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Doc & Phoebe’s Hunting Feeder – New and Improved!
This food puzzle has been upgraded by adding an adjustable opening which allows for a variety of different dry foods of various sizes to be used as well as increasing the challenge. This foraging toy is unique as it is the only one to feature a “skin” allowing the cat to pick it up, toss […]
Play-N-Treat Balls by Our Pets
These foraging balls are a great beginner toy. They also are great for down the road when your cat becomes a “master forager” and it is time to increase the challenge. As shown in the photos below, these balls can be placed inside larger containers much like the foraging ping-pong balls from Fundamentally Feline are […]
Roli Balls by Goli Designs
Beautifully handcrafted and durable! Made from colorful nylon strapping. So creative! These adorable food puzzles from Goli Designs are handmade from colorful nylon strapping and feature a small bell inside to create interest. They have two holes so these are definitely a beginner toy. These would also work nicely being filled with food and placed […]
The Nina Ottosson Dog Treat Maze
New version, new color combination. This is a very complicated food puzzle. It is two sided, features a maze within the toy on both sides and requires the cats to wobble or flip the toy entirely to dispense food. As this video demonstrates, not all hunting expeditions are successful. She walks away without success but […]
The Snoop
Toy can be used with opening folded in. Watch video clip above to see it in action! Yet another toy designed and marketed for dogs that is great for cats as well. This toy can work for dry or wet food and can be manipulated to achieve different challenge levels, though as a whole it […]
The Bob-A-Lot
This is a weighted and challenging food puzzle designed originally for small to medium sized dogs, but is no match for an experienced foraging cat! Featuring an adjustable opening and a difficult to grip exterior, this toy is sure to slow down a cat that eats too quickly.
The Kong Wobbler for cats
This is a challenging, weighted and rather large foraging toy for cats. This puzzle is geared towards the experienced forager and cats that are very driven. The challenge can be increased if need be by placing various cat toys inside to occasionally obstruct the opening or by placing smaller food puzzles inside such as foraging […]
Busy Buddy Twist ‘N Treat
This small dog toy is great for cats too! Do not let the puppy logo fool you, cats are quite capable of working a wide array of dog puzzles and this one is no exception. This toy is easy to fill and works with many different sizes of dry food. This toy is a bulky […]
Knock Out weighted foraging egg by SmartyKat
This weighted, opaque egg by SmartyKat can be quite a challenge for some kitties. Opaque toys are more difficult because the cat must go on learned previous experiences no longer having the visual cue that there is food inside. The weighted base of course provides more difficulty and to increase the challenge even further this […]
The Doorway Dangli by Petsafe
In this video clip, you will see how both a kitten and a handicapable senior cat interacts with essentially a foraging pinata. This toy can be adjusted to varying heights. If they have to reach up to bat at it that increases the difficulty.
The Barnacle by Petsafe
Willow looking pleased with her accomplishment. This is yet another dog toy that is great for cats too. It is a bit bulky and heavy, but if manipulated hard enough it will provide erratic movement. This toy is also great for cats that are chewers as it would be difficult to destroy. Some cats do […]
Treat Mouse by Aikiou
Cats actually love this little treat mouse by Aikiou as a traditional cat toy and as a food puzzle. It is perfectly sized to mimic prey, dispenses small pieces of food and has a great overall feel. It is not very difficult but could be easily placed inside a larger food puzzle to create a […]
Gettin’ Tipsy! Plastic beer bottle food puzzle.
Gettin’ Tipsy! Who knew? Apparently Bud Light is available in plastic bottles! What that means is that when you party, so do your cats! When someone brought these to a gathering they quickly became a must have item, just so that they could be made into a foraging toy! Now, when you entertain, you can […]
Cat Love Furry Frolics Treat Ball by Hagen
This little ball does not look like much but it is actually a great little food puzzle. It can be quite challenging as it has three levels that the food must fall through to dispense out the opening. It is small and doesn’t hold too much food which is great for cats trying to slim […]
Recycled box = difficult DIY puzzle
1. Poke hole in a cardboard box. This is a ridiculously easy puzzle to make and it happens to be disposable and recyclable so it’s great option for shelters. Square objects, as a rule, are quite difficult. It is not recommended to frustrate your cat so please only offer this style toy if you cat […]
Pawzzles by Kong
This cube is no match for Hitchinson! Kong Pawzzles are available in four different shapes, a cube as featured here, a pyramid, a donut and a doggie bone shape. All four shapes are available in two sizes, small and large. The cube featured in this post is actually a size large and still appropriate for […]
Foraging Gears by Fundamentally Feline
The XL size is shown here. Shown here “doubled up” for greater challenge. These are more difficult objects as they do not roll easily and are heavy. Notice the cog and wheel style colored ends that make the object more difficult to manipulate on a hard surface. If your cat is a master forager combine this […]
Foraging Poster Tube by Fundamentally Feline
These tubes are easy to fill for the humans and they are opaque with only one hole so they are more challenging for your cats. If you think about it, when there are only a few pieces of kibble floating around in here it would even be difficult for a human to get it to […]
Foraging Ping-Pong Balls by Fundamentally Feline
Available with large or small holes to accomodate a variety of different kibble types. These ping pongs are a great beginner toy, great for very overweight cats when we really want to limit their access to dry food, and also great for combining with other objects to increase challenge. For example, the ping pongs can […]
The Doorway Dangli by Petsafe
Stethoscope-like arms grasp door frame. In the video clip of the Doorway Dangli you can see the creativity and challenge that can be incorporated in order to make cats work for their meals. Sometimes the smartest kitties are the ones waiting for the others who are doing all of the work to dispense some kibble! […]
The Pipolino –
A versatile and adjustable food puzzle available in a variety of sizes for many different species. Weight can be a challenge for many cats so do not be deterred by the size of this toy. In fact, it can be made more challenging by placing smaller food puzzles inside, cat toys or adding weights to […]
The Foraging Toy Starter Kit by Fundamentally Feline –
The Foraging Toy Starter Kit. The Starter Kit is three toys in one! You get two foraging eggs (or four small mini eggs) and an upcycled tennis ball tube container essentially for free! That’s right, Ingrid schleps around town collecting tennis tubes, washes them, drills holes in them, and essentially gives them away! Fill all […]
Does your veterinary practice promote food puzzles?
We’d love to see every veterinarian feature information about the use of food puzzles with cats on their websites! Here are just a few who do: Paws, Whiskers & Claws in Atlanta, GA (hey! where Ingrid works!) Frederick Cat Vet in MD Okaw Veterinary Clinic in IL (hey! where awesome behavior consultant Dr. Sally Foote is based!) […]
The No Bowl feeding system
These adorable little mice are an excellent beginner food puzzle for cats. They are unlike anything else available in that they have a fabric covering allowing the cats to grab the toy with their claws. The large holes easily accommodate a dental diet, a preferred kibble when implementing foraging. If feeding mostly canned food and […]
The Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble dog toy by Petsafe
Keep an open mind because dog toys can be great for cats too! They are often heavier which provides a greater challenge and they usually hold more food for multiple cat households. This Busy Buddy toy can be made increasingly more difficult by filling smaller objects and placing them inside this puzzle so the cats […]
Twist ‘N Treat Teaser by Petsafe
This food-dispensing toy is called the Twist ‘N Treat and it also encourages playtime using the enticing feather feature. Adjustable openings increase or decrease the challenge for your cat. The only downside is that it is quite easy and usually emptied quickly.
Foraging Jars by Fundamentally Feline
Easy opening lid makes filling this toy easy for the humans. These jars make a great puzzle! They are easy to fill for the humans and opaque with only one hole so they are more challenging for your cats. You can fill a smaller object such as an egg and place inside to really increase […]
Foraging Cubes by Fundamentally Feline
Foraging cubes are one of the most difficult food puzzles you can offer your cat. Most cats are initially pretty stumped by cubes but once they do get the hang of it they are unstoppable! Foraging ping-pong balls can also be combined with these cubes to further increase the challenge. Simply fill ping-pong with dry food, […]
The Pyramid by Nina Ottosson
One of the more challenging of the commercial food puzzles, the pryamid is weighted, heavy and also comes in an opaque version making it great for an experienced forager. The challenge is tipping it over! Similar to a Weeble-Wobble, it will constantly right itself and stand back up. Clear version available with larger opening to […]
Foraging Mini Egg by Fundamentally Feline
Foraging eggs are an awesome and versatile toy. They are opaque and provide erratic movement, keeping kitty entertained and on the move. The eggs can be filled and placed inside other foraging toys such as the cup or any of the “gear” toys to increase the difficulty level for your master forager!
The Buster Cube
A toy for the “master forager.” Opaque, cube-shaped toys are among the most challenging you can offer your cat. In this video Paige shows you how it is done! Not every cat becomes this skilled or manipulates toys with this much gusto. A goal for you and your cat to work towards.
Foraging Wiffle Ball
The Foraging Wiffle Ball from Fundamentally Feline is a good beginner object. The many perforated holes increase scent attraction, it is round so it is easily rolled, and the cat can also see that there is food in the ball since it is not complete opaque. It is only available with onelarge hole for large kibble […]
The Catit Treat Ball
The Catit Treat Ball by Hagen. This foraging ball features an inner maze coupled with an adjustable opening allowing you to alter the difficulty level based on your cat’s skill level and the size of the food. This is an excellent beginner toy. Right: let Hitchinson show you how it is done in this short […]
The Fishbowl by Petsafe –
The Fishbowl requires some skillful paw action! Some cats will flip this toy over if placed on carpeting. It works best and offers the most challenge on hard flooring. Once the cat becomes adept at using this puzzle it is actually pretty easy. Freeze dried meat pieces makes a nice low calorie option for filler.
Foraging Eggs by Fundamentally Feline
These puzzles really get your cats moving! Foraging eggs are an awesome and versatile toy. They are opaque and provide erratic movement, keeping kitty entertained and on the move. The eggs can be filled and placed inside other foraging toys such as the cup, jar or any of the “gear” toys to increase the difficulty […]
Atomic Treat Ball by Our Pets (also a small dog toy!)
Once again, do not let a photo of a dog on the packaging deter you from getting toys for your cats. If you think they are up to the challenge then go for it. This food puzzle offers erratic movement as it is big bubbly sides made to look like a molecule. The hole opening […]
IQ Treat Ball by Our Pets (yes, this is a dog toy!) –
You read this correctly, this is a dog toy. That is not stopping us, or your cat for that matter. Fill IQ Ball up and it is not too difficult, but fill only the opaque side and utilize the internal divider with adjust-ability options and you can increase the challenge level! The only downside is that […]
Foraging cups by Fundamentally Feline –
These two holed cups can be a great beginner toy and the one hole cup is the next step up in difficulty. Because these toys are clear the cat can see, smell and hear the kibble rattling around inside the cup. For slow starters the cup can be laid on its side without the lid […]
The Egg-Cersizer by PetSafe –
Over filling toys allows for easy learning. Another excellent beginner object with a lot of versatility. The egg shape makes for more erratic movement, while the fully adjustable openings accommodate a variety of dry food sizes and shapes. The difficulty level can be increased by filling a smaller food puzzle (shown right) and placing it […]
The Slim Cat Ball by PetSafe
The Slim Cat Ball is an excellent introductory toy. It is clear, easily rolled and has multiple holes for the food to dispense from, allowing the cat to quickly learn the game. It is very important that cats are successful in the beginning. This puzzle is adjustable to accommodate a variety of dry food sizes […]