Enrichment pet toys are important to keep your four-legged friend happy, active, and out of trouble by preventing boredom. The Pony Express Veterinary Hospital team knows that manufactured pet toys can be expensive, so we show you how to make DIY enrichment toys for your furry pal so you can enjoy a fun and thought-provoking play session without breaking the bank.

Why is enrichment for pets important?

Mental exercises and stimulation prevent boredom and enhance your pet’s overall wellbeing and cognitive function. Proper enrichment has several benefits, including:

  • Reduces stress — Boredom leads to stress and anxiety for many pets, but enrichment provides outlets for their natural instincts and helps manage their stress levels. If not managed appropriately, stressed pets can exhibit behavioral issues, such as urinating inappropriately or destructive chewing.
  • Improves brain health — Cognitive dysfunction is a common condition that affects many senior pets, but regular mental stimulation can help prevent or slow disease progression.
  • Improves confidence — When pets solve the puzzle or navigate the obstacle course correctly, they gain confidence. Enrichment also exposes them to different smells and activities, increasing their experiences. 
  • Strengthens your bond — Enrichment activities provide you and your pet with quality time together that strengthens your bond.
  • Prevents medical conditions — Boredom and stress can lead to medical conditions, such as feline idiopathic cystitis, gastrointestinal upset, and dermatitis.

Enrichment DIY toys for dogs

Whether your dog enjoys activities such as hiking and swimming, or prefers watching videos on the couch with you, they will appreciate these enrichment toys:

  • Toilet tube treat dispenser — Cardboard containers, such as empty toilet paper tubes, make excellent, destructible treat dispensers.
    • What you need — Toilet paper cardboard tubes, or a paper towel tube cut in half, and a high-value spreadable treat
    • How to — Smear a spreadable treat, such as xylitol free peanut butter or cream cheese, inside the cardboard tube, and fold over the edges. 
    • Precaution — If your dog is large, they may simply eat the entire cardboard tube. Then, you can use a pizza box or tissue box.
  • Muffin tin shell game — Make your dog’s mealtime more entertaining and interactive by using the muffin tin shell game.
    • What you need — Muffin tin, tennis balls, or other toys, kibble or treats
    • How to — Place the kibble inside the muffin tin and place the balls on top. Place kibble in a few tins to make the game challenging, and use a mini muffin pan and miniature tennis balls or toys for small-breed dogs. 
    • Precaution — Never use too-small balls that your dog could accidentally swallow in their haste to get to the kibble.
  • Shoebox hide and seek — Scent work allows a dog to use their natural hunting instincts, and the shoebox hide and seek game is a great way to test their nose.
    • What you need — Several boxes and a smelly treat
    • How to — Spread the closed boxes, with treats in only one or two boxes, around the room. Let your dog sniff the containers to find the gold mine. To increase the challenge, use many boxes and place the treats in only one container.
    • Precaution — You may need to poke holes in the boxes until your dog gets the hang of the game so they don’t get frustrated.
  • Towel snuffle mat — Snuffle mats have fabric loops or pockets that can hide treats. If you have sewing skills, you can make your own using sturdy fabric pieces. However, for those of us who aren’t good at needle work, you can try an easier version.
    • What you need — Towel and treats
    • How to — Place treats in the center of a towel, and fold lengthwise, covering the treats. Then, tie the towel in a loose knot. Your dog will have to nose around and open the knotted towel to find the treats.
    • Precaution — Ensure your dog can’t easily rip the towel in pieces that they could swallow.

Enrichment DIY toys for cats

Cats are often characterized as independent, self-sufficient creatures, but our feline friends need social interaction and mental enrichment to keep them cognitively engaged. Enrichment DIY toys to try with your cat include:

  • Flirt pole — A flirt pole is a great way to entice your cat to run, jump, and play.
    • What you need — Broom handle, string, and a cat toy
    • How to — Attach one end of the string to the broom handle end and one end to the cat toy, and dangle the toy in front of your cat. Once you have your feline friend’s attention, swing the toy around so they give chase.
    • Precaution — Some cats are prone to chewing and swallowing string. If your cat tends to ingest foreign objects, always put away the flirt pole between play sessions.
  • Cat condo — Cats love to investigate new boxes, and often find a box more exciting than the actual toy delivered inside.
    • What you need — Several different sized and shaped boxes, and scissors or a knife
    • How to — Stack the boxes, cut holes in the boxes so your cat can go from box to box easily, and let your cat investigate to their heart’s content.
    • Precaution — Secure the stacked boxes and never stack them too high.
  • Toy find — Cats enjoy a good box, and hunting for small objects. The toy find game combines these two cat pleasers.
    • What you need — Large box, brown paper packing material or newspapers, and your cat’s favorite small toy
    • How to — Place the brown paper packing material or newspapers in the box and hide your cat’s toy inside. Let your cat dig, tunnel, and hunt through the paper to find their toy.
    • Precaution — One precaution—this game can get loud as your cat rustles the paper, so don’t let them play if you need quiet time.
  • Reach feeder — Providing your cat’s kibble or treats in a fun and interactive way can make feeding time more fun.
    • What you need — Box with a lid, knife, and treats or kibble
    • How to — Cut several holes in the box lid, place the treats or kibble in the box, and let your cat reach through the holes to find the treasure.
    • Precaution — Ensure the holes aren’t too small, and prevent your cat from accessing the treats, or too large, and your pet may stick their head in the box.

Try a few of these DIY enrichment toys with your pet to keep them mentally engaged, but if they are exhibiting behavioral issues, contact The Pony Express Veterinary Hospital team. We can determine what is causing the problem and provide the care your pet needs.