DIY toy guide
Tissue-Box Treat Swatter
An empty tissue box turned into a paw-in foraging puzzle
An empty rectangular tissue box, with its handy pre-cut oval opening, becomes an instant foraging puzzle: drop a few treats and a light ball inside and let your cat fish them out with a paw.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- One empty rectangular tissue box
- A few of your cat's favourite treats or some kibble
- A light ping-pong ball or crumpled paper ball
- Scissors (an adult job)
🔧 How to make it
- Remove any plastic film from around the tissue box's opening so no loose plastic remains.
- If the opening is small, trim it a little wider so a paw fits easily and cannot get stuck.
- Drop a few treats and a light ball through the opening.
- Give the box a shake so your cat hears the rattle, then set it down and let them paw the treats out.
- Top it up now and then to keep the game interesting.
💡 Tips
Cut a second small hole in one end for a harder version, so treats can be batted right through the box. Rotating between an easy and a harder box keeps a clever cat guessing.
Safety: Strip away all plastic film first, as it is a choking risk, and supervise cats who tend to chew and swallow cardboard. Replace the box once it is chewed soft or damp.
📝 Notes
Foraging puzzles like this turn feeding into a small hunt, slowing down fast eaters and giving indoor cats a satisfying mental workout from something you would otherwise throw away.