles! Frozen treats are especially great on those hot, humid Florida days.
Treat Puzzles
Supplies needed:
An empty toilet paper tube
For dogs: small treats or dry food
For cats: small treats or dry food
Scissors
How to make them:
Use scissors to poke holes into the toilet paper tube. Make sure the holes are slightly larger than the treat you’re going to put inside. (Kids will need to get a grown-up’s help for this step.)
Fold one end of the tube down to close it – it doesn’t have to look good!
Add some treats into the open end and then fold that end down as well.
Why we ❤️ treat puzzles:
Treat puzzles like this one are a great way to help keep dogs and cats mentally active and engaged as they work to figure out how to get the treats out from inside the tube!
Cat Sleeping Bags
Supplies needed:
A paper grocery bag
Non-toxic markers
How to make them:
Using non-toxic markers, decorate your paper grocery bag to transform it into a safe haven for your cat. You could draw calming images or patterns or write messages like “Do not disturb” or “Shhh…I’m sleeping.”
Why we ❤️ cat sleeping bags:
Cats LOVE paper bags and having a place to hide. Even if they never actually hide, just knowing they can hide if they need to helps cats feel safer and more comfortable.
Cat Castles
Supplies needed:
Empty cardboard boxes
Scissors
Duct tape
Non-toxic markers (optional)
How to make them:
All cats love cardboard boxes…so why not put your STEAM skills to work by leveling up an ordinary cardboard box into a cat CASTLE?
Gather empty boxes of various sizes and let your creativity fly! Design tunnels, towers, and cozy hideaways for your cat to discover. You could try building something specific – like a cat food truck or rocket ship – or freestyle it and create a castle worthy of feline royalty.
Why we ❤️ cat castles:
There are few things cats love more than cardboard boxes. By using cardboard boxes to create a structure for cats to hide in or explore, you’re helping them feel more comfortable and keeping them mentally and physically active and entertained.
Snuffle Mats or Boxes
Supplies needed:
An old towel you don’t mind cutting up (normally we make these using sink mats with holes in them, but this is an alternative that doesn’t require going out and purchasing a mat)
A small cardboard box
Fleece fabric or old T-shirts you don’t mind cutting up
Scissors
Treats or dry food
How to make them:
Using scissors, cut slits or small holes in your towel – we recommend at least 10 rows of 10 holes each.
Cut T-shirts into strips of fabric that are around 1″ wide and 6″ long. If you have fleece fabric available, you can cut that up instead.
Thread your fabric strips through the holes in your towel and tie to secure them. Once your towel is covered in fabric strips, it’s complete! Hide treats or dry food throughout the mat and let your dog or cat forage for them.
You could also try making a snuffle box by filling a small cardboard box with loose strips of fabric and hiding treats and dry food inside.
Why we ❤️ snuffle mats:
Snuffle mats and boxes encourage pets to use their natural foraging instincts and help keep their minds engaged, reducing boredom. Foraging can be a calming activity and may also help lower anxiety and stress levels in pets.
Pawsitive Reading
Pawsitive Reading is one of our most popular youth programs at JHS! Studies have shown that reading out loud to animals helps lower their stress levels (seriously!). During a storm, if your pet is feeling stressed or anxious, try reading out loud to them for 30 minutes or so.
If you have kids, reading out loud to a pet is also a fantastic way for kids to work on their literacy skills and become more confident readers!
Nosework
Humans have around 6 million smell receptors.
Cats have around 200 million.
And dogs? Dogs have around 300 million.
Because their sense of smell is so incredible, nosework games can be a great way to keep your pets mentally and physically active while at home. The act of sniffing can also be soothing for pets as it encourages them to focus on their environment and helps them feel more grounded.
Try these games with both dogs and cats!
Towel Game
Spread a towel out and sprinkle a handful of treats or dry food on top of it. Roll up the towel and present to your dog or cat. See how long it takes them to find the treats or food inside the towel!
Box Game
If you have empty cardboard boxes lying around, hide treats inside them and watch as your dog or cat uses their sense of smell to find them!
Cup Game
Set out 3 cups and hide a treat under one of them. See if your dog or cat can figure out where the treat is hidden!
Muffin Tin Game
Add treats or food to some of the cups in a muffin or cupcake tin. Cover ALL the cups with tennis balls. If you don’t have tennis balls, you could try using crumpled-up balls of paper or rolled-up socks.
Present the tin to your pet and watch them figure out where the treats or food are hidden!
We encourage you to give these easy at-home enrichment ideas a try with your pets! We hope they enhance your pets’ lives and deepen your bond. If you take any photos of these projects and activities in action, we’d love to see them! You can share them on social media and tag us (@jaxhumane) or email them to us at [email protected].