04 March, 2007
Simon Sunday: Playing with his food
Day Fifty-Three: Stop-Action Shot
Originally uploaded by Planet Vicster.
I'm just gonna start this by saying how chuffed I am that I still have my Action Photography chops! Just look at how I froze that kibble as it was falling from the frame!
Ahem. OK.
So this week we've started a New Mealtime THING. I'll pour part of the first scoop of Simon's kibble in his dish, then grab Billie's dish and RUN LIKE HELL into the bedroom with it and get her eating. Then I RUN LIKE HELL back to the kitchen, hopefully before Simon finishes inhaling what was in his dish. I'll take the rest of the first scoop, and then the second scoop, and drop a few kibbles at a time into his dish. I'm hoping to accomplish two things doing this:
1) It gives his digestive system a chance to work more efficiently since we're slowing down his eating. I also admonish him to CHEW his kibble, which he does now at least a little more than he did.
2) It buys Billie some time to finish her supper so we don't have to defend her food from the Felis Kibble Thiefus. This seems to have reduced her stress and her appetite has really improved.
We aren't always successful in buying Billie time to finish her food and I still occasionally have to chase him through the apartment yelling, "BAD KITTY BAD KITTY BAD KITTY!" But, for the most part, this seems to work.
When I took this photo, Simon was really into the playing with his food thing. I held up the scoop and he would bat it with his paw or head-butt it, knocking a kibble or two to the floor where he'd chase them down and eat them. He also started this funny thing where I'd drop a kibble or two in his dish and he'd take his paw and sweep them out of his dish onto the floor before he'd eat them. Simon seems to appreciate the interaction (most cats would NOT appreciate further human interference with their eating). In fact, it's become another form of "interactive play"...with treats!
Labels: cats, furkids, Simon, Simon Sunday
~~ victoria on 9:32 AM ~~ 0 comments
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