Giveaway Tuesday: Frolicat Dart!

by Dr. V | Tuesday | May 10, 2011 | 68 comments

Congratulations to our winner, Jason! I hope the kitties and the puppy love it!!

Diet and exercise, the dynamic duo of weight loss. For us humans, the activity possibilities are endless. For dogs, there are activities as complex as agility or as simple as a walk down the street. For cats….well, good luck with that.

Maybe you can dangle a feather. Maybe they’ll like one of those ball in a wheel things. Getting a cat to exercise is about as simple as, well, getting a cat to exercise.

The one thing most cats respond to well seems to be a laser pointer. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it’s some deep rooted genetic imprint to chase small bright things that move quickly. Or maybe it’s a trick to lull us into complacency before their move for world domination. Either way, it’s a good way to get your cat moving. Unfortunately, after 2 minutes of holding the button down on one of those cheapie laser pointers your finger starts to cramp and the overheated unit starts burning your palm.

Last year I put the FroliCat Bolt automatic laser toy on my Christmas gift guide. A freestanding machine that automatically directs a laser to move around the room, it lets you can sit back and be entertained while your cat tears around the living room. Apollo’s almost 13 now, and it’s the one thing other than a can opener that will reliably get him off the bed and running around the house.

FroliCat now has a new and improved version of the automatic laser, the Dart. The Dart has variable speed and timer setting to give you 16 combinations based on your cat (or dog)’s activity level and interest. With the full 360 degree rotation, this gets the cats hauling:

I don’t want to be greedy. I know Apollo would love the Dart but he is also quite happy with the Bolt we already have, so I’m offering this as a giveaway for one lucky reader. US only for this one, please. To enter, simply comment below with who you need this for and you’re in! I’d love to see your pet tearing around with this if you win. Contest closes May 16th at midnight PST.

Filed: Giveaways, Reviews Tagged: cats, FrolicCat

Amy

Yay, this is a great give-away! I am a vet student, and recently adopted a kitty. She was my first spay (yes, I am a stereotypical softie). I am a little ashamed to admit that she has already been packing on the ounces.
http://www.calmingcollars.com Deb Mendez

I think my Rocket would love to win this. She has been on a slow weight loss plan for almost 2 years — and is down from 23 pounds to 16.5. Another form of exercise would help!
- Tonya
  
  Wow, that’s an impressive weight loss! Way to go!
  - http://www.calmingcollars.com Deb Mendez
    
    Thanks, Tonya! She now eats in her “private dining room” so she can only clean her own plate — not everyone’s! But she has a petite frame, so she has a few more to lose. We are going with the slow and steady plan!
Kira

I would love to try this with our cat Charlie. I’m betting he would love it—plus is would help get him off the couch!
Dinah

I’m a vet student with three rescue kitties– two are packing on a few extra lbs even though they’re on a weightloss diet… must be that crappy senior student schedule that won’t let me spend much time with them!
Lindsay

for my hyperactive jrt puppy. She’ll be one on Sunday so this would be the perfect birthday present for her!! (and us!) As I write this, she’s barking frantically (and has been for the past 20 minutes) at the tractors mowing the field across from our house. She could definitely use a Dart distraction =)
Alisha

Yes please! I’ve got three kitties, and two of them are overweight. I’ve tried the Bolt in the past, and while the kitties initially loved it, they quickly learned that the laser moved only in a circle, then they stopped chasing it. I’m glad to see there’s a new and improved product!
Jessica

Oh my goodness! My cat would love this. He’s a pretty healthy cat, but over a year of living in the kennel has made him a tad lazy. He loves his laser pointer, but you’re right about the hand cramping and overheating. Not to mention the battery doesn’t last long when we’re trying to get Tom up and running all of the time. I’ve heard of this toy before and it’s been on my wishlist since we got the cat.
Brooke

Oh my poor kitty Fred has lost some weight by switching food, but needs more. He would love this!
Rhonda

I would love to have this for Gilligan… to distract him from world domination! We love him as only parents can despite his tendency to attack visitors and the two boxers. He and his friend Ellie have put on a little weight this year and could certainly use the exercise.
Georgia Jewel

I need this for both for my 2 slightly pudgy kitties and my puttin’ on the pounds pup who loves laser pointers!
http://oddsandendless.blogspot.com/ Sue W.

I, alas, have no cats (severe allergy). But my friend, Dee, has one cat among her four dogs – ALL are rescues. Dee has a huge heart (much to the dismay of her husband and the couch). This would be great for her, and a small reward for all she does for rescue groups. Please give it to my friend, Dee!
Rose D.

I would LOVE this for my Eesa. We had one, but it was too predictable, and she got bored. WANT!!!
Tonya

Even though Alley (my cat) is 10 years old, she still gets the urge to zoom around the house once in a while. And she does love to play with toys, so I’m sure she would be entertained by this one. And I would almost bet that Clyde (my dog) would join right in!
Mary

My 20-lb. cat and his 15-lb. sister could sure use this. Their two other brothers would enjoy it too, and if we don’t win, I may just have to invest in one! We’ve tried everything to get their lazy behinds moving, but only the two skinny ones like to play. They were all rescues, so they’re loving the spoiled life!
http://theunfocusedlife.blogspot.com/ Lee Ann L.

My cat, Gracie, loves chasing after a laser light. This would be perfect for this girl of mine! I never heard of this and am definitely going to get one for her! Thanks!
http://www.the7msnranch.com the 7msn ranch

The possibilities for this are endless! Snapper, Rosebud, Daffodil, and Smooch could tear down the house, and I’d love to see how the boys in the barn might react. What will they think of next?
Ivy

I would love to give this a try with our older cat. (our younger one would love it, for sure) She used to love the laser pointer, but got bored after a couple of weeks after she figured out where the red dot originated from. Now whenever I bring it out for the younger one, she just sits and watches my hand. Then again, maybe she’d just sit and watch the Dart, as well… and laugh at the younger cat’s naivete.
heather t

This would be awesome for my 3 yr old cat,Samson. He is 18 pds, probably at least 3 pds overweight! Being that we have 8 other cats it’s so hard to limit his portions, he just eats the othere! Sooo,maybe this could help.
Dusty

Molly, Megan and Odin could use this (my cats).. especially Molly.. she is the laziest of them all and the most overweight. But they all like the laser lights.. even the dogs!
Sammi

This would be great for my adopted mini pin mix, Birdie. She is super hyper active and sometimes just walking isn’t enough to get all that energy. This would be a great help in getting her the exercise she needs.
Colleen & Andre

Andre would love this. He loves to play ALL the time. He is very active & I do all that is possible to keep him that way. He is about to turn 1 & I don’t want him to get too lazy as he gets older. My previous kitty, Erin, RIP buddy, was a big cat & was a little overweight & I want to avoid this w/ Andre. We have a laser now & he loooooves it!
Tamara

I may have the only cats who are unimpressed with laser toys We like the string-tie from a pair of sweat pants, though! It’s been the favorite toy for about 6 years now (I wash it regularly)
Jason

Not only would any one of my three cats love this, but I have a 9 month old german shorthair puppy that absolutely loves things like this!
Katie

I could use this for my two large cats who need more exercise!
http://collieheaven.blogspot.com bonnie

i have a variety of ages here — the younger ones manage to entertain themselves chasing each other and climbing the cat trees — a few of the older ones play as well but not as actively — the laser pointer is one of the best toys ever for most of these cats but they would love the Dart — and i would love to play with it so i can use my slow-motion feature on my camera while they play!!
http://ineedorange.blogspot.com Vicki in Michigan

In re dogs and this sort of thing — I have heard of multiple corgis who become totally obsessed with laser-pointer chasing, to a degree that it’s disruptive to their lives and their homes.

I don’t know if this is a corgi thing, or a herding dog thing, but people who have breeds known to become obsessive about activities, this is probably a “use with caution” device.

Don’t put me on the list — I don’t have a cat, and I need to keep walking the dog, for both of our sakes….
Jeanine

Tegwen my ADHA Welsh Terrier could use this distraction…Her bubble machine is out of bubbles. Also, it hasn’t warmed up enough in Oregon for her to chase flies and bees. She needs something to keep her distracted from digging at the water faucet on the back patio…she’s water obsessed too! Her brother, Rhys would love for her to have a new distraction…he’s happy with his orange (but only orange) squeaky tennis balls. Maybe they are both just obsessive?
Solange

i will not lie – this one is for me the human because i am a lazy parent to my three cats. penny is a fatty, nos is well on her way and brutus is plumping up. they are well loved and fed but yeah, they could stand to look less like blobs with (lots of) fur….
laurie

This would be great for Turbo, Tucker or Tourquie! Although I believe Tucker would “benefit” the most! He may not agree with me.
Megan K

We’ve got 4 kitties (Tini, Mac, Io and Luna) who would love this! Tini especially – he’s gotten a little pudgy lately and he’s got to keep the weight off because he’s got knee problems.
http://Dr.V Barb

My 3 cats would love this! I have spent so much money on entertainment for them its ridiculous!
Susan

I have two young cats Delila (3yrs) and Kozmo (4yrs). Kozmo is sleek and athletic, but Delila is more of a couch potato, but LOVES laser pointers or any reflective light that moves. Kozmo will try to engage Delila in a game of chase or a good wrestle, but when she gets tired she just lays there and lets him poke at her. Delila would much rather be held, petted or sitting on your lap than running around, unless there is a feather or laser pointer around. She’s so adorable and snuggly… and squishy. She definitely needs more exercise.
Nubia

5 out of 6 pets in my house would LOVE this (Zero just wants LOVE) They all, minus Zero, have a blast chasing things! From my 2 year old king of the pride, to my 11 year old cranky cat; and I can see my spazzy goofball of a pit bull running himself around to exhaustion.
http://www.vetwisdomcafe.com Tammy

That looks like so much fun! I know our kitties would love it. Our Oscar is the one who NEEDS it. He’s 14, and doesn’t run around like he used to. I think this would just fit the bill perfectly!
Kelly Ann T.

Yoshi would have a great time playing with this and so would our dog, Kouga. Thank you for the chance.
Roxanne

We are all crossing our fuzzy toes — all 80 of them — that we win this fun toy. We LOVE laser pointers.
Kaytee

This would be the ultimate distraction for both my cat and one of my dogs! Our cat is very aloof, but loves the hunt, so she loves lasers! Plus, we have a pit mix puppy who has crazy tons of energy, and I could set this on the coffee table in the backyard and watch him go crazy! Great give-away!
LindsayP

I would love it for my 2 chubby kitties, but I think I’d actually give it to a cat at my vet’s office. His name is Donald, and he’s 27 lbs. His mom had to go into hospice, and couldn’t take him with him, so the vet is keeping him at the clinic until they can rehome him. I’ve spent a bunch of time with him, but unfortunately I can’t bring him into my household. He could definitely lose a ton of weight, as he has trouble grooming himself now. I think that he would enjoy the Dart and it would help him slowly get more exercise and lose weight.
macula_densa

Isis apparently never read the textbook of feline behavior because she doesn’t respond to laser pointers at all. But, we’ve established over the years that she is a weird cat to begin with. I’ve never met a cat other than her that didn’t like those…
Beccity

I have a new cat, Spice, that does nothing all day but sit in the windowsill. Ir come down and beg for food, cuz she hasn’t eaten in ONE HOUR!! oh, no! So I think she’s getting a bit chubby, it’s hard to tell cuz she’s a long haired cat, so she already looks big. She likes the laser pointer, though. Another cat, Sugar, I think she’s fat, but it’s hard to tell. I think she should be a small cat, but her fat just makes her look like a normal cat. She does have one of those fat-flaps on her belly that goes flip-flopping from side to side when she trots, but her brother has one, too, and he’s skinny otherwise. This would be fun to have!
http://orangemalcolm.wordpress.com/ Susan Scott

18 Pound of Malcolm sitting on my chest. Always. Maybe this would get him off me once in a while!
Julie

While I don’t have a cat, my brother has 3 and I know at least one of them would love it! Would love to give this to him as a gift.
Maria S

I need this for my 2 year old cat, Fyodor. He is at the border of normal weight and overweight and although everyone in my house plays with him a lot, the extra exercise when we’re not home wouldn’t hurt! This would also be great for those 4am “play with me” meows.
Laurie

My kitty is really unmotivated & loves to sleep! I’ve tried everything but its hard to get her off her rump!
Rebecca

I’d love to give this to my 80 year old Mother for her to way to heavy cats (22lbs and 18lbs) both 11 years old Dusty and Callie. Mom doesn’t get around much herself and this would be perfect for her 4 footed girls to get them active and maybe lose some wight that they need to get rid of.
Kim

my cat Stripe would love this! so would one of my dogs, but he gets a little *too* into it and I’m afraid he’s going to get a little OCD about light if I let him practice it, so it will only get used when he’s out of the room!
georgie

Pesto is 14 and a quite chubby tabby/calico. She says she isn’t, that her stripes just go in the wrong direction and make her look fat. Her favorite exercise is walking down two stairs to the deck to sunbathe. Anyway, she could use a bit of real exercise and this might be just the ticket.
Nancy Santos

We have 2 cats, max and Spanky, and 2 dogs, Honey and Benny, who could use some excitement in their lives. And get some needed exercise!! They are all rescued and we all give them a lot of love, food and treats….but not that much exercise. This would be perfect for them! Thanks for the chance, Dr. V!!!
Marie Collins

Pinkerton and Peebles would love this. Our laser pointer or usually the operator are worn out far before either of our two crazy, almost grown-up kitties. Our hands could use a break!
Lisa

My 2 chubby 7-year-old kitties could sure use this. Buddy (aka “Fluffball”) is 17lbs and Holly (aka “Puffball”) is 15lbs and I need to work them out more often.
Victoria S

I have two kitties, one is 9 and the other is 5! They’re both super lazy (and overweight according to their vet), so I think this would be great to get them moving!
vschilke at gmail dot com
http://the-knapp-fam.blogspot.com The Knapps

This would be great for my kitten O’Malley…he’s so full of energy and loves chasing stuff!

danielleaknapp at gmail dot com
sara

We have a dog and cat that would absolutely love this!
http://kadydidkt.blogspot.com/ Katie

We have two cats, Abby and Mara, who love laser pointers and would love this toy. They would really enjoy this.
Gretchen

I have two cats, Max and Mia, who would love this!
Becky

Our dogs can certainly do without the excitement but our 12 year old TOO HEAVY cat who loves her feather chaser and catnip could use the weight loss help! Becky
http://www.kathieslikeaboxofchocolates.blogspot.com Kathie

I would love to win this for my 3 cats: Pumpkin, Reesey and Felix. They need more exercise and frankly, they’re pretty bored with most of the toys I bring home for them.
http://www.thecraftynest.com Vanessa

I would love to win this for my 2 cats, who we haven’t been able to play with much after the birth of our baby.
Kitty

This would be great for our older cat. She is overweight and combined with age related problems she has a hard time even grooming the back part of her body. If she lost a few pounds I think it would be easier for her.
Michelle Spayde

I have several age ranges of kitties here, and they LOVE laser light play! They all coming running when they hear the jingle of the chain it’s attached to!! The problem is that it’s kitten season, and I’m a “bottle baby” foster mom so my OWN babies are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to their playtime… We’re in FL, so kitten season is LONG.
Linda

I have three fat cats that NEED more exercise but when I’m in the room do nothing but beg for food. They only play when I’m asleep.

PS – tales of testicles …. LMFAO, yes I’m STILL laughing about that
Judy

Need this for our two fat cats, Mama and Theo (mom and son). They both love lasers, but Theo chases string and Mama prefers balls. Thanks!
Nancy

This is for my daughter’s cat – Lillian – who could use some exercise!
autumn G.

I want to win this for my two dogs. we use a laser pointer and they would chase it around all day if they could. This would be great to provide some entertainment when we are gone!
Jess

I have a Sphynx (hairless cat) who has a LOT of energy and I wish I had as much to play with him as much as he would like. This would be a great way for Gizmo to play on his home (and run out all that energy).
tina reynolds

I need this for my kids cat, sammi they would all have a blast : ) eaglesforjack@gmail.com

Pawcurious: With Pet Lifestyle Expert and Veterinarian Dr. V.