Paws Whiskers & Claws, The Feline Hospital
Georgia's premier cat hospital - servicing Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, Vinings, Cumming, Alpharetta, Morningside, Smyrna
Another great beginner toy that can be used for wet or dry food. This is a stationary puzzle that hones your cats paw fishing skills!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
Foraging cubes are one of the most difficult food puzzles you can offer your cat. Most cats are initially pretty stumped by cubes but once they do get the hang of it they are unstoppable! Foraging ping-pong balls can also be combined with these cubes to further increase the challenge. Simply fill ping-pong with dry food, place inside the cube and offer that to your cat. This way they have to accomplish acquiring food from two objects at once! A puzzle for the Kitty Einstein/Master Forager for sure!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
A more intricate food puzzle with multiple components. Wet cat food can also be used in the wells making it a versatile and challenging game for your cats. This toy is for the experienced forager!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
This is an intricate and challenging stationary food puzzle. This video shows cats figuring out and solving the five different sections. This puzzle can accommodate canned food in some compartments as well as dry food. This is a toy is for the experienced forager!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
Foraging eggs are an awesome and versatile toy. They are opaque and provide erratic movement, keeping kitty entertained and on the move. The eggs can be filled and placed inside other foraging toys such as the cup or gear puzzles to increase the difficulty level for your master forager!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
The Foraging Wiffle Ball is a good beginner object. The many perforated holes increase scent attraction, it is round so it is easily rolled, and the cat can also see that there is food in the ball since it is not complete opaque. It is only available with one large hole for large kibble for obvious reasons, as it already has many small holes. Some cats hook their nails into the holes and learn to shake out the kibble!
Also available for mail order through FundamentallyFeline.com
Two of our senior patients foraging for the very first time from a wiffle ball toy. This object is great for beginners and intermediate foragers. The many holes appeal to their sense of smell and they can even hook their nails into the holes and pick up the ball and shake it!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
The Fishbowl requires some skillful paw action! Some cats will flip this toy over if placed on carpeting. It works best and offers the most challenge on hard flooring. Once the cat becomes adept at using this puzzle it is actually pretty easy. Freeze dried meat pieces makes a nice low calorie option for filler.
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
The two hole cup is a great beginner toy and the one hole cup is the next step up in difficulty. Because these toys are clear the cat can see, smell and hear the kibble rattling around inside the cup.
For the master forager, fill a large foraging egg and place inside the cup for an increased challenge. Some cats really do get that skilled at foraging!
Also available for mail order at FundamentallyFeline.com
Some cats "nose" food puzzles while others use their paws to manipulate the toy. Here Soren is nosing the toy. Notice how he is only able to acquire one piece of food at a time. This limits the amount of food most cats would eat in one sitting which is why foraging can be useful to achieve weight loss in some cats.
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
Opaque, cube-shaped toys are among the most challenging you can offer your cat. In this video Paige shows you how it is done! Not every cat becomes this skilled or manipulates toys with this much gusto. A goal for you and your cat to work towards.
This video proudly features one of our patients, Paige, who is a master forager!
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
Do not let the dog photos on the packaging deter you from trying these toys out with your cats.
Cats are quite capable of using these puzzles only they do so in a different way. Dogs lick out these bowls with their tongues where cats scoop the food out with their paws.
These objects are not too terribly difficult however, each different colored bowl provides a different maze/puzzle challenge. The interior portions of the maze are a bit more out of reach and increase the challenge for the cats.
This post and all of its content is written by and property of Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant of Fundamentally Feline, LLC.
