DIY toy guide
Knotted Newspaper Foraging Log
Roll and knot a sheet of newspaper into a rustling treat-hiding log
A single sheet of newspaper rolled up, loosely knotted and stuffed with a few biscuits becomes a crackling foraging puzzle. Your cat has to nose, paw and pull the knot apart to free the treats, turning a two-minute snack into satisfying work.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Cost
- Free
🧺 You will need
- One sheet of plain newspaper (avoid glossy, heavily inked flyers)
- A small handful of your cat’s usual biscuits or treats
🔧 How to make it
- Lay the sheet flat and scatter a few treats along one long edge.
- Roll the sheet up loosely into a tube around the treats so they are trapped inside.
- Tie the tube into one or two loose overhand knots to close the ends.
- Set the log down and let your cat rustle, paw and tear it open to reach the treats.
- Bin the shredded paper afterwards and roll a fresh one next time.
💡 Tips
- Make the first few logs very loose so your cat wins quickly and stays interested.
- Tighten the knots over time to raise the difficulty as your cat gets the idea.
Safety: Supervise cats that like to eat paper, and take the log away once the treats are out — swallowed wads of newspaper can upset the stomach or, rarely, cause a blockage. Use plain newsprint rather than glossy, brightly inked pages.
📝 Notes
Foraging for scattered food taps a cat’s natural hunting drive and slows down fast eaters, and this version costs nothing and takes seconds to make from something you would otherwise recycle.