How to Hide Treats for Your Cat

Hiding treats for your cat can be a fun reward for good behavior. It can also provide mental and physical stimulation as well as exercise on a daily basis. One way you can hide treats for your cat is to place them in your cat’s favorite hiding places. You can also create a hide and seek game for your cat to make the experience more fun and stimulating. Make sure you choose treats that are made for cats so your cat gets the nutrition it needs as it finds the treats you’ve hidden.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Putting Treats in Your Cat’s Favorite Hiding Places

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Place treats under furniture. Cats tend to enjoy hiding under furniture like beds, tables, sofas, and bureaus. Place treats in these spots for your cat to find the next time it crawls into its regular hiding spot.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- You may try scattering a few treats under different items of furniture in your home for your cat to find.
2
Put treats behind drapes or curtains. Cats also tend to like hiding behind drapes or curtains, especially if the drapes reach all the way to the floor. Try putting treats in these spots for your cat to find.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- Some cats also like to curl up under a bedspread or a blanket. You can try hiding treats under your cat’s favorite blanket or bedspread for them to find.
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3
Hide treats by your cat’s scratching post or bed. One of your cat’s favorite spots in your home is likely its scratching post, if it has one, and its bed. Try hiding treats by its scratching post, such as on the top step or shelf of the post. Or you can place treats by its bed for it to find.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- If your cat has more than one scratching post or climbing post in your home, hide treats on each post for them to find.
4
Place treats in baskets or open drawers. Cats tend to like to hide in baskets, such as laundry baskets or wicker bathroom baskets. They also like to curl up in open drawers. Hide treats in these spots for your cat to discover.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- Sometimes cats will hide in kitchen cupboards or bathroom cupboards. Try hiding treats in these spots for your cat to find.
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Avoid places where your cat can become stuck or injured. There are certain places where you should not place the cat treat, just in case the cat becomes stuck or hurt while they are there. Do not put treats in a fireplace, near electrical wires, or in air ducts.
- You might also want to avoid putting treats in places where the cat can easily break items, such as inside of a vase or on a shelf with glass plates.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Hide and Seek Game for Your Cat

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Place treats in your cat’s favorite toys. To play hide and seek with your cat, start by putting treats in its favorite toys, such as a stuffed mouse toy. Use toys that have a slot in them to hide treats or cut a hole in your cat's stuffed toys to put the treats inside them.
- If you do not want to stuff the treats in your cat’s favorite toys, you can just use the treats themselves. However, using a stuffed toy can prevent small children and other animals from getting at the treats.
2
Show your cat the treats and let it smell them. Start by showing your cat the toy stuffed with treats or the bag of treats. Let it smell the treats so it is aware of the smell and can use it to hunt down the treats.^{[5]XResearch source}
- You may also use verbal cues for your cat, such as, “Look at the treats” or “Smell the treats.”
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Hide the treats in spots in your home. Make sure your cat can see where you are hiding the treats. Put them all over the house so your cat has to move around to get them. Once you have hidden the treats, wait for your cat to find them.^{[6]XResearch source}
- For example, you may hide the treats in your cat's favorite hiding spots, such as under furniture or on high shelving in your home. Or you may hide the treats near your cat's bed or its scratching post.
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Let your cat find the treats. Once your cat finds the treat, reward it with verbal praise and heavy petting. Try playing the hide and seek game once a day, rotating out the hiding spots so your cat gets better at hunting down the treats.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Over time, try not showing your cat where you are hiding the treats. This will help your cat learn to find the treats on its own. This can up the challenge of the game for your cat.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing Healthy Treats to Hide

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Look for healthy, store bought treats. When you buy cat treats from your local pet store or online, make sure you read the list of ingredients. The ingredients should be items you recognize, such as protein like tuna, beef, or chicken. Avoid treats that contain additives, preservatives, or dyes. You should also look at the number of calories and the fat content to ensure the treats are not too high in calories or fat.^{[8]XResearch source}
- The treats should also contain an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) certification. This ensures the treats meet the industry guidelines and are considered safe for your cat to eat.
2
Use catnip. Catnip, also known as catmint, catwort, or field balm, is a fragrant herb that is natural and low-calorie. It is very popular with cats and makes a great treat. You can find dried and fresh catnip at your local pet store or online.^{[9]XResearch source}
- You can also buy catnip seeds and grow your own catnip at home by a sunny window.
3
Avoid giving your cat human food as a treat. Cats can find it difficult to digest human food. Try to give your cat human food as an occasional treat, such as small pieces of cheese, cooked tuna, chicken, fish, or liver. Do not give them too much human food at once, only small bites or pieces at a time.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Avoid giving your cat human foods that are toxic or harmful to cats, such as raisins, grapes, onions, alcohol, salt, tea, and whole milk.
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Make your own cat treats. If you really want to ensure you know exactly what is in your cat’s treats, make your own at home. Prepare organic cat treats made with tuna, chicken, or cheese. Use basic ingredients and a few easy steps to make healthy cat treats that also taste good.
- Making your own cat treats is also a good idea if your cat is a picky eater and only likes certain cat treats. This way, you can customize the treats to suit your cat’s preferences.
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Ask your vet for cat treat recommendations. If you are not sure what types of cat treats will be beneficial for your cat, ask your vet for recommendations. Speak to them about which brands of cat treats they would recommend as well as any human food they suggest you avoid giving your cat as treats.
- Talk to your vet if your cat suffers from obesity or other medical problems before giving it treats.
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