Keeping things fresh

"Yeah, I'm Ace"

Due to the fact that our new kitten, Ace has had a couple of  bed-wetting incidents (TMI!) we decided to consult an animal behaviorist to examine and treat problem (yes, really, we did.) But we learned so much more than simply what might have been causing his “Inappropriate Elimination” or IE for short (not to be confused with Intuitive Eating).  

(Edited to add: She thinks it was the TYPE of litter we were using, and possibly too few boxes. She also taught us about a billion other fascinating facts about cats, but I'm highlighting the "keep it fresh" angle because I feel that I can relate to it...)

So I thought that I would pass along some of the facts that the doctor taught us about our cats that I felt can actually be extrapolated to humans.

Kittens and cats get bored easily and you need to be creative to keep them interested, entertained and stimulated. If you fail to do this, they'll get into all sorts of trouble. This is true for humans too. Let me give some examples.

Cat example: Sure you can go out and buy the $6 leopard print fur-ball on a string gadget:


(Are cats supposed to look at that and say “Wow, that must be what my big-cat cousins look like in Africa?! I had better play with this!)

There seems to be some interest...

“Yup, looks just like my great great great great uncle Lester before he emigrated from the old country…”

They are interested for about 6 minutes (a dollar per minute for those of you keeping track)

It’s fun for a romp or two across the savanna, but then…

Yawn

Seriously, sometimes a candy wrapper will do just fine. I found this on the floor and I can assure you that I didn’t put it there.

I get excited over the candy. The cats love the wrapper.

Human example: We sometimes get bored with those fancy-schmancy machines at the gym, right?

Woo! This is exciting! (For about five minutes)

Sometimes, we can use simple toys and have just as much fun:

Janetha loves how the cat-pee theme leaks in (hee) through this post

How "Sweat" it is...not a type-o! (40 lbs of litter that is)

Oops...

Sprung a leak

Back to the Cat Examples: 

Something simple: A yogurt container that you’ve filled in with kibble and Greenies: (they sell expensive pre-made versions of these in pet stores FYI)...

"The Tweedles" are interested...

But don’t kid yourself. They’ll soon tire of the home-made contraption too. At least it didn’t cost you $6 (unless you bought Fage)

 Boring!

Feeling spendy again? You can shell out $5 on a bright blue feather-on-a-stick thingy and that will entertain them for 5 minutes (again, $1 per minute/stalking some wild bird in their ancestral birthplace on another continent)



BUT if you attach a pink string that came on some other gift!? Now you’re talking!



So much more fun!

My Little Mister, Ace

 
       


Human Example: Swanky Gym:

So fancy!

But for a change, maybe it's good to just get out and hike:

With Eden

With Heather and Bekah

Have I not mentioned the bathroom recently? Well, as you all know, toilet roll holders are the key to good times. Especially if you tie some twine through it.






Then to be the life of the party, you need a smoothie straw, obviously...

    

My next smoothie might not taste so hot.

Incidentally, the doctor told us that we should remove toys after a day or two and hide them temporarily. When we rotate and re-introduce them, it’s like “Voila! New toy!”  Humans can do the same thing by switching up workouts and moving locations. You'll be like "Wow! A dumbell!"

By the way, the following photo is evidence of what happens when you fail to stimulate your kitty properly. They find stimulation elsewhere...

Poor Eden's shoelaces died last sumer in the jaws of Ellie.

 Finally:  sometimes, it is just more fun to play together:


Definitely.

Edited to Add: I changed the commenting format slightly which Blogger said should help the problems readers have had commenting.  Fingers and paws crossed!

Q:  Are there any funny toys that your kids/pets love? Do you prefer to mix things up with workouts or do you like the predictability of consistent workouts?  Do you prefer to train alone or with someone else?