Hi everyone! Today, we'll discuss the importance of mental stimulation in small pets and why the standard is too low. Much like humans, animals need mental stimulation. However, it's easier for us to get it through social media and technology or sports and hobbies. Stimulation is everywhere, and boredom can be hard to come by. This contrasts the lives of many domestic small animals. Because of how they are advertised, their size, and their life spans, they are not given the attention they need.
What Boredom Does
For humans, boredom is something easily fixable. Your mood can totally change the moment you open TikTok or pick up your favorite book. But this is not the case for these animals. They only have what you give them. In the wild, animals constantly have something to do, and while we can never truly replicate life in the wild for our friends, we can provide them with entertainment and "boredom breakers." Some effects of boredom in small animals are dangerous weight gain (+ other health risks), depression, refusal to eat + move, and/or erratic behavior.
How to Tell:
Even though we can't talk to our friends, there are easy ways to tell if they're bored. These include chewing and/or climbing at the cage's bars, aggressive behavior, lethargy, pacing, overeating, and excessive grooming. If you see these signs, take action as soon as you can to greatly improve your furry friend's quality of life.
What to Do and How to Fix:
While boredom is a serious issue in these animals, there are easy ways to combat this. Starting as small as putting treats in cardboard tubes and crinkling them up or scattering food around the enclosure instead of putting all the food in one bowl. If the issue persists, you may want to reevaluate your choices: What am I feeding them? How big is my encloser? What toys do I have? Look at every aspect of care and see where there could be faults.
Conclusion:
Boredom can be hard to spot in some animals and tricky to combat sometimes, so I hope this was able to help guide you in the right direction. The root of the problem can be attributed to small animals advertising in stores, being sold as toys rather than animals, so be mindful of what you're being influenced to buy and think to yourself, "Will this help my friend?"
Lots of love, Elyse :)
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