It’s not uncommon for people to get a pet and not at all consider what happens when they’re not around, whether it be because they’ve gone off to work or are on a little getaway.
Although it’s fair to see why someone might think that a pet would simply entertain themselves – they always seem so active when others are around, after all – it’s actually the case that pets can get just as bored as us – more bored, even.
If left in these bored states long enough, it’s not uncommon for pets to then develop a variety of different behavioural issues, which can make managing them a nightmare. In this article, we take a look at a few reasons you can prevent pet boredom to ensure these issues never get the opportunity to develop.
A few common signs of a bored pet
Although it might be wishful thinking, even the best dog insurance in Australia won’t save your loveable furry friend from tearing apart your house while you’re out. Looking for signs that your pet is bored can help you introduce a few ways to prevent this boredom, so in these situations a careful eye can go a long way. It’s therefore a good idea to keep an eye out for key signs of boredom, with one of the most common (and easily observable) examples being over-eating.
Just as you might sit in front of the TV and mindlessly snack for entertainment when you don’t feel like running your brain, so too can pets sit at their bowl and endlessly eat. Although boredom is the issue here, the weight gain that can develop as a result of this over-eating can lead to some pretty terrible examples of health in itself! Another very good example of a bored pet occurs as a result of them constantly barking, particularly when you’re not home (this is likely something your neighbours will clue you in on).
Other indicators of a bored pet
There are quite a lot of other indicators of a bored pet that you should keep an eye out for, with another very observable one being over-grooming. Although it’s very natural for pets to groom themselves, if they have nothing else to do you might see your pet groom excessively, which can eventually lead to skin issues if gone unchecked.
Although they might simply seem like playful pet habits, your dog or cat getting into areas they aren’t allowed to venture into, or chewing on things that they know aren’t their toys, can also be great examples of your pet looking for entertainment. If your pet does exhibit any of these traits – and especially if they are doing quite a few of them – it’s important that you begin to implement some steps to limit and eventually prevent boredom altogether, with the most obvious thing you can do being to interact with your pet as much as possible when you’re at home.
Entertaining your pet
There are a lot of ways to entertain your pet, with some of these also helping them to be less bored when you’re out. Perhaps the simplest of these is by giving them some toys, as toys can go a long way to helping them stay entertained (and prevent them from chewing on other things).
Just make sure to give them a selection, as pets can quickly get bored of a single toy! If the boredom of your pet also stems from loneliness, getting another pet for companionship can help your pets entertain one another indefinitely.
