Gus so nicely demonstrates the difficulty of oddly shaped items. When full this object can be quite heavy making it difficult to manipulate. For Gus it is no problem! Eating this way has helped Gus loose weight. Please share this video if you know an overweight kitty who could benefit from learning to forage for their food.
Twine, cardboard tubes and a rock!
This is an earthy, natural style food puzzle. The rock provides some weight to keep it all in place. Some cardboard tubes were used along with a little garden twine to keep it all together. It's a little rickety but a fun impromptu puzzle.
*Know your cats! Leaving string/twine unattended could result in a cat eating something they should not. Safety first!
Brown Paper Bag Foraging
1. Get a plain brown paper lunch bag.
2. Fill with food.
3. Gently twist close and offer to your cat.
Foraging toys do not need to be fancy. They simply need to vary to continually peak your cat's interest and be appropriate for their skill level. Remember that foraging is not just a feeding protocol but also mental stimulation for your cat.
The goal with this toy is for the cat to either shred the bag with their claws and teeth or to open it and use their paw to extract the food.
Coffee Mug Foraging
Coffee mug placed on it's side with wet food inside.
An old coffee mug can be laid on its side and filled with canned food. The mug handle provides stability and keeps the puzzle in place. Put it on a place mat or newspaper and allow the cat to scoop out food with a paw and lick it off. Many cats simply drag the food to the mat and lick it up from there as seen in this video. This can be a little messy, so some sort of place mat is a must!