The things your dog or cat loves most are free: for dogs, slow walks with time to sniff, food to search for, games with you and reward-based training; for cats, short hunting-style play, a new cardboard box, a high perch by a window and a warm, quiet bed. In Mumbai, after a busy week, a slow weekend walk or a few minutes of play is time your pet can share with you, and it costs nothing. For pet parents, this guide covers the things dogs love to do, things cats love, and planning a day off.
Key Takeaways
A slow walk with plenty of time to sniff exercises a dog's brain as well as its body.
Scatter feeding, a cardboard dig box and hidden treats turn your dog's food into a game.
Cats play in short bursts: very short games of one to two minutes are fine.
Supervise homemade food games, and cut meal portions to allow for treats.
What Do Dogs Love to Do the Most?
Dogs love to sniff, and time to do it costs nothing. Dogs Trust Ireland, the Irish branch of the dog welfare charity Dogs Trust, explains in its article on why sniffing matters for dogs that "Dogs are social and intelligent creatures who require mental exercise as much as they do physical exercise."
The charity says a slower 20-minute walk at your dog's pace can be "just as beneficial and even more enjoyable" as a 60-minute power walk, and that "sniffing activates and exercises the brain and can make them feel just as tired as after a fast-paced walk."
It adds that "A meandering, sniff session on a long-leash can release the mood-boosting chemical in their brain called dopamine," and likens it to a yoga or meditation session for your dog.
What Do Dogs Love to Do With Their Owners?
Dogs love to play games and learn with their owners, and reward-based training does both. Dogs Trust, a UK dog welfare charity, says in its guide to training your dog with rewards that "training with rewards is fun, and helps build a positive bond between dog and owner."
Dogs Trust says "you can use a game with toys, such as fetch or tug, to reward them for good behaviour", and that "verbal praise or a fuss" also counts. If you want to build on this, read how long it takes to train a dog.
Gentle brushing is time together too. In its piece on grooming as a bonding opportunity, the AKC (American Kennel Club, a US dog breed registry) notes that "Most dogs love the attention." For a routine, see how often you should brush your dog.
6 Free Things Your Dog Loves More Than Toys
These six ideas use your time, your dog's food or things at home.
1. Go on a Slow Sniff Walk
Let your dog set the pace. Dogs Trust Ireland's advice is: "So, slow down your walk and allow your dog plenty of opportunity and time to sniff." It also suggests you "explore different places and mix up the route that you take sometimes."
2. Try Scatter Feeding
Scatter feeding turns a handful of food into a search. The charity's guide to scatter feeding for dogs says: "Take a small handful of tasty treats, scatter them across a clean patch of ground and let your dog sniff them out!"
Check with your vet before adding anything new to the diet.
3. Set Up a Sniffari at Home
A sniffari is a trail of interesting smells. In its guide to a sniffari at home, Dogs Trust Ireland suggests items such as "old shoes" and "some fur that other animals have shed", placed in random spots for your dog to visit at its own pace. It says the game is "especially good for older or less active dogs."
Its list also includes herbs and petals but gives no plant safety advice, so ask your vet first.
4. Make a Cardboard Dig Box
A cardboard box, scrap paper and treats make a free puzzle. Dogs Trust's guide to making a dig box and other indoor games says to "Scrunch up the scrap paper and put it inside the box", add treats, then let your dog search.
The same guide describes treats hidden in a muffin tin under tennis balls, and treats rolled up inside a yoga or camping mat. It adds: "Make sure you supervise your dog, just in case they need help."
5. Hide Treats Around the House
Hidden food or toys turn a quiet afternoon into a hunt. Dogs Trust's tips for keeping your dog entertained at home say: "Hide treats around the house or around the garden and send your pooch off on an adventure!" You can also "hide their favourite toys for just as much fun."
6. Play Scent Games Together
Simple scent games need only a cup. The AKC's guide to indoor scent games for dogs says "Scent games allow dogs to channel their love of sniffing while enriching their minds." It suggests: "Start with one cup and put a treat under it while your dog is watching."
What Do Cats Love the Most?
Cats love play that lets them hunt. International Cat Care (iCatCare), an international cat welfare charity, explains in its guide to playing with your cat that "Play explores all parts of a cat's natural predatory sequence: search, stalk, chase, pounce, catch and manipulate."
Keep sessions short. iCatCare says "one minute of frenzied activity is a good result" and that "cats are sprinters rather than marathon runners when it comes to playing."
Cats Protection, a UK cat welfare charity, agrees in its advice on cats and play: "Very short games of one to two minutes are fine." It says "Older cats will love playing three or four times a day, while younger cats will be happy to play 10 times a day or more."
It recommends "cat toys and games that are distant from your body such as fishing rod toys or throwing a ball". Let your cat win, too: "Allow them to catch and 'kill' the toy periodically to stop them getting frustrated."
What Are Some Free Things Cats Love to Do?
Most cats enjoy a new box, and iCatCare also recommends high places, a window view, warm beds and somewhere to scratch.
A New Cardboard Box
"Just giving your cat a new box to explore two or three times a week is a joy for most", iCatCare says. Cats Protection also suggests giving your cat "some cardboard boxes to play in", and notes that "A ball of tin foil can make a perfectly adequate toy, as long as the cat can't swallow it".
A High Perch by a Window
In its guide to making your home cat friendly, iCatCare says "Cats are natural climbers, and need to be able to rest and watch over their surroundings from high places". It suggests a high perch "somewhere near the window where they can look outdoors from a safe position", and warns that "many wooden shelves are extremely slippery", so add a non-slip surface.
Warm, Sunny and Quiet Beds
iCatCare advises: "Provide a selection of beds in different locations including warm, sunny, quiet and communal areas."
Somewhere to Scratch
"Cats need to scratch to maintain their claws and mark their territory," the charity explains.
How Can You Spend a Day Off With Your Pet in Mumbai?
Spend a day off with your pet by walking in the cooler hours, adding one or two games, and leaving time to rest. In the heat, Dogs Trust's hot weather advice says to "try to take them out in the early morning, or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler." Before you set off, Dogs Trust suggests you "hold your hand down for five seconds" on the pavement to check the heat. See pet care in summer in India for more.
On rainy days, use the indoor games above, and see our monsoon pet care tips for Mumbai for wet-weather walks.
Dogs Trust says "Get into a routine", and after a game, "Your pooch should enjoy a well-deserved snooze afterwards!" For cats, iCatCare's guide to stress in cats says "Being predictable in your behaviour and creating daily routines is a great way to minimise stress." It recommends "Allowing your cat to initiate contact with you".
Our advice: pick two or three activities for the day rather than filling every hour.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these four mistakes with free games.
Rushing every walk instead of letting your dog stop and sniff.
Leaving your dog alone with homemade food games.
Forgetting to count treats: Dogs Trust says "reduce their usual food portions so they're not overfed."
Giving kittens string, ribbon or balls of wool, which iCatCare warns against because of the risk if eaten.
When Should You Call a Groomer or a Vet?
Call a vet for any health worry, and a groomer for coat care. The AKC says weekly brushing lets you check for anything "that needs veterinary attention, such as lumps, bumps or skin problems." If you find one, book a vet visit; a groomer is not a vet.
See a vet if:
you find a lump, bump or skin problem while brushing
your pet seems unwell after a walk in the heat
you are unsure whether a food or plant is safe
Call a groomer when your pet's coat needs a bath or a trim.
Can You Get Your Pet Groomed at Home on Your Day Off?
Yes. FurDial brings on-demand grooming to your home across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar, so your day off goes on your pet, not on a trip to a salon. There is no cage and no car ride, and every groomer has 5+ years of experience.
For dogs, The Clean Aesthetic (₹1,699, about 90 minutes) includes a deep conditioning bath, blow dry, brush out, nail clipping and ear cleaning. For cats, The Glow Up (₹1,199, about 45 minutes) is a dry bath with no water or dryer. Prices include GST, with no travel charge, and you can pay after the service by UPI or cash, or pay online. Only pets with up-to-date core vaccinations can be groomed. See every grooming package and price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use a Laser Pointer With a Cat?
If you use one, end the game with a wand toy your cat can grab. iCatCare explains that a laser lets a cat stalk, chase and pounce "but not 'catch'".
Do Indoor Cats Need More Play?
Yes. Cats Protection says "Indoor cats need more entertainment than outdoor cats", and that play sessions are especially important for indoor-only cats.
Can Scatter Feeding Calm a Dog Down After Play?
It can help. Dogs Trust Ireland says scatter feeding can help with "cooling your dog down a bit after a good game of fetch."
Final Thoughts
The things dogs love to do most, like sniffing, searching for food and learning with you, cost nothing, and cats ask for little more than short hunting games, boxes and a warm perch. Pick two or three of these ideas for a calm day off, and your pet gets your time without you spending a rupee.
Spend your next day off with your pet, not on chores: book a FurDial groom at home.