Terre Pruitt's Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘cat entertainment’

Cat Entertainment

Posted by terrepruitt on October 20, 2021

Both entertainment for the cat and entertained by the cat.  I know my cat is not the only cat – or pet, for that matter – that watches TV, but it makes me laugh every time. Especially since she has a yard with actual critters in it, but she is still fascinated by the ones on a video. She always tries to see where they go. When the device is flat on the ground (as in an iPad or iPhone) she puts her paw underneath it to try to see where it went. It makes me laugh that she is so entertained by watching a video and I can watch her for long periods of time. Then it dawns on me that I am so entertained watching her watch videos.

Does your pet like to watch TV and/or videos? What is their favorite type?

Posted in Cats, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: , , , , | 4 Comments »

Box And Paper Magic

Posted by terrepruitt on October 9, 2017

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitWhen we first got Spot the Cat I wasn’t working. I think I was home for a few months. But when we first got her I still didn’t want to get her a big scratching, lounging type of tower. I couldn’t decide on a tower and I thought it was a good idea to change up her play structures. I thought that having large sturdy boxes that we could change was better for her to play in. I thought it would help her from getting bored. When we first got her my husband worked at a company where there was often surplus boxes around. He worked at a box company so sometimes the mock-up box created for a client would go unused. About once every three or four months either he would bring home a box or we would use one that we had something delivered in. He and I took turns cutting the box. We would cut “doors” and holes in it so she could jump in and out of it or crawl around. It is amazing how much fun cats have in boxes. Eventually we got a tower, but when we had access to a big sturdy box we use it, too. We do the same thing with our two cats now. Boxes and packing paper seem to be items that bring endless hours of entertainment and/or help bring the interest back in a toy.

A while back we got something in a big sturdy box. My husband cut the doors and holes in it and we gave to the cats. They love it. I have made my husband suffer through keeping the box. I move it out into the garage (and this is where the suffering comes in because it gets in our way) every once in a while, taking it away from the cats. I keep it out there for a month or so, then I bring it back in. I think this one, I had it out there for a long time this last time I took it out because my husband threatened to throw it away quite a few times. When I brought it back in the house it was totally worth all of our “suffering”. Our cats, especially Nessa when crazy over it. They rubbed all over it and jumped in it. Nessa was ALWAYS in it. They love their box.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitIt works well because Nessa is such a tiny light cat, she can jump up on it. Teagan can be on it, but she is not as much of a jumper as Nessa. The chase each other in and out of it. We use the fliers to have them play in the box. They love it.

Christmas is coming so the house gets crowded with the tree so the box will be going out again soon. It will be out for a few months then come back in.

But the packing paper will probably stay for a while. We use that to entertain the cats too. It comes and goes. So many things come packed in packing paper we always have some around. The cats love that too. Teagan will NOT tolerate a flier being under the paper. Or anything for that matter. She can be sound asleep and if you put a toy under the paper she will jump up and pounce on it. She is hilarious when it comes to something under the paper.

Nessa likes to play with toys and the paper, too. It is really as if the toy is brand new.

Two easy ways to bring life back into a neglected toy – use it with a box or packing paper. Also easy and simple ways to give something to the cats to play with. The box alone and the paper alone provide entertainment. Add a toy to it and there ya go.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitDoes your cat love packing paper?  Do your cats love to play in forts made of boxes?  Do your cats get hours of entertainment out of packaging?

 

 

Posted in Cats, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Foam Fascination

Posted by terrepruitt on August 7, 2017

Our cats are still young and they don’t throw up. I think that as cats age their digestion changes — just like us humans — and they might not be able to handle the fur as well (not that we humans lick ourselves and get fur bellies). I think when they get older is when they start yacking up hairballs. Also, some cats just do it all their lives. I thought all cats did it all their lives, but as I said, our cats don’t. So, that is when I began to think it was an age thing. But, of course, the minute we have an inexperienced cat sitter, the cats throw up. Cat/cats we are not sure. Poor sitter didn’t know what it was. We think it was a hairball, but those of you that know hair”balls” they don’t resemble a “ball” at all. They look more like hairLOGS and then you start to wonder what end it came out of. Ok, gross, I know. TMI maybe, but c’mon . . . us cat owners know what I am talking about. So anyway . . . we have this dear friend of ours do us the ultimate favor and watch our girls and one of them throws up. Figures.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitHe does his best to try to clean it up. I will tell you it took me years to figure out how to do it on our carpet. So, I am totally fine with there being a spot in the middle of our walkway because he did his best and the most important thing was that we had someone watch our girls. I didn’t even care about the spot. When we get home, I don’t even bother trying to clean it up “better” for a couple of days. Then, I think, “Geez, I really should see if there is something I can do.” So I spray some carpet cleaner on the spot. I think I’ll just leave it and let it soak in.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitThis is what I find. Nessa sits there and watches it the entire time. She sees the foam and doesn’t move as it disappears. Hilarious. I don’t know if I sprayed it again to just have her be entertained for another hour or so (I really have no idea how long it took, I didn’t pay attention), but I sprayed it again. And she sat there the entire time watching it.

And, much to my HUGE surprise, it totally worked to get up the spot. YAY! So, not only did the spot come totally up . . . the process was entertainment for my cat. Maybe cat owners understand my excitement. Anything that does not harm my cats but can serve as a source of entertainment . . . . I am all for it! Anything that helps get those little brains and bodies occupied—WHOOPEE! So this was a double win! Well, actually it made me crack up . . . so I count it as a triple win!

Nessa, she is a thinker . . . she is fascinated by things. The foam disappearing completely fascinated her. Ha!

Posted in Cats, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

No Fast Food In Our Yard!

Posted by terrepruitt on July 10, 2017

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitWe have yard animals. I like to feed the animals that come in the yard. I like to feed them because I feel bad that all of the land that is around our house and neighborhood that was once orchards and fields is now developed. I feel bad that the animals have no home and no place to forage for food. So I feed them. Also, it is great entertainment for our cats. I feel bad keeping cats as “indoor only” even if I believe it is for their own good. I wish they could go out and play and chase animals . . . but I really don’t want them to catch them. Anyway . . . I like to have yard animals to help entertain the girls. I love having hummingbirds. And, if you have ever read any of my yard animal post you know I LOVE (LOVE , LOVE , LOVE ) when birds bathe in the bird bath. I like to think of our yard as an animal oasis. So when I saw the hawk in the yard, I was so happy. It was exciting to me that a hawk would visit the yard. I didn’t notice the squirrel right away. When I did I thought, “Oh how sweet!” (Eyes rolling!) Then is dawned on me! AAAAAACCCCCKKKKK! This hawk is thinking our yard is like a fast food joint where he could grab a quick meal. Then I really thought about it, and although I could be wrong . . . I figured this hawk couldn’t get the squirrel. And either the squirrel was totally oblivious, totally dumb, or figured the same thing that I did.

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This was quite a long time ago. In 2008. I hadn’t thought about it in a long time. But I was going through some stuff on my computer and I found the pictures. They make me laugh because I really did think, at first, that our yard was an oasis where animals could be together in peace. Yeah, as soon as my mind completed the thought I got it.

I think this is Cooper’s Hawk. We used to have a lot of them around. I think they used to nest in the trees near by. But as I said, there is no land around us any longer. There are no hunting grounds for birds of prey so they have gone. Now we just have a lot of people, housing, cars, traffic, and all that goes with it.

At least I have my pictures. And since I am sharing them . . . you do, too!

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Posted in Birds, Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Cat Got Her Tail

Posted by terrepruitt on May 15, 2017

Because it is Monday, and sometimes we all just need to start the work week (for those of us that start our work week on Monday) off with something silly.  This is silly and it is quick.  It will only take you about 30 seconds to watch.  There is nothing exciting about it.  There isn’t even sound!  No “wait-for-it” moment.  It is just our cat being silly.  It makes me laugh when she gets her tail.  I don’t understand the situation when animals try to get their tail.  Do they not control it?  Do they not know it is connected to their body?  What is up with that?  That is part of what makes it so funny to me.  And then, once they get it, what do they do with it?  Bite it, then realize, “Oh!  That’s my tail!”?  I don’t get it.

Sometimes I will not even understand what she is doing.  I will see her staring at something, but I don’t see what because it doesn’t cross my mind that she is staring at her tail.  What, is she waiting for it to move?  Does it move by itself?  I think that is what happened here – I didn’t realize she was staring at her tail until she grabbed at it.  So THEN I picked up my camera and only caught 28 seconds of the vicious attack.  Ok, not vicious, I am trying to add excitement and drama to a silly little clip.

This is Nessa and she often gets her tail.

Thank you for watching!

More about our cats here.

 

Tags:  cat getting her tail, silly cat, cat entertainment, cat tail, tail getting, Nessa

Posted in Cats, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »