<p>It is the end of the year and there is pressure to buy, travel, and gift. But what if you don’t want to? What if you want to give the gift of time? What if it’s also free (well, almost)? Then here’s the year-end bingo I put together for days between Christmas and the New Year. I hope you and your pets have fun playing it.</p>.<p><strong>Day 1: Snuggle together and sync your clocks</strong></p>.<p>If your pet is a cuddle bug and loves to snuggle with you in bed, indulge them. Dogs and cats are crepuscular—they are most active at dawn and dusk. Chances are they are up when the day breaks and would like you to be up, too. Don’t fret because you can enjoy the sunrise together. And here’s the best part: pets also tend to snooze right after sunset, so that’s a chance for you to reset your circadian rhythm (aka inner clock) that’s probably gone haywire after a year’s work! Oh, have you felt that serenity when you hear your pet’s beating heart in the silence of the night?</p>.<p><strong>Day 2: Watch the world go by</strong></p>.<p>Who does not love looking out of a window? I bet it’s not your pet because every pet has a favourite window unless you live in a basement. Now is your chance to join them as often as you can and watch the world go by—together. While you are at it, observe how they react to each passing object: who they wag their tail at, who they stare down, who they bark or meow at, what startles them and what excites them. Notice when and how their ears perk up, or eyes light up. I’d be surprised if you aren’t surprised by how many expressions that mushy face can show!</p>.<p><strong>Day 3: Do a safety audit of the house and spot danger!</strong></p>.<p>By now, you have a sense of what your pet’s daily routine is when you aren’t at home—when they sleep, where they prefer to lounge and generally what their day looks like. Now’s the best time to spot danger lurking in the house. Does the house’s smooth flooring turn into a skating rink for those tiny paws? Is that houseplant reachable for cats, and is it toxic? You don’t have to obsess, but it’s often easy to forget that many everyday things can be lurking danger for our pets, and it’s not easy to notice them in our busy lives. It’s better to be safe than sorry!</p>.<p><strong>Day 4: Pick a book about pets</strong></p>.<p>Nope, not the one that says ‘How to Train your Dog in 30 Days’ or ‘How to Clicker Train your Cat’. Instead, pick the ones that delve into their being and behaviour. Feed the curious mind that questions, ‘Why does my pet do this’, rather than ‘How do I correct it’.</p>.<p><strong>Day 5: Watch your pet eat</strong></p>.<p>I know this one sounds awkward—who likes to be stared at when they are eating? But perhaps your pet does not mind. Watch how they chew their food and how long they take to eat it. It’s easy to put something in their bowl and head to the next task, but what if we could just sit and listen to them while they eat? A keen observation tells a lot about their dental health and possible pain points.</p>.<p><strong>Day 6: Take a midnight walk and let your dog lead</strong></p>.<p>Cities never sleep, but most snooze by midnight. If it’s safe, take a midnight walk with your pet down the street. I know it’s counterintuitive to what I said about our inner clocks, but hear me out: it is priceless to watch your dog sniff everything around, explore a different word at peace and lead you on the walk instead of the other way around. If you have a cat, maybe try watching a horror movie together. I have been told it’s fun to do with cats!</p>.<p><strong>Day 7: Find a tribe</strong></p>.<p>Pet parenting, like human parenting, can be lonely and frustrating at times, and we all need a circle of people who get our rants and can commiserate with our anxieties. Find that tribe if you don’t have it: look online, look around or look within for people who share similar thoughts around pet parenting and those you (and your pets) can vibe with.</p>.<p>Happy New Year to your loved ones and give your pets an extra treat for me!</p>.<p>Tailspin is your monthly column on everything that’s heartwarming and annoying about pet parenting.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is a science communicator and mom to Pippi, a six-year-old rescued Indie. She posts on X @RamanSpoorthy)</em></p>
<p>It is the end of the year and there is pressure to buy, travel, and gift. But what if you don’t want to? What if you want to give the gift of time? What if it’s also free (well, almost)? Then here’s the year-end bingo I put together for days between Christmas and the New Year. I hope you and your pets have fun playing it.</p>.<p><strong>Day 1: Snuggle together and sync your clocks</strong></p>.<p>If your pet is a cuddle bug and loves to snuggle with you in bed, indulge them. Dogs and cats are crepuscular—they are most active at dawn and dusk. Chances are they are up when the day breaks and would like you to be up, too. Don’t fret because you can enjoy the sunrise together. And here’s the best part: pets also tend to snooze right after sunset, so that’s a chance for you to reset your circadian rhythm (aka inner clock) that’s probably gone haywire after a year’s work! Oh, have you felt that serenity when you hear your pet’s beating heart in the silence of the night?</p>.<p><strong>Day 2: Watch the world go by</strong></p>.<p>Who does not love looking out of a window? I bet it’s not your pet because every pet has a favourite window unless you live in a basement. Now is your chance to join them as often as you can and watch the world go by—together. While you are at it, observe how they react to each passing object: who they wag their tail at, who they stare down, who they bark or meow at, what startles them and what excites them. Notice when and how their ears perk up, or eyes light up. I’d be surprised if you aren’t surprised by how many expressions that mushy face can show!</p>.<p><strong>Day 3: Do a safety audit of the house and spot danger!</strong></p>.<p>By now, you have a sense of what your pet’s daily routine is when you aren’t at home—when they sleep, where they prefer to lounge and generally what their day looks like. Now’s the best time to spot danger lurking in the house. Does the house’s smooth flooring turn into a skating rink for those tiny paws? Is that houseplant reachable for cats, and is it toxic? You don’t have to obsess, but it’s often easy to forget that many everyday things can be lurking danger for our pets, and it’s not easy to notice them in our busy lives. It’s better to be safe than sorry!</p>.<p><strong>Day 4: Pick a book about pets</strong></p>.<p>Nope, not the one that says ‘How to Train your Dog in 30 Days’ or ‘How to Clicker Train your Cat’. Instead, pick the ones that delve into their being and behaviour. Feed the curious mind that questions, ‘Why does my pet do this’, rather than ‘How do I correct it’.</p>.<p><strong>Day 5: Watch your pet eat</strong></p>.<p>I know this one sounds awkward—who likes to be stared at when they are eating? But perhaps your pet does not mind. Watch how they chew their food and how long they take to eat it. It’s easy to put something in their bowl and head to the next task, but what if we could just sit and listen to them while they eat? A keen observation tells a lot about their dental health and possible pain points.</p>.<p><strong>Day 6: Take a midnight walk and let your dog lead</strong></p>.<p>Cities never sleep, but most snooze by midnight. If it’s safe, take a midnight walk with your pet down the street. I know it’s counterintuitive to what I said about our inner clocks, but hear me out: it is priceless to watch your dog sniff everything around, explore a different word at peace and lead you on the walk instead of the other way around. If you have a cat, maybe try watching a horror movie together. I have been told it’s fun to do with cats!</p>.<p><strong>Day 7: Find a tribe</strong></p>.<p>Pet parenting, like human parenting, can be lonely and frustrating at times, and we all need a circle of people who get our rants and can commiserate with our anxieties. Find that tribe if you don’t have it: look online, look around or look within for people who share similar thoughts around pet parenting and those you (and your pets) can vibe with.</p>.<p>Happy New Year to your loved ones and give your pets an extra treat for me!</p>.<p>Tailspin is your monthly column on everything that’s heartwarming and annoying about pet parenting.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is a science communicator and mom to Pippi, a six-year-old rescued Indie. She posts on X @RamanSpoorthy)</em></p>