Life in the Cat House: Why “One Size” Never Fits Twelve

In a house with twelve cats, ‘playtime’ isn’t a single event—it’s a chaotic, wonderful management challenge. When I first started introducing cat treat puzzles, I knew better than to expect a ‘one-size-fits-all’ reaction. As I suspected, ‘The Herd’ immediately formed very different opinions on what constitutes ‘work’—and who is actually in charge of the snacks.

We have the extremes: Milo Hemingway, our resident genius who can solve any contraption in seconds to get every last crumb, and Kenji, who looks at a puzzle with complete indifference and walks away.

Then there’s Pops. Since Pops can’t walk, I had to find something accessible for him. His favorite is a fabric roll-up puzzle—it stays put, it’s soft on his face, and it lets him enjoy the hunt without needing to chase a rolling ball across the floor.

Mastering Cat Herding in the Feline Kingdom