Cat Treat Ball

thingiverse

This is a treat-dispensing cat toy that releases 'Dreamies' as your feline friend bats it around the house. Simply print two parts and glue them together - you'll need a total diameter of about 55mm or just over two inches. To ensure a solid base, be sure to print with a raft from the very beginning, since the contact area is relatively small. For added support, consider adding some scaffolding to the design if your printer doesn't come equipped with a cooling fan - you'll especially want to use it when printing the first few layers. The model prints fairly quickly at a resolution of 0.3mm per layer, but this can also lead to a slightly rough finish - not exactly perfect, but perfectly serviceable nonetheless. My own printed version met these standards without breaking a sweat. Cat owners will tell you that the more time and effort you invest in making something special for your pet, the less interested they become. I certainly saw this rule of thumb play out when introducing my cat Ozzy to the toy - after just two or three lackluster attempts at pouncing on it, he promptly ignored the whole thing. However, cats are notorious creatures with strong preferences and quirks, as we all know. Ozzy, in particular, seems to have a knack for seeking his 'Dreamies' by performing acrobatic tricks with me - the ultimate high-five.