We use cardboard boxes too! They love to explore! We also have a “dig box”. I found an extra small, plastic kiddie pool, and we have crumbled up packing paper, toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes and a few apple branches in there. They jump in and dig around. They pull the crumpled paper out but it’s not messy bc it’s that thick paper you wrap glass stuff in when you move. Not a bunch of tiny pieces of paper. If you really want to keep them busy in the dig box- put a few of their favorite treats in there and watch them look forever! LOL (Just be sure they are fully litter trained and not make it one big litter box!). I may find a few stray poops in there from time to time but mine don’t pee In it.
I also have a pack of paper lunch bags (50 for $1 at dollar store) and a roll of twine. I put a small handful of hay, a few pellets and a treat in them (dried papaya is good) and cut some slits in them so they can see and smell that there is something in them! Tie the top closed with a piece of twine and wa-la! They will toss them around and chew and dig on them for a while...and it’s great entertainment watching one take the bag from the other! At first I had to cut some big slits in them until they understood the concept. Now, they look for the play bags!
I also have the “treat ball”. They will push, toss and chase that thing to get the treats to fall out. Again, great entertainment.
I don’t give them all the toys at once so they don’t get bored. We switch it up every day with different stuff.
