Motivating your cat to forage, staging the difficulty level, what to fill them with, making your own toys at home and more!
DIY for cats
When One Cat Becomes Five, One Must Catify!
Before catification.
When I met Jocelyn she had one cat and had just adopted a second kitty and was having trouble introducing the two. We worked through that together and they became friends. Then, after moving to her new home, Jocelyn decided she had room for more and adopted a pair of kittens (always recommended to adopt a pair of litter mates!) Soon after that she decided she needed some vertical space. Good thing because then #5 came along, as it often happens...:)
Before catification.
After catification.
After catification.
Precious pirate, Hannah!
These few pics give you a close up view of how the corner was configured. Notice the cute "mouse hole" at the top of the pole. A feature reserved for custom installations.
I personally love this series of Hannah exploring the window perch for the first time.
On to the living space downstairs!
Before!
After! Now that is more like it.
Parker vs Tupperware
This video just goes to show how incredibly easy it is to DIY your own food puzzle. Quick, simple, and inexpensive!
The Wine Box Food Puzzle
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!
It’s More Than Just A Box!
A pictorial tour of the many glorious uses of the cardboard box as an enrichment tool for your cat. It is so much more than "just a box".
It's a hideout or cubbyhole
Cats love the security boxes provide.
Cats take great comfort in the safety and security that a cardboard box can offer. As a species that is both predator and prey they like to feel protected and "have their back."
As a predator, boxes provide a great ambush opportunity for pouncing on unsuspecting friends!
A quiet moment alone to ponder.
An impromptu cat condo
Boxes can stack in many configurations to create a cardboard castle for your cats.
Can't afford a cat condo?
Just moved and not sure where to put vertical space for your cats? No problem! Stack up some boxes and you are all set.
Clip them together with binder clips for stability, cut holes in them to allow your cats to climb through the different levels. You can also move them around and reconfigure to renew interest!
A cozy bed
Fully equipped with heating pad and fleece!
Did you know that cardboard is insulating?
One of the theories as to why cats enjoy cardboard boxes so much is because when they nestle down in one it aids in maintaining their body temperature. This is referred to as maintaining the cats "thermal neutral zone." Meaning they can more easily maintain their body temperature without having to expel much energy.
Don't forget to bring your food puzzle to bed with you!
It's a fun toy!
Stuffed with tissue paper and toys!
Do you have a cat that likes to shred paper? Stuffing a box with craft paper, tissue paper, even ripped up brown paper bags can be loads of fun for your cat. Especially if they like to make noise!
Drop in your cat's favorite toys, a few pieces of dry food or treats and they can go fishing through the paper for snacks and treasures.
Stuffed with crinkly packaging/craft paper.
Use one as a food puzzle
This is a Harry and David pears box!
Boxes make great food puzzles!
Cut some holes in a shoe box, tape the lid on, stuff with balls and mice as obstacles, sprinkle in dry kibble or treats.
Small boxes can be a rolling puzzle. Simply cut however many holes in the box you would like, secure it closed and your cats can flip it around to obtain food.
Larger boxes can be food puzzles too.
An old shoe box makes a great food puzzle!
A neat and tidy way to provide catnip
I hear a lot of complaints about how messy catnip is to provide. First of all, have a catnip party the day before you plan to vacuum or clean your floors. That just makes good sense!
A nice big cardboard box that can be easily rolled and flopped in is a wonderfully tidy way to bring the two worlds of catnip and cardboard together. Two of our kitties favorite things!
As a tunnel
Tunnels are great for new cat safe rooms, shy cats, large open floor plans, and just for fun!
Some cats find the commercially available nylon tunnels too small or too noisy. These cardboard tunnels may be just the texture your cat is looking for! You can cut holes along the side to let in some light and for a great game of peek-a-boo.
Tunnels can be stuffed with paper and toys too!
A perch or step for a senior
Need a window perch for your cat?
Have a senior who cannot get up on the bed or sofa anymore?
A box can help!
A large stable box can help give seniors a leg up!
As a feline rooting box
Ooooo, I wonder what is in here!
Allow your cat to experience the scents and textures of the outdoors by creating a feline rooting box!
Fill a box with leaves, sticks, pine cones, hay, rocks, small branches, etc. The list is a long one! For added interest throw in a handful of dry food or treats and let them forage among the natural textures!
There is a surprise inside!
As a cardboard box race car
Have you ever pushed your cat around the house in a box? Try it!
All three cats depicted here love "cardboard box race car fun." It's a blast.
Zoom Zoom!
If your cat is fancy...
For something slightly more upscale these Catty Stacks make a fantastic fort, play arena, hiding spot, window perch, cat condo, you name it! Both versatile and cute if you cannot stand the thought of traditional cardboard boxes all over your house; these are a more decorative alternative.
Just for fun-if it fits it ships!
Cats love to squeeze into small spaces, so next time you get an awesome box, even if you think it is too small, give it to your cat. Let them be the judge!
Fun, free and fantastic!
"Hell yeah boxes are awesome!"
You really cannot get much more fun for free than giving your cat boxes. My cats are never without one (or five) in the house. Rotate them out so there is always something new to explore. That being said, you may be hard-pressed to throw away an old favorite too. Both choices are good ones.
Enrichment does not need to cost much or be fancy. Give your cat the comfort and fun of a box today!
Twine, cardboard tubes and a rock!
This is an earthy, natural style food puzzle. I used a leftover rock from our catio, some cardboard tubes that already came cut just like this as packing material from a mail order and some garden twine. It’s a little rickety but a fun impromptu puzzle.
