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IKEA hack-DIY Food Puzzle for Cats!

I am excited to share my latest homemade foraging toy!

I have constructed a stationary food puzzle out of an Ikea chair! That is right, you heard me correctly, an Ikea chair!

There is no limit to what you can use to make cool, interesting and engaging food puzzles.

Check out the instructions below to create your very own stylish foraging board.

Thrilled with how this turned out.

Simple Ikea chair sans hardware.

Flip chair over!

What you will need:

An Ikea "Jules" chair available in adult and children's sizes

Some sisal carpet

Glad/Rubbermaid small storage cups

Velcro

Materials in place ready for crafting!

1. Staple & glue sisal carpet to chair seat.

2. Use Velcro to affix cups to chair back.

3. Secure cups.

Assembly Tips:

Place the plastic like side of the Velcro on the cup and the fuzzy side of the Velcro on the chair. This will make the cups easier to wash later and keep the Velcro from getting wet and soggy.

Be sure to place bottom edge of the cup in line with the hole if your cats are not master foragers. Leaving a "lip" it can make it much more difficult to remove a piece of dry food. However, this "lip" could be great for the cats that need more of a challenge.

Bam! Foraging board and scratch ramp in one.

A shot from underneath showing the cups.

A view of the dry food in the reservoirs.

Hitch is the first to check it out, no surprise there!

Simultaneous scratch ramp and puzzle use.

Foraging frenzy!

Lefty

The story of Lefty’s injuries, strife, rescue, and life after tragedy is no more unique or special than the stories of so many other cats you have heard about. In fact, his is an all too common tale. But Lefty was special to me, to us, to this family. He helped shape me into the person I am today and contributed to all that I have done for cats since meeting him, so to me, his is a special tale worth sharing.

I was two months and three days into my dream job as a vet tech at a cat-only veterinary practice when Lefty showed up. The place was no stranger to hardships, throwaways, and lost souls. As someone who immersed myself in horrific animal suffering for most of my teenage life, I was surprised that any of it phased me. But reading about the horrors of factory farming in a book is different than living the horrors every day. Seeing the broken and unwanted come through our doors, day after day, truly makes you question humanity and your role in it.

One of our clients worked in real estate and knew the doctor who owned the clinic. She came in on a hot Thursday afternoon in July, looking a bit frantic. While she was showing a house, she had noticed a cat in the ditch out front. The animal, who had presumably been hit by a car, was injured. He had a broken leg and couldn’t walk. As the client tried to approach the hurt cat, a neighbor came out and said, “Oh yeah, he has been there for about two weeks. We’ve been feeding him.”

“They’ve been feeding him?!” I thought. WTF?

All tucked into bed.

Even the handicapped can be naughty!

The owner of the practice dropped everything and went into rescue mode. When these situations came up, it was like there was a phone booth in her office where she could change into her superhero cape. It was one of her most redeeming qualities. She was a nightmare to work for, but when it came to animals, she did the right thing. With towels, a net, and euthanasia solution, she and the real estate agent left.

“What a shitty way to die,” I thought. “Smacked by a car, left to rot in a ditch where people brought food but did nothing else to help, then caught in a net and euthanized after surviving so much.” He was likely feral, which meant he had no experience with humans. His injuries and likely infection were far beyond repair. It was the right thing to do. But I hated it. I hated it.

When they got back to the clinic, it was late. Almost everyone had gone, but I stayed. They rushed into the surgery prep area along with the other doctor on staff. I am not sure what prompted her to try to save this little guy — other than that she tried to save every animal. I think the fact that she was able to get him with towels and her hands without using the net contributed to his being saved instead of euthanized. He was in terrible shape. Regardless, when she unwrapped the towel, I was in love!

Lefty, Simon, Soren and Hitch!

Lefty, blepping before blepping was cool.

Lefty rocked the "side blep" no teeth so...

Blepping with his friends!

When I first saw him — oh, the smell! There was quite an odor. The cat’s left foot was as flat and round as a dollar pancake or coaster, just squished. His whole leg was pulverized. We took x-rays. The x-ray showed completely shattered, pulverized bone. The finest surgeon with all of the pins and screws in the world would not have been able to fix that leg.

Some might call what happened next appreciation, and that might have been part of it. It might also have been shock, fear, or delirium. I don’t really care what we call it, but that freaking cat purred and head-butted through the rads, through the blood draw, through the oral deworming medication. At that point, we were making room on the schedule for an amputation and setting up a cage for him. Euthanizing, we were not!

I turned to the practice owner and said, “Thank you. This is what I have always wanted to do. This is why I wanted to work here.”

Her reply: “What do you want to name him?”

“Lefty!” I said, without hesitation. We were about to amputate his left leg, so I found some humor in the name, and so did everyone else. Anyone who spends their days dealing with despair and tragedy will tell you how important humor is. So Lefty it was!

He was scheduled for surgery Monday morning. It seems terrible to think he had to live through the weekend with that leg, but honestly, Lefty taught me the first of many lessons on how unphased animals can be by their injuries — and also the magic of Buprenorphine. He spent the weekend as high as a kite on pain meds while we focused on getting some good nutrition in him and the fleas off of him. It was after all, July in Georgia, and we love our parasites down here.

Lefty’s left leg amputation went off without a hitch. Another lesson I learned from Lefty (there were many) was that animals could not care less when you lop off a limb. Usually, the limb is causing them pain and impeding their movement, so they’re happy to get rid of it. They do not have to live with the societal stigmas that humans do, so they don’t care if they look funny and they don’t worry about being laughed at or made fun of. They just live. I also learned that for cats, three legs are all they need. The fourth leg is extra.

Forty-five minutes after waking up from anesthesia, that cat bolted right past me as I was trying to put food, water, and litter into his cage. He tore around the treatment room. Now, many years into the profession, I know that was not a huge deal, but to green olé me — just two months into the job — this cat was truly amazing. And he was. He was Lefty after all!

In the months that followed, I took it upon myself to truly socialize him and make him like people so he could become adoptable. He was sweet, but the more we got to know him, the more we saw how skittish and unsocialized he really was. (Little did I know that once I took on such a task, I could certainly never adopt him out.)

A very blurry photo of Lefty post op.

At the clinic together.

No stranger to car rides and vet visits!

I spent much of my days working with Lefty in a pouch strapped to my chest — a cat papoose. Lunch was a special time for us. Because I worked such a long day, I got a two-hour lunch break. I would go into the surgical room where Lefty liked to spend his days and sleep with him on a comforter on the floor. We cuddled and “socialized.” He would smash the side of his face, which he couldn’t groom because of his missing leg, into my chin to scratch his gooey, runny eye (also the result of being hit by a car). It was so gross and so awesome and I loved it so much.

Lefty was fast as a whip. Once he became more outgoing, we allowed him to have free run of the place. I loved the sound of his run as he flew around the clinic: a fast badump, badump, badump. He annoyed the x-ray service guy by “helping” to fill the chemicals. Fittingly, he always found the “L” marker and batted it around, never the “R.” I’ll admit that I snagged that “L” when I left the job. We had two… who was going to care? Lefty needed it for his scrapbook! It’s funny that after all of his injuries, he spent so much of his time in the surgery and x-ray rooms.

Lefty & Vader, matching solid black tripods!

Lefty cuddling with Wick, he had a lot of friends!

I met Lefty in July 1999 and by December, he was home with me for Christmas. He was a solid black domestic shorthair tripod. People are not exactly beating down doors to adopt cats like Leftypants. Besides, I had a really hard time saving and rehabilitating animals and then adopting them out to what I learned was one irresponsible pet owner after another. For cats I got attached to or had a hand in helping, I decided that no one else was good enough to raise them. When I started the job in May 1999, I had five cats. The addition of Lefty in December 1999 made 14 (if I am remembering correctly). Saving the world, one cat at a time. That still hasn’t changed.

I did everything wrong when I brought him home. I was so excited, and he was so easygoing, I thought, “What the hell?” and just opened the carrier door. Off he went, straight to the squishiest, most comfy thing in the room: the couch. He jumped right up on it and stayed there for years to come. He deserved a sofa and bed. They all do. I couldn’t let him live life in the clinic with all of its hard surfaces. He needed the comforts of a home.

Hanging out with brother, Vader. #handicapables

Pile O Cats! Lefty had friends!

He was a tripod but he still enjoyed vertical space, climbing the treehouse, running around the cat runs in the ceiling of the screen porch. He got along with all of the other cats and dogs; he was kind of like Switzerland in that way. He foraged and truly embraced his new home. You could feel his appreciation and gratitude. He and I were always very close. We had a thing, from day one.

So how did he end up being called “Leftypants”? Shortly before he came along, I had adopted Mammas and her four kittens, including one little tortie who we named Wiccas. When Wiccas was tiny, she had a little flame of tortie-ness up her nose (that’s how she got her name… “wick” like a candle) and was mostly black with some little tortie pants, so we called her “tortie pants.” When I met Lefty, the “pants” part just stuck and the nickname was born. I would scream it all over the practice and later the house and Lefty would come running. Later, he would simply be referred to as “Pants.”

One of the things I most love to share about Pants is how much he LOVED being vacuumed and blow-dried. Being a front-leg amputee can get a little messy; sometimes, especially as an old man, he would face plant in the litter box. Whether he’d done that or not, he got bathed about twice a year for his whole life because he just needed the help. He hated the bath but loved the blow dry. He would purr and purr and stretch out his little legs and spread his toes. It was so cute! He loved being vacuumed even better than being blow dried because he didn’t have to endure the bath beforehand. You could vacuum any part of Lefty, even his chin, head, and ears. He couldn’t get enough, and in his younger years, he would literally chase me from room to room as I vacuumed.

Leftypants enjoying being blown dry after a bath.

Appreciative jowl rub!

All clean!

It was probably a good thing that he ended up being the pet of a vet tech. He was a bit of a mess. He had eosinophilic granulomas under his tongue that resulted in multiple biopsies and the removal of a portion of his tongue. He had hideous Stomatitis and ended up having all of his teeth extracted by age 11. (In hindsight, I should have done that even sooner.) He had a peculiar year-long fungal infection that caused a hole to blow open in the side of his neck. Dye studies, cytology, and three biopsies left us treating the fungal infection for three months before the wound finally closed. We fixed him yet again.

Then came his senior years. I did my very best to help make sure old age didn’t slow him down, but that’s when I learned that the fourth leg is not extra. When a cat is really old, it’s very helpful if they have all of their limbs.

The open hole on the side of his neck that took over a year to close.

Strollers provide great enrichment for seniors & handicapped cats!

Soaking up sun on old joints.

I started preventative care early. By age eight, he was getting glucosamine and chondroitin supplements followed by Omega 3s. I later added antioxidants and acupuncture. Further down the road, we added injectable glucosamine, steroids, and pain meds. He had kidney disease and heart disease, but we managed it all.

Lefty was still foraging for his own dry food until just a few months before he left us. We built ramps to give him the independence to get onto the sofas and furniture on his own. We created a sidewalk of bathmats through our house during his last year of life to make it easier for him to navigate the hardwood floors. We brought him handfuls of food 100 times a day, knowing that foraging alone was not enough. He never liked canned food. We hydrated and bathed him (he still loved that blow dryer) and tried to help him maintain as much dignity as possible, all while still holding on because it did not seem like he was ready to go. He would tell us. A few times, I thought he was trying to leave us, but he would rally and bounce back, so we kept maintaining. I truly thought I would just have to call it one day, that the time would come when I was not able to watch him struggle any longer, that I would just have to let him go eventually. While we kept him clean and fed and as pain-free as possible, it hurt to watch him struggle, but he was so persistent. He tried so hard, how could I take that away?

So content to just check out the big world outside.

One day, I left town for an obligation. If I had thought he would not have made it until I came back, I would never have gone. Anyone who knows me, knows that. I thought he was going to keep hanging on until I decided for both of us. All of his most recent rechecks had shown nothing but stability or improvement, so I left feeling confident that I would see him again. I didn’t even say goodbye. It was more of a “see you later, Pants!” Then my worst nightmare came true. The cat I had had the longest to date, the one who had been with me from the time he was nine months old until he was 17 years old left me, and I wasn’t there to see him off, to say goodbye, or to help ease him away. Instead, I was miles away on a trip that I will forever regret. I cannot go back, but I will always wonder how things might have been different.

I will always remember his little toothless, gummy scream when we brought him handfuls of kibble. The way he would inch toward us reaching for us until we got down to his level because he didn’t have the oomph to actually get up. The way he only liked to play with the stick part of the Feline Flyer and could not care less about the toy itself. He was a funny cat who gave us so many memories.

Lefty was one of the toughest cats I have ever known, so broken yet so resilient. He is why I do what I do, why I strive so hard, why I always try… because you just never know. You have to give these animals a chance because their ability to heal, overcome, forgive, and trust is beyond remarkable.

Do, do, do, do… PANTS! You will always be my little super hero, with your cape flying behind you, buddy.

Foraging Toys

Foraging toys are food dispensing containers that your cat manipulates in efforts to get food or treats to dispense. These types of toys give your indoor cat something to stalk and hunt, giving them a much needed outlet for their prey drive and hunting instincts. Most behaviorists agree that many behavior problems in cats stem from boredom, frustration and stress. A lack of mental stimulation can result in up to 30% loss of brain function over time in both animals and humans. Much like the need for humans to learn a new skill, do crossword puzzles, read etc. to keep our brains working; cats and dogs need similar challenges to alleviate senility, boredom, and mental dullness. The concept of foraging is designed to make your cat think and problem solve, and they get rewarded each time they figure out the puzzle.

Getting Started

Foraging can be a fun game and a way to give your cat treats; or if they are really good at it and are active foragers, it can be how you feed them their dry food. It is recommended that you start off with clear containers with a lot of holes so it is really easy and they barely have to bat at it to get food to dispense. We recommend using a plastic water bottle as a first toy. It is clear so your cat can see, hear, and smell the food rattling around inside. It is best to fill up the container; but not so full that the food does not move around freely; but DO NOT simply put 2 or 3 pieces of kibble in there because that is when foraging toys are the most difficult.

Once your cat has gotten the hang of foraging, move on to containers with fewer holes, objects that are opaque, objects that do not roll easily, or even cubes! It is important to continue to offer new and interesting objects to keep your cat from getting bored with them. If they continue to empty the same container for months and months, they may lose interest.

We have a variety of foraging toys available for purchase at Paws Whiskers and Claws, and you can try making some yourself. You are only limited by your imagination and creativity. It is also a great way to recycle your plastic household containers one additional time before they make it to the recycling bin! Another great foraging toy purchase is the Peek-a Prize Toy box. This is a finished wooden box with many holes cut into it like a giant piece of Swiss cheese. Fill the box with balls, toy mice and food; so that the toys become an obstacle that your cat must move in order to access the food.

You can easily make one of these foraging boxes yourself out of an old shoebox. Simply cut some holes in the side and top of the shoebox slightly larger than the toys you are putting inside. This is so that they can get the toys out too. Fill with a handful of food. It is important to tape the lid on so that your cat does not simply take the lid off and eat out of the box like a bowl. Some cats, especially kittens, will be motivated by the toys alone and forage for them without even needing food to motivate them. Cereal boxes can also work well for this type of toy.

Motivating Your Cat To Forage

Place the foraging toy on the floor and sprinkle a few pieces of the food or treats around the toy, so that your cat will eat those and then smell that there are more in the toy. Hopefully they will get the idea and bat the object around with their paws or nudge it with their nose.
Put something different in the foraging toy other than what is in your cats’ food bowl. There is no motivation to forage if they have a bowl of the same thing sitting a few feet away on the kitchen floor.
Show them how to forage. If your cat is just not getting the concept, push the toy around a bit with your hand, roll it, and show them that if they do this food falls out! Help them to learn. Be patient. Remember, they have not had this type of challenge before there is a chance it could take them a while to catch on.
Keep at it! Try all kinds of different treats and foods; sometimes it is all about finding the right motivator. Cats are great observational learners, so if you can get one or two of your cats to get the hang of it, the others will soon follow. When one kitty is having a ball and getting treat after treat it is bound to stimulate interest and make your other cats wonder, hey what are they eating over there?
If your cats are not motivated by food, this type of environmental enrichment will likely not be successful.

What should I put in my foraging toy?

We recommend offering foraging toys daily. We recommend using the Hill’s prescription Diet T/D (available at Paws Whiskers and Claws) or the Science Diet Oral Care (available at Petsmart). These are both dental diets that are high in fiber, and good for hairball control. T/D is a low calorie version of Oral Care. Using regular food allows you to be generous about filling the foraging toys. Oftentimes we find that many cats prefer the dental diets and it is a much healthier alternative to treats. You can also blend the dental food and a few treats such as Feline Greenies. This keeps it exciting; not all the kibble that falls out is the same.

A Challenge for your cat and easy for you

Keeping the humans motivated to continue filling these toys is another challenge. If your cats love to forage we suggest making this chore as easy on you as possible; you will be more likely to keep the toys filled if you do not need to do it daily. We recommend doing this by having a wide variety of foraging toys. Fill them up once a week and keep them in an airtight bin in your pantry, then simply throw a few on the floor before you leave for the day, or before you go to bed. This gives your cat hours of fun while you are not home or while you are sleeping. Offer foraging toys away from your bedroom so that it does not keep you awake. If your pet suffers from separation anxiety, providing foraging toys can help alleviate this behavior problem in both cats and dogs. It is also important to have a variety so that your cats do not get bored with them. New objects means new challenges; which means smarter more mentally challenged cats.

How do I keep my dog or toddler from foraging too?

If you have a canine family member or young child that may like to sample the contents of the feline foraging toy we suggest using a baby gate to keep dogs and small hands from being able to forage too! Baby gates are a great way to keep your dog from getting into your cats food and litter box as well. For some older children, filling the foraging toys can be a great household chore.

Foraging as a weight loss program

If we have recommended that you use foraging as a weight loss program we first encourage you to get your cats actively foraging using the dental diets. Once they have the hang of it we have some toys available here with smaller holes for the low calorie Science Diet kibble. Your cats must also eat low calorie canned food 2-3 times per day.
The idea is to create a lower carbohydrate diet, while still allowing your cat to free feed. Dry food has a lot more carbohydrates than canned food. They should fill up on the canned food at least twice a day and have the dry kibble in the foraging toys; so they essentially are still free feeding, but they are keeping active, rather than lying down in front of the food bowl to gorge.

In summary

Foraging toys are one of the best toys you can provide for your cat, ideally coupled with a few sessions of interactive play each day. It serves many purposes and provides hours of constant entertainment. Foraging would be a natural part of your cats’ daily activities if allowed outdoors. Since we encourage indoor only cats, or secure outdoor enclosures, foraging is as close as you can get to providing your indoor cat with something to hunt. Remember that if you do not use it you lose it. Foraging will keep your cat active and mentally challenged for a happier longer life.

Download Handout PDF

Environmental Enrichment For Indoor Cats

We advocate indoor only cats. This lifestyle keeps them healthier, safer and living longer lives. However, cats may get bored or frustrated being kept inside. Below are some suggestions for keeping them active, stimulated and happy. Remember that cats are very prey specific, so trying different varieties of toys is important to find just what your cat likes to hunt.

Alphabet Magnets

Place these on the lower half of the fridge, oven, dishwasher, or on a magnetic board for your cat to bat around. You can find these at most toy stores.

Birds and Bees

For visual entertainment attract birds or squirrels with strategic placement of bird and squirrel feeders outside windows and screened porches. For nighttime viewing, try leaving a porch light on to attract flying insects. This may help you sleep better if your cat is active at night.

Bringing the Outside In

As long as your cat is current on vaccinations and deworming, bring in tree branches, rocks, leaves, things from the outdoors to pique their senses. Try hiding treats around or under these items for extra fun, or fill a box with leaves and throw a handful of treats in for your cat to forage. Additionally, you may purchase live catnip or grass plants from most Petsmart locations. These plants provide instant gratification and cost about $5.00 each.

Cat Carrier

Try leaving your cat’s carrier out in the home all the time. Make it inviting by placing bedding and/or treats inside for your cat to enjoy. This will also desensitize your cat to the carrier making trips to the vet easier for both of you. Clicker training is a positive way to train your cat to willingly enter their cat carrier. Teaching this could save their life in case of an emergency!

Catnip Marinade

Place all soft fuzzy toys in container with catnip to “marinate”. You can do this as often as needed to refresh the scent. This can be financially helpful because you won’t have to buy new toys as often.

Chirping Fuzzy Mice and Birds

There are many versions of these motion activated toys. Some chirp like live mice, some move around and some have flashing lights.

Clicker Training

Clicker training can be used as both an enrichment tool and as a training aid to fix unwanted behaviors. Cats are incredibly intelligent and trainable we simply have to create that expectation! Clicker training can help control less desirable behaviors such as counter surfing or inappropriate scratching or teach them to run an agility course for fun and exercise! Cats can be trained to sit, come, hi-five, shake even walk on a leash and harness. Much like their canine counterparts, training your cat stimulates the brain, gives them a job to do and gives them a more enriched life. A good reference book is “Training Your Cat” by Dr. Kersti Seksel or “Naughty No More” by Marilyn Krieger. Karen Pryor is also the go to source for all thing clicker related!

Clicker training "tools".

Hitch Hi-fiving.

Drinking Fountain

There are several different water fountains for cats that simulate drinking from a stream or water faucet. The model we prefer is the Drinkwell Pet Fountain. It can be easily taken apart and cleaned, has charcoal filters that can be replaced as needed and you can purchase an optional reservoir which is great for multi-cat households or cats that require lots of fresh water. Retail price starts at approximately $49.99 and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer at www.vetventures.com or by calling 866-322-2530. We also like the stainless steel fountains as they are not porous, even easier to clean and dishwasher safe! Pioneer Pet makes some nice stainless fountains.

Feline Furniture

Cat Condos will give your cat a place of their own, increase vertical space in your home and create “safe zones” from dogs, children or other cats. Our favorite condos are from www.AngelicalCat.com, they carry a wide array of styles, sizes and colors. You may reach Angelical Cat by phone at 954-747-3629. Some other websites we recommend are www.TrendyCat.com, www.KittyPod.com and www.TheRefinedFeline.com. Scratching posts and horizontal cardboard scratching pads give your cat an appropriate surface to scratch. The “Cat’s Meow Scratching Post” is available for retail sale at Paws Whiskers & Claws, The Feline Hospital in Marietta, Ga. Cardboard scratchers are available at most pet retail outlets.

Height provides comfort to cats and a sense of security.

Cat furniture can also be a great feeding station away from dogs and toddlers.

Fish Tanks

Having a fish tank is an excellent way to keep your cat occupied, especially at night when you are trying to sleep. Obviously, you’ll want to make sure to have a secure lid to keep fish safe. Also, make sure you are prepared for the effort of caring for additional pets.

Foraging Toys

These are toys that must be manipulated for your cat to obtain a food reward. Unfortunately, there are not nearly as many styles of foraging toys commercially available for cats as there are for their canine counterparts. You can make your own foraging toys by using small plastic household containers and cutting out holes that are slightly larger than the size of the food/treats that you will put inside. Another homemade variation would be a shoebox with holes cut out about the size of a ping pong ball and then fill with treats and a few ping pong balls as an “obstacle”. Be sure to tape the lid on. There are a variety of foraging toys available at Paws Whiskers & Claws, The Feline Hospital. To shop for toys and to learn more about foraging visit www.FundamentallyFeline.com

Peaches foraging from long gear toy made by Fundamentally Feline.

Hunting

In addition to foraging, satisfy your cat’s prey drive, by hiding treats or food around the house, in places your cat frequents such as: on top of their scratching post, cat condos, window seats or anywhere you know they will seek it out or stumble upon it.

Interactive Toys

These are toys that allow you and you cat to play together and often provide great exercise for your cat. The Feline Flyer is a feather toy that mimics a bird and the Dragonfly is a toy on a wire creating erratic movement. A good old fashion piece of string works great too-just make sure to always put it away when playtime is over. If ingested, string or ribbon can cause an intestinal obstruction which is very dangerous. There are a myriad of interactive toys available, find the one that peeks your cat’s prey drive! Play with your cat daily!

Keepin’ It Fresh

While cats don’t like drastic changes to their routine or environment, subtle changes can be good. Moving the furniture around or changing a cat condo from one window to another can be stimulating and create interest instead of stress.

Light-up Laser Balls

Just like the chirping fuzzy mice and birds above, there are many different motion activated balls that provide hours of entertainment for cats by flashing when touched or rolled.

Motorized Toys

There are many motorized toys available on the market. The Panic Mouse has been previously featured in Catnip magazine as “Best Motorized Toy” of the year. It is “…an electronic mouse that randomly waves a wand and attached spider toy through the air for your cat to chase and grab, mimicking a human waving a wand toy. The wand moves in different directions and at different speeds, sometimes pausing. It is also height and speed adjustable.” The Panic Mouse as well as other great motorized toys can be ordered at www.PanicMouseInc.com or by calling 951-506-3643 and costs approximately $30.00. The Fling-a-ma-string, The Undercover Mouse, and many others can provide hours of automatic fun for your feline friend. Remember your cat should always be supervised during play-do not leave these toys turned on when you are not home.

Nature Videos/Music

Some cats enjoy watching television, especially if it’s geared for them. They’ll love the sounds and sights of nature videos or try leaving the television tuned to Animal Planet. There are also videos produced for cats that feature aquariums, birds and squirrels. You can purchase DVD’s designed exclusively for cats or try leaving classical music playing to soothe your cat when you are not home.

Nightlights

Cats cannot see in the dark, however cats can see well in about 1/8^th of the light required by a human. This is why cats are most active and hunt at dawn and dusk (called crepuscular). This lighting can be mimicked at home by placing nightlights by food, litter box or sleeping areas. This will benefit all cats, particularly those who are geriatric, and it may also decrease intercat aggression.

Old Standbys

Cats love investigating things like cardboard boxes, paper bags, newspaper tents and cardboard rolls from paper towels or toilet paper. You can also try putting toys or treats inside the cardboard rolls thus turning them into foraging toys.

Hitchinson playing in a brown paper bag, best cat toy ever, and it's free!

Outdoor Enclosures

Even indoor cats can enjoy the outdoors safely through screened in porches, screened in decks, window seats, chain link enclosures (www.HabitatHaven.com) or Kitty Walks (877-548-8905 or www.KittyWalkSystems.com). The most important thing is to ensure that the enclosure is secure, covered on all four sides and has a roof or ceiling so that cats can’t escape. The Purrfect Fence (www.PurrfectFence.com) does not have a roof but does offer a secure “Houdini-Proof" arch that prevents cats from being able to scale the fence. If you allow your cats outdoor time in an enclosure or on a leash and harness, make sure your cats are current on vaccines, flea control and are dewormed regularly.

Ping-Pong Balls

Try putting 2 or more ping-pong balls in a bathtub. Cats will love jumping in and batting them around. This can be a bit noisy, so if the bathtub is near your bedroom, make sure to take them out before you go to sleep. And put the stopper in the tub so the ball does not get stuck.

Strollin’

Have you ever considered taking your cats for walk? A cat stroller is the perfect way to do this! These strollers are 100% screened in with pet proof screening and often have many of the same features as an infant stroller such as: collapsibility for easy storage, cup holders, lightweight, etc. If you walk your dog take kitty with you!

Vertical Space

Similar to a free standing cat condo, vertical space allows your cat the comfort of navigating their space without having to touch the ground. Cats feel more secure when they are up high. The nice thing about vertical space verses a cat condo is that it does not take up a foot print on your floor. It is a series of runs, perches, and tall scratch poles that allow the cat to cruise from wall to wall and room to room, all with the ability to survey the home from a high vantage point! To learn more visit www.FundamentallyFeline.com

Water Fun

Place small wind up toys in a sink filled with water; also try any items that float like ping-pong balls, or a large bright marble so they have to “go fishing” for it. You can find wind up toys in the infant bath section of toy or department stores.

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Finding Calm in the Chaos

I recently had my roof replaced and found myself having to follow my own advice on how to minimize stress during loud and chaotic events. And loud it was! Wow. [Read more…] about Finding Calm in the Chaos

Do You Have A Tubby Tabby?

Have you made it your New Year’s resolution to help your favorite feline lose weight? Below are a few tips on how to make it a success! Of course, it is always best to check with your veterinarian before starting any diet program. Your vet may be able to recommend some special foods to you that can help accelerate the weight loss process and recommend that you bring your cat in for regular weight checks to monitor your progress. [Read more…] about Do You Have A Tubby Tabby?