CatitDesign Senses Play Circuit, Original

I purchased this toy for my cats over a year ago, and set it up in an unfurnished room on our main floor where we keep a cat tower and the dog crate. It's an open room, so there are no doors or anything closing it off, and we'd be able to see the cats playing with their toy in what is essentially the "pet room" from many areas on that floor.My youngest most playful cat showed the most interest in it, for about 5 minutes by himself, and after that only would show interest again if I was showing interest in it. My 2 older cats were not interested. They seemed like they didn't know what it was, and that they didn't care.My dog, on the other hand, saw a ball in there, and wanted that ball, and tried her best to get it for a while and eventually gave up. So, the toy at least has good durability to withstand a golden retriever who really wanted to get that ball.I tried putting catnip around it, and all that did was cause one of my cats to lie around the toy, and the other 2 cats to eat the catnip that was around the toy. The toy was just some object in time and space and not a toy to my cats, it seemed.Changing the shape around in different ways was a futile exercise.The toy just kind of became part of the decor in the pet room, and I forgot about it, but one day when I was doing a thorough cleaning of the "pet room", I moved all the pet stuff to the next room (our living room), and that toy got moved next to our living room curtains.That night I heard the noise of the ball moving around in the rail, I go to see, and there's 2 cats, one behind the curtain, and the other on the other side of the toy watching the ball spin around. Okay, this is interesting, which of course means they stop what they're doing because they're being watched.But enough time has gone by with that toy there that I now know that all 3 of the cats apparently do understand this is a toy, and they all play with it like they know it is their toy. But they like to hide behind the curtain and then pounce the ball to hit it from out of the curtains like they're hiding in a bush stalking prey or something.So, the toy has been in our living room for at least 6 months and the cats regularly play with it. They don't play with it all day or for hours at a time or anything. But several times a day, one of 'em will go and play "stalk the ball", and sometimes the other cats will come over and watch, and will want to play "stalk the ball" for a couple minutes too.So, 5 stars. Every cat toy I've purchased has been a bust, and I thought this one was too, so that they play with it and know it's theirs, and that wasn't destroyed in 5 seconds, counts a lot. It really seems like cats are the most entertained by things that aren't cat toys, like hair ties, dinky pieces of string, and the little plastic pull on the cap of a gallon of milk, though. In other words, things that cost, like, nothing at all.

I have two cats, one is about 5 years old and the other one is still a kitten, about 5 months old. I had bought several toys like the balls, mice, springs, etc., and while they do a good job the problem is the fun ends if it gets under the sofa, into a corner or in some nook somewhere. I play with them as well with certain toys like the cat dancer but because they take turns chasing and jumping at it then I can never seem to wipe them out. Plus, I wanted to get something that would keep them entertained when I wasn't home.Having seen them chase balls around with enthusiasm I ordered the play circuit. I assembled it into a squiggly line and sent the ball rolling. At first my cats didn't seem to know what to make of it except poke or stare at it. After a couple of hours it looked like it was a bust since neither one really payed attention to it. Since there is a very slight incline on each of the end pieces that keeps the ball moving I pushed it a few times just to amuse myself. :-$.While adjusting one of the top covers to make sure that it would not come off my kitten started batting the ball and after 15 mins. she was fully into it! She can spend a good amount of time poking and chasing the ball. The cutest part is when it looks like she is done but instead she will walk away a little and then watch as the ball slowly moves down the track. When it looks like it is about to come to a full stop she will suddenly rush up and pounce on it, starting her fun all over again. There are times when I have had to remove the ball at night since I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and she will start whacking the ball at odd hours of the night. It makes very little noise but at 3 AM is sounds like a billiard ball going down the track to me. My older cat did not seem to care for this at all. He will look at it, look at the kitten playing and then walk away shortly afterwards. Seems like I need to get him a different kind of toy which Hagen may just have.For $10 shipped I plan on getting another circuit to extend this one. The variable configurations make it quite future proof, that is, if your cat gets bored with the current setup then it is quite easy to reconfigure. Over time I may even consider getting the entire setup.Build quality appears to be quite durable and it will last a long time. I have stepped on it a few times by accident, barefoot and with shoes, and it has not even cracked. Mind you that I quickly took my foot off as soon as I realized it. Not sure it can handle a full on stomp. I am 5'8" and 200 lbs. if that helps put things into perspective. A note on assembly, make sure that you insert the top blue pieces in firmly and then slide them in. I did not do it right on a few parts the first time and my kitten kept popping them off and trying to get the ball out of the circuit.Overall an excellent and quality pet toy!