You Versus Cat, An Enjoyable Gaming Challenge Between Species That May Surprise You
March 17, 2012
It couldn't be more obvious that plenty of people are obsessed with receiving and trying out their new iPad. While there's nothing wrong with such behavior, it may cause you to ignore other things, e.g., your pet. Well, maybe that's not the case, but your cat may deserve some extra attention anyway. To help, Nestle Purina Petcare has released another free iPad app for cats: You vs. Cat.
If you couldn't tell by the name, You vs. Cat provides playtime and, hopefully, friendly competition between you and your feline companion. The concept is simple, you play a version of air hockey with your pet to see who is the champion of reflexes.
To play, place your cat at one end of your iPad and you at the other. When the game starts, you'll flick the items at the bottom of the screen into the gameplay area where your cat will need to capture them. Each piece your furry friend is able to get, he or she earns 10 points. For you to earn 10 points, an object must make it by your cat's paws and into the goal. The game ends when 50 total points are accumulated.
As noted in the app description, the intent of the game isn't to irritate your pet. Basically, don't just go flicking items into the goal as fast as you can. The game is meant to be an enjoyable experience for you and your non-human chum.
By this time, I'm sure you've already laughed this whole thing off due to concerns of allowing your cat to scratch your iPad, right? Even so, I feel you should give it a chance and read on.
Apple has bragged about their iDevice glass durability over the years and Nestle Purina Petcare even goes on to say, "In our experience the bare glass screen holds up trouble-free to a cat's claws. Plastic add-on screen protectors? Not so much." I haven't personally tested or observed pet claws to iPad screen, therefore, I can't confirm their findings.
In addition, I'll repost the You vs. Cat tips provided in the app description because I feel they've been well done:
Gaming Tips
- LET’S START WITH YOU: Begin by practicing moving the icons alone to get the hang of it before asking your cat to play the game.
- NOW, IT’S KITTY TIME: Take your cat to a quiet room with controlled lighting. Make sure the lighting is low so that the icons are well illuminated.
- COMFORTABLE SEATING: Place your cat on a cat bed or comfortable mat. This will help keep your cat in place to play the game.
- NOW BACK TO YOU, HUMAN: Touch the icons and fling towards the side of the iPad; pull your hand back to see if the movements naturally peak your cats interest.
- TREATS ARE ALWAYS GOOD: You may want to have some Friskies® cat treats on hand to keep your cats interested in the game. When your cats hit the icon reward them.
- HEY, PLAY NICE! Start the icons at a lower speed and as your cat becomes an expert gamer you can rev up.
- If your cat becomes overly stimulated by the games and begins to scratch, nip, bite or any undesirable behavior starts, STOP the game and return to it again later.
- Do not attempt to play with a cat that has been sleeping or agitated for any reason. Wait until your cat is in a playful mood or actively engages you.