This video shows Willow foraging from a protein shake container. You truly can make a food puzzle out of just about anything in your home and the goal here to show you how to do that!
It is nice to offer a variety of commercially available and homemade puzzles. Remember this is not only a feeding protocol but also mental stimulation!
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.
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!
An easy foraging puzzle to make out of a plastic container with a lid. For kitties that like to fish kibble out of a bowl with their paws. Accompanied by smooth jazz.
Add cardboard and some yogurt containers!
This is an amazing food puzzle you can make with a yogurt container and a few other household items! I was first introduced to this feeder when I was called to help two kitties get along better. One of them, Satchel, was a pro!
Full instructions available on the Instructables website!
Cut some holes in a plastic take out container, and you're ready to get your cat started. This video features some soul music to get you revved up.
Just add a strip of cardboard to add to the complexity!
Add a tissue box and you can do even more! It appears we could have a whole page of food puzzles you can make with toilet paper rolls!
Phil made a really cute food ball out of a toilet paper roll - showing that you can get creative with the simplest of materials!