DIY toy guide
Shoebox Slot-Drop Treat Puzzle
Turn a shoebox into a coin-slot puzzle your cat 'plays' for treats
Cut a few narrow slots in a shoebox lid, drop treats inside, and let your cat fish them out through the openings — a simple foraging puzzle from a box destined for recycling.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- A clean cardboard shoebox with a lid
- Scissors or a craft knife (for adult use only)
- A ruler and pen
- A handful of your cat's favourite treats or kibble
🔧 How to make it
- Mark three or four narrow vertical slots on the shoebox lid, each roughly the width of two fingers and spaced apart.
- Carefully cut out the slots with scissors or a craft knife, and gently fold or smooth any rough cardboard edges.
- Drop a scattering of treats or kibble into the base of the box.
- Put the lid on and let your cat sniff out the treats and reach a paw through the slots to fish them out.
- Start with wide, easy slots and larger treats, then make future versions trickier as your cat gets the hang of it.
💡 Tips
- Make the very first version easy — leave the lid slightly ajar so your cat gets a quick win and learns the game.
- Vary the treat positions each time so the puzzle stays interesting.
- Use a low-calorie portion of your cat's normal food if you play often, so treats do not add up.
Safety: An adult should do all the cutting. Remove any staples, tape or glossy printed inserts, supervise the first few sessions, and replace the box once it becomes chewed or soggy so no cardboard is swallowed.
📝 Notes
This is a great starter puzzle for cats new to foraging toys, and it costs nothing but a box you were going to recycle anyway.