| Box basics |
| Enrichment works best if you offer it for a while... Then take it away, so it does not become common or lose the excitement factor. I leave a box house up anywhere from a week to a month, depending on how much fun they are still having with it. |
| When they start to "get bored" with the box house, switch it up. Split up the pieces. Add-in other elements, like poster board obstacles, tissue paper to crawl around and hide in, blankets to make it cozier to sleep in. |
| Safety first! Use packaging tape to seal the ends of the boxes -- make sure it's pressed flat so your cats can't chew on it and swallow any! Any holes you cut for doors or windows need to be big enough or small enough that your cat's head won't get stuck in them. |
| Games through the windows are the best! Dangle a string or their favorite feather toy and let them hunt thru the holes in the box house :) |
| Make putting up a box house a family game, a special event. Create fanfare! |
| Have it go up and come down in stages -- stretch out the fun. Just-bought boxes can lean up against the wall to crawl and play behind, open as a tunnel, my cats love to sit on a box just laying flat on the ground (it's a great thing! lol). |
| Make sure you use clean boxes - Walmart seems to have the best prices on boxes at the moment. Uhaul has decent prices too. You can find all different shapes and sizes at office supply stores, and BJs gives out free boxes at check-out. |
| Create learning games - hide a favorite toy underneath a small box tipped upside-down for your cat to uncover. Cut holes in a litle box and hide treats or toys inside for them to reach-in, grab, and pull out. Do this with them; if it's too hard, show them how they can do it, or alter the game a little... Let their skill level will increase with practice. Don't make it impossible or they'll get frustrated and give up. Work with them! |
| Ahhhh... an open box (or lid) makes a great special fun bed for an afternoon cat nap. Place in a sunny spot, tuck it in the back of a closet, or plop it right in the middle of your bed. Let your cats discover it. |
| Get creative - tape several boxes together to make a fort. Cut holes inside some of them to make "doors" between adjacent boxes. Put tissue in one, a blanket in another, leave one empty... Experiment! |
| Receive a package in the mail? Open it with your cats then give them the box. Everybody gets something that way. |
