Nice Things to Do for Your Cat or Dog

One of my favorite things to watch when I’m sad is Jenna Marbles’ videos with her dogs. In particular, I’ve loved watching her give her dogs a doggie IQ test (which we then tried to replicate with my dogs), taste test both fruits and vegetables and dog treats, and send her smallest dog, Marbles, up in the air by cradling him in a blanket and attaching him to more than 70 balloons. The result of this experiment was unexpected; Marbles fell asleep until he was brought back down.

I could make a blog post entirely about the dog videos I’ve watched on YouTube, but the conclusion is that people really love dogs. They love animal videos in general. People will watch ten minutes of GoPro footage of dogs at home doing nothing, then tune in for another go around. I personally could watch too many videos of the cat Maru trying to fit in boxes.

Many of us love to spoil our animals as much as we love to minorly torment them. For example, our big black dog has no shortage of toys to enjoy, but we find a special pleasure in hiding the squeaker from him once he rips it out. Or the little gremlin gets the most delectable antlers to chew on, but it can be endlessly entertaining to poke the fur by her ears and watch her twitch.

Of course, it’s always nice to just be kind without any of the light sadism. Way back in the nineties, we used to get our dogs the Dairy Queen doggy cones whenever we went through the drive-thru. This was the nineties, so a lot of stuff about dog nutrition wasn’t widely known.

If you’re looking for nice things to do for your dog or cat, here is a list – in no particular order – of some things I’ve tried, and some things I wish to try.

1. Start with the Stomach

So there is going to be some advertising here, but that’s because it truly is amazing what you can achieve through food. Check out some of my previous posts about good raw treat options. You could also try anything from our wall of body parts, turkey tendons, raw meaty bones (cats can try them too!), or anything from our selection of Plato’s treats is a guaranteed success. For hot days, we carry ice cream for pets, and frozen yogurt treats as well. They’re not a sweet as a Dairy Queen doggy cone, but they are formulated for your pets’ systems. I highly recommend seeing where you can get with your pet when you start with the stomach.

2. Mimicking Natural Behavior

OK, so this one is kind of bizarre, for those extreme cat lovers (I can’t imagine doing this to my cat and keeping my face), and for those who are probably willing to purchase through Amazon. Basically this: you can use a silicone tongue to mimic grooming your cat. It can be a way to show them love in their language, if you’re up for it. If you’ve tried it already, we want to know about your experience!

3. Deep Tissue Massage

I swear I’ve read there’s actual science behind sitting and mindfully touching your pet. I don’t mean scratching your companion behind its ears. I mean you’ve got to sit and purposely stroke, work the muscles, and get yourself and your pet into a relaxed state. Cesar Milan would agree, so seems this article detailing exactly how you should give a dog a massage. You may even be able to use this technique to sneakily apply some medication if needed.

4. Cat-io

I dream of making a little area of cat fun on my dad’s deck. The neighborhood isn’t safe for a lot of outdoor cats because of the high coyote population (seriously, my dad has begun to measure many things in terms of coyotes), and our cat in particular has no survival skills. Yet poor Sven is always staring out the window, and has tried to escape several times. I’d take him on walks if I could, but trying to put him in a harness would just be asking for death. Building a catio seems an appropriate compromise, and then Sven could join us when we eat meals outside. The business Catio Spaces has some great pictures and ideas!

5. A Gourmet Meal

I am not recommending you buy anything fancy for this – nothing that you wouldn’t buy for your own meals. But I am planning with my friend who owns the Bryard a nice beef dinner. Let me clarify: a nice beef dinner for the dog. I think there’s something so special about giving your pet something just for them, and usually they appreciate it extra. Make some unseasoned meat, or use seasonings that are approved for your pet, and serve it to them in a nice bowl. My dogs have enjoyed eggs, and sometimes full-on frittatas, and I’ve tried to bribe my cat with real meat before. For some animals – like cats – it may be a good idea to slice the food small enough to chew in one piece. I say this because my cat didn’t understand how to rip apart some pork I’d given him once. Overall, though, this can be an exciting option, especially for those who love cooking. (Bonus: here’s a video of Jenna Marbles making dog treats.)

6. Make a Special Spot

I’m sure many of you have some favorite spots: places you go to relax, to release energy, or to explore. Your animals can be the same. My dogs, for example, recognize the words “beach” and “Kelly Point Park,” and go appropriately gaga whenever the words are said. My parents will often take them to the same places over and over again, and over time, these places become familiar, and your pet will know how to act accordingly. Additionally, if you take them to enough fun places, this can make getting in the car to go to the vet or another unpleasant place infinitely easier.

I’m sure I’m missing a lot more ideas on nice things you can do for your pet. And I’d love to hear from those of you with small animals. What special things do you do to make your pet happy? What have you done from this list?