Bulldog Weight Loss The Impact of Treat Dispensing Toys on Exercise

The Best Treat Dispensing Dog Toys2024 Review

Things to Look for in a Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

When choosing a treat dispensing toy for your dog, its a good idea to consider several factors to ensure you choose the best option.

Good Quality Materials

Choosing a toy with good quality materials reduces the chances of the toy breaking while your dog is using it. Quality materials also increase comfort for your dog and tend to last longer.

Correct Size For Your Dog

Choosing the correct size of toy for your dog ensures they can play with it properly. This enables them to move the toy easily and to fit it in their mouth comfortably. The right toy size also helps to ensure its strong enough for them.

Consider Difficulty Level

Dogs love their food, so most will enjoy a treat-dispensing toy. However, its important to strike that balance between making the activity difficult enough to keep them interested yet easy enough to allow them to get the treats. If this is your dogs first time with this type of toy, its a good idea to get an easier level of toy. Some of the best toys will have adjustable difficulty levels.

Consider Treat Size and Type

If you have a specific size and type of treat you want to use, make sure your treats will fit in the treat dispensing toy you buy.

Easy to clean

Dogs are not the tidiest of eaters, so choosing a toy that can be put in the dishwasher or quickly rinsed off is helpful.

Treat Dispensing Toy Safety Advice

Even the toughest of dog toys are not guaranteed to be indestructible. Therefore, its a good idea to supervise your furry friend if they often destroy toys quickly. If you plan to leave your dog alone with a treat dispensing toy, ensure you get a toy that is suitable for their chew strength. Toys may state that they are designed for light, average, or tough chewers: this increases safety.

The Benefits of a Treat Dispensing Toy for Your Dog

Treat dispensing dog toys can provide many benefits for your dog (and you)! These toys mentally stimulate your pooch, preventing them from getting bored and providing hours of entertainment. Some toys even provide physical exercise, providing a positive outlet for your dogs energy.

Treat dispensing toys encourage natural foraging and hunting behaviours. They can redirect destructive chewing; keep your dog busy while youre out or otherwise occupied, and slow down your dogs eating promoting healthier digestion.

Treat Dispensing Dog Toy FAQ

How can you teach your dog to play with a treat dispensing toy?

If your dog has never used a treat dispensing toy before, youll need to show them how to use it. Start with high-value treats, which simply means the treats your dog loves the most. Let your dog see or smell the treats and allow them to watch you put the treats into the toy.

If the toy has adjustable difficulty levels, start with the easiest option for your dog. Let them sniff the toy and show them how the treats come out. Then allow them to investigate. You may need to encourage them with an excited tone of voice and perhaps show them how to use the toy more than once. Remember to be patient as some dogs take longer to get the idea than others.

Can you feed your dog a meal with the toy?

Yes, you can feed your dog a meal using a treat dispensing toy. If you want to use the toy for meals, make sure you choose a toy that can fit their regular kibble.

How often should you let your dog use the toy?

You can let your dog use their treat dispensing toy regularly, but its crucial that you dont allow it to become a vessel for overfeeding your dog. You shouldnt feed your dog more dog food or treats each day than they would usually get, as this can lead to weight gain and other health issues.

Some people choose only to use treat dispensing dog toys now and then to prevent treats losing their value and becoming expected as part of the daily routine. Other people may use them only once a day while theyre out at work. Take your time to figure out whats right for you and your dog.

Can your dog be left alone with the toy?

As with all dog toys, there isnt a way to ensure your dog wont destroy the toy. However, treat dispensing toys can be a great way to keep your dog active, occupied, and happy while youre out. The key is to know your dog and choose a toy with a suitable chew strength. Trying out the toy while youre home first can be helpful.

Conclusion

Treat dispensing dog toys can be a great way to mentally stimulate your dog, among many other benefits. Its also a lot of fun to see your dog so happy and engaged. If your dog hasnt tried one out yet, Id highly recommend giving it a go.

Best Treat Dispensing Toys

Have you ever wondered if your cats are play fighting or fighting for real? People living in multi-cat households know that the occasional scuffle or a full-blown cat fight is bound to happen. However, many cat owners have a hard time figuring out whether their cats are fighting or roughhousing. A new study published in Scientific Reports can provide some clues. As it turns out, certain behaviors could indicate whether an interaction between two felines is friendly, aggressive, or something in between. In this study, scientists, including Noema Gajdo-Kmecov from the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Koice, Slovakia, analyzed 105 videos of interactions between 210 cats. The videos were obtained directly from cat owners and YouTube. After watching around one-third of the videos, Gajdo-Kmecov pinpointed six types of specific behaviors, including wrestling, chasing, staying still, vocalizing, interactive, and non-interactive activities. She then watched all the videos again to see which cats exhibited one of these specific behaviors and for how long. After running a statistical analysis, Gajdo-Kmecov was able to identify three distinctive types of interactions between the cat pairs - playful, intermediate, and aggressive. To confirm her findings, other members of the research team also watched the videos and classified each interaction between cats. Over half of the cats from the videos, 56% to be exact, exhibited playful interactions. According to the study, playful interactions included wrestling and a lack of vocalization. About 29% were labeled as agonistic, meaning they exhibited any type of social behavior that included threatening, aggression, and submission. Cats in this group vocalized and exhibited recurring bouts of inactivity.The cats in the intermediate group were involved in both aggressive and playful encounters. According to researchers, this group showed prolonged exchanges of specific behaviors, like laying on the back with the belly exposed, pouncing, stalking, and grooming each other. Scientists believe that this mixture of playful and aggressive behavior may be a sign of short-term friction between the cats rather than the end of the relationship. This might escalate into a fully agonistic encounter but does not necessarily reflect a breakdown in their social relationship but rather a short-term disagreement in social priorities, researchers wrote in the study. This study is the first to apply a scientific approach to cat behavior that can be identified by experienced and first-time owners alike. Thanks to this study, scientists can now classify inter-cat interactions as either playful, agonistic, or intermediate. Wrestling can be a sign of a fight but if it comes with bouts of inactivity then that often means it is playful, explained Profesor Daniel Mills, who led the study.Playfighting is also without vocalizations. Thats the profile of a friendly cat. The agonistic cat, they might not do as much wrestling with inactivity but they do lots of vocalization.Owners should keep an eye out on how much they are wrestling and whether or not theyre vocalizing. Vocalizing can be broad and include meowing and also yowling, he added. We all know when cats are fighting fur real, but its important to recognize intermediate interactions, where things could end in play or escalate into a real fight. A lot of cats end up at cat rescue centers because the owners think that theyve fallen out. In the clinic, Ive seen cats that are playing and the owner thinks its a real fight, said Professor Mills. If your cats are really getting along (share food and toys and sleep together), an occasional bout of agonistic play is okay. But if your cats arent the best of friends, you should look for signs of agonistic behavior. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Best Puzzles for Cats (Buyers Guide 2022)

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Best Puzzles for Cats (Buyers Guide 2022)

We spent 5 hours testing food puzzles. Here are our findings:

Treat and food dispenser puzzles are one of the hottest cat products of 2021. Over one-third of all owners use a puzzle feeder. Why are they so popular? Studies have shown that treat dispenser puzzles help cats lose weight and get more active, as well as providing a range of behavioral benefits.

We reviewed a bunch of them! On this page, well tell you what we think are the best food puzzles, why they work, and what you should consider when buying one.

Catpointers Recommends:

Disclaimer: Catpointers loves pet products that are free from harmful additives and other bad chemicals. We encourage you to always check the manufacturers information for any unwanted substances.

Product Reviews

1. Trixie Brain Mover Activity Strategy Game Cat Toy

What we liked:

• Great variety in the types of puzzles offered
• Available in multiple colors
• Rubber stoppers reduce noise from sliding over hard floors
• Can be used with wet food
• Dishwasher proof

What we didnt like:

• It takes up quite a bit of space

The Trixie Brian Mover came out on top as our best-rated product in this category. It is beautifully designed, comes in multiple soft colors, and has a variety of interesting games. This puzzle comes with four built-in modules, each requiring a different type of interaction in order to earn a reward. This variety ensures your kitty wont lose interest in the Trixie Brain Mover anytime soon.

The games consist of a moveable ball, sliders that can be played with, drawer knobs, and loops. Your cat will have to use patience and concentration to solve them, which is exactly the type of stimulation that indoor cats need.

The materials used are mostly plastic (more specifically Polypropylene and High Impact Polystyrene), which has its pros and cons. A definite advantage of this material is that you can clean the entire thing in the dishwasher, but the downside is that plastics can be noisy when your cat is going at it. However, we were delighted to find that Trixie installed four rubber stoppers on the bottom to reduce noise from sliding over hard floors.

All in all, this is a great product, and we couldnt find any major reasons not to buy it. Oh, and did we mention that it comes with a very budget-friendly price tag? Click the button to see for yourself!

2. Petstages Rainy Day Puzzle & Play

What we liked:

• 14 different compartments that can hold different treats or food
• Allows you to increase the difficulty as your cat learns
• Can also be used as a slow-feeder
• It takes wet food

What we didnt like:

• Has to be reconfigured after each puzzle session
• The various elements produce a lot of noise when operated

Review:The Rainy Day Puzzle & Play is presented as the answer to your cats boredom indoors. It certainly is a pretty complete package, with 14 different drop-shaped levers and sliders that reveal holes where you can store treats or food. You also have a spinning disk on top that can be used as an additional place to conceal treats. The puzzles design allows you to increase the difficulty to keep even the most intelligent of cats interested.

The board is made from wood and a solid plastic that is safe to chew on (no BPA, PVC or phthalates). This material is light and easy to clean, which is a definite plus in our eyes.

Overall this is a very solid board, and while it requires some work to set up for every puzzle session, we can easily recommend it to every cat owner that wants to provide a challenge to their kitty. Want to see this product in action? Watch it here.

3. Doc & Phoebes Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder

What we liked:

• Only puzzle that mimicks the hunt for prey
• Dishwasher-proof
• Veterinarian design

What we didnt like:

• The feeder skins come off easily

A unique concept among food puzzles; this one lets you put food into three cut little feeders, which you can then hide in various places around the house. This is as close to natural feeding patterns as you can get, and is sure to get your cat working for their food!

We tried Doc & Phoebes product and it took a while before Layla caught on. But once she understood the concept, we could easily see that she was very much enjoying the hunt!

Whats Included?

The indoor Hunting set includes a trainer with multiple dispensor holes, 3 feeders with holes suited to all kinds of kibble, 3 skins to give your feeders a unique look, and 1 scoop which holds aprox. 1-2 tablespoons of cat food.

Both the feeder, trainer and scoop are free from BPA plastic and can all be washed safely in a dishwasher. The feeder skins are made from nylon and can be placed in a machine wash.

4. Cat Amazing Interactive Treat Maze & Puzzle

What we liked:

• 100% Made from recycled materials
• Several levels of difficulty

What we didnt like:

• The materials are not very durable
• Not suitable for wet food & moist treats
• Difficult to clean

This puzzle is one-of-a-kind in this category because its made entirely from recycled materials. The design is sober, although Cat Amazing did include three difficulties beginner, intermediate and top in order to continually provide a challenge for your kitty as her skills improve.

The puzzle was easy enough to assemble, but it didnt feel very sturdy or durable. Since its made from recycled cardboard, you can forget about putting any wet food or moist treats in. We had some initial concerns about whether cardboard is the smartest choice for a product that will likely be chewed on, but Cat Amazing ensured us that their materials are printed with certified metal-free inks, which they say is completely safe for your cats. Well have to take their word for it.

All in all, this puzzle has some drawbacks. But if youre the kind of person who always thinks of the environment first, those may be overlooked.

What are treat dispenser puzzles?

Although often called treat dispensers, food puzzles is perhaps a more accurate term. A treat puzzle feeder dispenses the contents slowly, usually with some sort of interaction from your cat such as hitting certain parts or pushing things. Treat feeders can come in many shapes and forms, which well go into later.

First, lets take a look at some of the best products that you can buy in this category. Looking to pick up a cat treat dispenser in 2021? You cant go wrong with any of these:

Why you should use a cat treat puzzle

There are lots of good reasons to introduce a treat dispenser toy to your cat. By slowing down your cats eating, a treat dispenser toy can reduce regurgitation from eating too fast- known as scarf and barf. Its not clear why, but using a cat treat dispenser toy may also decrease anxiety and reduce other negative behaviors like scratching, spraying, and aggressive outbursts.

According to a 2016 study on puzzle feeders, increasing activity whilst foraging is physically good for your cat, as well as mentally. Cats that eat more slowly feel fuller sooner, which helps reduce begging and scavenging. Moving puzzle feeder toys may also add to the daily activities of your cat. Both of these benefits help cats to lose excessive weight and have subsequent positive effects on mobility and arthritis.

What types of treat dispensers are there for cats? How do I choose the best type of dispenser for my cat?

There are lots of different types of treat dispensers available to purchase, from treat balls to stationary cat treat mazes. Well cover some of the most popular types here:

Treat Ball/Puzzle Ball

Cat treat ball dispensers are a type of moving puzzle feeder. They have a small hole that dispenses food or tasty treats when the ball is knocked around by your cat. They come in a range of difficulties, with some having several holes and others having just one small hole, and others not being quite round so that they move less predictably. The main advantage of this type of dispenser is that it will encourage a cat to be physically active, which could aid in weight loss.

When you use these, dont forget to make sure the treats or dry food you use is small enough to fit through the holes in your puzzle ball.

Self-righting treat dispensers

A bit like a ball toy, this type of interactive cat treat dispenser holds food on the inside, and releases when knocked. But instead of rolling away like a food ball, the self-righting dispensers reorientate themselves. Great for cats that are less mobile, or where ball toys get stuck under furniture resulting in frustrated cats.

Mazes

Cat treat mazes encourage your feline friend to hunt their food out from tunnels and crevices with their paws and nose. Some are as simple as a bowl with raised bits so that your cat has to move food to where they can easily reach. Others are more complex, with several levels to knock food around before they can get to it. Snuffle mats are a popular type of food maze that cats can use. Mazes are generally stationary, so are great for cats that are scared of the action or noise of the food ball, or cannot move as much due to injury or arthritis.

Pinata Puzzle Feeders

Some puzzle feeders are designed to be hung like pinata to encourage your cat to stand and paw at them. You can also hang some puzzle balls for cats like pinata-style toys to make them more difficult.

Treat Mice

Some treat dispensing toys can be stuffed and hidden- we like to call these treat mice. The cat not only has to hunt down the mouse from behind the cushion or under the bed, but then remove the treats or food from inside it. Some even have a washable outer skin for realism. These are best for cats that like to hunt, and are mobile enough to do so.

Remote Treat Dispensers

Some cat treat toy dispensers work remotely using a camera and your smartphone. They can be used to treat your cat when you are at work or away. Simply log into the app, view your pet, and remotely give them a treat.

This type of dispenser toy isnt good for feeding large amounts of food but can be good to encourage your cat to come in view of the pet cam once in a while!

Which type of puzzle toy will my cat like?

That depends entirely on your cat. You may have to try a few in order to discover what she likes. Remember, their interests may develop over time, so start simple and dont give up. If your pet is overweight, try to choose a moving toy, such as a puzzle ball for cats, that will encourage them to exercise. If you have a cat that likes to hunt, consider whether a food maze or treat mice would be better for them.

What to look for in a good treat dispenser for cats

So, youve decided to buy an interactive cat treat dispenser? Great! Lets make sure you get the right one (or several!) for your cat.

Firstly, you need to make sure that your product is safe for cats. Ideally, look for something designed for cats or small dogs. Whilst plastic is generally hard-wearing and easy to clean and sanitize, it should be BPA-free due to concerns over toxicity. Ideally, anything that comes into contact with food should be easy to take apart to clean. If you can find products that are dishwasher-safe, that will help with cleaning.

You should take care to buy items from a reputable source. As we wrote in our article about dangerous products, some items that are manufactured in other countries are not subject to the same strict standards as toys in the USA or Europe, and can contain toxic materials. Since your cats are going to be eating food from this feeder, you should take as much care as you do with their food bowls.

The next thing to make sure is that the toy contains no small parts that could be removed and swallowed. Long, string-like tails, whilst they look fun, can be dangerous if chewed through and accidentally swallowed, so try to avoid these.

Some treat dispensers are more suitable for feeding a whole bowl of food, others can only take a couple of pieces of kibble. Only a few will take wet food. Youll need to find one that suits your cats feeding needs, too!

3 Top tips for using a puzzle toy with your cat

1. Get several toys and switch them out regularly so that your cat always has a new toy to play with.
2. At first, your cat might need some help learning to use the puzzle- you should show them how to use it and that there is food inside. Dont allow them to become frustrated by the puzzle as this can be detrimental- nobody likes games theyre bad at!
3. Dont be afraid to experiment and change it up by adding DIY toys, putting new treats in them, or giving your cat several puzzles to try at once.

Puzzle feeders in multi-cat households

All cats can be trained to enjoy food puzzles. But since many cats may have individual preferences and dont like to compete over their resources (food, treats and water), we highly recommend placing several different treat dispensers around the house. That way, each cat will be have their own puzzle to enjoy.

.. if one type of puzzle is more popular, then the owner should provide multiple puzzles of that type. This prevents cats from having to compete over food resources, and from being forced to eat in the same area, a behavior that is unnatural to solitary hunters. However, some cats are willing to use a food puzzle together.

Food puzzles for cats: Feeding for physical and emotional wellbeing Link to study

Frequently asked questions

There is a general lack of knowledge among the public. Most people know that food puzzles work great for dogs, but it is a lesser-known fact that they are just as suitable for cats.

A study by Mikel Delgado, a researcher on cat behavior at UCDSVM, found every animal will instinctively want to go out and look for food. Cats are also born with a tendency to hunt; this behavior is deeply ingrained into the brain and an essential part of their life. Food puzzles provide an opportunity to satisfy this urge. When an animal has to work for food, the reward is much more satisfying. So-called happy hormones are released, which contribute to mental and physical health. Food puzzles are therefore thought to contribute to overall health and happiness.

Conclusion

The best cat treat dispenser is one that your cat enjoys using- and since all cats are different, it might take a while to find one that your cat loves. But its worth doing- foraging using treat dispensers is good for your cat, both physically and mentally!

Want to know more? This site is written by cat behaviorists and has loads of information about using cat treat feeders for healthy eating habits!