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Authors: Dr. Micah Kohles and Kellie Hayden
Updated: August 14, 2024
Playing is a fun and instinctual behavior that small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas deserve to experience daily! Small pets are playful by nature, and supporting this behavior is one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a pet parent. In addition to the fun that play provides for pet and owner alike, there are numerous health benefits associated with daily play. Read on to learn more about how to support your pet’s play behaviors in fun and enriching ways.
Playing is great physical and mental enrichment for pets of all sizes. Opportunities for pets to think about, interact with, and safely react to objects in their world nurtures their physical and mental wellbeing. Playing and interacting with our pets through play is also a vital part of decreasing the likelihood that your little one will develop boredom-based behaviors.
The Importance of Physical Activity for Small Pets
In the wild, animals spend huge portions of their day physically moving around not only to look for food, but also to avoid predators. In captivity, we provide their food and eliminate the threat of predators. While this provides a comfortable and stable life they would never receive in an outdoor environment, this stability can lead to inactivity if small pets are not encouraged to interact with their environment. Nurturing play stimulates movement and keeps them physically and mentally active in healthy ways.
Play has a critical component, however…and that’s you! Play is one of the best ways to help strengthen the bond you have with your pet. The more you interact with your pet in healthy ways, the happier and healthier they will be, and the more meaningful your relationship will become.
What are the Primary Benefits of Playing for Small Pets?
The primary benefits of chewing include but are not limited to:
- Mental stimulation throughout the day
- Promoting physical activity to help prevent obesity
- Preventing boredom-based behaviors
- Helping build your bond with your pet through regular interactions
Encouraging Your Pets to Play
Striking the perfect balance between some favorite toys and a variety of toys is key when it comes to play. Just like when we talk about offering a diversity of grass hays, providing natural chew variety offers your pet safe interactions with their environment by manipulating items around them. Consider not just size and shape of enrichment, but also different weights (e.g., a paper ball weighs less than an apple stick bundle), colors, noises, textures, and smells.
In addition to variety, think about a healthy rotation of toys and items in their environment. How can you make small changes in their routine to keep things interesting? When thinking about keeping things fresh, always keep in mind what their favorite toys appear to be and have that available as a “fall-back” toy. Do they have a natural chew that they just shred to bits, or an item that you find yourself buying repeatedly?
You can also stimulate your pet’s senses to encourage additional enrichment. Try offering toys that roll, toys that make noise, and toys with a variety of textures to excite their different senses throughout the day.
Remember that when we make changes to our pet’s environment, these changes should not be ground-shaking. For these little guys, the world around them is their entire world—it’s all they know. Small changes can be exciting, but big changes can be scary.
Make Play Interactive to Build the Bond with Your Pets
Make play as interactive as you possibly can and do it every single day. Make time in the morning and the evening to get down on your pet’s level and directly interact with them, whether it’s for just a couple minutes here and there during a busy day, or a longer play session over the weekend. Your interactions can include playing with a crinkly paper ball, or offering them a new type of treat.
Some pets love to snatch away toys from their pet parents in a game of “keep away.” Others enjoy binkying or popcorning at the sound of a paper ball being crinkled, or an apple twig being dragged across the ground. We can even tie natural behaviors like foraging to a reward in the form of a treat by using enrichment items like the Wobble Teaser or the Wooden Puzzler—animals benefit greatly from these types of interactions.
5 Tips for Supporting Your Pet’s Playing Instincts
1. Keep Playtime Safe and Natural
Your pet’s safety should always be your #1 focus during playtime. Focus on using chews and toys that are made of all-natural materials, including hay, natural fibers (e.g. sisal), and untreated wood.
2. Rotate Items Regularly for Enriching Play
Variety isn’t just for mealtime! Provide options at playtime to keep pets mentally stimulated and physically active all day. Place play items throughout the habitat and rotate them regularly to keep your pet engaged.
3. Make Play an Interactive Part of Every Day
Your pet will enjoy playtime even more when you engage in the activity with them. Use your pet’s favorite toys to interact during playtime. Toys with a noise component are particularly fun for interactive play.
4. Combine Chews and Toys with Other Everyday Staples
Create a game of “hide and seek” to make playtime even more enriching. A fun and easy way to do this is by hiding your pet’s favorite toys in their hay, habitats, or in any other fun location.
5. Provide Ample Space to Roam and Play
The more space your pet has for play, the better! Pets with access to large play areas are more likely to be physically active and less prone to obesity. Set up your pet’s space with fun obstacle courses involving toys, play centers, and more, or try the customizable play place for the ultimate enriching experience.
