It’s taken us a while to feel accomplished enough to make this announcement, but here we are. We have arrived.
We bring you: :: Bat-A-Rat! ::
There is no-one else here to share this with.
:: Whap! ::
::Whap! :: Whap! ::
What it’s all about.
I continue to ravage this thing even when I’m too tired to stand. For I am —
The Bugs.
[Editor’s Note: This is a truly excellent, well-conceived and -designed forage toy, to help Mr. Bugs blow off his excessive predator-drive steam. Believe your Editor. She knows what she’s talking about here (unlike in that other embarrassing “pimples” episode). It did take Bugs a while to learn how to use this, but, with kind additional directions from the manufacturer (who’s really accessible and cool on top of it and on top of that, from the Detroit area, go Tigers), Bugs did learn, and halleluyah for it.]
On this, Bugs bestows his Royal Seal of Approval.
[Here’s the link to the excellent Bat-A-Rat site. Also see an informative article posted there about foraging, including ideas for making your own toy. I would say, in addition to Bat-A-Rat — because this thing is so well-designed and thought-through. All thanks to Cody and Ms. Caren Gittleman, Cody and Ms. Caren Gittleman, who first put us onto this great addition to the house.]
catself 
We are so pleased Bugs, bat it a few times for us!
:: Whap! :: Whap WHAP!! ::
The Bat-a-rat is a great toy that, like you say, just requires a little patience on the part of the purchaser. You know cats…has to be their idea. But the manufacturer is great with suggestions to help your local household forager get the hang of it 🙂
And Bugs is looking handsome as ever!
:: Whap! :: Whap WHAP!! :: (That’s from Bugs.)
From Editor: I tried to tell him you think he’s handsome. I think he heard me but I’m not sure. He’s still after the B-A-R. YAY on Puff’s accomplishment, btw!
Ah, another Feline Torture Device.
How nice.
Hah! I like your guys’s box, too. Make ’em work.
See? I told ya!!!
My Mom and i think this is the BEST treat dispensing cat toy on the market…BAR NONE!!
I still use mine (when Mom lets me MOL!)
She often gives it to me when I am “whining”
Bugs I am so happy you gave it a try! More kitties need to!
Bat-A-Rat should be at BlogPaws!
For that matter Bugs, so should YOU!
Thanks for the shout out too!
We wish you all the most fun at BlogPaws, Caren. We asked Catsparella whether you were going and she said she’s looking forward to stepping out with you. (I think she called you “vivacious.”) Have fun for us!
So, it’s kind of like a kong for cats? I’m intrigued…
Yes, Melanie, like a kong in the sense that treats are inside — but no, in the sense that there’s no chewing involved. The thing is constructed so it tips and turns and rolls around, and then when the angles line up, treats pop out (from a column in the center). So before the reward shows up, the cat must put out energy and commitment and focus and know-how. That’s what took Bugs some time to figure out — and during that process, thanks to direction from Bat-A-Rat, I first gave it to him unassembled. It took him time to learn that the right degree of swat and persistence really does produce pay-out. Plus, you can adjust how fast the treats come out. Fast, while the cat’s learning, and then you can change it up to slower, to make it more challenging. It’s a really good thing.
Put an order in for one, can’t wait to see how Neko and Sass react to having to work for their treats instead of me dispensing it to His and Her Royalty in their own little bowls.
Hmm. I trust this process will be resentment-free for all parties. I await a report.
I have really wanted to get a bat-a-rat ever since seeing it on Cat Chat. Money is tight right now so I tried a similar one that is egg shaped but much less expensive. My kittehs just look at me with a dumb expression and walk away. I think I learned my lesson — no substitutions!
Gosh, Julia, I would love to see you get one — But until then, just know that Bugs maybe had that same dumb expression as yours did, for quite a while? I had to take the thing apart and make it imbecilic-ly easy for him — like I couldn’t believe how he couldn’t figure out what to do, but he really couldn’t. I’ve had this thing since Caren wrote about it (seven months?) and it’s only relatively recently that it finally connected with the boy — and at that, only after I got encouragement from the B-A-R extra instructions. Keep at it? Maybe your substitution will work after all? I hope so!
Your Bugs sounds like my Jasio (in so many ways)!
I haven’t invested in any foraging toys since he broke the last 4 in his enthusiasm for getting food, now we use cardboard boxes and milk jugs with paw holes cut into them for foraging fun. Hours of entertainment for him, easy on my wallet.
Hey, idiotphotographer — great to see you on the blogsite. Jasio even looks like Bugs, doesn’t he! I like your resourcefulness. I must try the milk-jug thing.
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