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Why Your Cat Would Like Food Puzzle Toys and Environmental Enrichment

1/13/2018

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Although cats are currently the most commonly kept pet in the US, the conditions they are kept in are perhaps the least natural to them, especially given that the domestic cats' behavior and behavioral needs are very similar to those of their closest wild ancestor; foraging [read:hunting] for food is one of those needs.

For a variety of reasons (e.g. - safety, health, wildlife predation) current veterinary guidelines recommend that owners keep cats indoors. This, along with the concurrent misperception of cats as low-maintenance lead us to keep pet cats in conditions that are suboptimal. One significant influence on cats’ living conditions is how they are routinely fed. Most cats are offered food ad libitum from a bowl and are often required to share feeding areas or dishes with other cats; they expend little to no effort to acquire calories.

Outdoor, "community cats," hunt, catch and eat several small prey every day. Your indoor, domestic cat, shares these same instincts.  Enabling our companion animals - engaging them both mentally and physically - to make decisions that result in desired outcomes is one of the most empowering things we can do for them and helps them to be mentally and behaviorally healthy.

Lack of environmental enrichment, has been associated with health issues, such as chronic lower urinary tract signs, and development of problem behaviors, which can cause weakening of the human–animal bond. Environmental enrichment may mitigate the effects of these problems and one approach is to take advantage of cats’ natural instinct to work for their food.

Food puzzles are toys that make your cat do some work to get the food out of them. Maybe they have to stick their paw in and pick pieces of food out, or maybe they roll it around with their nose or paw to make food fall out of the holes. There are many different types of food toys, some of which stay in one place and others that the cat has to move around.

The options for pet food puzzles are nearly limitless. A quick Internet search will yield dozens of websites that sell food puzzles for a wide variety of species, and just as many sites offer ideas on how to make your own. 

Here are some examples you can buy:


  • Doc and Phoebes Indoor Hunting Feeder
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  • Foraging Mini-Egg
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  • Trixie Activity Fun Board
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Or you can DIY:

  • Build your puzzle out of cardboard tubes and paper cups
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  • Use an old Tupperware Container
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  • ​Use a cardboard box
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So, put aside those boring old food bowls and start teaching your pets how to play with their food!

​Other resources to help maintain your cat’s environmental enrichment; 
  • Indoor Pet Initiative 
  • ​Food Puzzles for Cats
  • Healthy and Happy Indoor Cat
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Cozy Up With These Holiday Tips

1/7/2018

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The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to try to keep your pet's eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. Also, please be sure to steer pets clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations.

Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations

  •  Oh, Christmas Tree:  Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall. Also AVOID TINSEL, many pets will ingest this decoration which can cause an intestinal obstruction, often requiring surgery!
  •  Avoid Mistletoe, Holly and Lilies: Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested.
  • That Holiday Glow: Don't leave lighted candles unattended
  •  Wired Up: Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth and digestive tract.

Avoid Holiday Food Dangers
  •  Skip the Sweets: By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate but don't forget to avoid anything sweetened with xylitol!
  •  Leave the Leftovers: Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends
  •  Careful with Cocktails: If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
  • Selecting Special Treats: Looking to stuff your pet's stockings? Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible. Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery

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Chestnut Street Animal Hospital
(P) 781-444-8838
(F) 781-444-6605
334 Chestnut Street, Needham, MA 02492
Email: info@chestnutstreetah.com
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