Home Alone: Helpful Hints for Working Pet Parents

Face it: Pets cost money, just like human kids, and the adults in the family must work to take care of them (well, the vast majority of us do). So, we leave our furry friends home alone for hours on end. Although our pets may not have the adventures of those in the movie “The Secret Life of Pets,” oftentimes our furry companions get lonely, and sometimes they become destructive.
 
What’s a working pet parent to do? Here are a few suggestions:
 
For Dogs: Fix a special spot, perhaps a separate room, like a spare bedroom. In that room, place familiar and enjoyable items for your pet, like a bed, some toys, and maybe a crate if your dog is crate-trained. And, don’t forget food and water. You may want to gate off the remainder of the house to keep your dog from destroying other areas of the house.Special toys that engage your dog’s senses are very helpful. KONG and BobaLot Interactive are treat-dispensive toys that provide many hours of fun; hiding a few of these around the house (or room) will engage your dog’s sense of smell and trait of seeking/hunting.Safe chews, like Nylabones, will occupy your pet’s time while you’re gone. Other chews can be hazardous and shouldn’t be given to your pet without supervision.If possible, go home for lunch and spend ten minutes with your dog, playing fetch in the backyard or going for a brisk walk.Separation anxiety is common in many dogs, and the Thundershirt is an item that can help keep your pet calm, not only while you’re gone, but also during thunderstorms. Learn more about separation anxiety here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety.  
For Cats:
Cats can jump gates and aren’t likely to stay in one room unless you close the door – and then who knows what you’ll come home to? Therefore, confining them isn’t the ideal. Instead consider these thoughts:Set up climbing posts in different rooms and place them near windows.Set up bird baths and/or bird feeders outside the windows your cat can look out of; observing and hearing flickers of nature will keep your kitty engrossed for hours.Provide toys, such as catnip mice, KONG kitty teat toys, and mice/ball round pounce rings – all of these engage your kitty’s sense of hunting while scratch pads and posts keep your furniture from being frayed, and tunnels offer opportunities to run through, and with a mouse or two inside or even some treats, even more exercise prospects.Some people construct special platforms in their house on which cats can climb, jump, run, and even sleep. Here’s an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okOVxfuSYPkOffer your cat a comfy bed, made all the better when put in closet, drawer or other “hiding place.”  
Cats sometimes also suffer from separation anxiety; Thundershirts are also available for them!
Other ideas to help keep your pet from being too lonely or bored include leaving the TV or radio on with soft, soothing music, and hiring a pet sitter or taking your furry friend to daycare; Rover.com, Care.com, and CatVacay can assist in finding a good sitter or daycare facility.
 
Find more ideas about keeping your pets from being too lonely or bored by visiting these websites:
https://www.rover.com/blog/field-guide-working-dog-owners/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Responsys&utm_campaign=052617190001&utm_content=B_04_05_OwnerNewsletter&utm_term=052617
and
https://www.petcha.com/7-tips-to-keep-your-cat-from-being-bored/