April Paws Showers: Creative Indoor Games for Rainy Days

As spring unfurls its leaves and flowers, it brings the inevitable: rain. While the pitter-patter of raindrops can be a soothing melody, it often means our furry friends are stuck indoors, leading to a case of the zoomies or, even worse, the gloomies. Keeping your pets entertained indoors is crucial, not just for their physical well-being but for their mental health, too. So, what can you do to keep your pets engaged and happy when the April showers keep you both indoors? Let’s dive into some creative indoor games that promise fun times, rain or shine.

Fetch is a timeless game beloved by dogs (and cats!), but space is limited when you’re playing indoors. Here’s the twist: use a soft, lightweight ball to avoid household disasters. (Soft and lightweight throw toys also help prevent broken teeth). Aim for hallways or open living spaces where your pet can run straight.

It’s not just about the running; the anticipation and the thrill of the chase get their tails wagging. Be sure to provide non-skid surfaces for your play areas to prevent injuries. If your pet has arthritis, the potential for slipping and hurting their joints can be minimized by playing on surfaces with grip (carpets) or using non-slip socks or toe grips. 

• If your pet won’t let go of the toy, “trade” it for a treat. Say “drop it”, taking it with your left hand as you give a treat with your right hand. Use a high-value treat that really matters to your dog, like a dehydrated liver treat.

• For kitties, try to associate them bringing a toy to you with getting a treat. Then toss the toy a very small distance away (an inch or two at first), increasing the distance slowly, turning that game very slowly into “fetch”. If your cat isn’t very interested at first, try using a very high value reward, like Greenies dental treats, chicken flavor, to entice them to play.

For a pet that doesn’t seem inclined to fetch at first, keep trying, and keep the distances very short—literally a few inches for cats and a few feet for dogs. Keep “trading” the toy for a treat, and your pet will probably eventually catch on that “fetching” is fun!

Pets, especially dogs, have an incredible sense of smell. You can turn this natural ability into a fun hide-and-seek game. Hide treats or their favorite toy around the house and watch as their noses lead them on a treasure hunt. This game not only entertains them but also sharpens their scent-tracking abilities.

• For beginners, start with easy-to-find spots and guide them with encouraging words.
• Easy spots are the ones they can actually see as well as smell, and reach from their nose level to the floor.
• For the seasoned sniffers, challenge them with more hidden locations.
• More challenging “hides” include ones they can’t see and ones above their head.
• Another idea is to have hide a toy that has a favorite scent on it:
  • Dogs: this could be the scent of your hands rubbed on their toy. Then hide the toy somewhere they can find it easily at first, then a little more challenging as they get better at the game.
  • Cats: this might be their favorite dry treats rubbed on the toy, some catnip rubbed on it, or a treat nestled inside it.

This really fun version of hide and seek requires at least two people and your pet. The rules are simple: one person keeps the pet in one room while the other person hides somewhere in the house. When the second person has found a hiding place, the first person lets the pet out and says: “find (their name)”. There can be different levels of difficulty.

• For beginners: start by calling the pet so they can come find you easily, then praise them excitedly!
• For more expert seeking pets, wait quietly for them to find you. If they are taking a while to find you, the other person can give clues such as walking nearer to where you are, or you can make noises from where you are hiding. Praise them excitedly when they find you!

Keeping your pets entertained indoors requires imagination and a bit of preparation. But seeing them happy, active, and mentally stimulated is worth every effort. These indoor games are not just about passing the time; they’re about strengthening the bond between you and your furry friend, making every rainy day a chance to create fun memories together.