Stimulate Your Cat With the KittyLand Puzzle Center

Haven't you always wondered what your cat does at home all day when you go to work? Most likely your cat is like mine, sits around and does ABSOLUTELY nothing of value. Wouldn't it be great if you could stimulate them to hone their hunting and puzzle-solving skills? Now you can!!

This instructable illustrates how to make your own interactive puzzle for your cat.

I call it the KittyLand Puzzle Center

Step 1: Materials

Materials you will need:

Fabric: old T-shirts work well, you'll need enough for approx. 1700sq inches. Cut out into approx 4in x 4in squares. You will need 108.
Corrugated plastic board (24in x 18in)
108 Magnets (the stronger and thinner the better)
108 Washers

Ruler, marker, scissors, exacto-knife, sewing machine, hot glue gun, something small and round

Step 2: Getting Square

Mark off on the plastic board 2.5in x 2.5in squares with a ruler and marker. I did this by measuring points and connecting them with a line segment. Once you've marked off the entire board, cut out the squares using a ruler and exacto-knife. Do this on a hard surface that you don't mind getting scratched up.

Draw circles of various sizes onto the squares and carefully cutout using scissors or an exacto-knife. You can leave some without circles to act as a bottom to your cube.

Insert magnets into opposite corners of the plastic square by wedging them into the corrugated portion of the plastic squares. Make sure the magnets have opposite poles out; i.e., one positive, one negative. Hot glue the washers onto the open corners.

Step 3: Assembling the Sides

You should have two pieces of fabric per plastic square. Lay a piece of plastic between two pieces of fabric and pin the two sides together. Make sure the washers are facing to the outside of the cube. Sew the two pieces of fabric together along the edges of the plastic board. Try to sew the fabric as close as possible to the plastic insert. A zipper foot works well for this.

Once you have completely sewn the perimeter of the insert, carefully sew around the hole.

Step 4: Assembling the Sides 2

Next, move on to an adjacent wall of the cube.
Take two pieces of fabric and lay them on top of the previously constructed wall (Picture 2).
Sew along one side as close to the edge of the plastic of the previously constructed wall (Picture 3). Fold back these two fabric pieces at the seam; away from the previously constructed wall (Picture 4). Now insert another plastic square between the two pieces of fabric (Picture 4). Sew this wall as before trying to stay as close to the edge of the plastic insert as possible.
Then sew around the edge of the hole.

You'll need to do this 4 more times to make a cross (see picture).

You'll need to make this cross 8 more times for a total of 9 cubes. You can now cut out the excess fabric covering the holes.

Step 5: Assembling the Cubes

Now the tricky bit.
Fold the cube together one wall at a time, hand stitching the walls together.
You can also use hot glue to adhere the sides together.
Do this for all 9 cubes.

Step 6: Assemble, Add Toys & Treats

Decorate the cubes as you like and assemble your puzzle center as you see fit.
Use excess fabric to make some catnip-laced toys.
Place these toys into the cubes and let your cat fish them out.

Change up the puzzle every so often to keep it fun, interesting, and challenging!