This was one of the gifts which found its way into the smaller portion's Christmas stocking.
It came from National Geographic and is a pen, a torch, and a laser pointer.
He, and the cats have had a heap of fun with it. The cats sit and look wistful until one or other of us turns it on and gives them a game.
In this short, and less than wonderful video it is Jazz playing. For about the fifteenth time in a couple of hours. He was remarkably lack-lustre to begin with, but did regain his spark.
It has another benefit too. A few nights ago Jazz jumped Jewel. She escaped. Jazz HATES to be thwarted. He started to approach me, singing, with his ears flattened. Which, in the past has meant he will attack me. And I will bleed. This time, the skinny one distracted him with the laser pointer - and none of my blood was shed.
A present for the smaller portion, a present for the cats, and a present for me.
It came from National Geographic and is a pen, a torch, and a laser pointer.
He, and the cats have had a heap of fun with it. The cats sit and look wistful until one or other of us turns it on and gives them a game.
In this short, and less than wonderful video it is Jazz playing. For about the fifteenth time in a couple of hours. He was remarkably lack-lustre to begin with, but did regain his spark.
It has another benefit too. A few nights ago Jazz jumped Jewel. She escaped. Jazz HATES to be thwarted. He started to approach me, singing, with his ears flattened. Which, in the past has meant he will attack me. And I will bleed. This time, the skinny one distracted him with the laser pointer - and none of my blood was shed.
A present for the smaller portion, a present for the cats, and a present for me.
Smart to use it as a diversion. It's a little like torture, as he'll never catch it. Is it wrong to find that amusing?
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: If it is wrong to find it amusing you are not on your own. Just the same I hope he doesn't realise that he will never capture it. If/when he does he will probably return to his bigger toy - me.
DeleteHahaha, we have one for Merfy. He goes nutso "chasing" it. Cute vid and good to hear an attack was diverted!
ReplyDeleteKaren: It was wonderful that the attack was sidelined. It is the only thing we have found which works.
DeleteEndless entertainment! i have even managed to get my very large cat to climb up the wall after the bouncing red dot! My dog will chase it briefly, but the cat can spend hours with it...
ReplyDeleteLike those old movies where the audience followed the bouncing ball, to sing-along to songs like Clementine...
Deletedaisyfae: I mentioned the climbing the wall caper to the skinny one - whose eyes lit up. It seems that indoor climbing is in Jazz's future.
Deletedinahmow: How right you are - and what a scary concept it is.
DeleteOhhh, I am glad to know you didn't get attacked by a thwarted feline! I enjoyed the video, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I am glad that you enjoyed the video, nearly as glad as I was that this cat attack was foiled. He got me the next night though. He fell off the bed (his own fault) and chastised me for it.
DeleteLots of fun.
ReplyDeleteDelores: It is. For all.
DeleteMy step daughter has a laser pointer toy for her cats and they go nuts over it. We've tried it on the dog, but it seems that she is wired differently and doesn't care about the shifting light, even though she's normally a really keen hunter of anything that moves. It may be the light's colour - I understand that red is a hard colour for dogs to see.
ReplyDeleteI like the triple reward - it's not often that everybody wins. Hmmm... the cats won't like not having the upperhand, so I see more bloodhed in your future :-)
That should read "bloodshed". Where's the edit button for semi-blind, impatient people who press Publish before reading what they've typed?
DeleteMarie: Not all dogs it seems are immune. Merfy (see Karen's comment) is a fan. The triple reward was a triple treat.
DeleteAnd I am very glad that someone else suffers from 'finger dyslexia (and poor proof-reading). And you are right. Blood has since been shed.
That is a gift to all indeed! So fun!
ReplyDeleteMy Cleo used to run up behind me and attack my ankles - often drawing blood, but she stopped as soon as I got a kitten. :)
Lynn: It is a heap of fun. Jazz really only attacks me and Jewel - but shows no sign of growing out of it. Sigh.
DeleteI'd quite forgotten the laser. A year ago, when we still had Ryon kitty we would bring out the laser and Ryon would look bemusedly at the silly kitten chasing the bouncing light.
ReplyDeleteJpanne Noragon: Not for everyone? But fun for those what likes it.
DeleteGot excited when I read your post title, EC. I love to read about Jazz n Jewel. Even better, a video!
ReplyDeleteFrom supine to supercat! What a great distraction, and kitty exercise toy.
Just, leave mum alone.
The thought of his royal black-ness, advancing upon you, ears flattened... "singing". Brrr, gives me chills :)
Vicki: I have no idea why Jazz insists that I am below him (and only marginally above Jewel) in the family heirachy but it has meant blood and pain for me. Any distraction is welcome.
DeleteAnd I love your description of him as 'his royal black-ness'.
Laser pointers! I had forgotten they even existed! Too bad I have no pet, and my beloved would not enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: Are you sure that your beloved wouldn't enjoy it? Never close a door...
DeleteOooooh, I want one of those!!!!! We recently bought a fish-on-a-stick thing for our cats, which they love, but I'm sure this would be an absolute hit. Jazz is such a cute tubby-wubby-sweetie-pie! I just adore black cats!
ReplyDeleteCathy Oliffe-Webster: I have a BIG weakness for black moggies too. Which is just as well. Many people have suggested that his behaviour to me is an eviction offence. Which it isn't.
Deletei really dont understand why there are "eviction offences".
Deleteto me, you get an animal and you care for it for the rest of its life (with the exception of severe personal circumstances)
kylie: I agree with you. Yes Jazz is difficult, but there is no malice in it. And he is difficult (I am almost certain) because he, his mother and his siblings were treated badly. I took him (and Jewel) on for life.
DeleteGuess who tried to join in when she saw that video? Ah yes, Penny the playful dog :)
ReplyDeleteklahanie: Penny is welcome to join in. Or I think so - not sure Jazz (or Jewel) would agree.
DeleteOh Jazzy, you naughty boy ... biting the hand (leg) that feeds you. You deserve to be tortured by that nasty red dot. And what fun it is ... can't even tell that it is torture:)
ReplyDeleteI have them for my fat boys and they do love playing with it, but, sad to say, it doesn't seem to cause any of the fat to drop off. Diva, who doesn't need the exercise goes crazy over it. She becomes mesmorized and then gets a determined look and flies at it. Izzi (dog) is not interested in the light, but loves going after the cats when they go after the light ... she needs to herd them back into her control. Oh my what a crazy household. I buy my laser lights at the pet shop ... the real lasers you have to be careful not to shine them in their eyes because they can burn them ... I am sure you are aware of that and take whatever precautions are needed. Fun post ... still laughing about the picture you sent :)
Andrea @ From The Sol
Andrea: We are very careful to keep it away from their eyes. At the moment both cats love it, which causes the odd dispute. Our vet does talk about the cats' fat pads so we will see whether the exercise has any effect. Which I doubt.
DeleteWe had one of these but our cats were to lazy to chase them after a while .
ReplyDeleteMerle.................
Merlesworld: This is still new to them, so the fun is still on. I hope that they (Jazz in particular) don't tire of it.
DeleteWhat an awesome, considerate gift! Oh, how I miss having cats. I wish I could watch your video, but alas, my internet connection is too slow right now. I'll just have to come back when it's back to normal!
ReplyDeleteRaquel Somatra: I hope your internet connection speeds up soon. Not for my video, but for everything else. And as a gift it has been a success story. Which adds another win.
DeleteBest stocking gift ever!
ReplyDeleteLoved the video of Jazz playing :)
Carol Kilgore: Jazz thinks it is among the best ever presents too.
DeleteI love to tease The U.B. with a laser pointer. It makes me feel like I am one up on him. That is what he gets for being and U.B.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever go missing I know it will be the fault of Jazz.
Birdie: It will be his fault and greedy as he is I don't think he will be able to conceal the body. Or not all of it anyway.
DeleteWin-win-win all the way around! Our cats like laser pointers, too, but not as much as bubbles.
ReplyDeleteSusan: I haven't tried this pair on bubbles. Perhaps when/if they tire of the pointer.
DeleteMy fiancee's old cat eventually got tired of the laser pointer. He's like "I can't catch it".
ReplyDeleteAdam: That is not what I want to hear. I hope to be safe from psychotic cat attacks for some time.
DeleteI love the part at the end. "AHA! I have captured the red dot!"
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: I love it too - and laugh each time he lifts his paw - to find nothing.
DeleteI love the video, love to see a cat playing. Now I have to buy a laser pointer pen torch thingy.
ReplyDeleteRiver: A laser pointer is often recommended for cats, and lots of pet stores have them.
DeleteWhat fun. I hope he does not tire of it. I would think almost all cats would react to the moving dot.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: He is not tiring of it yet. Jewel is though...
DeleteShaggy haired as well as amorous, ginger tom from across the road somewhere defies the traffic to visit our minnie on a daily basis-never gives up; probably the sire of minnies past two broods, but minnie has since lost that mothering ability and doesn't even wish to socialize with ginger tom. The garden hose doesn't deter him either, I believe it is simply a question of many times he can avoid vehicle impact. Such is the power of animal lust.
ReplyDeleteVest: Or old habits dying hard? I suspect it isn't just lust, because he would know when Minnie was (or wasn't) receptive.
DeleteHave just read Andrea's comment and will be sure to buy my laser pointer at the pet store. And a fish-on-a-stick toy.
ReplyDeleteRiver: It is a lot of fun. For the cats and for us - and no, we don't shine it at his face.
DeleteI hate to think of you being at the mercy of Jazz when he is angry. Our most recent cat, a stray, was aggressive for a long time, but over time we realized it was mostly a reaction to feeling threatened, and she has mellowed quite a bit. We still don't let her be with our older cats because she is also very territorial, but at least she is better with us. From your writing, I hazard a guess that Jazz has not improved over time, and his aggressiveness is not from fear. I don't like to resort to violence, but I don't think I would have your patience, and would be getting out a newspaper or flyswatter for a well-placed (nose) whack ... or would SP object?!
ReplyDeletejenny_o: Jazz was a rescue cat. He doesn't feel threatened by me, but certainly believes he is considerably above me in the household heirachy. When threatened (by visitors) he growls and scuttles away to the safety of the wardrobe (and has taught Jewel to do the same). I have in the past sprayed him with water when he is in attack mode, and whacked his tail. Neither had any impact. Dominance is all. And he does. The vet told me that he should not react - which isn't easy when blood is running down your arm or leg. I have tried that too - and it also was a failure. Distraction seems to be the best option. So far.
DeleteYikes! Well, then, long may you find new distractions for kitty!! Does he like catnip or does that whip him into an even bigger frenzy? We used to have a cat who was incorrigible when under the influence.
Deletejenny_o: I haven't tried him on cat nip. I don't know whether we only get stale sub-standard stuff here but I have never had a cat who showed any interest in it at all. I should add that when Jazz is nice he is really nice, which doesn't really make up for the scabs. He has a permanent home here though, and I heal.
DeleteHave you tried growing your own catnip?
DeleteRiver: I have grown cat mint - which they didn't like. I will have to investigate cat nip.
Deletei remember doing this when I had cats! blast in a half!
ReplyDeleteTammy Theriault: At least a blast and a half.
DeleteMy cats love a laser pointer! I've even used one to lure playful ferals under a drop trap, to catch them to be fixed. How evil is that?
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Not evil at all. For their good. Though it would be hard to convince them of that.
DeleteI love the video, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: As much as Jazz does?
DeleteA great little video. It was interesting to see that Jazz couldn't resist that magic light no matter how he tried to in the first place.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever though of renaming him Jaws perhaps? Just a thought.
Mimsie: Jaws and Claws...
DeleteI want one of these now!
ReplyDeleteJackie K: It is fun!!!
DeleteIf only the laser worked on my husband as well as it does on my cats, we would get a lot more done around the house.
ReplyDeleteStarting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Here too.
DeleteIt was fun to watch the cat but I was interested in the sound of the ticking clock. It sounds like mine. Does it chime on the hour and half hour and do you have to wind it? I almost fell asleep because that is the sound I go to sleep to every night. lol
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie: The clock does indeed chime on the hours and half hour, and gets wound each week. It was inherited from the smaller portion's father, and is an nearly a hundred years old. A comforting sound in the small hours...
DeleteThough I've spent much of my life dangerously allergic to pets, I've still encountered enough to be disappointed that none would chase a laser pointer. It seems like such a pleasure to mess with the critters.
ReplyDeleteJphn Wiswell: It is fun. And is only fair - they mess with me.
DeleteHA! Too cute - and glad you avoided being mauled. My cats love that thing, and sometimes I wonder if they'd go insane if they knew that they'd never, ever catch it.
ReplyDeleteMs. CrankyPants: Any attack free day is a good one. And I hope Jazz at least doesn't realise that he won't ever catch it. As I said he doesn't like to be thwarted.
DeleteKeep that laser pointer at the ready. No doubt you have both become quick draws :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Very quick draws. Particularly me.
DeleteSo glad you're getting the hang of having cats and avoiding their attacks. Ha. My ipad didn't pick up the video for some reason. But I can imagine how much entertainment you get from your feline friends.
ReplyDeleteMyrna R.: It is only Jazz who has appointed himself 'attack cat', but it is good to have some protection. Finally.
DeleteHurrah for double use! :)
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Oh yes, hip, hip hurray.
DeleteHa Ha. We had a cat that used to do that with the light from a torch. She used to try to bite into it and was so puzzled to find nothing there. I expect us humans, in our science, are similarly confused by some of the deeper things we try to investigate, like the real nature of matter and consciousness. Oh, I am being led off on a wild tangent of thought there, by your dancing laser beam :)
ReplyDeleteAndrew Maclaren-Scott: I am sure you are right and that we expend a lot of fruitless effort chasing intangibles, in science, religion, emotions...
DeleteHow cute. It is amazing what cats can have fun with.
ReplyDeleteLady Lilith: Cardboard boxes are a joy too. Any size. And there is a U tube video showing that the big cats love them too.
DeleteDear Sue, well, I finally rose from the couch were I was snoozing away the day and came to the computer and to blogging. I've read several postings now by fellow bloggers whose words always inspire or instruct or enlighten me and now I come to yours and I'm just "tickled pink" to discover this wonderful gift you've given the whole family. I have the National Geographic catalogue and so I'm going to look for the "pen, a torch, and a laser pointer" and order it. It's just what the cats and I need. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee: If you can't find it let me know and I will pick one up here.
DeleteHahaha...I wonder if my two would have fun with similar. I bought them a packet of furry, supposedly catnip aroma filled mice...six in the pack...three each. They're not at all interest. Remy, my male cat, showed a little interest that faded in a couple of minute. Shama, his sister, didn't give a damn about them! Harrrummppphhhh!
ReplyDeleteLee: I have NEVER had a cat with any interest in cat nip. Not fresh enough? Don't know, but I have stopped even looking at it for them.
DeleteA fantastic invention. A little something for everyone!
ReplyDeleteSienna Smythe: It was a fairly cheap gift - but has paid dividends. For us all.
DeleteHa ha - what fun!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: It is. Heaps of fun.
DeleteThat's a fantastic post. Good fun! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: Thank you - I do like a bit (a lot) of silliness.
Deleteexcellent!
ReplyDeleteWould it work on the smaller portion?
Friko: I wish it would. Dancing red balls don't do it for him. Thinking, thinking, thinking.
DeleteA great al round present indeed. Cats are such fun!
ReplyDeleteHaaaaaaaaa
ReplyDeleteI love Jazzzzzz. How fun. I Love the sound of the bell!
thank you, S. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Oh, I love Jazz!! SO gorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteLove how lazy she was at the start, then couldn't resist :) MADE ME SMILE.