DIY toy guide
Paper-Towel Tube Treat Shaker
A capped kitchen-roll tube with holes becomes a rolling, rattling treat dispenser
An empty paper-towel tube, punched with a few holes and folded shut at both ends, turns into a shaker your cat has to bat and roll to release kibble one piece at a time — a bigger, longer-lasting cousin of the toilet-roll puzzle.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- One empty paper-towel (kitchen roll) tube
- A handful of your cat's dry kibble or small treats
- Scissors to cut a few holes
- Optional tape to reinforce the folded ends
🔧 How to make it
- Cut or punch four or five holes around the tube, each a little larger than a piece of kibble.
- Fold and flatten one end of the tube closed, taping it if you want it to last.
- Drop a small handful of kibble or treats inside through the open end.
- Fold the second end closed so the treats are sealed in.
- Set it on the floor and let your cat paw, bat and roll it so kibble tumbles out through the holes.
💡 Tips
The long tube rolls unpredictably, which keeps the game more interesting than a short toilet-roll version. Make the holes slightly bigger for a beginner so rewards come quickly, then use smaller holes to increase the challenge once your cat has the idea.
📝 Notes
It costs nothing, takes minutes to make from the recycling, and is easily replaced when it wears out. Use it to slow down a fast eater or to add a little foraging work to treat time.