Mary Allen
Intelligence toys can entertain cats wonderfully; they are also good for concentration and dexterity. But in order for them to lure clever cats out from behind the stove, certain rules should be observed.
There are now countless varieties of intelligence toys for cats, all of which work on the same principle: in order to get a treat out of its hiding place, the cat has to think and use its paws. Observation skills, coordination skills, and endurance are trained.
“Intelligence toys are a good addition to fast-paced racing and prey-catching games, especially for indoor cats,” says German behavioral expert Melanie Jansen. Often these could even encourage older, health-impaired cats to play. Not least in winter, when it’s cold and wet outside and many outdoor cats don’t want to put their paw in front of the door.
The simplest versions of intelligence toys are food balls or food rolls, where chunks of food fall through small openings when the cat rolls the toy around the home. When it comes to food balls, it makes sense to use models for dogs, because the little cat balls like to disappear under the furniture, Jansen advises: “If our plan was for the cat to have entertainment and food during our working day, but the ball out of reach under the sofa is counterproductive.”
Quite simply, you can also place food chunks under empty yogurt cups or in the middle of empty toilet paper rolls. Or the treat is on a small toy boat or a piece of wood floating in a bowl of water. For the sake of the living room carpet, however, this variant is best played in the tiled bathroom. There are also whole Fummel boards, Fummel mats, or Fummel towers where the cat “fishes” for treats, for example from cups or a maze of bars.
Gradually Raise the Bar
Puzzles and strategy games are suitable for advanced players, in which the cat has to push, push or tip individual elements with its paw to get the reward. Regardless of whether you bought it or made it yourself: It is important that the toy is solidly manufactured so that the cat cannot injure itself or swallow small parts. Plastic games from specialist retailers are often very easy to clean in the dishwasher, while your own creations made of cardboard, wood or fabric should be replaced more frequently for reasons of hygiene.
Also for advanced players are intelligence games that were not developed for cats at all, but for dogs and parrots. However, it must be borne in mind that the respective hiding compartments are usually designed in such a way that they have to be opened with their mouth or beak. According to Jansen, nature has actually provided the cat with other advantages: “It’s more likely to be lurked, pawed, thrown or nudged and caught.” Nevertheless, there are cats that show considerable skill even with alien intelligence toys.
You should start as simply as possible. “In order for the cat to enjoy the new activity, it needs a sense of achievement,” says Jansen. It’s best to start with quality treats and an easy task where the cat can see the chunks of food. In the beginning, the cat is also allowed to watch how the human hides the food and takes it out again. The requirements can then be gradually increased.
Jansen emphasizes that even if the treatment is an important motivation, you should never let the cat starve before playing: “But it helps if it doesn’t have a full stomach.” It is simply important that the daily feed ratio is adjusted accordingly: “So that the new fun doesn’t hit the line.”
Once the cat understands the principle of the game and likes it, you can serve the normal dry food in the “hiding place” instead of the treats. Jansen: “Of course, if you offer normal food over the toys, it makes no sense to have a full food bowl next to it. In this case, not using the intelligence toy speaks volumes about the cat’s intelligence.”