Tips for Keeping your Pets Entertained While You’re Away

Few pets enjoy seeing their owner leave the house for extended periods of time. However, this can be unavoidable if you are a working professional.

It’s not uncommon for dogs and cats to become anxious when their owners are away. This anxiety often manifests itself in the form of destructive behavior, such as chewing on furniture or urinating on different surfaces.

Pet owners can make their canine and feline family members feel more comfortable in their absence with the help of pet toys. These include:

Snuggle Toys

A snuggle toy is a special stuffed animal designed specifically for dogs or cats. They feature soft and fuzzy surfaces that offer comfort for your pet. Some products also come with a built-in device that pulsates to mimic a heartbeat.

Treat-Dispensing Toys

Treat dispensing toys are a popular way to keep your pet occupied for many hours. These toys come in a variety of form factors, but they all feature slots or openings for inserting dog or cat treats. If your pet is a fan of treats, they’ll spend hours pushing, twisting and chewing on this toy, hoping to get the wonderful goodies tucked inside.

Scratching Posts

Many cats have a natural urge to scratch objects. This is usually to remove the dead outer layer of their claws or to mark their territory. This behavior becomes a problem when they claw at your couch or your favorite carpet while you are away.

You can solve this problem by getting them a scratching post. These are small posts that feature a rope tightly wound around their outer surface. A scratching post provides your cat with a healthy way to express their scratching behavior, and may help reduce their destructive separation anxiety.

Calming Supplements

You can also give your pets certain supplements to keep them calm in your absence. These include:

Catnip

Catnip is a special herb that many felines enjoy consuming. It can be purchased from most pet stores and produces a variety of effects depending on how it is consumed.

When your feline sniffs catnip, they will exhibit hyperactivity for a few minutes before tiring themselves out. Alternatively, if your cat chews on the herb, it will produce a calming effect. In either case, catnip should calm down your pet eventually.

Owners can give their feline a small quantity of catnip a few minutes before leaving the house. However, you should avoid leaving the box of catnip outside where your pet can reach it. Too much can upset their stomach, so owners should offer it sparingly.

CBD Soft Chews

CBD Soft Chews are special edible chews for dogs. They contain cannabidiol (CBD), which is believed to offer calming properties. Try giving your dog one or more of these chews, depending on their weight, before leaving the house.

Hire a Pet Sitter

In some cases, separation anxiety can be incredibly difficult to treat. In such situations, owners should avoid leaving their pets alone for long periods. Ask a family member or your neighbor to stop by your house and look after your dog or cat while you are away. Alternatively, you could hire a dog walker or pet sitter from Little Friends Pet Sitting in Charlotte, NC.