This is about computer games and computer devices for cats. It is a skim through some ideas for the sort of “apps” (meaning “applications”, which in turn means programmes or software) that are made for cats.
VG (a regular PoCer) wants some ideas. Marc will be doing a post in due course, which I look forward to reading. There is no rush Marc, and if you are too busy leave it and leave a comment instead. Although, Marc is the expert on these things because he bought a tablet computer for his cats so he knows the sort or apps that his cats find fascinating. I am very impressed by a person who buys a tablet computer solely for use by his cats.
In the meantime I explore the idea of apps for cats on this page. There are two considerations:
- What tablet computer is best? And…..
- What games (apps) are best?
Tablet Computer
What sort of tablet computer should a person get for her cats? Well if I was buying I would choose the Google Google Nexus 7 (16GB, 2013). This runs on Google’s open-source nature Android OS (Operating System). The open nature of the software compared to Apple’s closed software should mean more cat apps and more choice regarding tablets. If you are intent on buying an Apple iPad this is the page for cat games.
The Nexus is relatively cheap compared to Apple’s iPad ($299 in USA or £239 in UK) and high quality. There is also a Nexus 10 which is faster. As an alternative, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8-inch, gold-brown) is a good choice. An equally good alternative is Sony Xperia Tablet Z (16GB). Sony make high quality, durable products.
Google devices receive good reviews in respect of both their phone and tablets. If anyone has a question about these devices, just ask in a comment and I’ll answer it 😉
Note – Caveat – Ethics
Personal Note: on an ethical level, I have one barrier to buying a Google product: Google work with the NSA (the USA’s National Security Agency – “defending our nation, securing our future”). Google allows the NSA access to the data that they collect on people’s internet activity. This is the sort of thing that Snowden, is referring to. Snowden is the person who has made transparent what the US government should have made transparent: they hack into everything on a global scale.
I am very much against what the American government is currently doing in tapping into mobile phones and accessing what should be private internet information. The internet information the NSA collects from across the world is called “meta data” which means: who is doing what to whom and where. It is not direct tapping into emails etc. It is, however, a gross breach of privacy and no one in the government said they are doing it until Snowden told the world and in doing so became a the USA’s most wanted “criminal”. To many he is a hero. Potentially, he has a very miserable and lonely life ahead of him in avoiding the USA. I am not sure he knew this when he disclosed “state secrets” that should have been transparent. This information may make some people think twice about buying Google products.
Apps for Cats
So, what sort of games can you buy for the Google Nexus 7 or 10? There are lots of free apps for Android tablets.
Click this link (opens in a new window or tab) to see apps designed for cats – the picture on this page is a screenshot. They include apps that respond to the touch of a cat’s paw. This should help to keep up a cat’s attention span.
I hope this helps a bit. It is not based on personal experience so some trial and error will be required to find the most affective cat game. The manufacturer of the tablet is less important but I sense that Android OS tablets are better for the choice of games available for free download. Wrong? Please leave a comment.
Associated: Lion King Games
Thanks Marc. Excellent. Exactly what I wanted and thank you very much. Job done.
If you have a video that would be nice. I was looking into having a multiple account holding on Vimeo but I don’t know how to do that right now.
and another…. you can see Gigi behind, top left in the shade under the bicycle wheels leaning on the balcony wall. It s a tiny balcony. I will put a cat tree on it and many more plants and ivys so its a real mini garden full of nature.
Well you can’t see the catio – I haven’t finished it – the net is up and they can go on the balcony but I can only carry a couple plants home at once so it’s got a long way to go. For now I just put the plants so they can enjoy being ‘in’ them, surrounded by them and I always bring them fresh grass which then dries out into this hay for them to lie around on. So what you see here is just a close up of the area where the plants are… it looks nice 🙂
Thanks for that Dan. All the pictures I have seen (except for Marcs) of cats playing games have been iPads. They are quite expensive though. Apparently a cat’s claws don’t scratch the gorilla glass. I am not sure I believe it.
Yes – I mean for indoor cats, especially in winter I think those little squeaks and movements are stimulating and good for them somehow. The fact that 2 out of my 3 really get hooked on it is great. Molly is more self sufficient anyway but Lilly and Gigi especially need some stimulation. I still worry that Gigi is depressed. I hate it that I am often very busy especially at this time of year and I have much less playtime with them than I would like. But they are now enjoying the balcony and I am very happy when I wake up to them chasing eachother around the place and having tussles. IT makes me very happy to see them have even a little fun on their own. It’s a real job and a real commitment to have indoor cats. It’s nothing like having outdoor cats. They become alot more your responsibility in terms of how they feel. You really have to work hard to make them happy and satisfied if they can’t go for a wander outside everyday or when they like. 2 entirely different ways of lving with cats. When one of them – Gigi – looks sad and unmotivated it can be very hard to cope with. I feel terrible and like I am doing something totally wrong and like I should just let her outside to be free and leave the risk of her being hit by a car to her own devices. There’s nothing worse than a sad cat who is probably sad because of what you are doing. I can’t live with myself knowing a creature is unhappy for a longer period of time just because of me. It’s bad karma. I honestly believe I feel trapped if Gigi does. I am trapped by her feeling trapped – that’s how karma works – it’s instant, not over long periods of time as many believe. So for as long as I make the choice to make us all remain closed in in view of the busy road next door then I am going to have to work very hard to make sure we can all feel ok when things are going badly.
Jane, if you want an avatar you might like to read this:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/Avatars-for-PoC-Visitors.html