Or, alternatively: What happens when you’re a status quo kind of person but the status quo gets disrupted?

(Honestly, this pic has nothing really to do with this story, but her doggy daycare did yearbook pics this year, and I’m so obsessed I need to share it everywhere. How cute is she?!??!)

When we moved to central Indiana 10+ years ago, we interviewed veterinarians in person to find the right fit for anxious, reactive, high-strung Cooper. We found a fantastic fit. (Read how we found the right vet for our reactive dog.)

Cooper passed away. Penny came into our life. It made sense to stick with this vet. He was seeing our cats, too, and we’ve never had a problem. We started to notice that we were seeing the vet we chose less and less. Clearly, he inched toward retirement, and we found ourselves seeing a rotating cast of either brand new or temporary vets.

Still, no problems: The cats are cats so no vet will ever be good enough, and Penny is easy-going and mild-mannered. She’s happy anywhere.

Then, along came Stola.

Stola is not a reactive dog. She loves people. She loves dogs. She wants to play and snuggle and lick faces. Stola enjoys life.

She does not, however, enjoy being handled.

We’ve been working on this. She’s gotten much better in many circumstances, and we’re making massive strides. She isn’t “there” yet, though, at least not with strangers. So, when we took her into the vet for her first well visit, we weren’t sure how it would go. She got to see one of the senior vets–though, again, not our regular guy–and it went fine. Not great, but fine.

Then, Stola got injured. She strained something in her hind leg and needed to go in immediately.

For that appointment and the follow up, things went downhill. But, her leg healed, and we kept chipping away at her handling skills.

Then, Stola got another injury. She butt-scooted across our concrete patio and abraded her rear. It was yucky, and I was worried about an infection because of the location.

I took her in. Stola freaked out. They said they couldn’t examine her (it was a mess) and rescheduled us. Second visit, same thing but messier. They gave us some gabapentin to try a third time, but I didn’t want to keep repeating these stressful circumstances and I was feeling kind of bummed that they charged us for a full exam fee both times.

I am not blaming the practice for any of this. I know Stola was a wreck. She was not able to be examined, period. I wish we had a more experienced person or some consistency. I wish they suggested meds after the first visit or maybe credited some of the fee toward our next try.

But, I left there the second time with certainty: We need a new practice.

Luckily, my friend Stephanie opened a clinic nearby, and she’s a veterinary behaviorist. She got us in, counseled what meds to give Stola beforehand, and spent the visit doing very little but sitting with her. After that, we left with a new med plan (including antibiotics for the wound), a training plan to desensitize Stola to the stethoscope, and a recommendation for muzzle training. We got text followups from the tech, and they have me bring in Stola every couple weeks for a pretend vet visit: We walk in, the front desk staff showers her with treats, she gets weighed, and then they walk her to the back where they dole out a frozen peanut butter licky treat. Then, we sit in an exam room while the tech gives her treats and pets… and then we leave.

I’ve never felt so relieved in my entire life.

I moved all the animals’ records over later that same day, and the cats go for their routine visit next week.

What is the point to this Stola story?

Okay, if you are anything like me, sometimes it feels easier to just stick with how it’s always been. I’m not a boat rocker. I’ve never once in my life sent food back at a restaurant.

Was that practice meeting our needs? Nope. Not anymore. It was fantastic for Coop and when we were seeing the original doc. But over the years, that stopped being the case… but I didn’t really notice because our next appointments would be scheduled before I left, meds were filled on time, and so on. It was easier to stay.

Easier, maybe. But it wasn’t the right choice for us anymore, and when I reflected on all the upheaval over the years and a new doc at every visit, I realized I should’ve made a move sooner.

Once again, a life lesson learned from my dogs, and I started to wonder: What other systems or routines or habits are ingrained in my life but are no longer serving me? What can I shift or adjust to make improvements for myself, my pets, and my family?

More to consider, as always. (: Thank goodness for dogs and the lessons they impart!

Have you ever had to switch vets? Is it easier for you than it is for me to spot areas that require a shift? Or are you like me and just kind of go with the flow? Let me know in the comments so we can all learn from and support each other!

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll LOVE my book For the Love of Dog, available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or anywhere you prefer to buy books!

We do our walks. We feed them healthy food. We train. We play.

But not always a lot. Not always enough. Sometimes our busy family’s schedule means they’re home alone for longer one weekend, or someone gets sick, or the school calls, or one of us has to put in extra time at work, or or or…

Here’s the thing: No one’s life is perfect.

Even if you are generally flexible, sometimes you get sick. Sometimes you have to take care of others. Sometimes you have to read Threshing Day the weekend it comes out and ACOTAR 6 the weekend it comes out.

Of course, there are tons of ways to keep your pets busy without spending a dime.

We love making food puzzles out of empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes for Stola to shred. The cats love fishing treats out of cut up pieces of felt stuffed in a cardboard box. Penny loves to pull trash out of the recycling bin when we’re not looking. (While that’s not okay, it IS enriching for her…)

However, I don’t always have the supplies or time to DIY.

Enter: enrichment toys for dogs and cats.

(If you do want to DIY, here are two of the easiest from the past: a super simple DIY cat puzzle and a plastic-free food puzzle for dogs.)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

By the way, if you don’t have a Prime membership or if yours is due for renewal, get it done now so you can jump on any Big Prime Day sales…

The 5 Best Enrichment Toys for Dogs

For Dogs Who Can’t Hold Their Licker

Perfect for dogs like Penny who love to lick, try the Woof FlipMat, Dual-Sided Dog Lick Mat & Slow Feeder, Green (standard size) or Lavender (mini size). We mix it up with peanut butter, coconut oil, and The Farmer’s Dog for mealtimes.

For Dogs with High-Tech Owners

Or, high-energy pups with safe outdoor space, invest in the PetSafe Automatic Dog Ball Launcher. A long-time big hit!

For Energetic Puppies

The Smart Interactive Dog Toys Ball for Aggressive Chewers for Small-Medium Dogs keeps the most bouncy puppy busy for a long, long time. (Did you see Stola’s reaction to this thing?!? Oh, my goodness… She LOVES it!)

For Low-Tech Quiet Fun

This Snuffle Ball for Dogs can be stuffed with kibble or treats to keep your dog quietly busy for that Teams meeting.

The Old, Reliable Food Puzzle

Works for all dogs in many circumstances. The WOOF Walkabout Dog Puzzle Slow Feeder Toy for Dogs 40 lbs & Up looks interesting to me and is going on my must-buy list for Prime Days.

We also love anything from Nina Ottosson, of course, and I like to rotate in for Stola a humongous snuffle mat for dinner, too!

The 5 Best Enrichment Toys for Cats

For Cats Who Chew

If your cat is like Ripley, always chewing on bits of plastic or houseplants, this unique scratcher includes several hanging textured toys for chewing fun.

For Pouncing Kitties

This PetBusy Smart Interactive Cat Toys for Indoor Cats Chasing and Pouncing Fun keeps energetic kittens of all ages busy.

For Cats Filled with Curiosity

Part bed, part entertainment, the Interactive Cat Toys for Indoor Cats comes with more than 40 accessories so you can always keep it fresh.

A Classic Cat Toy–All Cats Need One

This Catstages Tower of Tracks Interactive Cat Toy is a must-have for all cat-loving homes. Grab it at a great price! (TBH, we love everything from Catstages.)

A 2-in-1 Cat Tunnel and Bed Combo Perfect for Older Cats

This Cat Tunnel Bed for Indoor Cats can be stretched into a tunnel for playtime and curved into a donut for more play… or a much-deserved cat nap.

*Note: There are lots of different laser toys, including numerous electronic ones. I do not recommend that type of toy for unsupervised, unstructured play. Save them for times you’ll interact with your cats so you can reward them at the end.

Read more about cat enrichment: How to Keep Your Cat Entertained While You’re Busy (Without Losing Your Mind)

There you have it: 5 enrichment toys for dogs and 5 enrichment toys for cats!

I really like to rotate my toys so that none of the animals get bored with what’s out and accessible. For when I need to focus on a Zoom or when the pets need to be home a little longer than usual, I’ll pull one of these out of my coat closet so it seems fresh and new. Then, I’ll pack it up and put it away once I’m back and able to engage. That way, I make our toys last longer!

What are your favorite enrichment toys? Please share in the comments!

Get Your Free Guide to Smart Cat Toys

Want even more ideas for interactive cat toys? Join our mailing list to get a free guide on the best types of smart toys for your cat!

I juggle a busy family. I’m guessing many of you do that, too.

I also love my cats, Newt and Ripley, to absolute pieces, and I’m positive you love your cats, too.

But, sheesh. They sure can plan the exact right moment to walk across your keyboard, knock a (full) glass to the floor, or waggle their butt on Zoom. Not the mention the vocalizing. Right when the school nurse / boss / doctor’s office calls you, the yowling starts. (Or is that just Newt?)

I want my cats to be happy. I want them to be happy AND I still need to get stuff done. So, today, let’s dig into how to keep your cat entertained while you’re working through that miles-long to-do list.

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Set the Foundation for a Happy Cat

Before you can utilize the steps outlined in this post, there are a handful of things that must happen first.

1. You need to meet all of your cat’s basic survival needs. What does that include?
   • Access to ample, clean litter boxes. One box per cat, plus one more.
   • Access to fresh water–ideally from a moving source like a cat water fountain–in multiple locations.
   • Healthy food
2. You need to meet your cat’s connection needs. What does that mean?
   • Your cat truly wants to spend time with you. Some cats prefer play; others want to cuddle. Make sure you’re meeting your cat’s need to spend time with you.
   • Exercise is super important, too. This can include meeting other needs at the same time, like by playing together, or it could include providing cat trees, tunnels or donuts, toys, or a laser pointer (this one’s controversial and cat dependent… check with your vet or trainer).
3. Your cat needs lots of downtime in a stress-free, restful environment. What does that look like?
   • Plenty of places high and low for a nap.
   • Opportunities to rest away from children, dogs, other cats, and other household chaos.
4. Cats need to scratch. Provide lots of choices for scratching posts to deter your cat from scratching your sofa. This is an excellent way to meet your cat’s playful needs, too, with interactive cat scratchers like this sunflower interactive scratching post.

Only after your cat’s foundational needs are met can you look into outsourcing some of your involvement.

Tap Into Your Cat’s Natural Predatory Sequence

Cats are natural hunters. The predatory sequence mimics hunting:

• Your cat spots the prey and crouches down low with big eyes.
• She stalks and chases the prey.
• Then, she pounces and grabs.
• Finally, the kill. This is often when you see your cat “bunny kick” her toys.

Use this instinctive behavior to your advantage because it’s very satisfactory to a cat to complete the predatory sequence.

Provide toys, like toy mice or even crinkled-up newspaper, that your cat can hunt. Or, consider investing in an automatic interactive cat toy that you can break out for your cat when you need to focus on a task that doesn’t require her input!

BTW, this is why a laser toy isn’t recommended for all people and cats. There’s no way for a cat to complete the sequence since she’ll never be able to pounce and grab. One workaround is to always end a play session by swapping the dot for something your cat can grab and kill, like a food-stuffed toy.

Bring the Outdoors in with Sensory Enrichment

Indoor cats live longer lives than outdoor cats. This post won’t get into the arguments for keeping your cat inside; instead, I’m going to assume that you do. If you want to read more about why this matters, check out the book Decoding Your Cat.

However, bringing the outside in can provide your cat with incredible enrichment that can keep her focused and playful while you log into your Teams meeting.

1. Position cat trees or a cat window perch so your cat can watch the activity outside. We have a cat window perch similar to this one in our front window so the girls can watch cars, bikes, school busses, dog walkers, and UPS trucks. I have a cat tree in my office window, which overlooks a tree so they can watch squirrels and birds. There’s a third cat tree in a quiet corner of the living room. They have choices.
2. Layer different scents for olfactory exploration. This can be as simple as bringing cut flowers in from the garden and allowing your cat to sniff to her content. Or, plant catnip or cat grass in a container that you can make available when you want to give your cat something to do–sniffing can be fun and rewarding for your cat. Disclaimer: Ensure the plants are non-toxic. Check the ASPCA’s toxic plants list to be sure.
3. Some people like YouTube channels that portray bird or squirrel watching. I do not, at least not for Newt, for the same reason the laser pointer can be tricky: Your cat can’t complete the predatory sequence. But she might try to and launch herself into your TV. No one wants that! You know your cat best, though, and this could be a good fit for her.
4. Make a sensory basket. Gather up sticks, leaves, flower buds, perhaps a bird feather–whatever you can gather and feel comfortable bringing inside. When you need to focus on a project or a household task, or you need to take a call, spread the items out (or leave them in the basket for your cat to dig!) and allow her to engage, chew, sniff, paw, scratch, etc. If you live somewhere with a cold season, this is super fun with a bowl of snow!

The Power of Rotating Your Cat’s Toys

Regardless of what type of toys your cat prefers, it’s a classic mistake to toss them all into one basket in the living room.

Those toys become part of the landscape and won’t hold your cat’s interest.

Instead, choose a few toys to put out at any given time. Then, stash the rest in a closet or bin. Swap them out every two or three days. If you have big Zoom meetings or phone calls that need your undivided attention, swapping them right before is a great idea because you’ll pique your cat’s curiosity and buy yourself some cat-interruption-free time.

This is especially true if you buy a new toy for your cat. Don’t set it out until you need to take care of another task.

Leverage “Smart Toys” for Focused Work Blocks

There are gobs of “smart toys” for cats on the market right now, but they are not all created equally. For instance, you want to avoid the automatic laser toys and anything that projects an image your cat can’t actually catch and “kill.”

Utilizing appropriate smart toys makes the most sense when you need your cat to be busy but you are unable to play with her, or if you need to redirect your cat from an unwanted behavior (read: sitting on your keyboard during the workday).

3 smart toy options for cats that can help keep her busy while you are also busy:

1. Motion-activated: These toys spring to life when your cat interacts with them. This flapping bat toy keeps cats engaged with chirping noises, along with the motion. And this whack-a-mole cat game also comes with an interactive non-electronic companion game.
2. Treat dispensing: My personal favorite! There are puzzle food dispensing toys or licky mats. There are options to bat around and food dispensing toys designed to be hidden around the house. They keep my cats busy while providing their meal. I love treat and food dispensing toys.
3. Hidden teasers: These types of toys give your cat something to chase, pounce, and bat, but the object usually remains hidden. This is great for cats who love to pounce on their prey because this hidden teaser interactive cat toy has a ball that the cat can actually catch.

Free Download: Want our complete breakdown of battery-operated vs. puzzle toys? Join our email list and instantly receive the free One-Page Smart Cat Toy Cheat Sheet in your welcome email!

Low-Tech, Non-Electronic Interactive Cat Toys

Not everyone wants to integrate smart toys in their pet care. And, for those of us who do, sometimes we forget to charge the darn thing up. (This happens ALL THE TIME with my dog Stola’s automatic ball.)

Add a few non-electronic interactive toys to your toy rotation.

Just before you jump on a call, break out this multi-feature interactive cat toy with dozens of different options for your cat to play with, from diving in and out of the box to batting at the feather and more.

Or, rotate in a scratching post that includes interactive elements. I would recommend something like this spinning carousel cat scratcher and toy combo to be part of your rotation. If you leave it out all the time, your cat might eventually ignore it altogether. But if you pull it out of the closet for a day or two, it’ll be exciting again!

Bookend the Day with Five Minutes of Play

Yes, independent play is great. But it doesn’t supplant YOUR time and attention. Try to play with your cat for five or ten minutes in the morning and then another burst in the evening.

Cats are crepuscular, which means they’re most active at dawn and dusk. That gives you two specific pockets of time to leverage your attention. Then, segue into breakfast or dinner utilizing an interactive feeding puzzle or licky mat to meet all your cat’s enrichment needs!

Get Your Free Guide to Smart Cat Toys

Want even more ideas for interactive cat toys? Join our mailing list to get a free guide on the best types of smart toys for your cat!

Violet was two years old. Astrid was three months. Little did I know, we were a couple weeks away from the pandemic.

Once everything shut down, I set my notes aside because my hands were full of other things.

But it kept calling to me.

So, I set my alarm for 5 am each morning and chipped away at words until one or both tiny humans awoke.

This was the mood board I created when I was drafting, and I pinned this with a pic of the boys above my desk:

Between 2020 and my book coming out in September 2025, I wrote and rewrote it six times. I pitched agents and took calls with potential partners. My agent pitched publishers. The publishing process was a roller coaster. And, now, here we are. Almost one year after the book finally came out.

Now, as I approach the one-year anniversary of FOR THE LOVE OF DOG, I’m reflecting on everything I’ve learned and how different the reality of publishing looks from the outside.

4 Things I Didn’t Know About Publishing Before I Published a Book

Because I didn’t fully understand these until I had a book on the market!

1. Unless you’re John Green or Rebecca Yarros, the marketing is on you. Outreach to indie bookstores, event planning, and promotion fall squarely on the writer’s shoulders.
2. Returning a book costs the author money. As in, the big “read and return” trend on social media? Every time someone reads a book and returns it to the bookstore, the author has to pay for the return out of his or her royalties.
3. Reviews matter more than almost anything else. Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, StoryGraph… wherever you read books, the reviews factor into the algorithm of that platform for when/if you’re shown. Unfortunately, Amazon’s reviews and to a lesser extent Goodreads’ reviews help drive sales of books, too.
4. The timeline to profitability is long. Authors don’t get paid until they’ve either earned out their advance or earned out their portion of the expenses in a profit-sharing deal. So, as I near my book birthday, I still haven’t made anything.

And if I’m being very honest, I’m feeling kind of blue about a lot of this. However, I’m not one to wallow. I’m revising my marketing plan and developing a more robust PR plan. In the meantime, I’m also planning on giving away copies, just for fun and to celebrate.

Want to Help Celebrate?

1. Leave a review! Seriously, this is THE BIGGEST thing that can help an author. It’s the make-or-break of book sales.
2. Request it at your local library: Most libraries have a simple online request form. It costs you nothing, but supports both the book and community access!
3. Give a copy as a gift: Consider picking up a paperback, ebook, or audiobook for the dog lover in your life.

Here’s how I’m planning on structuring the giveaways (please note this is the draft version so subject to change):

1. 3 books on Instagram following the ‘gram’s super specific giveaway rules + another 2 copies once I hit 2,000 followers
2. 3 books on Facebook, probably for a photo contest
3. 3 books here on OMD, likely with a Raffle widget
4. 3 books on Substack

Other opportunities

• If you know anyone who hosts a TV show or podcast, I’m free to talk anytime!
• Same for bookstores! Or libraries! I’ve done tons of library visits this year and will make time for as many as will host me!
• A READING GUIDE! Someone at a library this past weekend asked me for one. She wanted to share it with her book club. It had never occurred to me to make a reading guide, so I’m outlining it this week and should have it ready soon. Want a copy? Want to share it with your book club? Want me to call into your book club or visit in person? Leave a comment!

Thank you so much for being here and supporting this journey from my 5 AM scribbles to real bookshelves. Have you read the book yet? What questions do you have about the publishing process?