Cat food puzzles are an inexpensive and straightforward way to keep your furry friend mentally stimulated. This DIY project takes only half an hour to complete and utilizes items likely already in your home.
Food puzzles come in a variety of forms, both mobile and stationary. When selecting one for your cat, make sure it provides them with plenty of challenges so they have to work for their meal.
Contents
1. Egg Carton
If your cat enjoys food puzzles, turning an egg carton into a fun DIY toy is simple. All you need are some items from the kitchen like bread ties and milk rings.
Create small holes at both the top and bottom of a carton, then distribute food evenly throughout. Give your cat time to figure out where their meal is hidden, and enjoy watching as they try their best to reach in!
Food puzzles provide mental stimulation for your cat, eliminating boredom and unwanted attention-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, they help keep your pet from bloating as they require them to slow down and plan a strategy for getting their food.
2. Muffin Tin
Eating from a food bowl can become tedious, especially for cats who are naturally predators. A cat food puzzle will keep your pet engaged and content by forcing them to work for their meal.
Make a cat food puzzle out of cardboard tubes and boxes, muffin tins, tennis balls or fleece fabric strips. Or you can purchase various toys from a pet store to give your furry friend an intellectual boost.
Turn a muffin tin into a cat food puzzle by filling it with treats and placing tennis balls on top of each treat to make it difficult for your dog to remove them from the container. This game can be enjoyable for small dogs as well as medium and large breeds alike.
3. Toilet Paper Rolls
Toilet paper rolls make great materials for crafting cat food puzzles. Not only are they economical and straightforward to create, but your feline companion will enjoy hours of entertainment!
For this DIY toy, you’ll need a low cardboard box, yogurt cups and toilet paper rolls. Slice the rolls into various lengths and use a hot glue gun to attach them inside of the box.
You can add catnip or valerian flowers to the inside of the tube for even more excitement! Just poke some tiny holes in it with a pipe cleaner for an even tougher version of this game!
You can also utilize TP tubes as texture tools, replacing rolling pins when creating paint patterns or subtractive texture in clay.
4. Yogurt Cups
If you want to provide your cat with some mental stimulation without breaking the bank, try creating a puzzle for them. These devices make cats work for their food just like they would if they were hunting in the wild, according to studies.
Make a fun cat food puzzle using an empty yogurt cup! Cut a hole in the side of the container and fill with dry food pieces.
Make it even tougher for your feline friend by pinching the ends together and sealing them with tape. Doing this will make rolling the tube much more challenging for them.
Add treats or kibble to the puzzle for added excitement. You can also place various textures and flavors inside yogurt cups for maximum engagement from your cat.
5. Coffee Mug
An old coffee cup can be a fun food puzzle for your cat to get them engaged with their food. Simply set the mug on its side on a placemat and allow your furry friend to use their paws to scoop out and lick away any remaining food particles.
Make a stationary food puzzle out of an egg carton, ice cube tray or shoe box. Alternatively, poke holes in an empty plastic water bottle and fill it with dry food items.
For wet food, turn an old coffee mug on its side and fill it with canned food. The mug handle keeps the puzzle in place and makes it easier for your cat to grab at it with their paws.
