Wet food is better suited to stationary puzzle feeders, whereas dry food can be used with stationary or mobile puzzles. These preferences should be taken into account when choosing your puzzle feeder. Some cats will only want dry and others will only entertain wet food. The type of puzzle feeder that is best for your cat (and you!) will be dependent on a few different factors, and these should be taken into consideration to improve compliance and enjoyment from your new puzzle feeder: Food PreferenceĪny cat parent knows that feline people can be very particular when it comes to what they eat. When choosing a puzzle feeder, think about your cat’s play style and food preferences. 5 Reasons Puzzle Feeders Are Good For Cats These metrics allow us to state that puzzle feeders, which enable our cats to tap into their natural hunting instincts, hugely benefit our feline friends. They also show fewer behavioral problems such as aggression and over-grooming. It can take a little bit of time to teach your cat to use a puzzle feeder, but studies have shown that cats who use puzzle feeders are happier and more physically fit.

Stationary puzzles will typically have a sturdy base with holes, cups, or channels that cats then have to use their tongue or paws to retrieve the food. Mobile feeders tend to be balls, tubes, or eggs, and usually have holes to release food. They can be mobile (requiring them to be rolled or pushed) or stationary. This article will consider using puzzle feeders as an alternative means of feeding.Īlso Read: Cat Obesity Chart: Find Out if Your Cat is Obese What Are Puzzle Feeders?Ī puzzle feeder is an object that holds food or treats that your cat must manipulate to access the food items. With an increase in feline obesity and behavioral problems (especially in cats kept indoors), the use of alternative methods of feeding your cat can be hugely beneficial. This is far removed from how we feed our domestic cats.

Of these hunting efforts, only around half actually lead to a prey item being captured. The natural feeding pattern for wild cats is to eat multiple small meals throughout the day, with several hunting attempts daily. Yet, cats are natural predators whose behavioral needs are very similar to their wild counterparts. More than likely, you provide kibble or wet food into a bowl once or twice a day, in the same place every day.

Cat puzzle feeder