On 4/11/2016 6:09 AM, Cheryl wrote:
A vet suggested to me that I put food in those plastic balls with holes
in them so that my rather large cats would get some exercise. I'm not
sure that this was ever effective, since I put treats in them to
increase the cats' motivation, and the cats seemed to expect the treats
in addition to their meals.

Seems sort of counter-productive for a vet to suggest since the cats
were already large and giving them treats even in a ball
toy/dispenser... you know what I mean.

I found a bag of cat treats after Sam died, and thought, well, I suppose
I should see if Cinnamon can figure out how to get them. I put some in a
ball - this one is almost like the one shown:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images...all-64922R.jpg


http://tinyurl.com/jjm5s7p

So Cinnamon hunkered down next to it and stared at it. You could almost
see the wheels turning in her head. She started batting at it
tentatively, pausing, thinking a bit, then patting it in a different
way. I'm still not sure she quite understands why some patting produces
treats and some doesn't (she's not exactly an Einstein of cats, tending
more to beauty than brain), but she's managed to become quite efficient
at getting treats!

Cinnamon will puzzle it out. But is that treat-ball working for
exercise or is it just a treat dispenser?

Buffy is plump. I haven't been able to effect a change in her weight,
which is about 13 lbs. I'm sure I'm not over-feeding her, but then this
is only the second cat I've ever been owned by. Persia (RB) required
prescription food almost right off the bat.

Buffy has a stout stubby body with short legs. Maybe she's supposed to
look like a little orange barrel with striped legs.

Jill