Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,
Keeping Beau busy can get tricky, but we’ve got it pretty much under control now. We play with Beau about 30-minutes every day, have 5 feeder toys around the house to keep him occupied (we split his 1/3 meal between them all) and we make sure to give him plenty of love and attention!
Today I’m going to show you how I make the cardboard box feeder toys that he loves so much!
1. Take Any Size Cardboard Box
The bigger, the better I usually say. The bigger the box is, the more weight it has, so it makes it less likely for your little one to push the box around the house. It also makes sure that they have a chance at grabbing the kibble or treats inside of the box. If you use a smaller box, you can also weigh it down with larger pebbles, or a desk weight. We’ve tried lighter boxes with Beau and he loses interest if he can’t get his treats (and yes, I know these are teaser toys, but cats need some sort of reward, right?)
2. Use a Box with a Side Opening
Cats are smart and tend to figure out how to open their toys. Given our trial and error, we found boxes that open from the side last longer with Beau, because he found ways of putting pressure on the top allowing him easy access to the food. He’s discovered this trick with a couple of his other feeder toys, which is why we actually have to put text books on top of them, to make sure he’s actually solving the puzzles instead.
3. Use Scissors or a Knife to Cut Holes
Here’s your chance to get creative! Make a bunch of shapes inside of the cardboard. Don’t make them too big though! The ideal size is little bigger than your little one’s paws. The hope is that some kibble (or treats) get stuck behind the cardboard and your kitty has to paw around trying to find them! Make sure you have a few holes that are higher up to let your cat see into the box. Beau will take always look before he paws into a box. (Sometimes boxes scare him for some reason.)When cutting holes make sure that you cut right down to the bottom. If there is a little lip it can cause tremendous difficulty for your little one to get access to the food/treats. At first we thought it might be a good idea, but it really proved wrong when Beau didn’t want anything to do with the toys.
4. Fill your new feeder toy with a bit of food (but make sure it’s at the back)
The further the food is from your little one, the more time it takes for them to get the food. It also keeps them busy for a longer amount of time. Your little one will make periodic visits to the box to see if it has been refilled (or to collect food that s/he has missed.)
5. Make Sure to Throw Out Boxes Every So Often
Not does this create new challenges for your kitty, cardboard also soaks up a lot of the oil that’s inside of kibble and treats. It’s pretty gross to think about, but that’s just how the world works, am I right? Your box may also collect debris or hair (like any other product in your house) and since most cardboard boxes are free (since you get them everywhere) there shouldn’t be an issue with changing your boxes around every so often! Keep your pet busy, healthy and safe!
Watch Beau Eat:
Laila and Minchie says
August 5, 2017 at 6:56 pmHi Beau! Zoey from The Island Cats sent us over! We love what you did to that box! Our mom said she’s going to make one for us too.
Johnny Salib says
August 6, 2017 at 1:22 amYay! Welcome to our blog <3 We love Zoey & The Island Cats so much <3 And yes, do it! Take photos and show us when you do xo
Brian Frum says
August 5, 2017 at 6:42 pmMy Dad puts together something like that and then Brother Simon at the box, literally, the little guy loves cardboard. Of course we would love to see whatever you make!
Johnny Salib says
August 6, 2017 at 1:21 amCardboard is so handy! And we have so much of it in the house!
Margaret Elmendorf says
August 5, 2017 at 6:02 pmThat is a great idea. I sure think we will try that. Thanks for that idea. Have a good week end.
Johnny Salib says
August 5, 2017 at 6:37 pmNo worries at all! <3 Glad you're gonna try it yourselves!
Noodle says
August 5, 2017 at 5:23 pmThat’s a great idea!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend…
Noodle and crew
Johnny Salib says
August 5, 2017 at 6:36 pmThanks Noodle! Have a great one too <3
Tamago says
August 5, 2017 at 3:51 pmWhat a great idea. Looks like Beau is having tons of fun 🙂 We play food games using freeze-dried raw meat. One of the food game items is large paper bag filled with tissues. I hide food in tissues and my boys go hunt it 🙂
Johnny Salib says
August 5, 2017 at 5:09 pmThat’s also such a great idea, although I’m certain Beau would try to eat the tissue! (Silly kitteh!)
Mary Kirkland says
August 5, 2017 at 1:34 pmWhat a great idea.
Johnny Salib says
August 5, 2017 at 5:09 pmThanks Mary! 😀
Pipo/Angel-Minko/MrJackFreckles says
August 4, 2017 at 11:14 pmThat looked like a lot of fun for Beau!
I had some treat toys for the kitties, but dog-guy decided he wanted them…what a party pooper he can be..maybe now, he has become furry picky about his noms maybe he would leave the kitty treat ball alone…will have to try it and find out.
Johnny Salib says
August 5, 2017 at 12:36 amHaha Dog guy sounds like Walker. Walker used to always steal ALL my food! – Beau
caren gittleman says
August 4, 2017 at 8:42 pmGreat idea! I have made similar things with boxes like you, and I have used empty butter containers (I make sure when they are cut that they are not sharp.) I also have something that was given to me called a “Bat-A-Rat”, we put Cody’s “snack” in it every night. To be honest? PICA is so much a behavioral thing that Cody will STILL start chewing whatever he can when he feels that food or snacks are not coming when he wants them. I think the feeders are a temporary fix. (At least for my cat)
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 10:58 pmYeah for sure. I feel like Pica is a very ongoing issue that you have to continue changing your tactics with. But we will always do our best for Beau <3
Ellen Pilch says
August 4, 2017 at 8:29 pmThat is a great idea.
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 10:56 pmYou gonna try it out?
The Island Cats says
August 4, 2017 at 6:24 pmThat’s an easy DIY feeder toy. We also have used empty plastic water bottles. Using an exacto knife, cut small holes in the bottle, fill with treats, and there you go!
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 7:54 pmWe haven’t tried that one before (We’re a plastic bottle free house, so it’s rare that you’ll find one here!) But we’re gonna try that out with a toilet paper/paper towel tube!
Crystal Stewart says
August 4, 2017 at 6:19 pmMake a birdfeeder out of a box-interesting. How many times do you feed your cats? We leave feed our cat when she needs it. However, we give her wet food only once a day.
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 7:55 pmWe feed our little one 3-times a day, leaving him food in multiple feeders. One meal is a table spoon of pumpkin, then the second is 1/6 of kibble and the third is also 1/6 of kibble.
Cathy Keisha says
August 4, 2017 at 5:01 pmYou know how to work it to get the treats, don’t you, Beau? I’d never do that. As it is TW says I won’t even walk over to my food. She has to bring it to me. Autumn used to eat the rug. Pop called her a goat. MOL!
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 6:11 pmOh no! I have to work for my food every night! If I don’t daddy doesn’t give in…! -Beau
mommakatandherbearcat says
August 4, 2017 at 4:42 pmThis is a fantastic idea! I try to play with Bear every day – because when he gets bored, things start getting messy around here. I tried several homemade puzzle feeders and Bear quickly loses interest. If you’re interested in any of them … this is the post: http://mommakatandherbearcat.blogspot.com/2016/04/claws-and-fangs-at-play-homemade-edition.html.
Because Bear didn’t like the food option, I used toy micey instead – but you can easily use food too.
{Sorry about the pictures … I’m still working on updating them}
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 6:12 pmWill have to check some of these out! I’m currently coming up with some new ideas to vary his play toys. Plus, we’ve got so many boxes in the house now!
The Swiss Cats says
August 4, 2017 at 4:39 pmWhat a great way to keep him busy ! Claire uses freeze-dried raw food for feeder toys. Purrs
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 6:10 pmOoo! I love freeze-dried raw food! We sometimes hide primal for the little ones 😀
Madi and Mom says
August 4, 2017 at 11:02 amBeau my handsome friend you have very creative peeps to think up all these activities…so what is your pica craving? I’ve heard all kinds of things from other kitties
Hugs madi your bfff
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 12:18 pmMy favourite it tissue paper, but I also love plastic, rubber, cotton, feathers, latex… you name it, I’ve eaten it! – Beau
Colehaus Cats says
August 4, 2017 at 10:55 amWhat a fun and great idea! Anything that stimulates minds and rewards with a treat is awesome in our book! Thanks for sharing this!
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 10:57 amNo worries at all! Gotta share what we’ve tried to keep Beau busy :’)
Loulou says
August 4, 2017 at 10:02 amVery nice way to make a smashing box!!! Am visiting because the Island Cats sent me….
May I suggest (my mama if a graphics type person) that you make your typeface darker? It is very difficult to read your blog and I WANT to whenever I can.
Hello from Loulou at livingwithloulou.
Johnny Salib says
August 4, 2017 at 10:40 amI will try my best to code that! 🙂 Thanks for the input and welcome, welcome, welcome!