Rainy Day Activities for Dogs (and Cats!)
When the weather keeps you indoors, your pet still needs an outlet for their energy and curiosity (or else you’ll have wall to wall zoomies!). A well-planned rainy day can be just as enriching as a long walk, helping your dog or cat stay engaged, calm and content.
Indoor rainy day games for pets
You do not need much space or equipment to create meaningful enrichment. Try out these quick and easy games to keep your pet engaged.
Treat box puzzle
Take a small box suited to your pet’s size and place treats inside, then build the challenge by nesting smaller boxes within it. For an extra layer of difficulty, wrap treats in paper or tuck them into scrunched paper towel before placing them inside. Your dog or cat will need to sniff, paw and problem-solve to uncover the rewards. Start simple, then gradually increase the complexity as their confidence grows.
Hide and seek
Ask your dog to stay while you hide somewhere in the house, then call them to find you. This builds recall skills and burns mental energy. Cats can join in too by hiding treats around the home for them to “hunt”.
DIY scent trail game
Create a mini treasure hunt by placing small treats or pieces of kibble along a simple trail through your home. Start easy by making the trail visible, then gradually hide treats behind furniture, around corners or under safe objects. This taps into your dog’s natural sniffing instincts and provides powerful mental enrichment. For cats, keep trails shorter and use high-value treats to encourage their interest.
Toy rotation
Bring out a toy your pet has not seen in a while. Novelty alone can turn a quiet day into an exciting one. Some dogs enjoy picking toys out of a box, mix in some toys they have not seen before to keep them extra interested!
Training Exercises
Rainy days are perfect for short, focused training sessions that challenge your pet’s brain. Try out a few of our suggestions!
Refine the basics
Sit, stay, come and place training can all be strengthened indoors. Keep sessions short and rewarding.
Teach a new trick
Try spin, shake, roll over or “go to bed”. For cats, target training with a wand or teaching them to sit on cue works well.
Impulse control games
Practice waiting for food, holding position at doorways or calmly accepting treats. These skills lead to a more settled pet overall.
Name recognition and recall
Call your dog or cat from different rooms and reward them for coming quickly. This builds responsiveness in a low-distraction environment.
Low-Energy Activities
Not every activity needs to be high energy to be effective. Try these ideas for when you need to keep your pet busy, but you just need a break from the chaos!
Lick mats and food enrichment
Spread plain yoghurt, wet food or mashed pumpkin onto a lick mat. This encourages calm behaviour and can keep your pet occupied for longer periods.
Long-lasting chews
Safe chews or dental treats provide both enrichment and relaxation, especially helpful for dogs that struggle to settle indoors.
Calm bonding time
Grooming, gentle brushing or simply sitting together can help your pet unwind while strengthening your connection.
Window watching stations
Set up a comfortable spot near a window. Dogs and cats both enjoy observing the outside world, even on rainy days.
Cat Enrichment Swaps
Cats often need a different approach to stay engaged indoors. Here are a few basic ideas you can try.
Vertical space upgrades
Encourage climbing with cat trees, shelves or cleared furniture spaces. Height adds stimulation without needing more floor space.
Interactive wand play
Short bursts of wand toy play mimic hunting behaviour. Rotate toys to keep things interesting.
Puzzle feeders
Swap out standard bowls for slow feeders or puzzle toys to turn mealtime into a mental challenge.
DIY cardboard fun
Boxes, tunnels and paper bags can become instant enrichment zones. Change the layout every few days to keep it fresh.
A rainy day does not have to mean a bored pet. With a little creativity, you can turn time indoors into valuable enrichment that supports your pet’s wellbeing and helps them feel calm, fulfilled and part of the family.