Snuffle mat Zonnebloem made of soft fleece with a non-slip base. Use the drawstring to make different shapes for a search game that keeps changing. Read more.
The Duvo+ Snuffle mat Zonnebloem is a cheerful foraging game in the shape of a sunflower. The mat is made of soft fleece and has a non-slip base. What makes it special is the cord: with it you can pull the mat into different shapes. Spread out flat, it is an open search area. Pull the cord and the mat gathers up, so your pet has to search deeper. That way the same mat becomes a new challenge again and again.
Why does your pet enjoy this? Rabbits and rodents are natural searchers. They sniff, dig and rummage to find their food. This mat gives them room to do just that. Searching is relaxing and challenging at the same time, your pet is rewarded and it helps to prevent boredom.
Here is how to use it. Start with the mat flat and place some hay with herbs or a small treat between the petals. Once your pet gets it, pull the cord a little. The petals move closer together and your pet has to search harder. For experienced searchers, pull the mat together even further. Put the mat on a flat spot in the enclosure or run; the non-slip base helps it stay put.
At 24 × 24 cm, this mat is more compact than many other snuffle mats. That makes it handy for smaller enclosures. Hamsters and gerbils can use it well; do not give dwarf hamsters sweet treats. Rats love the gathered shape, because they enjoy pulling things apart with their paws. Degus can join in with sugar-free treats or herbs. For rabbits and guinea pigs it is a mat for one animal at a time. If you keep two, put some hay next to it so they do not push each other away.
A nice combination with our own brand: fill the mat with a few Zooply treats for rats or Zooply treats for hamsters. A little is enough; treats are an extra alongside the regular food. Fleece is a soft fabric, but it is still fabric. So watch the first few times to check that your pet does not chew the mat or the cord. If you see it biting off or swallowing pieces, take the mat away.
With the cord you pull the mat into different shapes. Released, the mat lies flat. Pull it and the petals close up more, which makes searching harder. That way you adjust the difficulty to your pet. Do not leave your pet alone with the cord if you notice it starts chewing on it.
A rabbit can search on it just fine, but at 24 × 24 cm the mat is not large. It works well as a foraging game for one rabbit at a time. If you have two rabbits and want them to search together, a bigger mat is handier, or put a pile of hay with herbs next to this one.
In most hamster enclosures, yes. Put it on a flat area of bedding or on a small platform, so it does not sink into a deep digging layer. A hamster will often stuff the tasty pieces into its cheek pouches and carry them to its store. That is normal behaviour.
Shake the mat out regularly so crumbs and bits of hay fall out. Loose hair is easy to brush out. Keep the mat in a dry spot and away from the toilet corner. Do not leave fresh food in the mat.
Yes, that works well. Two mats give more variety, and with several animals nobody has to wait. You can lay one mat flat and pull the other together, so there is an easy and a harder search spot.
At 't Knaagplein in Bodegraven we work with rabbits and rodents every day. You can tell from what we sell at Knaagplaza: we choose toys and accessories we find genuinely useful for the animals. A search game like this works best together with hay, herbs and treats from our own brand Zooply.
