Refers to any form of entertainment or distraction which can keep a mind running, such as a complex toy, an interactive companion, or a visual display.
Questions tagged [mental-stimulation]
22 questions
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How can I keep my cat stimulated when she's stuck inside the house during winter?
My cat is vehemently an outside cat. When she's stuck in the house for more than a few hours she starts clawing at the back door and yowling.
Here's the problem: I live in Massachusetts, where the winters tend to be long and cold. She'll still yowl…
User1000547
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Do fish get bored, and if so, how can fish boredom be identified?
There are a lot of opinions on this topic, with a lot of different views. We know from Mythbusters that even goldfish have memories. Is there any reliable science on fish boredom?
For common house pets, like cats, dogs, and rabbits, a bored pet…
James Jenkins
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How effective is leaving a television or radio on to comfort dogs when away?
When I leave for a few hours, I put my dogs in a room, turn on the television, and close the door. I always tune to either a classic rock music or a classical music channel at a moderately low volume (since dogs can apparently hear quite well). …
JoshDM
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How do I get my dachshund to be interested in toys?
I have a dachshund who will not actively play with toys. She will, very rarely, pick up a bone or a chew toy (mostly a bone). She has a myriad of toys available to her, ranging from small, fluffy, squeeky toys, to large rubber rings, a coupled…
JoshDM
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How can we reduce our cat's wandering?
We have a cat- a rag doll/Balinese that we got as a kitten. He's neutered and microchipped and now around 12 months old. We moved about 6 months ago to an apartment near a shopping centre and the beach. He has gradually widened his domain and now…
rossmcm
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How can I keep my Labrador-mix entertained?
I recently acquired my first dog from somebody who was moving away, but could not take the dog with them. The dog is a 3-year-old Labrador mix. We don't know what the other breed is, but I suspect a pointer.
The dog is amazingly well-behaved. He…
avi
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How can I provide intellectual stimulation to my cat other than through food?
My indoor cat has a (rotating) variety of toys, things to climb on and scratch, and places to run around; I'm not concerned about him getting enough physical stimulation. But I've heard that cats also need mental stimulation. How do I best provide…
Monica Cellio
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Will 2 cats keep each other stimulated?
My girlfriend and I are waiting for 2 kittens to reach the 12 week mark so we can bring them home (since they are siblings they should get along, right?). We have both had cats as children and love them, so we finally decided to adopt our own.
While…
Jeff
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Are rawhide bones or natural raw bones potentially dangerous for a dog?
Chewing can be a very rewarding activity for dogs and it also provides mental stimulation and helps clean their teeth. So I'm planning to give a bone to my dog from time to time, to keep him busy, but what is the better choice?
I've read this…
Cedric H.
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Kayaking Cat Conundrum
Backstory
If you view my profile and peruse some of my recent questions, you will be able to figure out that a year ago I adopted a kitten that was quite different from what I had ever known before. He has more character, energy, and…
cobaltduck
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How much activation/stimulation is *enough*
I have a young Labrador (1 year old).
His day roughly consists of:
06.00 - 06.10: Wake up, 10 minutes of outside time in garden to pee
06.10 - 07.00: 20-15 minutes of searching for food in various toys, chills and cuddles with humans…
Thorst
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How do you euthanize a fish?
My Green Neon Tetra has Neon Tetra disease and I am wondering if I can euthanize him because he doesn't eat and he is swimming at a strange angle. If you can find any ways that I can humanely euthanize him that would be extremely appreciated.
Lopez Pinball
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Any serious studies of pets and music?
It's always hard to tell whether a pet actually notices music as something different from less-organized noises, outside of the occasional dog which demonstrates that it can howl in harmony or the parrots which seem to spontaneously (?) dance in…
keshlam
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Can dogs get bored of a walk?
I take my four-month-old puppy on about three walks per day. The walks are almost always a 15-20 minute loop starting at my house. It goes through several neighborhoods, a park, and on a waterfront trail. It's a convenient, quiet, scenic, and easy…
user11111111111
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How much time per day should I be spending with my cat?
My cat is 6 years old and a total sweetheart ... when he wants to be. Sometimes, though, he gets extremely needy and obnoxious, demanding a lot of attention from me. I want to make sure he's stimulated and happy as best as I can, but I also have to…
Izzy
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