SmartCat 3833 Peek-a-Prize Pet Toy Box

The media could not be loaded.  This box is a great toy for the cats who just have to get into EVERYTHING. The construction is sturdy and well-made; I have no concerns of my cat inadvertently receiving injuries from uneven edges, exposed nails, or the like. The wood is solid enough to support my 18lb cat. It might seem a bit expensive for, essentially, a box with holes in it, but for us it was worth the money. I had attempted to make similar toys, but they just couldn't stand up to her weight/muscles/claws.What can you put inside it? It comes with two toy balls that fit snugly inside the box. The balls that came with my purchase are not easily removed; in order for me to take them in or out, I have to use a bit of force. This can be good or bad - if your cat is really excited and persistent, s/he could conceivably get the balls out, but a more timid cat might give up. But you aren't limited to just those toys. It fits well most small cat toys, from stuffed mice to cage jingle balls. Of course, treats or kibbles are always a hit.Does the cat actually like it? Our girl definitely does. She wasn't interested in the balls that came with the box until I "marinated" them in catnip for a few days. I thought she'd enjoy digging out her favorite toys,  Zanies Realistic Mice Cat Toys - Hours of Fun - Set of 20 - White / Gray / Black , but that hasn't been as big of a hit as other options. So just keep in mind: if one thing doesn't work, try another! The treats are the biggest hit. If you're worried about giving your kitty too many unhealthy treats, I recommend finding some healthier ones, like  EVO Wild Cravings Turkey & Chicken Cat Treats (3 oz)  or others made from dried meat. Or just use her regular dry food! Then you can feel a little better about playtime, knowing kitty is getting a healthy treat and a mental/physical workout.The video I provided is her first experience with the box, just a few minutes after opening it. She now will occasionally go to sit by the box and look up at me when she wants me to drop some treats in!

when I saw this 14" model for $22 shipped here on Amazon - I grabbed one.I already made this toy out of a Tupperware casserole container to use as a puzzle feeder, so I took a star off this item for not having a removable bottom for easier cleaning. the 2 hard foam balls that come with this box are not easy for your cat to remove, so there is less worry about finding the balls later under your furniture. the holes are 1-3/4" diameter, making them perfect for rubber super balls and golf balls - all are that same size.If you buy mice toys to hide in the box, I recommend any with an internal tinker bell, rattle, or electronic chip that squeaks when moved, and make sure to get the medium to large sized mice in the 3"-5" range, or it will be too easy for your cat to remove them, thus reducing the continued play appeal. don't be discouraged if you don't see your cat play with this unattended as my cats often play with it at night while I'm sleeping - I can tell since each morning the toys and balls inside are in a new position.This item has a thin flat finish over it's high density fiber board, assembled with a nailgun machine, not screws. don't worry, all the nail heads are recessed. If you are the handy do it yourself type, you might enjoy the opportunity to further stain or spray paint this box to better match your decor. The only colors cats can distinguish are yellow green and blue, so using those colors could make for a more interesting toy.I respect many reviews who post their cats were disinterested in this toy, so if you want to test your cat first, cut holes in a narrow granola cereal box, tape the ends closed and stuff a ball and mouse toy inside to simulate this Peek A Prize. if your cat goes for it two or more times, then buying this heavy duty well finished cat toy box will prove to be a useful long term investment in your cat's mental and physical wellbeing.The 44mm balls in the  JOOLA BALL SET 3/2/2 Table Tennis Balls  fit perfectly into this box, and cannot be easily removed by your cats as would normal 40mm balls. so now my cats can enjoy the original foam balls, dense rubber super balls, and hollow light ping pong balls, all without me having to find them under the furniture later.

The media could not be loaded.  My Siamese kitten, Freya, is very energetic, so I have tried a number of toys to keep my home harmonious. This is definitely one of the successful ones, and my cat enjoys playing with it when I load it up with plastic practice golf balls (  Jef World of Golf Gifts and Gallery, Inc. Practice Golf Balls (Orange, Set of 12)  are her favorite type, though any similar ball should work almost as well in it ). To use it, you just drop toys inside, get the cat to notice, and watch them go wild fishing toy after toy out of the box like a kid on Christmas morning. It doesn't last forever, and you'll need to gather the toys up afterwards to reload it for the next use, but the real advantage of the system is that, since the cat fishes the toys out, this is one of the few automatic type toys that gives the cat a very satisfying "hunt" (even wand toys need rests where the cat catches he item, and then a final item thrown for them to "capture" after, so as not to frustrate your kitty.)So, if you want an automatic toy that is fun for cats and not frustrating, this is a good choice, just be sure to add on a pack or two of plastic golf balls to use it to its limit.pros:-safe-semi automated-my cat really enjoys it-doesn't frustrate the cat like many semi and automatic toys-fairly well madecons:-the balls come out fairly easily, so you'll want to load i up with a lot , and even then you'll have to gather and reload every few minutes.-it comes with two crummy balls. i suggest buying wiffiel ball syle plastic golf balls ( by the dozen) to load it up with like in my video. That adds to the cost a little, but the cat enjoys it.-made out of mdf instead of real wood

My cats don't tend to play with it on their own, even though I put different types of toys in the box. However, when I put their treats in the box, they love it! It's an engaging and fun way to give cat treats. The box is a great size and is well constructed. My cats now have a daily ritual and wait by the box with excitement when "treat time" is at hand.

I really like this the idea behind this, however, my cats are past kittenhood and are likely too old or too lazy to care much about this. I think if I had introduced this earlier, they'd see it as a toy rather than just a fixture to waddle past. My ferrets take sporadic interest in it, considering widening the holes to turn it into a ferret toy.

Worked as intended

Decent enough toy, didnt capture my cats imagination, I need to constantly put new things in to get them interested but they get bored quickly. Mine need more interactive toys I think, but sometimes when they're over excited they'll come and poke at it. Not a bad toy, just not for mine i think. Well-built and good size for cat paws.

My adult cats aren't interested in retrieving toys from this but it's perfect for putting kibble in. It takes them a lot longer to retrieve the kibble from this than other feeder puzzles. It's nice and sturdy and easy to clean. The only improvement I can suggest is rubber backing so it doesn't shift and slip on the floor.