August 26, 2024
Description
My cats love the modular Feline Exploration and Learning Individualized eXperience (FELIX) activity centers by prints charming (especially the tubes and maze), and they can never get enough novelty, so I had to contribute a design!
The treat wheel is a higher difficulty puzzle section that requires your cat to rotate the top to access treats beneath.
It prints in two pieces, with tabs protruding up from the base that snap into slits underneath the top (a small amount of support material is easily removed from the top). Then, align the lid's treat-access cutout with one of the tabs, hooking the tab into the hole/slit underneath the top. Next is the difficult part - pull on the top towards the center to bend the first tab and press down on the opposite side of the top to snap the second tab into place. Once it snaps in, it will rotate easily!
Note that there is supporting piece designed to prevent you from snapping the tabs off, but it is still possible. Apply solid downward force to get that second tab in place without bending the first tab too far. You need those tabs to be fairly strong so I suggest that you don't use any brittle materials like silk or matte PLA. I've had great results with regular and marble PLA, slowing down a bit extra for the marble. PETG is ideal due to the greater flexibility.
If it's not rotating smoothly, you can wear down any rough spots by pressing down on the top and rotating repeatedly until it smooths out.
Some cats will pick up on the puzzle quickly and others will have to be babied a bit, you may need to keep treats visible until they begin to understand they can manipulate the lid.
License:
Standard Digital File License