April 27, 2023, 11:43 am | Read time: 3 minutes
With puzzle boards, cats can work for their food themselves. This not only provides variety but also prevents them from gobbling down their food. Indoor cats, in particular, appreciate this activity as they tend to eat out of sheer boredom. In the new video of our “DIY for Pets” series, we show how to easily make a puzzle board for cats yourself.
Cats are intelligent animals and love to be mentally challenged. A puzzle board, where the little hunters have to work for their food, is an excellent way to bring variety into their daily routine. You can either hide the cat’s favorite treats in it or distribute an entire portion of food. This not only provides fun and mental stimulation but also prevents the animals from simply gobbling down their food. However, this is only suitable for dry food. With a few simple items like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, or paper cups, you can easily make a puzzle board for cats yourself. The advantage over purchased models is that you can adjust the size and difficulty level to suit your pet. PETBOOK and myHOMEBOOK, together with Susanne from “ikarusdoodle”, show how it’s done. There’s a step-by-step guide in the video above. Have fun trying it out!
Also interesting: 5 toys to combat cat boredom
Make a Puzzle Board for Cats Yourself – What You Need
Materials
- Wooden board in the desired size
- Materials like paper cups, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, or chocolate boxes
Tools
- Wood glue
- Spray paint (use only child- and pet-friendly products)
- Scissors
Make a Puzzle Board for Cats Yourself – Here’s How
The design of the puzzle board can be done indoors. Spraying with paint should be done on the balcony or in the garden, as the fumes can be irritating. If this is not possible, it’s best to open the windows to ensure good ventilation.
- First, arrange the materials on the wooden board as desired and cut them if necessary.
- Coat the materials with wood glue and stick them onto the board.
- Let everything dry for a few minutes.
- Spray the puzzle board evenly from all sides with paint (follow the manufacturer’s instructions) and let it dry.
Initially, you should make it as easy as possible for the cat by placing the food easily accessible on the puzzle board, so it quickly experiences success. Cats usually understand the concept quickly, and you can choose more challenging hiding spots. Therefore, it’s a good idea to make several puzzle boards with different difficulty levels. To clean the puzzle board, turn it upside down (preferably over a trash can) and shake it out.
A detailed step-by-step guide can be found in the video above!
Find everything about DIY at myHOMEBOOK!