Proof that cat's are smarter than we think they are.

As I discussed on another thread, I'm trying to get Zane to loose weight. On the advice given on that thread, I ordered from Amazon a device whose name escapes me right now. It is a hollow plastic sphere about the size of a baseball; one unscrews the plug and puts kibble in it, replaces the plug, and then adjusts the opening on the other end so that one or two kibbles at a time can come out. To get to the food, the cat must push the ball across the floor with his nose or paw. This will give him exercise and mental stimulation, and prevent him from NOMPH-ing.

Well, Zane did take to it after a bit, but one problem over the first couple of weeks was finding the ball when it was time to refill it. However, over the last couple of days, I have found it at feeding time right in front of the cupboard where I keep the food. When I say, "Zane, do you want your dinner?" he will run over to the cupboard and pound on it with his paws.

And who says cats are dumb?

How cute! What a clever boy Zane is!

What a very smart boy!!! And good luck with the diet - my boy had to reduce, which he has through measured feedings, but boy, I definitely try not to eat too much myself when he's looking at me with those big eyes.

I describe Zane as a 'furry rugby ball with legs', but he was beginning to look more like a furry soccer ball with legs. I'm trying to get him down to a furry (American) football with legs.

(For non-sports people, a rugby ball looks rather like a football except the ends are blunter and it is much larger around the widest point. A soccer ball is, of course, spherical.)