Hi All,

   Just got through playing 'red bug' with my purebred Persian.  In
spite of her championship bloodlines, she was a rescue.  Her original
owners both worked and Roxy was left in the garage alone most of the
time.  This couple was a pair of those people who just had to have a
Persian because they thought that ownership was a status symbol.  They
had no idea how to care for a cat's psychological health.  At least
they knew enough to give her up.  

   When we got her home, she fit in OK with the other five, but there
was a lackadaisical quality about her that puzzled my wife and me.
Then it hit us -- she didn't join is string games or chase the red bug
because she didn't know what to do.  With love and patience, she
finally caught on that strings and bugs were toys -- she could let her
natural predatory instincts take over and interact with her two humans
at the same time.

   Now, she will come up to Lynda or me and meow when she wants to
play.  It's easy to tell from her expression and body language that
it's playtime.  She insists on this several times a day besides the
times when the game is started by one of her humans.  Now, when daddy
walks through the house with a ribbon 'tail' trailing behind, he can
expect a charge from her if she's anywhere in sight.

   The little kitty finally learned to play!

Regards and Purrs,
O J
ojtb@pacbell.net