DIY toy guide
PVC Pipe Treat Maze
A sturdy, refillable puzzle feeder built from off-cuts of plastic pipe
Short lengths of wide plastic pipe joined with elbows and tees make a rattly, tip-and-roll maze that dispenses kibble a piece at a time as your cat noses and paws it about, turning a bowl of food into a foraging challenge.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low
🧺 You will need
- Two or three short off-cuts of wide (40–50 mm) plastic waste pipe
- A couple of matching elbow and tee connectors
- A drill or a heated skewer to make holes (an adult job)
- Fine sandpaper
- Your cat's usual dry food or treats
🔧 How to make it
- Cut the pipe into short sections if it is not already, and sand every cut edge until it is completely smooth with no sharp burrs.
- Drill or melt several holes a little larger than a piece of kibble along the sections, so food can fall out as the maze is moved.
- Sand around each hole so the edges are smooth to a nose and paw.
- Push the sections and connectors together into a branching shape that will rock and roll when nudged; leave one end removable for filling.
- Load it with a small amount of dry food, set it on the floor and show your cat how a nudge sends a piece tumbling out.
💡 Tips
- Start with big holes and a loose fit so early wins come easily, then make it harder as your cat gets the idea.
- Give it a quick rinse and dry after each use so food residue does not build up inside the pipe.
Safety: Make sure every cut edge and hole is sanded smooth, and only use pieces of pipe far too big to be swallowed. Supervise the first few sessions to be sure your cat cannot pull off and chew a small connector, and set the maze aside if any part becomes cracked or gnawed.
📝 Notes
Puzzle feeders slow down fast eaters, stave off boredom in indoor cats, and let a cat act out the natural work-for-food foraging that a full bowl removes — all of which supports a healthier weight and a calmer, more contented cat.