DIY toy guide
Colander Treat Puzzle
An upside-down colander turned instant foraging puzzle
A metal or plastic colander flipped over a scatter of kibble becomes a zero-cost foraging puzzle: your cat must reach a paw through the holes to fish each piece out, turning a thirty-second meal into satisfying mental work.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- A clean metal or rigid plastic colander with holes big enough for a paw
- A handful of your cat's usual kibble or a few small treats
- A tray or towel underneath to catch stray pieces (optional)
🔧 How to make it
- Scatter a small handful of kibble or treats on a smooth floor or tray.
- Turn the colander upside down over the pile so the food sits trapped underneath.
- Let your cat investigate — most quickly learn to hook pieces out through the holes with a paw.
- Start easy with lots of food and a light cover, then make it harder by using fewer, more spread-out pieces as your cat gets the idea.
- Wash the colander between uses and put it away so the puzzle stays a novelty rather than furniture.
💡 Tips
- Choose a colander with holes wide enough for a paw but too small for the whole head, so your cat works with its paws rather than shoving its face in.
- For a beginner, prop one edge up slightly so a few pieces are easy early wins that keep them interested.
Safety: Use a colander with smooth, rounded holes and no sharp cut edges, and supervise the first few sessions to be sure your cat paws at it calmly rather than biting or trying to force its head inside.
📝 Notes
This is one of the fastest foraging enrichment ideas there is, and because you control how much food goes under it, it doubles as a gentle way to slow down a cat that gulps its meals.