Pet enrichment toys recommended by Dr Siddle

As animal lovers, we all love to see our pets happy and healthy. One of the ways you can support their ongoing wellbeing is by using enrichment toys for play and rewards. These toys are a fantastic way to keep your pets engaged and mentally stimulated, as they help to reduce boredom levels and promote natural pet behaviours.

We sat down with Dr Moss Siddle (BVSc) to find out how pet owners can use a variety of enrichment toys for dogs and cats to benefit their furry friends’ physical and mental wellbeing.

What are enrichment toys?

Enrichment toys are tools that can stimulate your pet’s mind and encourage physical activity. They come in all different shapes and sizes – from puzzles to interactive feeders to chew toys and more. The best-quality enrichment toys have been designed specifically so your pet mimics natural behaviours like hunting, foraging and problem-solving.

The importance of enrichment toys for your pet

“Pets can get bored on their own all day just waiting for you to arrive home,” veterinarian Dr Moss Siddle says. “When there is no mental stimulation, undesirable behaviour can be expressed. Examples of this include persistent barking, destruction of furniture and fixtures, sedentary behaviour leading to disengagement and health problems, excessive licking of themselves or other objects, and escaping from the yard or house.”

Dr Siddle adds that one of the best ways to give them some much-needed mental stimulation is to have some enrichment toys to challenge and amuse them. These toys won’t just alleviate boredom, but also enhance natural pet behaviours – like chewing, scratching and stalking – in a positive way.

What are the benefits of enrichment toys for pets?

• Mental stimulation: They keep pets’ minds active and engaged, with less time for boredom and negative behaviours.
• Physical activity: They encourage movement and exercise, which promotes a healthier lifestyle and can prevent obesity.
• Natural behaviours: Toys that mimic hunting, foraging and chewing can help pets express their base instincts in a safe environment.
• Anxiety relief: Interactive toys can help reduce anxiety and stress in pets by keeping them occupied.

“The purpose of enrichment toys can be much more than mental stimulation for boredom relief,” Dr Siddle says. “They can also enhance natural pet behaviour, increase physical activity and relieve anxiety.”

9 enrichment toy ideas for your dog

Here are some dog enrichment toy ideas that Dr Siddle recommends to keep your dog engaged and happy:

1. Interactive toys where a maze or puzzle needs to be solved with their paws or mouth to receive a treat or other reward.
2. Chewable toys that have treats stuffed into them that your dog has to chew, lick and roll around to access the treats.
3. Slow feeder mats or bowls that have grooves in them to slow down the feeding and make your dog figure out how to access the food.
4. Plush toys with squeakers that make a noise when your dog bites down on the toy in the right spot. Be careful that your dog can’t remove and swallow the squeaker.
5. Electronic toys that can randomly toss treats or move around and make noise to engage your pet at various times.
6. Sniff and chew toys that can be rolled around with different smells in various areas.
7. Rope bones large enough that your dog cannot swallow them whole.
8. Freeze some treats and throw them into your backyard in various directions so your dog needs to explore and find them.
9. Place a tennis ball inside an old sock and tie a knot in it to provide a chew toy that can be used to play fetch. Or hang it from a solid structure high enough that your dog needs to jump a little to reach it.

6 enrichment toy ideas for your cat

For felines that need some regular entertainment, Dr Siddle suggests the following cat enrichment toys:

1. Loaded balls that wobble as they are moved by your cat’s paws.
2. Laser toys (must be low-level intensity laser) for your cat to jump and follow the laser light.
3. Feather toys, especially when dangled on a string.
4. Catnip-infused chew toys.
5. Place two table tennis balls inside a shoebox with the lid taped shut. Cut holes in the top and sides so your cat can put a front leg in the holes to move the balls around.
6. Make a maze of deep boxes with crumpled newspaper or dangling feathers in some of them. Christmas tinsel or some old jigsaw pieces placed in other boxes provides extra interest. The curious cat will love exploring the boxes.

“Change the type of enrichment toy regularly to maintain their interest and ensure any toy isn’t able to be swallowed or has sharp edges if chewed,” Dr Siddle says.

Additional mental enrichment ideas

There are many other ways to engage your pet’s mind and provide enrichment beyond just using toys. Why not try things like:

• Training sessions: Teach your pet new tricks or commands to stimulate their brain and reinforce positive behaviours.
• Socialisation: Arrange playdates with other pets to encourage social interaction and prevent loneliness.
• Scent games: Hide treats around the house and encourage your pet to find them using their sense of smell.

“Play with your pet using the toys when you are home so they know what to do with them when you are absent,” Dr Siddle says. “It will strengthen the bond you have with each other.”

Enrichment toys are the perfect way to keep your pets happy, healthy and mentally stimulated. Whether you have a playful dog or a curious cat, there are plenty of options to keep them engaged and entertained. 

While you aim to give your pet the best possible life, with plenty of fun activities and loving attention, you also want to ensure they have access to the best vet treatment when needed, without added financial strain. So, you may want to consider taking out pet insurance. Visit Guardian Pet Insurance to find out which level of cover could suit you and your furry friend, and request a quote today.