PETS AND COMPUTER GAMES.

Dr Bronwen Slack, is Meep's owner and vet operations coordinator at PETstock, she believes that people dont spend enough time with their pets. She believes anything that encourages people to interact with their cats, so they're not living such a sedentary lifestyle, is good. Meep lives the typical life of an indulged pet in Melbourne – he has a loving owner who showers him with attention, plenty of toys and a pantry full of food. He also has several games on a Samsung tablet to play. Computer games for pets is the latest in the continuing trend of dogs and cats being elevated from family pet to "furry babies". After all, why should humans have all the fun playing Candy Crush.It's not that balls of yarn and ropes are too analogue for today's 21st-century pets, rather there's now an alternative way to increase simulation among cats and dogs particularly when they're home alone. Marcus Carter, research fellow in computers at the University of Melbourne, says the "interesting trend" reflects the lifestyles of many people, and likens digital games to the increasing use of "pet cams" to monitor them. Marcus recently got a puppy and set up Skype to automatically answer so he could check on her while at work the first few times I left her in the back yard.He believes digital systems in general present an amazing opportunity to improve animal welfare, such as by reducing social isolation in the home. The games are simple, encouraging dogs and cats (and even very young children) to catch a series of slow moving digital fish, bubbles, treats and any other number of small creatures or lasers. One reviewer of the imaginatively titled "Game for Dogs" in the App store wrote: "My dog is now obsessed and is biting cause all she wants to do is play it on the iPad." Dr Slack tends to use the games sporadically so as not to over stimulate them. The best way to use them is when leaving the house to go on an errand and I want to keep the pet occupied while away. for 15 or 20 minutes. read more http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/pet-gamers-cats-and-dogs-the-latest-family-members-to-play-tablet-games-20160408-go1wb7.html