Last Updated: 04/09/2025
Benefits of Puzzle Feeders
Unlock the full potential of mealtime with puzzle feeders. Our vet explains the incredible benefits for your pet's health and happiness: from providing vital mental stimulation and slowing eating to aid digestion, to reducing anxiety and promoting brain health in senior pets.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
Puzzle feeders are becoming increasingly popular among cat and dog owners in Australia. With an ever-growing number of different designs, brands, and difficulty levels, there's never been more options to choose from!
Many different types of feeding puzzles are available on the market. Some can be used with wet food, others with dry food or treats. Some puzzle feeders contain moveable parts, some are designed as intricate mats, and some have pockets made of fabric or rubber.
But what are the benefits of puzzle feeders? From mind-occupying to improved digestion, read on to find out why your pet can benefit from a puzzle feeder!
Provides mental stimulation
Using a puzzle feeder encourages your pet to use their brain and problem-solving skills in order to get to their tasty food. Any toy that promotes the use of hunting and foraging instincts is great for your pet's mental exercise!
Cats and dogs are smarter than you might realise. Just like us, they can suffer from boredom which can lead to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, stereotypies and obsessive compulsive disorders. Remember that cats and dogs evolved from ancestors who were keen hunters and required to use their brains every day in order to obtain a meal. So, it's no wonder that a lazy domesticated lifestyle can drive them a little stir crazy!
Puzzle feeders encourage your dog or cat to use their brain and problem-solving ability - and even their paw dexterity - to get their reward.
Find out more in our guide to Boredom Busters for Dogs.
Nina Ottosson Puzzles
Nina Ottosson's range of interactive games and toys have been designed to exercise both your dogs body and mind. As dogs have different levels of intelligence, Nina Ottosson toys are created to have varying levels of challenge - so you're sure to find the perfect fit!
Helps to slow down mealtime
Puzzle feeders can also help to slow down your pet's eating. This is particularly beneficial for cats and dogs who tend to 'inhale' their food too quickly!
If you're interested in a slow feeding bowl, there are special Anti Gulp Bowls designed specifically with grooves and raised bits to ensure a slower, more measured feed. However, any puzzle feeder that encourages a pet to forage and problem will also encourage slower eating and provide the same benefit.
Slowing down your pet's eating can have numerous health benefits, including reducing the risk of bloat - which brings us to our next point...!
Kong Puzzle Feeders
Providing environmental enrichment through treat dispensing puzzle toys like the KONG Wobbler can help to keep your pet mentally stimulated, avoid boredom and help manage behavioural issues.
Helps prevent Bloat and GDV
Gastric Dilation and Volvulus, also know as 'GDV' or bloat', refers to a life-threatening condition in which the stomach fills up with gas, fluid, or food, and becomes enlarged and dilated.
Some breeds of dogs predisposed to developing bloat due to their deep chested anatomy. These breeds includes German Shepherds, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Weimaraners, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, and Old English Sheepdogs.
A slow feeder helps to reduce the incidence of GDV as it slows the ingestion of food and air. When less air is swallowed, there is less chance of bloating.
Find out more in our guide to Gastric Dilation and Volvulus and Bloat.
Scream Anti-Gulp Bowls
The Scream Anti-Gulp bowls have internal pillars that your dog must navigate, helping to slow down their rate of eating. These bowls are an ideal choice for dogs who gulp their food quickly.
Helps reduce anxiety
Behavioural specialists often recommend puzzle feeders and mats to help treat problem behaviours in pets, particularly separation anxiety. Mental stimulation can help distract your pet when they are put in a situation they normally find stressful - such as when their owner leaves the house.
In fact, dog enrichment in the form of food puzzles has been shown to decrease barking, pacing, repetitive licking, and lip-smacking in shelter dogs.
The mental stimulation offered by puzzle feeders helps to reduce boredom and any resulting destructive behaviours like digging, chewing, and barking. When a pet is occupied and tired out, they're less likely to seek alternative methods of 'entertainment'.
Find out more in our guide to Separation Anxiety in Dogs, and Dog Behaviour Problems.
Paws For Life Snuffle Mats
Snuffle Mats are designed with lots of pockets and crevices to help encourage forraging. The Paws for Life range is particularly colourful and fun, and great for first-time snufflers as it is priced competitively. Simply sprinkle your pet's dry food into the nooks and crannies to keep your pet entertained and foraging.
Helps maintain a healthy weight
There are a number of reasons why eating slowly can help 'budge the pudge' for your pet.
Satiety
Slow feeding can make your pet feel fuller and more satiated (full). Have you ever noticed that eating a meal slowly and in small bites can help you feel fuller quicker, meaning you might not feel that you need to finish a large plate of food? It's no different for our pets. Eating slowly will naturally help your pet feel full sooner, and reduce any begging once a meal has been consumed.
Exercise
The act of foraging and 'hunting' for a meal can actually be a form of exercise, depending on the puzzle feeder. This is particularly effective for cats, who can lose weight easily by increasing playtime. Puzzle feeders and foraging games are routinely recommended for pudgy kitty cats to help keep them active.
Find out more in How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight and Weight Loss Tips for Cats.
Catit Food Puzzles
Catit's range of interactive feeders are designed to mentally stimulate your cat while they eat, and work to engage their problem-solving abilities and paw dexterity.
May reduce the risk of dementia
Cognitive dysfunction is a disease caused by age-related degenerative changes. Cognitive dysfunction is similar to dementia in humans, and common symptoms include forgetfulness, repetitive behaviours, changes in sleeping patterns, and anxiety.
Food puzzles can help keep the brain active and working, which may help reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction developing. Just like humans doing memory training, any toy that helps encourage problem solving helps to keep your pet's brain functioning well.
Find out more in our guides in Canine Cognitive Dysfunction and Dementia in Cats.
All for Paws Puzzles
For brain training, look no further than the range from All for Paws. With a range of puzzle types specifically designed for cats or dogs, pet parents can choose a design to best suit their pet.
Prevents fighting over food
If you have two pets or more, chances are that mealtimes may pose a challenge for you. Competition for food is very common, and fighting over food, thievery, and bullying can ensue.
While keeping your pets separated during mealtimes can offer a solution, a feeding mat can also help keep your pets occupied and away from each other's bowls - at least for a few minutes!
Find out more in our guides to Introducing a New Dog to Your family, and How to Reduce Stress in Multi-Cat Households.
Lickimat feeding mats
LickiMat is an innovative and fun enrichment aid, designed to keep your pet stimulated and entertained. Created by veterinarians for both dogs and cats, Lickimat helps occupy bored pets, calm stressed pets and slows down those who eat too quickly!
In conclusion, puzzle feeders are far more than a fun novelty; they are a powerful tool for improving your pet's overall well-being.
By engaging your pet's natural foraging instincts, they provide essential mental stimulation to reduce boredom and anxiety, while also promoting better physical health by slowing down eating and aiding digestion.
Introducing a puzzle feeder is a simple yet highly effective way to enrich your pet's daily routine, leading to a happier and healthier companion.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 4 Sep 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
