By Cathy M. Rosenthal
Dogs don’t understand Daylight Saving Time. Cats don’t know why it’s suddenly dark when their humans come home. And neither understands why their favorite walking buddy now says: “It’s too cold,” “It’s too dark,” or “Maybe tomorrow.”
Welcome to the time of year when pets start feeling a little bored. I’m not talking about “staring out the window watching squirrels” bored. I mean, “I’ve memorized every corner of this house, and I’m going to invent my own fun,” bored.
Pet parents often tell me that at this time of year, their dogs suddenly start chewing remote controls, barking at every little noise, or getting the “midnight zoomies”—running laps around the house when everyone else is trying to sleep. Cats get creative too, deciding to redecorate the living room with tissue boxes, unravel the toilet paper, or attack your feet under the blankets at 2 A.M.
Many people refer to these as behavior problems. But often, they’re really just signs of boredom, under-stimulation, and too much energy with nowhere to go. During spring and summer, pets get stimulation from open windows, weekend walks, yard time, squirrels, birds, and sunshine to observe. But in winter? We shut the doors, close the blinds, dim the lights, cancel long walks, and spend more time working, watching TV, and cooking cozy meals.
Our pets go from “sensory playground” to “bored out of their minds.” It’s not that they miss sunshine. They miss the stimulation – the walks, the outdoor play, and general exercise that comes when days are longer.
Pets need three kinds of stimulation to stay mentally and emotionally healthy:
1. Physical Exercise
Walking is not just about potty breaks. It’s about sniffing, exploring, seeing new things — it’s a dog’s version of checking social media. Even short walks matter. A 10-minute walk around the block can ease anxiety, reduce barking, and calm restless behavior. No time to walk? Try indoor fetch, hallway sprints, tug toys, or hide-and-seek. Yes, hide-and-seek is a real game you can play with your dog — hide behind a door, call their name, and watch them light up with joy when they find you. Giving them a treat will improve their “recall” training, too!
2. Mental Stimulation
Think of puzzle toys as crossword puzzles for pets. Food-dispensing toys, treat puzzles, snuffle mats, cardboard boxes for cats (at this time of year you can probably offer them a few different boxes a week), even hiding kibble around the house — all keep pets thinking, searching, solving, and working for a reward. Our pets need mental work, which can actually tire them out even more than physical exercise. That barking dog or door-scratching cat might just need something to do.
3. Social & Emotional Interaction
Pets don’t just need toys. They need us. Five minutes of play, brushing, training, or snuggling with our pets can rebalance their mood faster than you think. Even independent cats benefit from planned play sessions — yes, even the aloof ones. What they are craving is an emotional connection, and both dogs and cats thrive on it.
So, if your normally well-behaved dog suddenly chews your slippers, or your mild-mannered cat starts climbing the curtains this time of year, ask yourself: Is this a behavior problem — or is this a lack of stimulation? Pets don’t destroy things to be naughty. They do it because they’re trying to entertain themselves. And honestly? They’re pretty good at it.
So make a point to offer your pet a little playtime, opportunities for movement, puzzle toys, and some physical connection with you every day. You’ll be surprised at how quickly a few small moments of engagement can ease their boredom. Your Apple Watch already prompts you to stand every hour—why not program it to remind you to give your pet a little attention, too?
