Our Favorite Enrichment Toys for the Holidays

The holiday season usually means more packages under the tree and more treats in the pantry. For our pets, the best gifts are not just cute or cozy. They are the ones that give their brains a workout.

Enrichment toys turn mealtime and playtime into little adventures. They help pets burn mental energy, feel more relaxed, and express natural behaviors like sniffing, chewing, licking, and problem solving. Many puzzle and slow feed toys are designed exactly for this mix of fun and brain work.

Below are some of our favorite enrichment ideas for the holidays, plus a few simple do it yourself projects you can make with what you already have at home.

Enrichment over extra toys

When you are choosing holiday gifts for your pet, try to think quality and function instead of piling up more plush toys that will be ignored in a week. 

Supports natural behaviors: Good enrichment toys invite pets to do species appropriate things.

• For dogs. Sniffing, licking, chewing, shredding in safe ways, hunting for food

• For cats. Pouncing, batting, stalking, foraging for kibble or treats

• Snuffle mats and puzzle feeders are great examples. They encourage pets to sniff out food from folds of fabric or puzzle compartments, which gives both mental stimulation and slower eating.

Adjustable difficulty: Look for toys that can start easy and then become harder. This keeps the toy interesting instead of frustrating.

• Toys with sliders or covers you can open more or less

• Lick mats or rubber toys you can stuff lightly at first, then pack more tightly

• Feeders with several small challenges in one toy, like multi zone cat puzzles

Safe materials and good sizing

• Choose food grade silicone, rubber, or sturdy plastic made for pets

• Make sure the toy is large enough that it cannot be swallowed

• Avoid long string, tinsel, or tiny parts that can be chewed off

• Supervise at first, especially with strong chewers

Many classic rubber stuffable toys are specifically designed for chewing and have a long track record of holding up well, which is why they are so widely recommended.

Easy to clean

• Holiday schedules are busy, so simpler is better

• Dishwasher safe pieces are a gift to you too

• Silicone lick mats and many puzzle feeders rinse off quickly and dry fast

If a toy is a pain to clean, you are less likely to use it, which defeats the purpose.

Team favorites and crowd pleasing toys

Every household is different, but certain enrichment styles tend to be big winners for both dogs and cats. 

For dogs

Snuffle mats are fabric or silicone mats designed so you can scatter kibble or small treats inside. Your dog uses their nose to search, which can be surprisingly tiring in a good way. Descriptions for many popular snuffle mats note that this kind of sniffing work provides strong mental stimulation and helps dogs relax afterward.

Why we like them:

• Great for dogs who bolt their food

• Perfect for rainy or icy days when walks are shorter

• Easy to make meals last longer without adding extra calories

Classic stuffable rubber toys are sturdy, hollow chew toys you can fill with food. The well known versions of these have thousands of positive reviews for durability and enrichment value, and they can be used with dry kibble, wet food, or fresh ingredients.

Ideas to stuff inside.

• Regular kibble mixed with a teaspoon or two of wet food

• Pumpkin puree and kibble, then freeze for a longer challenge

• A tiny bit of plain yogurt plus a few training treats

These toys are especially handy when guests arrive. You can park your dog in a quiet spot with a frozen stuffed toy to give them something satisfying to do.

Lick mats help promote calm, focused licking. They are flat silicone or rubber mats with grooves where you spread soft food. Many designs are advertised to help with anxiety relief, slower eating, and boredom busting through repetitive licking.

They shine in situations like:

• Grooming and nail trims

• Thunderstorms or fireworks

• Crate time while you are on holiday calls

Spread on canned food, plain mashed sweet potato, or a smear of pet safe peanut butter, and let your dog work the food out of the grooves.

For cats

Modern cat treat puzzles and slow feeders come with tracks, wells, and spinners that turn snack time into a little hunting mission. Brands that encourage cats to bat, scoop, and fish out kibble while slowing down eating and providing mental exercise.

These are lovely for:

• Cats who inhale their food and then beg again

• Indoor cats who need more stimulation

• Kittens with endless energy

Not every favorite needs to be fancy. Rotate a few toys in and out of use so they feel new again during the long winter months. Many cats are delighted with:

• A long kicker toy stuffed with catnip or silvervine

• A cardboard box with holes cut in the top and a few balls or treats inside

• A treat ball that rolls around the floor, dropping pieces as they bat it

DIY holiday themed enrichment ideas

You do not have to buy everything. Here are some easy holiday projects using simple supplies.

Holiday sniff box are perfect for our pets.

• Take a shallow cardboard box

• Crumple clean packing paper or brown paper into loose balls

• Sprinkle kibble or small treats among the paper layers

• For a festive touch, add a couple of holiday themed toys inside

Let your pet dig and sniff through the box while you supervise. Skip glitter, tinsel, and plastic ribbon, since those can be dangerous if swallowed.

Festive lick tray are great for pets who enjoy soft food.

• Use a silicone baking mat, muffin tin, or safe lick mat

• Spread a thin layer of canned food, plain pumpkin, or plain yogurt

• Press a few bits of kibble or freeze dried treats into the surface

• Freeze until firm for a longer lasting treat

You can even make a few trays in advance so you have ready made calmers for busy holiday days.

Crinkle paper stockings are wonderful for pets who love to shred.

• Save a few paper shopping bags

• Cut a rough stocking shape, then layer two or three pieces together

• Place a handful of kibble or treats and one small toy in the middle

• Crumple and fold the stocking so everything is tucked inside

Offer it as a supervised shredding session so pet dog can rip, sniff, and search. Clean up any small bits of paper afterward.

Cat treat tree: Create a tiny “foraging tree” for your cat.

• Use a clean cardboard tube or small cat safe tree shaped scratcher

• Cut a few small holes and press treats or kibble loosely inside

• Stand it upright on a mat

• Let your cat paw, tip, and bat treats out

You can decorate around it with safe paper snowflakes or a cardboard “present” to complete the scene, keeping anything stringy or sparkly well out of reach.

The best gifts keep minds busy

At the end of the day, the most meaningful holiday gifts for our pets are the ones that help them feel calmer, more confident, and happily tired. Enrichment toys and puzzles do exactly that by turning everyday eating and play into fun little challenges.

Whether you wrap a new snuffle mat, add a classic stuffable toy to your stocking lineup, set up a cat treat puzzle, or simply make a cardboard sniff box at home, you are giving your pet the gift of choice, engagement, and mental well being.

If you ever need support keeping your pets enriched while you are at work or traveling, our team is always happy to add sniffy games, puzzle feeders, and calm licking time into visits.

The best gifts do not just fill the toy basket. They keep curious minds busy all season long.