Some Simple Tricks to Help Your Pets Beat the Winter Blues

As the weather warms up a little around the metro, one of our writers, Darcy, has some fantastic tips to keep your pets engaged during the crazy winter weather. Check it out!

After the holidays pass and temperatures get colder, many of us struggle with depression, lack of energy and boredom. The winter blues are no joke. Less time in the sun and more hours shut indoors can make all of us a little depressed. This is true for our pets as well. Perhaps it is even worse for them as they can’t ‘Netflix and chill’. Try to be patient and understand that if your pets can’t get outside to burn off some of their energy, they may get restless and into trouble.

Here’s what that looks like at my house: As I am trying to write this article, my cat, Maddie, has jumped on me repeatedly wanting to snuggle. I tell her, “No,” give her a kiss and set her on the floor to have her hop back up about three minutes later. Meanwhile, my dog, Dixie, has cried to go out and when I opened the door she sniffed the air and changed her mind. She will be back over at the door in about one minute. Kicking her out of the house doesn’t work. She cries on the other side of the door. Essentially, she is always crying on one side of the door of the other. I think she hopes at some point the door will open to Narnia or somewhere that isn’t cold and wet.

For dogs, games and toys that challenge them can be helpful. Like snack dispensing puzzle toys. You can find these on Amazon for around $10. Hide-A-Squirrel is a favorite of my dogs, while my dog-nephews (that’s a thing, right?) prefer Tug-A-Jugs.

Don’t want to buy a new thing? Try creating a little snack scavenger hunt for you pup. My kids enjoy hiding milk bones behind curtains and pillows. Just be sure to use items that won’t mold or go bad if they take a while (days/weeks) to be found.

Cats can usually be pretty easy to distract. Or mine can anyway. When I finish up here, I can snuggle her a bit and then she will be fine for a few hours. Some catnip on a scratching post or in a tiny stuffed toy can usually keep them busy until they tire out. Sometimes a new shelf by a different window in the house can help too.

When all else fails- an empty box (especially with packing paper in it) can provide hours of fun for dogs, cats and children! Hang on to those shipping boxes from the holidays!

My real challenge this year has been keeping the chickens entertained. Who knew! One things for sure, everyone at our house is eager for spring.

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From our furry family to yours, iPetsKC