Cats are hunters and they enjoy seeking and discovering prey. Believe it or not, you can provide your indoor cat with exactly that fun – without having to bring in mice or birds.

How? With a puzzle feeder. The perfect way to add adventure to your cat’s day.

A puzzle feeder is based on a very simple concept. It’s designed to allow your cat to discover and paw at his food in order to capture it.

You can create a homemade puzzle feeder box. Just take a small cardboard box and cut holes of a width larger than your cat’s paws, in random places. Tape the flaps of the box closed, and then toss some dry kibble inside.

Or try a homemade puzzle feeder tube. Just take a toilet-paper or paper-towel tube and cut holes in it. Secure the ends, taking care to make sure the tube rolls easily. Place dry kibble inside and you’re all set.

Then there’s the Play-n-Treat, a puzzle feeder ball available in pet retail stores and online. It’s just a plastic ball with a hole in it. Snap the ball apart and fill it halfway with dry food. As your cat rolls the ball around, dry kibble will periodically fall out.

Another option is the Peek-a-Prize. This wood puzzle box was originally created as a toy, but I use it as a puzzle feeder for cats. Just toss some dry food inside and let the good times roll.

Finally, you can also play “hide-and-seek” with wet food. Place a little wet food in a small Kong toy.

One important note of warning: don’t place puzzle feeders around if you have a dog who might ingest them.

For more specifics refer to the book Starting from Scratch.

© 2009 Cat Behavior Associates, LLC