Residents with pets are concerned about their pets getting agitated by being indoors the whole time during lockdown. The Sandton SPCA has shared some tips on how you can enrich both cats and dogs during this time. They are as follows:
Catnip body pillow
We know just what to do with your sock that lost its mate.
- Fill it with things like cotton wool and a bell, cellophane or sprinkle some catnip inside the sock if you have and sew it closed. Poof—you’ve made a new toy that your cat can play and cuddle with for hours.
Ice ice baby
Stuck with items to use due to lockdown?
- Why not a simple ice tray food game. Fill the ice tray with kibble and show it to your cat. Allow them to play with the kibble and watch how they scoop it out with their paw.
Christmas in lockdown
Scratch in your cupboard with tinsel used on the Christmas tree.
- Attach a string of tinsel to a dowel stick with some string. Swing it in the air and allow your cat to catch it with their paw… In fact, why not hang some baubles on a low hanging branch in your garden, we know cats love taking them off Christmas trees. You could even just put up your tree early this year!
For your dogs:
Get your pooch baking
Not really baking in the true sense but we all have a muffin tin at home that can be used for this activity.
- Take a muffin tin and fill some of the holes with treats. Cover all of the holes with balls or some other kind of toy, and let him figure out how to remove the toys to get to the good stuff.
Under the cup
Just like in the movies!
- Line up three old cups on the floor in front of your dog. Take a smelly treat and put it under one cup. Let your dog watch as you move the cups around, and give him the treat when he picks the right cup.
Treasure hunt
Dogs rely on their noses more than any other sense, and their powerful sniffers make the treasure hunt game fun for both you and your dog.
- Find something extra smelly that your dog loves, like a Kong full of peanut butter or his favourite old toy. Show him your treasure, and then tell him to sit and stay while you go and hide it. Call him and watch as he follows his sniffer to hidden treasure.
Details: Visit the Sandton SPCA Facebook page to view some videos of how you can put these tips into practice.
Share videos and photos of you and your pet doing the above at home by email to naidines@caxton.co.za
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How does Coronavirus (COVID-19) affect your pets and animals?
