Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
Too many cats are bored, depressed, and inactive because there isn’t enough stimulation in the environment. If you work long hours or if you have a single kitty who spends so much time alone in the home, it can get to the point where there just isn’t anything interesting to do. Is there a way to keep your cat entertained while you aren’t home? Yes! That’s where puzzle feeders come to the rescue.
The concept behind the puzzle feeder is that the cat has to figure out how to get the food out of the puzzle toy and then is rewarded with the food when they succeed. This is a great way to entertain your cat when you aren’t at home. Puzzle feeders are also good for distraction if you need to redirect kitty’s attention.
Photo: Pam Johnson-Bennett
The benefits of using a puzzle feeder include more than just the fun of seek and reward. It’s helpful if you’ve put your cat on a diet because they’ll have to work (play) for the food and will eat slowly since only a small amount is dispensed at a time. It’s also beneficial for cats who tend to gulp their meals too quickly. And of course, it’s a great boredom buster. I also incorporate the use of puzzle feeders with my clients’ cats who are in stressful situations. They can focus on the fun activity of trying to get food out of the puzzle feeder as a distraction from whatever is causing anxiety in the environment.
Puzzle feeder designs
When it comes to puzzle feeders there are many design options. They range from very simple ball designs with a hole in them for dispensing kibble or treats, to very complex structures that will provide entertainment for more than one cat at a time. You can use dry food or wet food in the puzzle feeder, depending on the design of the particular feeder toy. A simple online search will turn up lots of sites that design and/or sell puzzle feeders for cats. You can also buy some at the pet product store, but if your cat is up for the challenge, companies who specialize in puzzle feeders and animal environmental enrichment will have the most selection. Some companies who manufacture puzzle feeders include Kong, Premier, Our Pets, Catit, Doc & Phoebe’s, Innovative Pet Products, and Petstages Nina Ottosson, just to name a few.
As I mentioned, there are many puzzle feeder designs so you can most likely find one that suits your cat. One type of puzzle feeder, the Lickimat, is different from the types where the cat has to manipulate the toy to get the reward. The Lickimat is an uncomplicated design that contains soft nubs where wet food can be embedded for the cat to lick. It’s great for cats who eat too quickly or if you need to distract your cat. I use the Lickimat frequently when doing new cat introductions. I embed the mat with wet food, or if I really need the cats to be redirected, I use Churu. This is a highly palatable paste that comes in different cat-appealing flavors. These products are available at pet supply stores and online. Churu-embedded Lickimats are used by many veterinarians to distract cats during exams or vaccinations.
Photo: Pam Johnson-Bennett
Homemade puzzle feeders
To make a very basic homemade puzzle feeder box, take a small cardboard box and cut holes that are larger than the size of your cat’s paws. Cut these holes in random places. Tape the flaps of the box closed and then toss some treats in there. Small boxes make good puzzle feeder boxes. Make sure the box is small enough so your cat’s paw can easily reach the treats inside.
A popular homemade puzzle feeder design at our house is the toilet paper tube feeder. Take the cardboard center from the toilet paper roll and cut holes in it that are a little bigger than the size of the treat. Fold the ends in to close them and you have an easy and cheap puzzle feeder. I also make one out of a small plastic water bottle. I cut holes in the plastic and then pour some treats in there. Replace the cap and you have a feeder that’s easy for the cat to roll around and also makes an enticing sound.
You can also make homemade puzzle feeders out of plastic Easter eggs. Cut hole in the plastic, fill with treats or dry food and then snap the egg back together.
When you initially make homemade puzzle feeders make the holes large enough so kitty has lots of success at getting the food reward. Then when the cat gets the idea of the game you can make a puzzle feeder with smaller holes.
With cardboard or plastic bottle feeders, make sure you only provide them to cats who don’t eat cardboard or plastic. Additionally, don’t put these feeders out in locations where the family dog can access them.
Puzzle feeders for wet food
If you feed wet food to your cat you can still incorporate puzzle feeders into a cat’s routine. The design can be very basic. The Lickimat is perfect for wet food and there several designs from which to choose. You can also find slow feeder bowls in your local pet product store and online that have different levels of obstacles.
An egg carton makes a wonderful level 1 puzzle feeder.
I create a homemade wet food puzzle feeder with a muffin tin. It’s really simple but it provides my cat with an opportunity to do a little work for her food. I place a small amount of wet food in each of the muffin compartments so my cat has to walk around to each one to get her food. You can do this with dry food as well.
Be creative and you can probably come up with various types of homemade puzzle feeders. Just make sure they’re safe and the challenge level is appropriate to your cat’s ability. Puzzle feeders should be fun!
Need More Information?
For more information on cat behavior and training, refer to the books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included Amazon links here on our website.
