Winter Boredom Busters for Small Pets
Shorter days, colder weather, and more time indoors can leave small pets feeling under-stimulated. Rabbits and guinea pigs are clever, curious little creatures, and when boredom strikes, it often shows up as furniture nibbling, digging, or restless behaviour.The good news? Keeping your Nibbler happy through winter doesn’t need fancy toys or big changes. A few simple enrichment ideas can make all the difference.
1. Turn Hay Into an Activity
Hay isn’t just food, it’s your best boredom-busting tool. Instead of offering hay in one place only, try spreading it out to encourage natural foraging behaviour.
Ideas to try:
- Create several small hay piles around their enclosure
- Stuff hay into cardboard tubes or paper bags
- Build a cosy “hay nest” for burrowing and resting
Foraging keeps minds busy, bodies moving, and digestion ticking along nicely.
2. DIY Toys From Everyday Items
You don’t need to buy lots of toys - most pets love simple, safe materials.
- Cardboard boxes with cut-out doors
- Paper bags filled with hay
- Untreated cardboard tubes for chewing
Foraging keeps minds busy, bodies moving, and digestion ticking along nicely.
3. Add Gentle Forage Variety
Winter is a great time to introduce small amounts of safe herbs or forage mixed through hay. Try chamomile, plantain, marigold, or mint to add new scents and textures without disrupting their diet.Sprinkle lightly and let your pet discover them naturally, enrichment should be calm, not overwhelming.
4. Rearrange Their Space (Just a Little)
A full enclosure overhaul can be stressful, but minor changes spark curiosity. Move a tunnel, rotate a hide, or change where hay is placed. These small tweaks encourage exploration while keeping everything familiar and safe.
5. Encourage Calm, Natural Behaviour
Winter boredom can sometimes look like “extra munching” and that’s okay. Chewing and grazing help pets self-soothe.Make sure hay is always available so boredom munching becomes a healthy habit, not a destructive one.Larger hay boxes are especially helpful in winter, when appetites and indoor time both increase.
A Busy Pet Is a Happy Pet
Keeping your small pet entertained through winter doesn’t need to be complicated. With plenty of fresh hay, a few simple DIY ideas, and gentle variety, your Nibbler can stay content, curious, and cosy all season long.
Stock Up on Hay for Winter Enrichment →