Learn about the responsibilities of being a pet owner. Home What we do Care for Animals Owning a Pet Enrichment What we do Adoptions Dogs and Puppies Cat and Kittens Cat Care Guide Cat Care Guide: Cat Friendly Homes Cat Care Guide: Introducing The Family Cat Cat Care Guide: Petting and Cat Communication Cat Care Guide: Your New Cats Home Pocket Pets Birds Livestock Adoption fees Exceptional Owners Seniors for Seniors Program Home Ever After Intensive Breeding Taskforce Donate to support our IBTF Finding a Good Breeder Legal Implications The Animals The Business of Cruelty The Team Tip-Off Form Our Impact Social Return on Investment Sydney Education Centre Auditorium Meeting and Training Rooms Veterinary Services RSPCA Sydney Veterinary Hospital RSPCA Hunter Veterinary Hospital (Rutherford) RSPCA Broken Hill Veterinary Hospital Rescue and Rehabilitate Behaviour Pet Rehabilitation Program Lost and Found I’ve lost my pet I’ve found a pet Care for Animals Owning a Pet Costs Veterinary Care Adopting a New Pet Locating a Lost Pet Pets and Rental Properties Disaster Management Plans Enrichment Dog Care Dog Walking Guidelines Parvovirus in Dogs Barking Bathing and Grooming Identification Veterinary Care Housing Breeds Enrichment Nutrition Puppy Care Cat Care Kitten Care Identification Veterinary Care Keeping Wildlife Safe and Your Cat Happy Housing Breeds Bathing and Grooming Training Nutrition Pocket Pets Livestock Birds Housing Identification Veterinary Care Nutrition Bathing and Grooming Training Pet Hazards Toxic Plants for Pets Christmas Season Fireworks and Storms Heat Stress Snake Bites and Pets Bushfires and House Fires Droughts Education School Education School Holiday Program Kids’ Corner Youth and Animal Program Teacher and Educator Portal Community Engagement RSPCA AWARE (free education resources) Training ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care ACMGEN309 Provide Basic Animal First Aid ACMMIC401 Implant Microchip in Cats and Dogs Introducing Your Pet to a New Baby Basic Animal First Aid Introduction to Animal Enrichment Introduction to Animal Welfare Animal Welfare Our Inspectorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1979) Working in Communities Community Aged Care Program Community Domestic Violence Program Community Homelessness Program Outreach Animal Assistance Programs Indigenous Community Companion Animal Health Program (ICCAHP) Community Branches and Programs Bushfire Response Disaster and Alerts Hot weather Fireworks and Storms Bushfires and House Fires Droughts RSPCA Pet Insurance Owning a PetCosts Veterinary Care Adopting a New Pet Locating a Lost Pet Pets and Rental Properties Disaster Management Plans Enrichment Enrichment You may not be familiar with the phrase ‘environmental enrichment’. However, it’s something that is very important in keeping your pet’s body and mind healthy, stimulated, and able to cope with change. Enrichment also helps lower your pet’s stress levels and reduces the occurrence of unwanted behaviours. There are many different types of enrichment: Cognitive Dietary Physical Sensory Social It’s important to use different types of enrichment, as this keeps life interesting for your pet. A boring environment can contribute to problems such as: aggression anxiety destructive behavior depression excessive vocalisation Animals who don’t receive enough enrichment are also at risk of developing boredom-related or stress-relieving behaviors such as: chewing inappropriate items compulsive behavior loss of appetite over-eating over-grooming picking on other pets retreating into isolation self-mutilation Food plays a big part of your pet’s daily routine and can be used to reduce boredom. For example, try: freezing some of your pet’s dinner incorporating training with food rewards making your pet work for his food with food-dispensing toys Exercise and supervised access outside of the yard or enclosure can also be a good way to enrich your pet’s life. However, be sure that this doesn’t become too overwhelming. If your pet is easily frightened or is not used to change, take it slow. Most companion animals are generally social beings, so introducing them to playmates can often help meet some of their needs. For example, a lone bird in a cage could benefit from having a cage mate, or having another bird in an aviary or cage nearby. Here are some other ways of keeping your pet’s life enriched and interesting: Access to windows or views Different textures for your pet to rub against or walk on New smells, including herbs, perfumes or other animals Providing your pet with choice. He should be able to choose whether he wants to sit in the sun or shade, play or sleep, and interact with you or other pets, or retreat into a safe space. Sounds such as classical music, purpose-made music tracks and videos for animals, and talk back radio
