Cart
Cart is empty.
Join the Furchild family!
Be the first to learn about
exclusive sales, new products,
and the latest in natural pet health.
Be the first to learn about exclusive sales,
new products, and the latest in natural pet health.
In-depth Education
The Ancestral Diet Health Questions Raw Myths & Truths Free Furchild E-Booklet Our BlogCart Items
Cart is empty.
0
This is a toast
Easy DIYs for Indoor Enrichment for Cats and Dogs
Did you know that just 5 minutes of “brain work” is more tiring for pets than a 30-minute walk?
And the best part is that it can be done indoors. So be it the hot and humid summers of UAE, sand storms, or heavy showers keeping you indoors, you can still keep your pet engaged and entertained with these toys or simple DIYs.
Before we dive into these enrichment DIYs, let’s understand what enrichment actually is and how it is helpful.
Simply put, enrichment is engaging your pet in natural species-appropriate behaviours that stimulate their mind; like sniffing, foraging, playing, licking, chasing, and chewing.
This results in our pets’ bodies releasing endorphins which reduce stress, anxiety, and boredom, while promoting happiness.
Also, having enrichment activities with your pets strengthens the bond between you and your pet.
Looking at the health benefits mentioned above, enrichment for pets should be considered mandatory rather than optional.
So ready for brain games? Let’s play!
Snuffle Mats
Snuffle mats are flat, large mats that come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Typically, they’re made of fabrics where you can sneak some treats in.
So simply lay down the snuffle mat on the floor flat and scatter some treats across it (in the hiding spaces) and let your pets treat themselves to a sniffari adventure.
For hiding treats in a snuffle mat, we recommend using our Premium Freeze-dried Treats for making your pet’s adventure even more enjoyable.
By the time they finish their adventure and reward themselves with treats, they will have hours of sniffing entertainment up their paws, all while being indoors.
If you don’t have a snuffle mat, place some treats in the middle of a towel, roll it end to end and tie a loose knot to keep the treats in the centre.
Offer it to your pets and enjoy watching them have their enrichment time indoors.
Lickimats
Lickimats are feeding mats, especially designed for pets to slow down their mealtimes by them having to lick their food.
This act of pets licking their food alleviates stress, creates mental stimulation and can redirect all licking habits - good or bad.
In addition to our Premium Freeze-dried Treats, you can also use our Lickimats to serve Furchild Meals and our Toppers and Hydrators.
Moreover, our Lickimats are easy to use, non-toxic, and dishwasher-safe. And when we talk about enrichment, our collection of Lickimats is an easy way to make mealtime more enriching and fulfilling.
The licking behaviour not only reduces anxiety and boredom for pets but stimulates saliva production and aids digestion.
So next time you want to enrich your pet’s mealtime, use a Lickimat!
Food Enrichment Toys
Next on the list are enrichment toys. We would say, it’s a non-negotiable for dogs.
Similar to Lickimats, our Puzzle’n Play Mushroom Dog Toy can be used to one-up the level of enrichment by stuffing food in it, which enhances licking behaviour and provides mental stimulation.
Also, this toy's interactive design and flat bottom make it easy for your dog to hold it in place. And you can use it with our Premium Freeze-dried Treats, Furchild Meals, or even our Toppers and Hydrators.
Or just like a snuffle mat, you could hide. some treats into your pet’s plush toy and let them have it. This serves as a puzzle for your dogs to figure out how they would get the treats.
The food and toys combination not only provides great mental stimulation but works seamlessly in keeping your pets indoors while keeping them engaged and entertained.
Muffin Trays
This one’s for beginners and quite simple. You can use a muffin tray. Drop in a treat in the baking cavity and put a tennis ball or other pet toys over it.
If your pet is completely new to such puzzles and enrichment, show them what’s under the ball or toy and the fact that they can move it to get their treats.
You can also use the muffin tin upside-down to cover treats on the floor. And then, encourage your pets to be explorers. Let them discover what turning muffin tins can get them.
And for such enrichment brain games, satisfy your pet with the real taste of raw with our our 14 varieties of Premium Freeze-dried Treats.
Raw Bones and Himalayan Chews
More than just a DIY…
Chewing on Raw Bones and Himalayan Chews can be a great source of mental stimulation and provide hours of healthy chewing entertainment for pets, outdoors as well as indoors.
To make it even better, Furchild offers a variety of Raw Bones to choose from. Try our raw meaty bones; Chicken Necks, Duck Necks, Turkey Necks, or our recreational raw bones; Lamb Femurs and Beef Marrow Bones. These raw bones make tasty treats that also provide enrichment.
More about the Himalayan Chews… They’re made using an ancient recipe from the Himalayas using traditional farming practices. And with only four 100% natural ingredients, these chews are the best chews for 10 specific reasons other than just keeping your pets engaged.
A few tips to remember
- It is always recommended to supervise your pets while they have their enrichment activities to prevent any potential hazards.
- The above enrichment ideas are not a replacement for physical exercise, which is necessary for all pets.
Every pet is unique. So is what appeals to them. And we would love to know how these indoor enrichment DIYs work for you.
So if you record your furchildren partaking in any of these enrichment activities, simply tag us @furchildpets and share the love with the entire Furchild family!
Have a question or comment? We would love to hear about it.
FURCHILD is the first raw pet food company of its kind in the Middle East.
Discover the transformative power of our fresh, healthy, balanced meals, raw bones, all-natural chews, and premium handcrafted freeze-dried treats. Our Meals for Dogs and Meals for Cats are formulated by the world's leading pet food experts, approved by veterinarians, and are made of the highest quality ingredients.
- Human grade ingredients
- Organic vegetables and fruits
- Ethically sourced grass-fed, free-range and cage-free meats and poultry
- No antibiotics. No hormones. No preservatives. Absolutely no nasties!
- Grain-free and gluten-free
- Suitable for dogs and cats, puppies and kittens
- Home delivery anywhere in the UAE
- Monthly subscription plans and bulk order discount offerings
Starter Kit = Up to 40% off of Meals + FREE Nutritional Tips for AED 99