You were expecting something different?
I don’t know about you. These are the balls I’m excited about.
Lately Bugs has been willing to play with these, unassisted by me. 
This is exciting news. If you were me, you’d know why.
See the big green ball? That’s actually half a ball. It goes with the purple other-half. You fill this one with treats, snap it shut, and then Bugs gets to push it around and food comes out the purple-side hole, bit by bit.
You can imagine what a hit this is with Mr. Treat Monster. The drool-marks on the floor are worth it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HWFIZM?&tag=shopwiki-us-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325
Now I know it’s safe to laugh when I hear Bugs crashing around in the other room. It’s not the priceless family heirlooms hitting the deck. It’s the Bugs Bell-Ball massacre.
But, still, Bugs must Be Bugs. It is the Green Bell-Ball that is required, kindly note. The Pink Bell-Ball remains unacceptable.
It’s possible that Bugs’s newfound independence is attributable to clicker-training we’re doing with the Stripey-Ball. He showed no interest in Stripey-Ball until I laced it with babyfood (chicken and gravy). Now, with that Treat-Monster assist, we’re learning to bat Stripey-Ball back and forth between the two of us.
Hedgehog Expert Theory Warning: It may be that this interactive play cements the bond between him and me. He feels more confident of the object-constancy of my love. So now, even if I’m not actually there in the room with him, he can still express his newfound security by playing independently.
It’s just a theory.
If you were to accuse me of unscrupulous optimism at this point, I wouldn’t argue with you.
And speaking of unscrupulous Hedgehog Expert Theory Warnings, here’s one more ball-related matter I want to bring to your attention.
The other day a friend of mine posted an article on FaceBook.
http://www.suite101.com/content/cat-coat-colour-linked-to-temperament-a158170
The article contains this masterpiece of understatement. I especially like the “said to be” and “may be livelier” hedges:
“Gray Cat Personality: Blue-gray fur is associated with a quiet, mellow temperament. Cats with gray coats are said to be affectionate, peaceful, calm, and gentle, though if the blue has cream tones, the disposition may be livelier.”
Bugs to Author, in one word: BALLS!!
catself 
If Bug likes treat balls the BEST one on the market is found at http://www.batarat.com, it is made out of non-toxic material and it WOBBLES…it is sooooooooooooo cute!!!! I reviewed it on my blog a couple of months or so ago but you can visit the website and they are also on Facebook under bat-a-rat
Let me know what you think!
Great balls of cat treats! Grey cats are my fave.
Those were good links. I followed the trail even further and learned that black cats are the least adoptable cat statisticaly speaking. Because people fear of its historical reputaion. If I ever pick a cat from an adoption place… now Ill look extra long at the black ones.
(I think the feature you asked about is theme realted and not an option. You might need to switch themes. I use Pilcrow theme.)
Hmmm. Am weak from trying to learn about “jumps.” Not sure I could handle changing themes. Pretty sure I can’t. No, now I am sure. Weakness prevails.
Hmmm. Might have to give that a try for MY horde. I do try to keep them active, but they tend to lie about in big lumpy piles instead.
As for quiet, mellow temperament… hehehehehehe.
Just goes to show that Bugs marches to the beat of his own drum.
Gee. I wonder where he got that DRUM trait from?
And Carnivores, wait for it — Ms. CatChat has me jazzed about the Bat-A-Rat.
http://opcatchat.blogspot.com/2011/01/cody-loves-his-bat-rat.html
I just read the colour/temperament article. It’s a nice idea but it doesn’t fit with either of mine, nor my last few. For instance ‘Tabby Cat Personality: …tend to be…languid…relaxed, and somewhat lazy.’ What? Spock? Ha, ha, ha, haha hahaha hahahaha (Oh, dear, I can’t stop!)
And ‘Colour-point Personality: extroverted, spirited, inquisitive, clever, talkative, and highly active.’ This will probably be the ONLY time I ever put ‘Zé’ and ‘clever’ (or any of the above) in the same sentance! Poor little clueless chap.
I love ‘masterpiece of understatement’. Sometimes your way of phrasing things really cracks me up! And I agree with Bugs…BALLS!
Oh goodness, Eleanor. LAZY? Wasn’t Spock the one who put on the SuperCat Cape and flew out the window? Have I got your kids straight? Call that lazy??
And poor chap Ze — he’s the one who went mountain-climbing? Longer on brawn than brains, perhaps.
I’m so happy my phraseology connects with you. I take that as a tribute to my dear dad, who himself (and his mother before him) really had a way with the phrase. Another of my favorites is: “Cautiously optimistic.” My dad all over. Plus perhaps you can tell, given my obsession with “unscrupulous optimism,” that he was more of an influence on me than just word-wise. I miss him all the time. So your enjoyment of an Eddie-like phrase (we called him that, never “dad”) is wonderful for me to hear. “A” (what we kids said when we were too small to say “Eddie”) lives on.
I totally understand the joy of a toy that requires no human manipulation! Link is a toy fanatic and gets quite upset when I ignore his play requests. Thankfully, he will play fetch from time to time. This is a whole lot easier than whirling a string around my head! ~Lily
Lily! Thank you for stopping by. So nice to “meet” you.
Laughing at the picture of you swinging string. Picture us both doing it together. Bugs loves his string. Shoelace, in his case.
Bugs has alot of balls.
To compensate for the loss of his manhood?
Hmmm.. I’m gonna have to check out what my fur says about me…
Rumbles, I’m so glad you dropped by. I love your blog & read regularly. And when you get the answer about your fur, please tell us. YOU are the expert. . . .
Wouldn’t bug eat the balls one day?
I have to stay alert all the time because my Kroten (turtle) try to eat anything she plays with.
Oh yes. Bugs too. Eat eat gnaw chew munch nom shatter.
Your Kroten. I just love this! I adore turtles. If I see one in the road while I’m driving, I will stop my car & try to shoo it to safety. I did that one time with this HUGE snapping turtle — had to use a stick the size of a tree-trunk and he broke it anyway. Really stopped traffic with that one! Wooo! Scary. He was SO cool and fierce.
Haha pets are the same then 😉
I have 2 turtles, they have their own blog too…I love them as much as anyone who has dogs or cats as their pets.
Ah…snapping is indeed a scary turtle, I don’t think I want to have one as a pet. But I admit it would be fun to tame one 😉
I just sent you an email at your yayfay.
Your response to @kimmo is funny.
Nice balls!
My favorite toy is a tennis ball. Sometimes my human puts one in the bathtub for me to play with… I love the tennis ball, but it never gives me treats. I’m feeling a little jealous now…
Oh no! Human: Snap to! On the double!
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