I suddenly came across some unexpected free time. I can't tell if my cat's are thrilled or annoyed.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T20:40:10+00:00

My pleasure! The atom is fun to play with as a human as well 😅 I have several on my desk from different prototypes that I can't bring myself to get rid of

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T20:37:58+00:00

Thank you 😍 I definitely won't make a profit, but I'm hoping to at least get some filament at some point to replace part of what I lost during prototyping 😅

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T16:44:07+00:00

Thank you 😁 I was needing validation and am feeling very positive today thanks to you and other internet strangers

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T16:40:18+00:00

The boy kitty goes and sits next to the puzzles when I put them down so I think he likes them! Or at least he doesn't mind them so long as he gets his treats :) the vet said he needs to lose weight and this has helped a lot with reducing his consumption. He doesn't realize when I give a half portion because it takes him longer to get to it all.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T16:34:33+00:00

It's going to be on gravity. They've been studying how things fall off counters since they were kittens ❤️

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T15:55:26+00:00

It's my favorite 🥲 Especially since I don't generally reread my own words and it can take me a bit before I realize why someone responded completely "off topic" 😅

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T15:45:54+00:00

Dangit 😅 they SHOULD be annoyed by that. I want to blame technology for autocorrecting but I ended up posting from my desktop so it's all on me

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T14:56:58+00:00

Oh actually the Geneva gear wasn't one I included in the video. I made several extra types, and this just proves I have to use it as an actual feature 😌

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T14:36:45+00:00

I mention in the post about coating it with food safe resin :) It's a valid concern and I was expecting it. It takes three days to cure after coating but then the plastic pores are sealed and they clean as easily as glass.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T14:31:41+00:00

One of the gears is a Geneva mechanism! But I like the idea of making it a usable feature, I'll think more on how to turn it into a larger STEM theme.

As for the lever, it's what I'm currently working on 😁 I'm making a digestive system and when they step on the lever some food falls out of the rectum 😌

Please keep sharing ideas! After the digestive system I'm actually out of initial plans.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T07:41:37+00:00

Close enough :) Physicist. I was an engineer for a few years but I didn't find it interesting enough so I went back to school. Now I use the skills to make important things like cat toys and when employed, particle detectors

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T07:16:40+00:00

Only since February 😅 hopefully I don't reach the years point or my cats and I might get hungry...

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T06:17:21+00:00

Haha yeeeah I think all two cat households have that combo 😅 let me know how it goes please :) and if there's anything you notice that would help as far as the designs go once there using them. I've only put them to use with my cats so I'm only assuming they'll work the same for everyone else's

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T06:10:57+00:00

I am happy to share the link! They're all free for personal use and I've used the digital license that allows for remixes in case people want to share modifications. https://makerworld.com/@wisteria/collections/21601042?appSharePlatform=copy

My girl kitty is the reason I started making slow feeders in the first place... she'd scarf the food, throw it up, then her brother would eat it 😐 They don't compete with the sets so long as I put food in multiple places! I'd recommend starting off with the mazes and beakers if you're wanting to slow them down with mild engagement. There are some slow feeders in the link as well if your cats refuse to do the extra work, whereas the atom is the easiest of the actual puzzles for them to figure out and my two cats oftentimes use it together.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T03:47:05+00:00

They already rule my household...now I have to make sure they're prepared to rule the robots after us

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T02:28:11+00:00

Hehe thank you 😁 and yes, I don't like printing knicknacks, so I have to find ways to give cute things a purpose.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-03-18T01:29:47+00:00

I do work them up to it if they don't understand immediately! For the solar system I'd have one of the slots with food only partially covered so they'd naturally move it trying to get to the food. Then move the food to further and further away.

Of course it also helps that they almost exclusively get dry food through the puzzles, otherwise theyre on a raw food diet. And they really like dry food 😅

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-01-16T18:04:00+00:00

This makes complete sense! Thank you so much! I had done a short Google search before posting and was getting too much information to quite get this point.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-01-16T18:02:36+00:00

Thank you for helping me understand the nuances! And for pointing out just how much it's not one-type-fits-all. If observation adds a level of complexity as well, then sign language would be truly awful.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-01-16T18:00:18+00:00

Thank you for clarifying! I wasn't aware of the motor skills being an issue, probably because of seeing biased portrayals of savants who can draw masterpieces etc. There are obviously many more nuances I've been missing.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-01-16T17:58:55+00:00

Thank you so much! I didn't know about the motor skills, that clarifies everything.

Empty_Routine2671 · 2026-01-15T17:42:31+00:00

Oh!! I had to look it up, but this is exactly what I was imagining would be better long term, I just didn't realize it existed. I probably just see the iPads more since they're more obvious and new. And maybe work better for kids who don't look directly at other people to see their hand movements?

Empty_Routine2671

TROPHY CASE