People usually start looking up “mental stimulation for pets” when the house is suddenly noisier, the lounge gets chewed, the cat turns sharp-edged, or an older dog seems a little lost in familiar rooms. Often it’s not a “naughty” pet at all, just an animal with a capable brain and not enough to do.
Mental stimulation (also called enrichment) is how you give that brain something to work on: sniffing, searching, learning, problem-solving, and making small choices through the day. Done well, it can ease boredom-linked behaviour problems and support wellbeing as pets age. Done poorly, it can create stress or simply add calories. This guide keeps it practical and safe, with simple options for dogs and cats.
What “mental stimulation” really means
Mental stimulation is anything that invites your pet to use their senses and make decisions: following a scent trail, figuring out how to get food from a puzzle feeder, learning a new cue, or exploring a changed environment. It’s not about constant activity. It’s about short, satisfying challenges that fit the animal in front of you.
Many pets do best with a mix of:
- Food-based enrichment (puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, snuffle mats).
- Training (short sessions that build skills and confidence).
- Sensory enrichment (especially scent for dogs).
- Environmental variety (rotating toys, changing routes, new textures).
Why it matters for health and behaviour
In a home without enough to investigate, pets can slide into a flat routine. Many will cope quietly; others will create their own “projects” (digging, barking, shredding, overgrooming). RSPCA guidance notes that environments with more choice, variety, and opportunities for natural behaviours support emotional wellbeing, while a lack of enrichment can contribute to boredom, frustration, anxiety, stress, and problem behaviours.1, 2
Ageing pets and cognitive decline
Older dogs (and cats) can develop cognitive dysfunction, with changes in sleep, house-soiling, disorientation, and altered social interactions. Veterinary references describe environmental enrichment as a core part of management, alongside veterinary assessment and, when appropriate, medication or diet changes.3, 4
How pets experience the world (and why that changes enrichment)
Dogs and cats aren’t small humans in fur; they gather information differently, and enrichment works best when it matches their strongest senses and natural behaviour.
Dogs: the nose runs the show
Dogs “read” the environment through scent in a way we can’t easily imagine. Reputable animal health sources describe dogs as having vastly more olfactory receptors than humans, with a sense of smell often described as thousands of times more powerful than ours. That’s why a slow, sniff-heavy walk can be more tiring (in a good way) than a brisk loop around the block.5
Cats: hunters in a living room
Cats are built for short, focused hunting sequences. Enrichment that allows stalking, pouncing, and “working” for food can reduce boredom and help redirect restless energy. Cat enrichment guidance commonly includes play, food puzzles, and opportunities to climb, scratch, and hide.6
Quick signs your pet needs more (or less) mental stimulation
Common signs of too little
- Destructive chewing, ripping cushions, digging, or knocking items down
- Excessive barking/meowing, pacing, or difficulty settling
- Overgrooming or repetitive behaviours
- Pestering for attention in a way that escalates through the day
Common signs you’ve overdone it
- Frantic behaviour around toys/food puzzles (can’t disengage)
- Heightened reactivity after “games” (wired rather than settled)
- Guarding of puzzle toys/food, or conflict between pets
RSPCA notes enrichment needs to be thoughtful: repetitive, unchanging enrichment can lose effect, and over-reliance on food-based enrichment can contribute to weight gain. Safety matters too, especially with chewable items.2
Simple ways to mentally stimulate dogs
Scent-based games (high value, low fuss)
- Scatter feeding: toss part of a meal in short grass or across a safe floor so your dog searches.
- Find it: hide treats in easy spots, then gradually make the hiding places harder.
- Sniff walks: slow down and allow sniffing time; think of it as “reading the news”.
RSPCA enrichment guidance highlights activities like scent games and interactive puzzles as practical mental enrichment for dogs.2
Puzzle feeders and “work for food” toys
Use puzzle feeders to turn part of your dog’s daily food into a calm problem-solving session. Start easy, keep sessions supervised, and stop if your dog begins biting hard, guarding, or getting stuck in frustration. Puzzle toys can be especially useful during confinement or reduced exercise, as noted by canine behaviour educators.7
Short training sessions
Two minutes is often enough. Teach simple cues (touch, wait, mat), light trick training, or calm handling practice. Training builds predictability and gives your dog a job that ends cleanly.
Simple ways to mentally stimulate cats
Food puzzles and foraging
Puzzle feeders and foraging toys encourage cats to “hunt” for food in small bouts through the day. Behaviour and welfare organisations describe food puzzles as a useful tool to reduce boredom and support wellbeing, particularly when paired with other enrichment like play and climbing options.6
Interactive play (short bursts, then rest)
A wand toy used like prey (small movements, pauses, a final “catch”) tends to work better than constant frantic movement. Put the toy away afterwards to keep it special and to prevent unsupervised chewing on strings or feathers.
Environment upgrades that matter
- Vertical space: a stable cat tree, shelves, or a cleared bookcase level.
- Scratching options: upright and flat scratchers in quiet and social areas.
- Hiding and observing spots: boxes, covered beds, window perches.
Building a routine that actually sticks
A good enrichment routine is light, repeatable, and adjusted to your pet’s energy and health.
- Start small: one puzzle feed a day, or one 3–5 minute training session.
- Rotate, don’t overwhelm: swap toys weekly so familiar items feel new again.2
- Use the daily food allowance: reduce bowl meals to avoid overfeeding when using treat toys.2
- Supervise new items: especially chews, strings, or anything that can splinter or be swallowed.
When to involve your vet (important)
If behaviour changes are sudden, intense, or paired with physical signs (pain, vomiting, weight change, toileting changes, confusion), get a veterinary check before assuming it’s “just boredom”. Veterinary guidance on behaviour problems in older dogs emphasises ruling out medical causes and recognising cognitive dysfunction signs early, because management works best when started sooner.3
References
- RSPCA Pet Insurance Australia — Supporting the emotional wellbeing of dogs and cats
- RSPCA Australia — The importance of enrichment for dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Professional) — Behavioral Problems of Dogs (includes ageing and cognitive dysfunction)
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) — Golden Years: Managing Cognitive Decline in Pets
- Royal Canin Foundation — Why dogs’ smell sense is really fantastic
- Anti-Cruelty — Feline enrichment
- American Kennel Club — Brain Games for Dogs: When Can a Puzzle Be the Solution?
- RSPCA WA — Why enrichment is so im-paw-tant (dog enrichment)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom