One of my favorite games is catch. I’ll bring a ball to my person when she’s sitting on the couch – especially if she’s talking to someone on the phone. Then I patiently wait for her to toss the ball back to me.
And if my patience wears thin because my person won’t toss back the ball I bring her another one. I figure if her lap gets filled with balls she’ll eventually have to toss them away.
And that’s when I catch them.
But this time I decided to do something different.
Instead of catching the ball I bounced it back – right to Scratchy.
But I forgot one thing. Scratchy never wants to play.
Scratchy sat right next to that ball and ignored it.
Come on Scratchy. I’m waiting for the ball.
Scratchy, I’m still waiting. Aren’t you going to toss that ball back to me?
This is terrible. I just realized something.
Scratchy thinks that ball is his now. He’s never going to give it back to me.
How can I convince Scratchy that that ball belongs to me?
Maybe I can bring Scratchy a treat and he’ll trade me the ball for the treat.
Here Scratchy, want to trade?
Oh wait, never mind. Scratchy, you can have that old ball. This is the best treat ever.
bongodogblog 
marina kanavaki
April 20, 2013 at 11:24 am
Yep, I think you made the right choice, Bongo!!!
🙂
Bongo
April 20, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Marina, I can always find another ball – but treats are sometimes hard to come by. They disappear so fast.
Chancy and Mumsy
April 20, 2013 at 12:25 pm
You are more patient and nicer than I am Bongo. I would be jumping up there and grabbing my ball right back. Nose kisses, Chancy
Bongo
April 20, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Chancy, Scratchy has some nasty claws and I wasn’t sure that ball was worth the danger.
Genevieve Petrillo
April 20, 2013 at 2:32 pm
I love treats better than fetch, too! That ball can’t even fit into Scratchy’s mouth. Soon he will get bored of it.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Bongo
April 20, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Cupcake, I did get my ball back eventually. I was sure hoping Scratchy would toss it for me to catch though.
barb19
April 20, 2013 at 3:55 pm
You are certainly a trier, Bongo!
Bongo
April 20, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Barb, I guess trier is right. Scratchy is untrainable.
Patricia
April 20, 2013 at 4:45 pm
If you came to my house Teddy would play with you. He loves to play fetch. Sometimes we play for so long that I hide the ball so I can do something else. Oh, Teddy is a cat.
Bongo
April 20, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Patricia, I’ll be right over. Teddy sounds like lots more fun than Scratchy.
BZ Dogs
April 20, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Treat. Ball. Treat. Ball. A no-brainer for Henry (Treat) but Zachary? Hmmm….
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 3:14 pm
BZ, that sounds like my dream. Treats in the shape of a ball that can be tossed to me and I can catch it and eat it.
kolytyi
April 21, 2013 at 4:15 am
Perhaps you should try to explain Scratchy that a tennis ball is very similar to a ball of wool and he might apply the same paw-technique to it.
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Kolytyi, I’ll see if that works with Scratchy – but it’s really hard to get anything through to him.
eripanwkevin
April 21, 2013 at 7:43 am
Hmmmm… ball or treat… it’s a difficult choice….because I like the both.
Our kitties don’t seem to like a ball, either…except the ball much smaller one that is made of cloth! 🙂
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Kevin, I’ve never been able to figure out cats. They only seem to like little balls – too small for catching.
dogloverofmax@gmail.com
April 21, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Bongo you are just the best!! So glad you’re home again! I missed you so much!
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Max, it’s really good to be back. I missed all my blogging friends too.
Dalton
April 22, 2013 at 1:18 am
I can’t believe Scratchy doesn’t understand how much fun a game of fetch can be!
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Dalton, I don’t think cats think straight.
dianeskitchentable
April 22, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Hmmph… cats never play fair Bongo, you should know that by now. If you give them something, they don’t want it. If you tell them something isn’t theirs, they want it…Lola
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Lola, what are we going to do about these cats? I try to give Scratchy what for and he just runs away.
dianeskitchentable
April 23, 2013 at 9:47 am
Well, when Diane gets mad at me (not that I ever deserve it of course) she says she’s going to put me on the front lawn with a “free” sign around my neck. Some days I’d pay to put Moe on a bus.
Bongo
April 23, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Lola, can you make sure there’s enough room on that bus for Scratchy too?
dianeskitchentable
April 24, 2013 at 6:41 am
2 tickets to Catland…just ordered online…Lola
Bongo
April 24, 2013 at 10:57 am
I’m packing Scratchy’s things up right now. Woo woo!
Misty Shores Chesapeakes
April 22, 2013 at 1:53 pm
I think you got the better end of the deal Bongo, treats are yummy 🙂
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 4:35 pm
Misty Shores, treats are the best – and I can always find another ball.
colliesofthemeadow
April 27, 2013 at 5:05 am
Gingers say…. Scratchy is laying on blanket.. grab blanket and run…. muwahahahah
Bongo
April 27, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Ginger, I’d better be quick about it – before Scratchy can get his claws out.
angelswhisper2011
April 27, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Bongo, I don’t know why cats are not reacting to balls, maybe they just want to play the boss over it, or they’re just boring. I agree with Ginger… grab that blanket 😀
Bongo
April 27, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Little Binky, Scratchy never wants to play with me – no matter what. Guess I’d better get that blanket.
Delft
May 1, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Shall I tell you a secret, Bongo? The way to make your person throw the ball is to take your ball back, and chew on it for a while in frustration. Then when it’s nice and wet drop it back in her lap…
Works every time!
Bongo
May 1, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Delft, I don’t even wait until I give my person the ball. I get it nice and slobbery before I give it to her the first time.