Enrichment Ideas for Low and Small Budgets
The key is to keep things interesting by rotating and mixing different options. You don’t need to buy anything to stay within budget. Check your recycling bin, garden, kitchen, or basement for ideas and inspiration.
You can use the enrichment ideas for fun or during cat introductions when a second set of hands is unavailable.
I usually work with a small budget and buy a few high-quality, versatile products that can be cleaned, disinfected, and used for many years. Then I pair them with boxes, egg cartons, old sheets, or whatever is seasonally available.
Some ideas work well when you have little time, only two hands during introductions, or when one cat is recovering from illness.
1. Sensory – includes all senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.
2. Food related – how we feed, different food, and places. Make them work for food.
3. Environmental- cat trees, vertical and horizontal space, scratchers.
4. Cognitive – anything new or different.
5. Social – interactions with humans, conspecifics or other species.
Examples:
· Physical Exercise – interactive playtime with a wand toy.
· Mental Exercise – food puzzles, clicker training, pattern games.
· Sensory Stimulation – nose work for cats with catnip, valerian root, or silvervine.
· Safety –carrier training, recall practice.
· Instinctual Behaviors – foraging toys, prey sequence with toy.
· Behavior – training on phasing out an undesirable behavior
· Environment – scratchers, beds, cat grass, vertical space, cat trees.
· Feeding – feed from a food puzzle and change food at different places.
· Hygiene – train nail trim, brushing.
Every cat is unique. We need to consider its mood state. Is the cat relaxed and happy? Easily overstimulated? Or shy?
Catnip triggers different reactions in each cat. Some become overstimulated, while others relax. Watch how your cat reacts to different types of enrichment and adjust the plan if needed.
The “no budget” ideas are meant to be quick, easy, and cost-effective:
Cardboard boxes with paper
Cardboard boxes with bubble wrap
Cardboard boxes with leaves in the fall
An empty suitcase or bag
Treats on a boat - bottle caps with treats on water
Paper bags (cut the handles)
Egg carton for treats or kibbles
Muffin tins for treats
Ice cube trays for treats
Scatter the food around the house
Use empty toilet paper rolls for treats
Use a plastic coaster as a lick mat
Move the cat tree to the window
Build a fort from old cardboard boxes
Play bird sounds
Catnip - ask around, many people grow it in their yard
For “small budget” ideas, I purchase a few high-quality items and combine them:
An example is the Go Cat wand toy. The attachments can be swapped out, and the toy can be played with in a cardboard box, under an old bed sheet, or with bubble wrap.
If I had to decide on a few items, these would be my favorites:
1) High-quality wand toy with different attachments.
Long, sturdy, and flexible. It can be combined with many attachments.
2) Attachments for the wand toy
The natural attachments come in various shapes and forms. They last forever, even with rough players!
https://www.coolcyberstore.com
3) Food puzzle
My absolute favorite is the CATIT digger. It is easy to clean, can be used for dry and wet treats, and is suitable for all life stages.
4) Snuffle mat for pigs works great for cats
Soft snuffle mat with multiple textures. Large enough for up to three cats to forage and work for their treats.
https://www.amazon.com/Piggy-Poo-Crew
If you have more money to spend:
5) Tunnel for cats
Purchase a high-quality tunnel that will last for multiple years.
My top favorite is:
6) Ripple rug
The rug is super soft and easy to clean. It can be combined with a wand toy play session, cardboard boxes, or for hiding treats.
https://shop.ripplerug.com/collections/ripple-rug-love
Overall, the sky is the limit when it comes to cat enrichment ideas. And don’t forget, cats love vertical space, small dark corners to nap in, and a great view to watch birds or see what’s happening outside.