2PCS Interactive Cat Ball Toy, Self Rolling Ball with Cover Anti-Scratch for Bored Indoor Cat Chasing, Obstacle Avoidance Smart Cat Toys for Enrichment, Motion Activated Toys to Keep Them Busy

A friend of mine recently adopted a kitten. He was the cutest little thing- very affectionate and playful. As kittens do, he soon grew into a gangly “teenage” young tom. All young animals have lots of energy, but this little guy proved to be in a class of his own. He never stops playing. When I talk to my buddy on the phone, I can hear him boinging all around the room, chasing the wad of feathers at the end of the fish line or hurling the catnip mouse high into the air for himself to catch. The sound of his claws scrabbling on the hardwood floor is clearly audible as he enthusiastically pursues his “prey,” as is the thumping as he drops out of the air back to earth before launching again. He’s a great cat, but he’s wearing my friend out. She’s an older gal, and her husband is having health issues. She is his primary caretaker, so she has her hands full right now. The extra energy required to keep up with her beloved cat some days just isn’t there. And if you don’t give a young cat the exercise it needs, they will start to act out. It’s not their fault. They’re young, energetic little hunters, and they need exercise and stimulation. Which is what is happening with her boy cat. If he feels he isn't getting adequate play time (which is most of the time) he invents games like "let's walk in the shelves, and knock down all the books," or "what can I hurl off of the kitchen counters now?" I wanted to help her, so I checked here on Amazon for the most popular and best-rated cat toys. I was looking for a toy that hopefully she could activate, then let the cat have fun with, while she got things done, and looked after her husband. And- these interactive ball toys worked like a charm! We call them the “robot mice.” The first time she switched one on and put it on the floor, her boy cat played with it till the battery ran down. She had to take it into another room to charge it. She said he stood outside the door of that room, staring and scratching at the door, crying for his new toy. So I ordered her this package of two more of the interactive balls, so she would always have a charged back up for him to play with. I had gotten one for my cats, but they just stared at it. They are older- much older (12 and 10) than my friend’s cat. So maybe they just couldn’t be bothered to figure out how to play with it. (Their idea of a good time is a nap, followed by some intensive sleeping, then a snack, then a nap, so they aren’t exactly toy-crazy.) According to my friend, her energetic young cat can’t get enough of these toys. They give him the exercise and stimulation he needs. Her last two cats were indoor/outdoor, and they both met with unpleasant ends, so he is indoor only. He plays with these toys until he is happily worn out. So while my elderly cats didn’t respond to this toy, it has been proven to be irresistible and lots of fun for younger, playful felines. They’re not expensive, they’re well made, and cats find them lots of fun. (Update: I recently discovered that my cats indeed are interested in their Interactive Ball Toy. They love to watch it. They get freaked out by it if it is set on the faster setting, but on the slower setting, they are a captive audience. They remind me of two older folks at the theater who are fascinated by a vaudeville performer- a tumbler, or strange acrobat. If the toy gets lodged temporarily under something, before it "flicks" itself free, my female cat will slow-ly creep over to it to give it a tentative sniff. The toy always reactivates just as she gets about two inches away from it, which causes her to jump every time. Sometimes, the toy "runs" right at them. This causes a momentary panic, but soon, the toy retreats, and they settle down again to watch what this odd little thing is doing. So- in its way- this toy is a success with my older cats, too. They may not chase it around, but it does provide them with a form of entertainment. Watching their oh-so-serious puzzled, but intrigued, expressions as they study this strange object is entertaining for me, as well. I just have to be careful not to laugh openly at their reactions when it spooks them a little, as they consider this quite rude.)

The design of this ball is incredibly frustrating. It's the perfect size to roll under every single piece of furniture I own—the couch, the refrigerator, the bookshelf. I spend more time on my hands and knees fishing it out than my cat spends playing with it. The design of this ball is incredibly frustrating. It's the perfect size to roll under every single piece of furniture I own—the couch, the refrigerator, the bookshelf. I spend more time on my hands and knees fishing it out than my cat spends playing with it. The design of this ball is incredibly frustrating. It's the perfect size to roll under every single piece of furniture I own—the couch, the refrigerator, the bookshelf. I spend more time on my hands and knees fishing it out than my cat spends playing with it. The design of this ball is incredibly frustrating. It's the perfect size to roll under every single piece of furniture I own—the couch, the refrigerator, the bookshelf. I spend more time on my hands and knees fishing it out than my cat spends playing with it. The design of this ball is incredibly frustrating. It's the perfect size to roll under every single piece of furniture I own—the couch, the refrigerator, the bookshelf. I spend more time on my hands and knees fishing it out than my cat spends playing with it. The design of this ball is incredibly frustrating. It's the perfect size to roll under every single piece of furniture I own—the couch, the refrigerator, the bookshelf. I spend more time on my hands and knees fishing it out than my cat spends playing with it.

My younger cat (2 years) LOVES this toy. He couldn't even wait until it was fully charged before he wanted to play with it. It moves fast and with the 'tail' attached to it, is an even better target for his hunting instincts. It works well on both rugs and hardwood floors. It moves too fast for my older cat (12 years) to be interested, but I highly recommend it if you have younger, higher energy cats. This is the second one I've bought (the first is hiding somewhere). The only thing I'd change is the shut off. It turns itself off after about 5 minutes which isn't long enough for my cat, so I have to find where it stopped and restart it again.

I thought my cats would like them but they just watch it zoom by. I have a new kitten so hopefully she will like it when she gets a little older. Only reason I cannot give it a 5 star since It works exactly how it says.

This ball is fabulous. Great exercise for a cat. Ball moves in all different directions and if it gets stuck under something it eventually changes direction and moves out from under. Only problem was under a sleeper sofa once. My cat is 10 years old and doesn't run for it but follows it and likes the idea of hunting it down. I don't have to get up and go find the toy as it just comes out from wherever it went and starts over again. You will not be disappointed if you get this for a cat. I only wish they had a large one for a dog.