Peek-a-Prize Toy Box

Cats can become bored with the same old activities, much as people will, especially cats who are left alone for hours at a time (sometimes called "latch-key cats.") Peek-a-Prize Toy Box was designed by an animal behaviorist to stimulate problem-solving abilities, provide exercise, and relieve boredom in cats.

The Peek-a-Prize certainly looked like an interesting concept, when I first heard about it, and my initial impressions were definitely positive, upon opening the package. The toy box is extremely well-built, completely of natural wood, nicely finished. It looks as if it will last for years.

To say that it attracted the attention of my cats is a mild statement. Immediately after I placed it on the floor, they began to gather about, peering and poking through the holes to see what was inside. It wasn't long before toys started flying out of the box, and I was quick to add other small toys to the three that came with the box.

The most interesting aspect of this toy is that the cats' natural hunting and stalking instincts come into play. Their interest is not particularly in the "prey" (toys hidden inside the box), but in the thrill of the hunt. The floor soon became littered with toys flipped out of the box by one cat or another, and I was hard-pressed to keep retrieving them so the hunt could continue.

My test cats soon became very inventive in figuring out various ways to fetch the toys from the box. The holes are strategically placed to provide added interest.

Smart Cat suggests that the interest of food-motivated cats can be stimulated by dropping treats into the box for kitty to fetch and eat. In my opinion, a perfect complement for that purpose is Pawbreakers, tightly-bound catnip balls which are both a toy and a treat. See the sidebar link for my review of Pawbreakers.

My cats will play for hours with the Peek-a-Prize Toy Box, as long as I am available to fetch and replace the toys. (Our next task is to train them to put the toys back into the box.)

Because a picture is truly worth a thousand words, this review is supplemented with a slide show (see sidebar link), which demonstrates the problem-solving skills which come into play when cats discover this toy. Do I recommend Peek-a-Prize? One guess will be sufficient.