Turn Mealtime Into Playtime!
For many pets, mealtime lasts just a few minutes. Or less.
But with the right pet enrichment toys, mealtime can become an engaging activity that keeps curious minds busy!
From slow feeders to lick mats and foraging toys, enrichment encourages pets to use natural instincts like sniffing, licking, searching, and problem-solving. A new puzzle feeder can slow enthusiastic eaters, reduce boredom, and provide valuable mental stimulation for cats and dogs.
Whether you're looking for cat enrichment ideas, dog enrichment toys, or simply a new way to make mealtime more exciting, pairing enrichment feeders with delicious Weruva recipes is one of our favorite ways to mix things up.
One quick note: We aren't affiliated with any of the products below. After sharing our enrichment videos, so many of you asked which toys and feeders we were using that we decided to round them up in one place. These are simply products we genuinely love and discovered through trusted creators and friends in the pet community.
Here are a few enrichment products we find ourselves reaching for again and again.
1. Interactive Treat Puzzle Board
ALL FOR PAWS Interactive Cat Puzzle Feeder
Watch your cat channel their inner hunter as they sniff, paw, and puzzle their way to every tasty reward.
Shop NowBest for: Curious cats who love to hunt for every bite.
This interactive puzzle board turns treat time into a miniature hunting adventure. Instead of simply eating from a bowl, cats use their paws to slide treats through winding tracks and hidden compartments before earning each reward. It's a fun way to encourage the natural hunting and foraging instincts that indoor cats don't always get to use.
Watching them figure it out is half the fun. Watching them proudly fish out that last treat? Even better.
Why It Made Our List
- Encourages natural hunting and foraging behaviors
- Provides mental stimulation for indoor cats
- Adjustable difficulty keeps cats engaged
- Makes treat time last longer
- Easy to add to your daily routine
How We Use It
Hide pieces of Weruva freeze dried cat food and let your cat sniff, paw, and problem-solve their way to every bite. It also works wonderfully with BFF Toodzies crunchy cat treats, turning snack time into an interactive game your cat will happily play again tomorrow and beg for a rematch today!
2. Silicone Grass Foraging Mat
Palksky Silicone Grass Mat
Turn snack time into a sniff-and-search adventure with a mat that keeps curious noses happily exploring.
Shop NowBest for: Cats and dogs who love to sniff and forage
Foraging is one of the most natural forms of enrichment for both cats and dogs, and this silicone grass mat makes it easy to bring that instinct indoors. Simply tuck food between the flexible blades and let your pet search for every bite. Unlike fabric snuffle mats, the silicone design is quick to rinse clean, making it especially convenient for freeze dried pet foods or wet food.
Why It Made Our List
- Mimics natural foraging behaviors
- Helps slow down fast eaters
- Easy to wash and reuse
- Great for daily enrichment
- Works for both cats and dogs
How We Use It
Scatter small pieces of freeze dried cat food or freeze dried dog food throughout the mat, or hide BFF Toodzies crunchy cat treats between the blades for a sniff-and-search adventure your pet will be excited to tackle.
3. Frozen Lickable Cat Treat Pop Mold
Silicone Candy Molds
Freeze your favorite lickable treats into adorable frozen pops for a cool twist on treat time.
Shop NowBest for: Pet parents looking for a fun new way to bond over treat time.
Sometimes the best moments happen during a special afternoon treat shared together. This adorable silicone mold lets you turn your pet's favorite lickable cat treats into frozen pops for a cool, interactive experience that's as fun to make as it is to serve.
Frozen treats can be especially refreshing on warm days, but honestly...we think they're a hit year-round.
Why It Made Our List
- Turns treat time into a longer-lasting activity
- Great for bonding and interactive enrichment
- Easy to prepare ahead of time
- Reusable and simple to clean
- Perfect for warm weather or anytime your pet deserves a little something extra special
How We Use It
Fill each mold with Weruva Puddy Pops, then freeze until solid for a cool enrichment activity your cat will happily lick from start to finish.
Looking to switch things up? Try freezing Cats in the Kitchen and Dogs in the Kitchen Pantry Pours for another delicious option.
4. LickiMat® Catster
LickiMat® Catster
Spread, lick, repeat! A simple way to make wet food last longer while keeping your pet happily occupied.
Shop NowBest for: Cats who believe every meal should be savored.
Lick mats are one of the easiest ways to add enrichment to your cat's daily routine.
Simply spread a thin layer of food across the textured surface. Instead of finishing dinner in seconds, cats spend several minutes slowly licking every groove clean. That extended licking behavior helps turn an ordinary meal into a more engaging experience.
Many pet parents also use lick mats during grooming sessions, nail trims, or other moments when a tasty distraction comes in handy. (We won't tell your cat it was all part of the plan.)
Why It Made Our List
- Naturally extends mealtime
- Encourages licking behavior
- Can be frozen for an even longer activity
- Dishwasher safe
- Perfect for wet food
How We Use It
Spread your favorite BFF Best Feline Friend recipe, freeze dried cat food, or Weruva Puddy Pops across the mat for an enrichment activity your cat will happily lick clean.
5. Moon Bowl Slow Feeder
Siliking Moon-Bowl
Dinner doesn't have to disappear in thirty seconds. This stylish slow feeder helps every bite last a little longer.
Shop NowBest for: Pet parents who want to help their pets slow down at mealtime.
Some pets get so excited about dinner that it's gone before you've even had a chance to put the spoon down. If that sounds familiar, a slow feeder can be a simple way to make mealtime last a little longer.
The Moon Bowl's textured design encourages pets to work around ridges and curves as they enjoy every bite, helping transform a quick meal into a more engaging experience. It's proof that slow feeders for cats and dogs can work just as well with wet food as they do with dry food.
Why It Made Our List
- Designed specifically for wet food
- Encourages slower eating
- Beautiful modern design
- Easy to clean
- Great for daily meals
How We Use It
Fill the bowl with your favorite Weruva freeze dried cat food or wet pet food, then add a drizzle of Cats in the Kitchen and Dogs in the Kitchen Pantry Pours, or Pumpkin Patch Up! Dinner just got a lot more exciting!
6. Slow Feeder Licking Mat for Dogs
Pet Zone Boredom Busters™ Licking Mat
Different textures, lots of licking, and one happy dog. Mealtime just became the best part of the day.
Shop NowBest for: Dogs who get a little too excited when dinner is served.
If your dog treats every meal like it's a race, this enrichment mat is worth checking out. With several textured sections, it encourages dogs to lick, explore, and work through every bite instead of gulping it all down at once. The built-in suction cups keep the mat in place, whether it's on the floor or stuck to a smooth surface for grooming or bath time.
It's a simple way to turn dinner into a longer, more engaging activity...and maybe buy yourself a few extra minutes before your dog starts asking if it's time for second dinner.
Why It Made Our List
- Combines a lick mat and slow feeder in one
- Different textures keep dogs engaged
- Helps encourage a slower eating pace
- Suction cups keep it in place
- Great for mealtime, grooming, or bath time distractions
How We Use It
Spread Awesome Functions wet dog food across the different sections of the mat and let your dog lick, explore, and enjoy every last bite. The savory gravies and shreds settle nicely into the different textures, turning an ordinary meal into a fun activity. Take it up a notch by sprinkling freeze dried dog food on top!
More Ways to Add Enrichment to Every Meal
The best enrichment routine isn't always complicated. Rotating a few toys and feeders throughout the week keeps mealtime exciting while giving your pet new ways to interact with their food.
After all, nobody wants to eat every meal exactly the same way forever, right? Here are a few easy ideas:
- Hide freeze dried pet food pieces inside puzzle toys.
- Spread wet food across a lick mat.
- Freeze Cats in the Kitchen and Dogs in the Kitchen Pantry Pours or Puddy Pops for a longer-lasting challenge.
- Rotate enrichment toys throughout the week to keep them feeling new.
- Let your pet sniff, search, lick, and solve instead of simply eating from a bowl.
- Try different slow feeders to add variety to mealtime.
- Save puzzle toys for rainy days or whenever your pet could use a little extra mental stimulation.
A few minutes of enrichment each day can make mealtime more engaging while tapping into your pet's natural instincts. Dinner might just become your pet's favorite game of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pet enrichment toys?
Pet enrichment toys encourage natural behaviors like sniffing, licking, searching, and problem-solving. Pet puzzle feeders, lick mats, foraging toys, and slow feeders all provide mental stimulation while making mealtime more rewarding.
Are slow feeders good for cats and dogs?
Yes! Slow feeders can help turn mealtime into an engaging activity for both cats and dogs. They encourage pets to eat at a slower pace. They keep your pet's brain engaged through licking, sniffing, searching, or working around different textures and obstacles.
Can you use wet food in enrichment toys?
Absolutely. Many enrichment feeders are designed for wet food. Lick mats and textured slow feeder bowls work well with patés, shredded recipes, gravies, and toppers. They're a perfect match for many Weruva meals.
What Weruva foods work best with enrichment feeders?
Absolutely. Many enrichment feeders are designed for wet pet food . Lick mats and textured slow feeder bowls work well with patés, shredded recipes, gravies, and toppers. They're a perfect match for many Weruva meals.
Different enrichment toys pair well with different Weruva products:
- Freeze dried cat food & freeze dried dog food: Perfect for puzzle feeders, treat boards, and foraging toys.
- BFF Toodzies crunchy cat treats: Great for treat puzzles and interactive games.
- Weruva wet foods: Ideal for lick mats and slow feeder bowls.
- Cats in the Kitchen and Dogs in the Kitchen Pantry Pours & Puddy Pops: Spread onto lick mats or freeze it for a longer activity.
How often should I use enrichment feeders?
As often as you'd like! Many pet parents use enrichment feeders for one meal each day and save puzzle toys or treat games for snack time. Rotating different enrichment toys throughout the week keeps things fresh, exciting, and mentally stimulating for your pet.
