PetSafe Egg-Cersizer Meal Dispensing Cat Toy

After a visit to the veterinarian, it became clear that my kitty needed both diet and exercise. A minor, but useful, aid presented itself in the PetSafe Egg-Cersizer Meal Dispensing Cat Toy.

The Egg-Cersizer is, evidently, an egg-shaped toy that can be filled with food pellets. It consists of two halves. The top portion can be broken down into two parts: an outer layer with three quarter-sized, fixed openings, and an inner, movable layer with five openings. By adjusting the inner layer with the dial at the top, you change how much the openings in the two layers overlap. In other words, you can change up how a) how many openings you use at a time (max 3), and b) how large/small to make them. I started off using three openings at half-size, just to acclimate my cat to the new method of feeding. Once she got the hand of it, I adjusted it down to two openings, then one. After a month or so, I started using one opening at the smallest setting that will still allow pellets to come out.

The egg itself can be filled in two ways. As started earlier, the egg unscrews into two parts. Method one involves turning the top of the larger portion to close up all of the openings, filling it with cat food, and screwing the bottom back in place. Note that you will need to set the bottom in place, then turn the egg sideways to let some food fall into the base. This will give you the "wiggle room" to screw the egg together. Otherwise, the food won't leave you space to easily move the two parts.

The second method of filling the egg involves pushing food in from the bottom of the assembled egg. The flanges at the bottom prevent it from popping back out again. I usually use the first method to fill the egg, and the second to "top off" prior to an overnight trip. The toy holds about half of a cup of food, loosely packed.

Six months from her last visit to the vet, my cat has shaved off roughly a pound. While I can't say for sure how much the egg contributed, I will say that it's gotten her to work a little harder for her dinner. She tends to eat the food pellets as soon as they hit the floor. If you're worried about sanitation, you can set it up where you have tile or hardwood. The real drawback of this egg is that it has a tendency to migrate. My cat tends to mew plaintively at me whenever it's empty, but after leading me to the correct room, I have to hunt around furniture (and these days, moving boxes) to find out where it went. Overall, though, I still find it several dollars well spent.

Lastly, here's a video of the egg in action:

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Silicon Power 64GB Firma ZN F80 USB 2.0 Flash Drive

After my last *free* flash drive died an unfortunate death of causes unknown, I began using Dropbox as my main means of accessing files on the go. Recently, however, I had to give a presentation at another facility and was paranoid enough to want copies in multiple places and wasn't quite sure that a hospital computer would have an SD card reader. Thus, the need for a new flash drive.

My requirements were space, so that I could store all of my reference articles; ease of use, since nothing is more annoying than something easily lost or stuck in the USB port; and aesthetics, as I like pretty things. After an inappropriately long time scouring Amazon, I finally came across the Silicon Power 64 GB Firma ZN F80 USB 2.0 Flash Drive.

This product is the winner of multiple awards, and it was quickly evident why. First off, it's small. After years of clunky, chunky flash drives, I was surprised by one measuring less than two inches or so in length. Next, it doesn't require a cap. I've lost more covers to things over my lifetime than I care to consider, so this was a definite plus. Users on Amazon swear that it is actually waterproof, as stated. One mentions sending it through multiple washer cycles. I like it too much to test that theory, but I'll take their word for it. The circle on top is easy to thread through a key chain, or in my case, a carabiner. No messing with needle-size openings and embroidery thread here. The same opening makes for a convenient grip when removing from USB ports.
 
As someone who hates dealing with instruction manuals and set-up guides, I was glad to find that all I had to do with this flash drive was plug it into the port, let the driver install itself, and then save away. (Note: an internet connection will be necessary so that your OS can find the drivers for the self-install.) The saving process is incredibly fast, enough so that I could work on my Powerpoint directly from the drive without any noticeable lag time as I (compulsively) saved. One less thing to store on the desktop. The 64 GB storage is also pretty amazing, especially when the price tag is in the neighborhood of thirty-four dollars, plus free shipping if you have Amazon Prime. Not too shabby.

Lastly, this drive really is fingerprint- and scratch-proof. I had it in my pocket with keys, and it still looks like new. No fingerprints, either, which is remarkable since I had my grubby paws all over it as I worked on my presentation between flight delays, multiple airports/layovers, and a brief train ride. Color me impressed.

All in all, the Silicon Power 64 GB Firma ZN F80 USB 2.0 Flash Drive was absolutely a worthwhile, durable purchase. It gave me one less thing to stress about in the midst of a hellish travel day. Just make sure you keep it attached to something, or it may get lost.

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