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The Gambling Tower by Trixie Pet
This is another “brains over brawn” food puzzle. The cones are pretty easy but learning to pull the string takes some patience and thinking. It is cool to see them work this out, the only bummer is once it is emptied, it is empty and does not last the way a rolling puzzle would.
The Twirly Bird Snacker by Doc & Phoebe
Fun, easy, inexpensive! This foraging toy by Doc & Pheobe is adorable. It is a great beginner toy for cats to learn the upward motion of tipping things for the food to dispense which is a challenging move for some cats to learn. The feathers really add interest. One could always cover up a hole […]
Buggin’ Out by Nina Ottosson
Another stationary foraging gem! This puzzle can be used for wet or dry food. There are essentially three levels of difficulty built into this toy. Stationary puzzles as a whole are easier for most cats but when there are multiple moving parts it has the potential to present a challenge.
Melon Madness by Nina Ottosson
This is an intermediate level stationary foraging toy for wet or dry food. The cat must learn to uncover the wells by moving the “seeds” or the green pegs to uncover the snacks below. Melon Madness is one of many Nina Ottosson food puzzles, scroll around this site to discover more!
Doc & Phoebe’s Wet Food Feeder
If your cats “scarf and barf” this food puzzle is for you! A cat’s stomach is quite small, about the size of a ping pong ball, so when they eat too quickly, vomiting is often the result. Slow feeders like this one help make the meal last a little longer. Close up showing the nubby […]
The Rainy Day puzzle by Nina Ottosson
This is a difficult, brains over brawn food puzzle that accommodates wet or dry food. It is challenging, easy to clean and promises to keep your cat busy and mentally stimulated.
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 Flower Tower by Trixie Pet
This is an intricate, brains over brawn, food puzzle originally designed for dogs, but that won’t stop us! This puzzle features four swiveling layers but access is only granted once the large base cones are removed. That is the challenge, the cat must do one section of the puzzle in efforts for the next to […]
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 […]
Scratch pad with treat dispenser
Step 1. Purchase treat ball attachment. Step 2. Purchase traditional scratch pad. Step 3. Attach treat ball to scratch pad. Step 4. Poof! Instant food puzzle! A clever little two in one toy. This scratch pad offers a feature that allows you to make it two toys in one! This is not a very difficult […]
The Catit Play stationary foraging board
This stationary foraging board offers a myriad of different obstacles, can be used for wet or dry food and can be enjoyed by both novice and experienced foragers. Placing the food only in the center of the board increases the challenge and requires the cats to then extract food from a secondary puzzle at the […]
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 […]
Cat Epic!
Cat Epic! is brought to you by the maker of Cat Amazing. This is an intricate and difficult stationary food puzzle that offers three challenge levels. The pieces inside can be reconfigured to make it easier or harder based on the cat’s skill level. A peek inside. Upper level adjusts for varied difficulty. See cats […]
Cardboard Cat Craft Creations (a food puzzle and more!) –
A toilet paper roll food puzzle. A food puzzle for every budget! You can do so much with toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls. Left: a one holed food puzzle. You can make it as easy as you’d like with as many holes as needed. Right: a catnip dispenser! Cats can forage for other […]
The Catit Spinner
This is a beginner puzzle that surprisingly kept a few master foragers occupied for a minute! It spins and swirls like a top, dispensing food out of one of three openings. The inside has a maze that prevents the food from dispensing too easily. It is good to offer novel puzzles from time to time […]
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 […]
The Peek – A – Prize Box by SmartCat
This is a versatile cat toy that can also be used as a food puzzle. This wooden box will hold the attention of young cats and kittens, but as cats get older they tend to lose interest, so re-purposing it as a food puzzle is a great way to rejuvenate interest!
Aikiou Junior Feeder
Yet another stationary food puzzle that is great for cats even though it is marketed towards dogs. This puzzle can be used for canned or dry food. “I tried it and I liked it!”
Cheese Crate Foraging Box
This DIY food puzzle is basically a homemade version of the Peek-A-Prize box, only more challenging because it has fewer openings. Start by placing cardboard inside to create a flat bottom. Expand holes as needed to accommodate your cat’s paws. Then place food and toys inside for an easy DIY foraging game! If you wish […]
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 […]
ThinKat by Aikiou
The ThinKat is a beautiful beginner food puzzle. Cats can either dig food out of the flowers or access food at the base of each flower. Extra flowers can be added to increase the depth and the petals are supple and can be folded inward (see photo below). This requires the cat to “unfold” the […]
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 […]
The LickiMat
This is a fantastic new tool to slow down those cats that eat wet food too quickly. Available in three different textures and two colors. Easy to wash and clean, easy to fill. This could also be used as a tool while introducing new cats to each other since it will slow down their eating […]
Cat Amazing
This foraging box is complex and unique as it offers many different compartments for a unique foraging experience. For those looking for products not made of plastic this is a nice alternative. It is a more challenging stationary toy for the more experienced forager.
The Snuffle Mat
Other ways to use your Snuffle Mat! A truly unique foraging toy that simulates rooting through grass as a cat would do hunting for small prey like bugs. This is an easy toy; great for beginners. It can be machine washed and dried making it easy to care for and maintain. The Snuffle Mat is […]
Coming soon to a cat home near you? Aikiou’s Thin Kat
We love the look of the new Aikiou offering – the Thin Kat. Aikiou previously brought cats and their humans the Stimulo! Stay tuned for a full review once we get our paws on this baby!
DIY Fun Board!
Once again, there’s no need to dig deep into your wallet to provide your cat with mental stimulation and food-puzzle-fun! Here’s a great video showing a simple but versatile fun board – plus cute footage of two cats using it!!!
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 […]
Slide and Feed by Trixie Pet
A great beginner puzzle designed for wet or dry food. If your cat is just starting out this is an excellent toy to teach them the game.
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 […]
Domino Foraging Board by Trixie Pet
This stationary food puzzle offers a wide array of obstacles. This board can be used for dry food and treats or wet food can be placed in the tongue module. It can be rearranged in any configuration and each of the four pieces can be used separately or all together as shown in this video.
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 Digger by Catit
Another great beginner toy that can be used for wet or dry food. This is a stationary puzzle that hones your cats paw fishing skills!
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 […]
Parker vs Tupperware
This video just goes to show how incredibly easy it is to DIY your own food puzzle. Quick, simple, and inexpensive!
@nashtrashkitty on Instagram gets DIY
Do you do Instagram? I guess we should more often! Just found someone cool to follow! Alyssa is a designer and cat-mom who does a cool website, featuring some of her DIY projects, including a homemade food puzzle that can be made a little more challenging with some cardboard! Check her website out at www.thisisalyssa.com or on […]
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 Fantasy Board by Trixie Pet –
This stationary foraging toy offers multiple puzzles in one including an area for wet food. Food does not always need to be the focus. The ping-pong ball section is like a feline rooting box and can be filled with water for cats that enjoy playing with water. The floating balls add a play component. Novelties […]
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 […]
Brain Mover by Trixie Pet
A more intricate food puzzle with multiple components. Wet cat food can also be used in the wells making it a versatile and challenging game for your cats. This toy is for the experienced forager!
Ice, Ice Baby!
It really can be this easy to get your cat started! Some cats are very slow starters and need to be gradually eased into the concept of working for their food. Some families also cannot afford the fancy stationary foraging boards not knowing if their cat will take to using them. This is our compromise! […]
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 […]
The Poker Box by Trixie Pet
This is an intricate and challenging stationary food puzzle. This video shows cats figuring out and solving the five different sections. This puzzle can accommodate canned food in some compartments as well as dry food. This is a toy is for the experienced forager!
Pretty, functional, and DIY BABY!
This beautiful blue food puzzle is a rolling tube made with a 3-D printer. The dimensions of the puzzle and holes can be changed to suit your cat’s needs, diet, and challenge level! (Right now it’s set to “Science Diet size”). You can download the files HERE.
Fumbleboards and Fummel boxes OH MY!
This is a fantastic webpage inspired by Helena Dbalý’s wonderful book, Playtime for Cats. The page is in German, but I used Google Translate to get the gist of the ideas! First idea: DIY multi-puzzle foraging boards, incorporating toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, bowls, and cups to inspire foraging behavior in your cat. Once you get the […]
The Wine Box Food Puzzle
“Hmmm. What’s in here?” Any ole wine box will do to make this super easy and cheap foraging toy. Watch to see how these three silly’s utilize this object. They are pretty hilarious. It helps if you have long legs for this one! Similarly you can use any compartmentalized box such as a beer caddy […]
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 […]
The Tunnel Feeder by Trixie Pet
This is a great beginner toy for multi-cat households. Food goes in through the top and funnels into the tunnels. If you wish to increase the challenge further, fill ping-pong balls and place inside the tunnels. This way the cats must spin the balls to get the food to dispense and then extract it from […]
The Windmill by Trixie Pet
This is a fantastic feline foraging toy! Traditionally a dog toy, it really seems geared more towards cats as most dogs would destroy this product. It comes with two sets of interchangeable lids, a set with one large hole and another set with three small holes. The holes can be taped up with scotch tape […]
A Harry & David pear box!
What an easy and cheap (let’s be honest these are generally free as they are often given as gifts) food puzzle! Simply take the lid off and sprinkle kibble inside. To increase difficulty place other objects inside the compartments to serve as an obstacle. It really cannot get much easier than this folks!
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!
A Nestle Quick container? Why yes!
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 […]
Three quick n easy food puzzles from Your Cat
Looking for three simple food puzzles you can make for your cat? Here are complete instructions on three different types of puzzles: a stationary board, a rolling feeder, and a peekaboo box style feeder! Thanks to Your Cat Magazine for the great ideas!
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 […]
Something Outta Nothing!
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 […]
Trixie Pet Fun Board for wet food
Wet food foraging can be a great way to slow down voracious over-eaters that later vomit their canned food meal. This stationary foraging board is fantastically versatile. In this clip Samson is demonstrating how the tongue module exercises their tongue and jaw muscles!
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 […]
Dog Brick As A Wet Food Puzzle –
Another excellent toy, the Nina Ottosson Dog Brick is perfect to use for cats for either canned or dry food. The cat must slide the cover to expose the reservoirs to access the wet food. This puzzle can be made more difficult by inserting a doggy bone into one of the center slots to serve […]
The Dog Tornado As A Wet Food Puzzle
Wet food can be more difficult to offer via food puzzles. If you get creative or find the right commercially available toys it can be done. Cats do not care about the doggy bone shape! This toy is very well made, easy to clean and works beautifully for this purpose. Watch Willow and friends as […]
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 Catit Treat Maze
The Catit Treat Maze is a great beginner puzzle! Some kitties may be stumped by the clear plastic cover as cats are unable to focus on objects right under their noses. They are virtually blind within 12 inches from their face and use their whiskers to locate objects right in from of them like food […]
More DIY – an egg carton can be a food puzzle!
It really is a simple as taking an egg carton and putting some dry food in the cups! It will slow down your cat’s eating, and if they are nimble with their paws, they can fish food out of the cups! Here’s another nice example from catstuff4aussies.weebly.com
Stimulating Cat Food Bowl
This is a nice homemade take on the Stimulo – by suspending cups from the lid of a cardboard box, this puzzle can be used for either fishing food out, or directly noshing from the cups! With some great videos too! Instructions available from the always handy-dandy Instructables website!
DIY Wooden Foraging Tower
We love seeing how people get creative with homemade puzzles, and sometimes people get fancy. Making this puzzle requires some wood-working skills, but can easily be customized to your own preferences and your cat’s needs! Brought to us thanks to Goug via Instructables – all the details you need are HERE!
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 […]
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 […]
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.
Catit Senses Circuit As A Foraging Toy
If your cat becomes tired of chasing the ball around in any of these channel-like toys, simple convert them into a stationary foraging toy! Alternating how these toys can be used creates novel interest and keeps your cat mentally stimulated and engaged.
Fishing for treats
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.
Taking Toilet Paper Rolls to a New Level #4
Add cardboard and some yogurt containers!
The Dog Tornado by Nina Ottoson –
This video proves that even handicapped cats can work for their food. In this clip Lefty is 15 years old, a tripod his whole life, toothless, arthritic and has kidney and heart disease. He prefers to get the food himself! Your cats can do this! This toy is excellent as a canned food puzzle for […]
The Green by Northmate
The Green is a great beginner foraging toy. This is the doggy version of the feline “Catch” toy. Because it is larger, it holds more volume for multiple cat households and provides a slightly increased challenge as the interior portion of the puzzle is harder to reach. If you want to increase the challenge even […]
A Toothbrush Case –
You really can make a food puzzle out of just about anything! These objects can increase or decrease in difficulty depending on how many holes you make and how full you fill the toy. When there are only a few pieces left it can be challenging whereas a full toy is much easier. This is […]
The Cat Powered Auto-Feeder
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!
Water bottle spinner puzzle
While Ian Tunnicliffe didn’t post any instructions, it would be pretty easy to throw together a similar design with a dowel, some plastic water bottles, and something to hold the dowel securely. If you put something together like this, let us know! And we think your cat could master this toy as well as this cute […]
Slow Feeder Bowls (great for cats too!) –
A slow feeder bowl from the Outward Hound. Do not let the dog photos on the packaging deter you from trying these toys out with your cats. Cats are quite capable of using these puzzles only they do so in a different way. Dogs lick out these bowls with their tongues where cats scoop the […]
A plastic container with a lid is all you need
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.
Taking Toilet Paper Rolls to a New Level #3
Just add a strip of cardboard to add to the complexity!
Catit Senses Food Maze
Giving it a good sniff inspection! This treat tower certainly requires some previous foraging experience. Cats must work food down each level of the Catit Food Maze to finally achieve a piece of food that has fallen through into the base/food tray. There is an adjustable plate at the middle tier that allows for the […]
Taking Toilet Paper Rolls to a New Level #2
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!
Taking Toilet Paper Rolls to a New Level
Phil made a really cute food ball out of a toilet paper roll – showing that you can get creative with the simplest of materials!
Implementing Foraging As A Feeding Protocol
This video offers instruction on how to feed a multi-cat household with foraging toys. It explains the importance of feeding cats this way and how to make this style of feeding easier for the humans. Staging the difficulty level of the toys and making your own food puzzles is covered as well.
Version 2
Version 3
This is another “brains over brawn” food puzzle. The cones are pretty easy but learning to pull the string takes some patience and thinking. It is cool to see them work this out, the only bummer is once it is emptied, it is empty and does not last the way a rolling puzzle would.
Fun, easy, inexpensive! This foraging toy by Doc & Pheobe is adorable. It is a great beginner toy for cats to learn the upward motion of tipping things for the food to dispense which is a challenging move for some cats to learn. The feathers really add interest. One could always cover up a hole […]
Another stationary foraging gem! This puzzle can be used for wet or dry food. There are essentially three levels of difficulty built into this toy. Stationary puzzles as a whole are easier for most cats but when there are multiple moving parts it has the potential to present a challenge.
This is an intermediate level stationary foraging toy for wet or dry food. The cat must learn to uncover the wells by moving the “seeds” or the green pegs to uncover the snacks below. Melon Madness is one of many Nina Ottosson food puzzles, scroll around this site to discover more!
If your cats “scarf and barf” this food puzzle is for you! A cat’s stomach is quite small, about the size of a ping pong ball, so when they eat too quickly, vomiting is often the result. Slow feeders like this one help make the meal last a little longer. Close up showing the nubby […]
This is a difficult, brains over brawn food puzzle that accommodates wet or dry food. It is challenging, easy to clean and promises to keep your cat busy and mentally stimulated.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
This is an intricate, brains over brawn, food puzzle originally designed for dogs, but that won’t stop us! This puzzle features four swiveling layers but access is only granted once the large base cones are removed. That is the challenge, the cat must do one section of the puzzle in efforts for the next to […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
Step 1. Purchase treat ball attachment. Step 2. Purchase traditional scratch pad. Step 3. Attach treat ball to scratch pad. Step 4. Poof! Instant food puzzle! A clever little two in one toy. This scratch pad offers a feature that allows you to make it two toys in one! This is not a very difficult […]
This stationary foraging board offers a myriad of different obstacles, can be used for wet or dry food and can be enjoyed by both novice and experienced foragers. Placing the food only in the center of the board increases the challenge and requires the cats to then extract food from a secondary puzzle at the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cat Epic! is brought to you by the maker of Cat Amazing. This is an intricate and difficult stationary food puzzle that offers three challenge levels. The pieces inside can be reconfigured to make it easier or harder based on the cat’s skill level. A peek inside. Upper level adjusts for varied difficulty. See cats […]
A toilet paper roll food puzzle. A food puzzle for every budget! You can do so much with toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls. Left: a one holed food puzzle. You can make it as easy as you’d like with as many holes as needed. Right: a catnip dispenser! Cats can forage for other […]
This is a beginner puzzle that surprisingly kept a few master foragers occupied for a minute! It spins and swirls like a top, dispensing food out of one of three openings. The inside has a maze that prevents the food from dispensing too easily. It is good to offer novel puzzles from time to time […]
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.
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 […]
This is a versatile cat toy that can also be used as a food puzzle. This wooden box will hold the attention of young cats and kittens, but as cats get older they tend to lose interest, so re-purposing it as a food puzzle is a great way to rejuvenate interest!
Yet another stationary food puzzle that is great for cats even though it is marketed towards dogs. This puzzle can be used for canned or dry food. “I tried it and I liked it!”
This DIY food puzzle is basically a homemade version of the Peek-A-Prize box, only more challenging because it has fewer openings. Start by placing cardboard inside to create a flat bottom. Expand holes as needed to accommodate your cat’s paws. Then place food and toys inside for an easy DIY foraging game! If you wish […]
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 […]
The ThinKat is a beautiful beginner food puzzle. Cats can either dig food out of the flowers or access food at the base of each flower. Extra flowers can be added to increase the depth and the petals are supple and can be folded inward (see photo below). This requires the cat to “unfold” the […]
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 […]
This is a fantastic new tool to slow down those cats that eat wet food too quickly. Available in three different textures and two colors. Easy to wash and clean, easy to fill. This could also be used as a tool while introducing new cats to each other since it will slow down their eating […]
This foraging box is complex and unique as it offers many different compartments for a unique foraging experience. For those looking for products not made of plastic this is a nice alternative. It is a more challenging stationary toy for the more experienced forager.
Other ways to use your Snuffle Mat! A truly unique foraging toy that simulates rooting through grass as a cat would do hunting for small prey like bugs. This is an easy toy; great for beginners. It can be machine washed and dried making it easy to care for and maintain. The Snuffle Mat is […]
We love the look of the new Aikiou offering – the Thin Kat. Aikiou previously brought cats and their humans the Stimulo! Stay tuned for a full review once we get our paws on this baby!
Once again, there’s no need to dig deep into your wallet to provide your cat with mental stimulation and food-puzzle-fun! Here’s a great video showing a simple but versatile fun board – plus cute footage of two cats using it!!!
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A great beginner puzzle designed for wet or dry food. If your cat is just starting out this is an excellent toy to teach them the game.
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 […]
This stationary food puzzle offers a wide array of obstacles. This board can be used for dry food and treats or wet food can be placed in the tongue module. It can be rearranged in any configuration and each of the four pieces can be used separately or all together as shown in this video.
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! […]
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 […]
Another great beginner toy that can be used for wet or dry food. This is a stationary puzzle that hones your cats paw fishing skills!
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 […]
This video just goes to show how incredibly easy it is to DIY your own food puzzle. Quick, simple, and inexpensive!
Do you do Instagram? I guess we should more often! Just found someone cool to follow! Alyssa is a designer and cat-mom who does a cool website, featuring some of her DIY projects, including a homemade food puzzle that can be made a little more challenging with some cardboard! Check her website out at www.thisisalyssa.com or on […]
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!) […]
This stationary foraging toy offers multiple puzzles in one including an area for wet food. Food does not always need to be the focus. The ping-pong ball section is like a feline rooting box and can be filled with water for cats that enjoy playing with water. The floating balls add a play component. Novelties […]
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 […]
A more intricate food puzzle with multiple components. Wet cat food can also be used in the wells making it a versatile and challenging game for your cats. This toy is for the experienced forager!
It really can be this easy to get your cat started! Some cats are very slow starters and need to be gradually eased into the concept of working for their food. Some families also cannot afford the fancy stationary foraging boards not knowing if their cat will take to using them. This is our compromise! […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
This is an intricate and challenging stationary food puzzle. This video shows cats figuring out and solving the five different sections. This puzzle can accommodate canned food in some compartments as well as dry food. This is a toy is for the experienced forager!
This beautiful blue food puzzle is a rolling tube made with a 3-D printer. The dimensions of the puzzle and holes can be changed to suit your cat’s needs, diet, and challenge level! (Right now it’s set to “Science Diet size”). You can download the files HERE.
This is a fantastic webpage inspired by Helena Dbalý’s wonderful book, Playtime for Cats. The page is in German, but I used Google Translate to get the gist of the ideas! First idea: DIY multi-puzzle foraging boards, incorporating toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, bowls, and cups to inspire foraging behavior in your cat. Once you get the […]
“Hmmm. What’s in here?” Any ole wine box will do to make this super easy and cheap foraging toy. Watch to see how these three silly’s utilize this object. They are pretty hilarious. It helps if you have long legs for this one! Similarly you can use any compartmentalized box such as a beer caddy […]
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, […]
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 […]
This is a great beginner toy for multi-cat households. Food goes in through the top and funnels into the tunnels. If you wish to increase the challenge further, fill ping-pong balls and place inside the tunnels. This way the cats must spin the balls to get the food to dispense and then extract it from […]
This is a fantastic feline foraging toy! Traditionally a dog toy, it really seems geared more towards cats as most dogs would destroy this product. It comes with two sets of interchangeable lids, a set with one large hole and another set with three small holes. The holes can be taped up with scotch tape […]
What an easy and cheap (let’s be honest these are generally free as they are often given as gifts) food puzzle! Simply take the lid off and sprinkle kibble inside. To increase difficulty place other objects inside the compartments to serve as an obstacle. It really cannot get much easier than this folks!
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!
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 […]
Looking for three simple food puzzles you can make for your cat? Here are complete instructions on three different types of puzzles: a stationary board, a rolling feeder, and a peekaboo box style feeder! Thanks to Your Cat Magazine for the great ideas!
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 […]
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 […]
Wet food foraging can be a great way to slow down voracious over-eaters that later vomit their canned food meal. This stationary foraging board is fantastically versatile. In this clip Samson is demonstrating how the tongue module exercises their tongue and jaw muscles!
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.
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 […]
Another excellent toy, the Nina Ottosson Dog Brick is perfect to use for cats for either canned or dry food. The cat must slide the cover to expose the reservoirs to access the wet food. This puzzle can be made more difficult by inserting a doggy bone into one of the center slots to serve […]
Wet food can be more difficult to offer via food puzzles. If you get creative or find the right commercially available toys it can be done. Cats do not care about the doggy bone shape! This toy is very well made, easy to clean and works beautifully for this purpose. Watch Willow and friends as […]
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 Catit Treat Maze is a great beginner puzzle! Some kitties may be stumped by the clear plastic cover as cats are unable to focus on objects right under their noses. They are virtually blind within 12 inches from their face and use their whiskers to locate objects right in from of them like food […]
It really is a simple as taking an egg carton and putting some dry food in the cups! It will slow down your cat’s eating, and if they are nimble with their paws, they can fish food out of the cups! Here’s another nice example from catstuff4aussies.weebly.com
This is a nice homemade take on the Stimulo – by suspending cups from the lid of a cardboard box, this puzzle can be used for either fishing food out, or directly noshing from the cups! With some great videos too! Instructions available from the always handy-dandy Instructables website!
We love seeing how people get creative with homemade puzzles, and sometimes people get fancy. Making this puzzle requires some wood-working skills, but can easily be customized to your own preferences and your cat’s needs! Brought to us thanks to Goug via Instructables – all the details you need are HERE!
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 […]
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 […]
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.
If your cat becomes tired of chasing the ball around in any of these channel-like toys, simple convert them into a stationary foraging toy! Alternating how these toys can be used creates novel interest and keeps your cat mentally stimulated and engaged.
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 video proves that even handicapped cats can work for their food. In this clip Lefty is 15 years old, a tripod his whole life, toothless, arthritic and has kidney and heart disease. He prefers to get the food himself! Your cats can do this! This toy is excellent as a canned food puzzle for […]
The Green is a great beginner foraging toy. This is the doggy version of the feline “Catch” toy. Because it is larger, it holds more volume for multiple cat households and provides a slightly increased challenge as the interior portion of the puzzle is harder to reach. If you want to increase the challenge even […]
You really can make a food puzzle out of just about anything! These objects can increase or decrease in difficulty depending on how many holes you make and how full you fill the toy. When there are only a few pieces left it can be challenging whereas a full toy is much easier. This is […]
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!
While Ian Tunnicliffe didn’t post any instructions, it would be pretty easy to throw together a similar design with a dowel, some plastic water bottles, and something to hold the dowel securely. If you put something together like this, let us know! And we think your cat could master this toy as well as this cute […]
A slow feeder bowl from the Outward Hound. Do not let the dog photos on the packaging deter you from trying these toys out with your cats. Cats are quite capable of using these puzzles only they do so in a different way. Dogs lick out these bowls with their tongues where cats scoop the […]
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!
Giving it a good sniff inspection! This treat tower certainly requires some previous foraging experience. Cats must work food down each level of the Catit Food Maze to finally achieve a piece of food that has fallen through into the base/food tray. There is an adjustable plate at the middle tier that allows for the […]
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!
This video offers instruction on how to feed a multi-cat household with foraging toys. It explains the importance of feeding cats this way and how to make this style of feeding easier for the humans. Staging the difficulty level of the toys and making your own food puzzles is covered as well.