19 Cats And Counting

BIO:

Meet Gorba - Head of Product, Tolstoy - Chief Quality Tester, and I, Anton - CEO.

I love playing with my cats, but I grew tired of flimsy, single-use wands. They would quickly break and it felt so wasteful throwing them out.

One day on my way to the recycling station with 2 more worn-out wands I decided to do something about it.

Many prototypes and hours of product testing later, we've created something great.

The Forever Stick is the first unbreakable, reusable and all-in-one premium cat wand.

All Play, Zero Waste. Forever.

Transcript:

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<Announcer> This is Pet Life Radio.

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<Linda Hall> Hello, my cat-loving friends.

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<Linda Hall> Behaviors can be really tough.

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<Linda Hall> Rita and I work with people every day, and you would be surprised at how much play plays into that.

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<Linda Hall> Integration, spraying, peeing pooping outside of the box.

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<Linda Hall> We're going to talk about enrichment.

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<Linda Hall> Boredom, not feeling confident at all plays a part.

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<Linda Hall> But we like different toys, and the toys break, and you know, Rita and I are very tough on toy safety.

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<Linda Hall> So we came across Anton, whose last name I'm not going to try to pronounce, repounce.com, who has made the Forever Stick.

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<Linda Hall> You want to hear about this?

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<Linda Hall> This is so good.

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<Linda Hall> We'll be right back after this word from our sponsor.

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<Announcer> Take a bite out of your competition.

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<Announcer> Let's talk pets on PetLifeRadio.com.

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<Linda Hall> I am your co-host, Linda Hall, here with the ever gorgeous, my blonde BFF bombshell, Rita Reimer.

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<Rita Reimers> Those of you who follow thedietscrub.com, I am down 17 pounds.

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<Rita Reimers> But anyway, I digress.

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<Rita Reimers> When you said behavior, I almost started laughing, because I know you meant cat behavior, but people behavior too.

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<Linda Hall> Well, people behavior is improved by keeping occupied and doing things that make them more confident too.

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<Linda Hall> Didn't your mother tell you when you were a little kid that that bully that was picking on you was very scared and had his own problems?

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<Rita Reimers> Actually, they always told me that he had a crush on me.

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<Linda Hall> No, that too.

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<Linda Hall> Is that true?

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<Rita Reimers> Anyway, let's talk to Anton about-

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<Linda Hall> I don't want to talk to you anymore, I want to talk to Anton.

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<Rita Reimers> We're talking about cat behavior, focus.

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<Linda Hall> Hi Anton!

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Hello!

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<Anton Kreicbergs> I'm so excited to be here and thank you for having me.

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<Linda Hall> We are excited that you're here and we are really excited about the Forever Stick.

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<Rita Reimers> We've given a couple of our behavior clients a sneak peek at your website and they are waiting just like we are.

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<Rita Reimers> We can't wait to get our hands on one.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> I'm also waiting.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> I'm so excited to soon be launching.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It's going to be so exciting.

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<Rita Reimers> I can't imagine.

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<Linda Hall> Can't wait.

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<Linda Hall> So tell us about the Forever Stick.

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<Linda Hall> First of all, what is it?

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, definitely.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So the Forever Stick is the unbreakable, reusable, all-in-one premium cat one.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It's a long sentence, but it contains everything because it is a lot.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So it really kind of fills all your playtime needs.

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<Linda Hall> So we like wand toys for a lot of reasons.

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<Linda Hall> And I'll tell you, we work with these in behavior.

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<Linda Hall> If you've got a skittish cat, it's nice to have something in between you, right?

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<Linda Hall> That stick that's separating you and them.

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<Rita Reimers> Or an aggressive cat that doesn't quite crush you.

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<Linda Hall> Or an aggressive cat.

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<Linda Hall> Yes, exactly.

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<Linda Hall> And play is bonding.

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<Linda Hall> So we want to play with them.

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<Linda Hall> This is a really good way to go.

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<Linda Hall> But yes, these sticks, they break, they bend.

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<Linda Hall> Or, you know, I used to get a box of cat stuff and every once in a while they'd have one in there and the cats were not thrilled about the lure.

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<Linda Hall> And I'd keep them for a long time and then throw them away because I feel guilty about putting them in the landfill.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly the same.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And I had a box of all of these kinds of wands.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, I had a box of all of these kinds of wands that either they didn't like or that were kind of half worn out.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So they didn't really want to play with it.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It wasn't as much fun, but I felt bad throwing them out because I just bought them like a week or two ago.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then I would just have them there for six months and then throw them out.

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<Rita Reimers> And then my Oliver would bite the string part.

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<Rita Reimers> So then I'd have to throw the whole thing out.

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<Rita Reimers> And it's just like throwing away those cheap laser pointers, right?

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<Rita Reimers> Between those and the sticks we throw away, there's like a whole landfill full of these things.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, exactly.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And that was really what inspired me to create this product.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> I got my cats during COVID, just as many others.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> I finally kind of broke down and said yes, because my girlfriend had been pestering me for a while.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But then we got our first one.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then, you know, six months later, I was the cat crazy one asking us to have a second one, because of course he needs a friend, right?

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<Linda Hall> Well, yeah.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Of course he needs a friend.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Wasn't for me at all.

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<Linda Hall> That's like potato chips.

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<Linda Hall> You can't eat just one.

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<Linda Hall> Yeah, exactly.

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<Linda Hall> You can't have just one.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> No, and then, you know, play is so important for cat's wellbeing.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It's just like walking for dogs, basically.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Like dogs need to walk to feel activated and feel good, and cats need to play.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then outdoor cats, they get a bit more activation from their natural environment, and indoor cats need more play.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But all cats should get play, both for kind of exercise, mental wellbeing, and then for the bonding part, like you mentioned, like really bonding with your cats.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And I was going through once, left and right, buying them, throwing them out, because they were worn out or snapped in half, like you said, and I just felt there must be a better way.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then this kind of idea started, born from kind of frustration and wanting to create something better, more beautiful, more environmentally friendly.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And many prototypes after many hours of product testing with my cats, the Forever Stick was born.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah.

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<Linda Hall> I'll tell you, Rita and I often tell our clients the number one thing that we think most cat parents do wrong.

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<Linda Hall> If you watch a cat in nature, they go out and they hunt on schedule.

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<Linda Hall> Sorry, I'm joined by a kitty behind me and she's watching.

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<Linda Hall> She's watching TV.

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<Linda Hall> So yes, so these cats go out and they hunt on schedule and they torture them.

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<Linda Hall> They're sadistic, right?

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<Linda Hall> They torture them.

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<Linda Hall> They let them go.

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<Linda Hall> They catch them again.

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<Linda Hall> It's awful.

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<Linda Hall> And then we bring them in our house and we plop food down and go, here's your dinner.

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<Linda Hall> And they're left with all this pent up prey drive.

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<Linda Hall> They can't get out.

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<Linda Hall> And that comes out in behavior problems.

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<Linda Hall> So lays everything and I like that yours has a longer wand.

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<Linda Hall> And I want to make sure we talk about the handle.

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<Rita Reimers> Should I share the website and show it a little bit?

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<Linda Hall> You can for those of us on, for those who are watching the video, yes.

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<Linda Hall> Yeah, I really want to talk about that handle because I have problems with grip strength.

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<Linda Hall> I have MS and I have problems with my grip.

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<Linda Hall> And a lot of times there are these skinny, tiny little plastic handles that slip and are hard to grip.

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<Linda Hall> And if a cat gives a good tug, then I lose it.

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<Linda Hall> So tell me about your handle.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> No, but that's definitely something that kind of resonates with me.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> We should give our cats as much playtime as you need.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Like you said, it's really the kind of beginning of a lot of bad behavior when cats don't get activated enough.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But then we should take it upon ourselves to get something that we also enjoy using, right?

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Here's the handle that you're talking about.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, exactly, there's the handle.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So I have like this one that I use for comparisons.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> This is like a normal one, very, very cheap, very flimsy.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It gets worn out, it's glued on.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Then you just throw it away.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So it's single use plastics with like a tiny handle.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And often they have no handles at all, like you said.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So I wanted to create something that's enjoyable for you as a pet parent or a cat parent to actually use.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So the handle's definitely a part of that.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Made it in cork, which is, I don't know if everyone knows this, but it's a super sustainable material because it comes from the bark of the cork oak.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly, there's the handle.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Comes from the bark of the cork oak, which is a oak tree.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And you just harvest the bark, actually.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So you don't have to cut down the whole tree.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> You just take off the bark and then it regrows in like seven, nine years later.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So it's really, really an excellent material.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then it's so durable and comfortable to hold.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly, that's my cat Gorba.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But it's super durable and nice to hold.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So they actually make the handles for walking sticks and fishing rods.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, exactly.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> No more snap one.

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<Linda Hall> I think we've all been in one of those situations where a cat had a hold of the lure so hard and you're like, no, no, no, I don't want to let it go, but you know, I'm clean.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah.

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<Rita Reimers> Oh, Linda Frode, she's been having some internet issues today because she's in the frozen tundra of Ohio.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But I can actually show you here live also kind of how flexible it really is.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So this is the Forever Stick in live.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And there's that ergonomic handle that we were discussing.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It's really nice to hold.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And this is the stick.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It goes from kind of a thicker part that's really durable and then to the soft tip, which is really flexible.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And you can see here, I can almost make an O out of this, a complete circle.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then I have my Tolstoy's favorite little mouse here.

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<Rita Reimers> Are you back?

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<Rita Reimers> He's showing the Forever Stick right now.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> We're just talking about how bendable it is.

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<Rita Reimers> Like Linda said, you can either put the lead, the long thing on, or you can put something right on the end.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah.

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<Linda Hall> Yeah, that's the thing too.

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<Linda Hall> We're always asking our clients what kind of toys their cats enjoy.

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<Linda Hall> What is your cat's play style, right?

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<Linda Hall> Is it something that's gonna act like prey that you're gonna move along?

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<Linda Hall> Those long worm things, those are a big hit for that.

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<Linda Hall> Some people love the bird that makes the noise.

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<Linda Hall> Some people just want, or some people, cats.

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<Linda Hall> Cats are people too.

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<Rita Reimers> We call cats out for people too.

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<Rita Reimers> That's our new moniker.

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<Linda Hall> It really is, cause I keep doing that.

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<Linda Hall> They're all the same around here.

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<Linda Hall> So I just want a feather with this.

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<Linda Hall> And the stick really is the main component.

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<Linda Hall> I mean, everything's gonna, all the lures are gonna take a tough time sooner or later, but one stick, which also means I'm not storing 20 different, hmm, that just occurred to me.

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<Rita Reimers> Right, one stick, that's all you need.

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<Rita Reimers> Or two, if you wanna play with a couple cats at once.

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<Linda Hall> Well, that's true too.

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<Rita Reimers> Two people around, you know.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But I think that's a really important part because as I was saying, like you want something that you enjoy, kind of a gift to yourself for doing this good thing, which is playing with your cat.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And one thing that always kind of bothered me was having these sticks around, kind of half worn out in a box or the long ones.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> I would have them sticking out from a cupboard, like at the top of my kitchen, because I couldn't find a good place to store them.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So when I designed this product, I really thought about this, want to create a good storage solution while keeping a solid design, because these kind of collapsible ones, they break at those kinds of joints.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> That's the weak part.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> So what I did is it actually comes with a silicone wall mount that's self-adhesive with glue and 3M.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And then you just snap that on onto the wall or maybe the inside of your cleaning cabinet, and then you just put it out and snap it on.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And it looks beautiful hanging there or you can just hide it.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Always have it ready for a good playtime.

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<Rita Reimers> This really goes with one of our methodologies, pegs, play, eat, groom, sleep.

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<Rita Reimers> It's something we tell people that their cats should do twice a day to help satisfy that prey drive.

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<Rita Reimers> It mimics like they're hunting for breakfast or dinner.

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<Rita Reimers> So you can pull that out, do just a few minutes of playtime before you feed them, and then they're gonna groom and go to sleep because that's their normal pattern in nature.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly, yeah, and I think that's so important.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And I've reached out to people that have asked me kind of how to improve their play.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> And one thing that you mentioned now is that kind of mimicking natural prey movements, like really being the sneaky mouse with quick dashing movements, like running from one table leg to another chair leg and then hiding behind a pillow and stuff like that, which is perfect to do without the string attached, because it does come with a string, just so that's clear.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> But then you can also be kind of the, then switch it up and be the bird that just flies across the room with the long string and the long wand.

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<Anton Kreicbergs> It's really giving that kind of variety for your cat.

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<Linda Hall> Well, I'll tell you too, it builds confidence.

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<Linda Hall> So this is something we deal with with people all the time we tell them, cats do not play for fun like we do and dogs do.

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<Linda Hall> They play to hunt.

00:12:33.690 --> 00:12:40.010
<Linda Hall> And if your goal in life is to be a hunter, every time you catch your prey, I am the mighty hunter.

00:12:40.030 --> 00:12:41.170
<Linda Hall> I'm a confident being.

00:12:41.410 --> 00:12:43.570
<Linda Hall> And confident beings don't walk around afraid.

00:12:43.970 --> 00:12:46.530
<Linda Hall> Integration, they're scared of the other cat.

00:12:46.930 --> 00:12:50.890
<Linda Hall> Peeing, pooping outside of the box, maybe they're afraid to get in it, they're afraid of outside cats, whatever.

00:12:50.910 --> 00:12:52.190
<Linda Hall> It all comes from fear.

00:12:52.210 --> 00:12:57.510
<Linda Hall> The more we build them up and make them confident, the less fearful they are, which means less behavior problems.

00:12:57.810 --> 00:13:00.170
<Rita Reimers> And plays bonding too between the cats.

00:13:00.590 --> 00:13:02.890
<Rita Reimers> They kind of get a group mentality.

00:13:03.470 --> 00:13:05.830
<Rita Reimers> Oh, you wanna chase that thing on the string?

00:13:05.850 --> 00:13:07.410
<Rita Reimers> Me too, let's get them together.

00:13:07.850 --> 00:13:09.690
<Linda Hall> Yeah, it's like any sports team, right?

00:13:09.710 --> 00:13:12.030
<Linda Hall> It builds that bond of we are teammates.

00:13:12.330 --> 00:13:13.950
<Linda Hall> The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

00:13:13.970 --> 00:13:14.610
<Linda Hall> Let's get it.

00:13:15.490 --> 00:13:16.110
<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly.

00:13:16.250 --> 00:13:22.830
<Anton Kreicbergs> No, and it's so important that you said that about confidence, because as you mentioned, laser pointers, like I love laser pointers.

00:13:22.850 --> 00:13:26.590
<Anton Kreicbergs> They're great to really get that kind of energy out, being able to run all across the room.

00:13:27.010 --> 00:13:30.870
<Anton Kreicbergs> But one thing is that you need to kind of let your cat actually catch something.

00:13:31.090 --> 00:13:31.730
<Rita Reimers> Yeah.

00:13:31.730 --> 00:13:40.510
<Anton Kreicbergs> So use it, use it not all the time, maybe the laser pointer, or at the end of play, really point it at like a mouse laying there or a ball laying there or something.

00:13:40.650 --> 00:13:46.850
<Anton Kreicbergs> So they kind of refocus their attention to that toy that they can actually catch if you're proud of.

00:13:46.870 --> 00:13:48.790
<Linda Hall> I love that you know that.

00:13:48.810 --> 00:13:49.830
<Linda Hall> You are smart.

00:13:50.130 --> 00:13:56.250
<Rita Reimers> So many people don't use the laser, because all the behaviors used to say, don't use the laser, it's frustrating.

00:13:56.270 --> 00:14:03.030
<Rita Reimers> But no, if you give them a catch at the end, or you switch to a toy like the Forever Stick and give them something physical to grab.

00:14:03.290 --> 00:14:05.470
<Linda Hall> And that's what we tell people all the time.

00:14:05.790 --> 00:14:06.110
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah.

00:14:06.450 --> 00:14:09.530
<Anton Kreicbergs> No, I think one of the most important factors is variety, right?

00:14:09.710 --> 00:14:14.310
<Anton Kreicbergs> So just switching it up, different toys, different baits, different play styles.

00:14:14.770 --> 00:14:20.950
<Anton Kreicbergs> And that's what we've tried to kind of achieve with the Forever Stick without needing 20 different ones and all of these other things.

00:14:21.150 --> 00:14:21.590
<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly.

00:14:21.610 --> 00:14:24.810
<Anton Kreicbergs> Really just the other day, I just attached a piece of cardboard at the end.

00:14:24.870 --> 00:14:29.950
<Anton Kreicbergs> And that was so much fun for a couple of minutes and a couple of days.

00:14:30.070 --> 00:14:31.570
<Anton Kreicbergs> So it doesn't need to be fancy.

00:14:31.610 --> 00:14:32.930
<Anton Kreicbergs> Just switch it up.

00:14:33.510 --> 00:14:34.590
<Linda Hall> Exactly, yes.

00:14:34.610 --> 00:14:37.370
<Rita Reimers> You buy a fancy toy and the cats want the box, right Linda?

00:14:37.570 --> 00:14:38.390
<Linda Hall> That's true.

00:14:38.770 --> 00:14:45.090
<Linda Hall> Well, and I like what you said about, yeah, this one is going to be a ground moving thing like a mouse or a bug would be.

00:14:45.110 --> 00:14:48.230
<Linda Hall> This one's gonna be up in the air like the bird, something like that.

00:14:48.590 --> 00:14:53.670
<Linda Hall> And we've had that, what you said about the laser pointer, we tell people all the time, yeah, throw something down that they can catch.

00:14:53.930 --> 00:14:56.350
<Linda Hall> I usually do a treat and then shine the light on and off.

00:14:56.790 --> 00:15:01.690
<Linda Hall> But, and this is hard to believe, but we have found cats that are not food-motivated.

00:15:02.270 --> 00:15:02.710
<Linda Hall> It's weird.

00:15:02.730 --> 00:15:03.970
<Rita Reimers> I know, isn't it weird?

00:15:03.990 --> 00:15:04.430
<Rita Reimers> It's weird.

00:15:04.450 --> 00:15:05.990
<Linda Hall> But there are some out there.

00:15:06.010 --> 00:15:06.570
<Rita Reimers> I don't get it.

00:15:07.450 --> 00:15:12.990
<Linda Hall> And so, yes, and so then what we say is switch to a wand toy, something along those lines.

00:15:13.050 --> 00:15:15.590
<Linda Hall> So yes, if you're going to use that, yes.

00:15:16.150 --> 00:15:17.270
<Anton Kreicbergs> No, no, definitely.

00:15:17.610 --> 00:15:18.430
<Anton Kreicbergs> And that's a good thing.

00:15:18.450 --> 00:15:28.170
<Anton Kreicbergs> Like for the cats that are food-motivated, also incorporating puzzles and like hiding treats and stuff to activate them, because some days they won't actually feel like hunting something.

00:15:28.730 --> 00:15:31.790
<Anton Kreicbergs> But then actually just getting them to sniff and try to use their brain.

00:15:32.790 --> 00:15:34.370
<Anton Kreicbergs> So just activation is key.

00:15:34.730 --> 00:15:37.190
<Linda Hall> I was going to say, I think you need to be a cat behaviorist.

00:15:37.210 --> 00:15:38.290
<Linda Hall> You're pretty knowledgeable.

00:15:39.390 --> 00:15:41.130
<Rita Reimers> I'm running to put them on our staff.

00:15:42.390 --> 00:15:51.910
<Anton Kreicbergs> I feel like if you're running a cat toy company by yourself full-time, then there's a lot of cat inspiration, knowledge and everything that you go through, right?

00:15:52.070 --> 00:15:57.350
<Anton Kreicbergs> So just creating this product was a lot of research also and testing with different owners and different cats.

00:15:58.270 --> 00:16:00.590
<Anton Kreicbergs> So yeah, I'm happy that I've picked up some knowledge.

00:16:02.190 --> 00:16:04.190
<Linda Hall> You aren't just like, I got a toy my cats will like.

00:16:04.210 --> 00:16:05.790
<Linda Hall> You like did the research.

00:16:06.170 --> 00:16:07.330
<Rita Reimers> Let's go ahead and take a break.

00:16:07.350 --> 00:16:09.890
<Rita Reimers> When I come back, I want to talk about your beautiful kittens.

00:16:09.910 --> 00:16:14.390
<Rita Reimers> We'll be right back with 19 Cats and Counting and Anton, the inventor of the Forever Stick.

00:16:16.950 --> 00:16:18.650
<Anton Kreicbergs> Molly, here's your dinner.

00:16:23.190 --> 00:16:25.290
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00:16:25.470 --> 00:16:28.730
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00:16:28.970 --> 00:16:34.390
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00:16:34.770 --> 00:16:36.910
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00:16:37.290 --> 00:16:44.730
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00:16:45.050 --> 00:16:46.930
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00:16:47.210 --> 00:16:51.190
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00:16:51.630 --> 00:16:54.190
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00:16:54.630 --> 00:16:57.090
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00:16:57.390 --> 00:16:59.270
<Announcer> That's www.cattreetray.com.

00:17:11.830 --> 00:17:12.750
<Rita Reimers> Pet Life Radio.

00:17:23.910 --> 00:17:25.887
<Rita Reimers> And we're back with 19 Cats and Counting.

00:17:25.907 --> 00:17:27.847
<Rita Reimers> We're talking about this product.

00:17:27.867 --> 00:17:29.427
<Rita Reimers> We can't wait to get our hands on.

00:17:29.727 --> 00:17:32.847
<Rita Reimers> Check out repounce.com for the Forever Stick.

00:17:33.527 --> 00:17:40.167
<Rita Reimers> And Anton, your inspiration for inventing this was your two kitties, am I correct?

00:17:40.627 --> 00:17:41.287
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, you're correct.

00:17:41.307 --> 00:17:42.207
<Rita Reimers> Tell us about your cats.

00:17:42.887 --> 00:17:44.847
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, I have two Russian blues.

00:17:45.327 --> 00:17:47.267
<Anton Kreicbergs> They're called Gorba and Tolstoy.

00:17:48.467 --> 00:17:51.087
<Anton Kreicbergs> And they are, yeah, they're my babies, definitely.

00:17:51.147 --> 00:17:52.027
<Rita Reimers> And they're on your website.

00:17:53.727 --> 00:17:54.847
<Anton Kreicbergs> They are, they are.

00:17:54.867 --> 00:17:56.487
<Anton Kreicbergs> They actually are my co-founders.

00:17:56.487 --> 00:17:58.587
<Anton Kreicbergs> I usually say that it's me and my two cats.

00:17:58.607 --> 00:18:00.167
<Anton Kreicbergs> They're the founders of this company.

00:18:01.047 --> 00:18:02.787
<Anton Kreicbergs> One is the chief quality assurance.

00:18:03.027 --> 00:18:04.747
<Anton Kreicbergs> He does a lot of testing for the products.

00:18:04.767 --> 00:18:07.367
<Anton Kreicbergs> And the other one is the head of product testing, I think.

00:18:07.627 --> 00:18:08.067
<Rita Reimers> Love it.

00:18:08.147 --> 00:18:11.507
<Anton Kreicbergs> So yeah, they're definitely incorporated and highly involved in the business.

00:18:11.847 --> 00:18:13.567
<Linda Hall> I love that.

00:18:13.887 --> 00:18:15.347
<Linda Hall> That's perfect.

00:18:15.687 --> 00:18:19.707
<Rita Reimers> How did you bring this to, I'm sorry, Linda, how did you bring this to reality?

00:18:19.727 --> 00:18:29.647
<Rita Reimers> I mean, Linda and I have talked a few times about, you know, inventing certain products, but how do you go from an idea to actually having a physical something in your hand, a prototype?

00:18:30.107 --> 00:18:33.387
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, no, that feels like such a big leap, right?

00:18:33.407 --> 00:18:34.367
<Rita Reimers> It's a big question.

00:18:34.387 --> 00:18:36.167
<Anton Kreicbergs> Such a challenge, yeah.

00:18:36.307 --> 00:18:44.487
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I should say, like the first time I actually got something in my hand that had the ReapHouse logo on it, that was such a huge moment.

00:18:44.507 --> 00:18:45.867
<Anton Kreicbergs> That felt unreal to me.

00:18:46.147 --> 00:18:47.147
<Rita Reimers> That's gotta be amazing.

00:18:47.167 --> 00:18:48.687
<Linda Hall> Like giving birth, right?

00:18:49.147 --> 00:18:50.547
<Linda Hall> Exactly, definitely.

00:18:51.087 --> 00:18:54.667
<Anton Kreicbergs> So many hours invested in finally coming to fruition.

00:18:54.927 --> 00:18:56.007
<Rita Reimers> You had a long labor.

00:18:56.027 --> 00:18:59.827
<Rita Reimers> How long did it go from concept to actually having a physical product?

00:19:00.167 --> 00:19:07.287
<Anton Kreicbergs> I think actually getting to where I am now, probably a year and a half, two years, because I had a full-time job.

00:19:07.307 --> 00:19:09.307
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I was working on this on nights and weekends.

00:19:09.527 --> 00:19:14.467
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then it takes time, you know, testing, getting a manufacturer, getting it right.

00:19:14.687 --> 00:19:17.847
<Rita Reimers> Getting a manufacturer, that's gotta be really tough.

00:19:17.867 --> 00:19:20.367
<Rita Reimers> Getting the right manufacturer who will do what you want.

00:19:20.747 --> 00:19:23.027
<Anton Kreicbergs> I think that's key, getting the right one.

00:19:23.887 --> 00:19:37.507
<Anton Kreicbergs> But I think I, like, I'm a bit maybe, I think I had some kind of a good position to start from because I studied mechanical engineering, but my master was in design and product realization.

00:19:37.527 --> 00:19:38.747
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I did have that background.

00:19:39.687 --> 00:19:40.727
<Anton Kreicbergs> I am a bit of a nerd.

00:19:40.747 --> 00:19:43.247
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I really like to go into details about different areas.

00:19:43.267 --> 00:19:45.107
<Rita Reimers> I'm a computer nerd and I wear it.

00:19:45.107 --> 00:19:45.927
<Rita Reimers> So I understand.

00:19:45.947 --> 00:19:48.867
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, exactly, yeah, proud nerd and proud cat nerd.

00:19:51.787 --> 00:20:00.627
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I did have some good kind of things in my, the back of my head with knowledge from my studying, but it really did take a lot of time.

00:20:00.647 --> 00:20:12.707
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I think one of the really hardest aspect was finding a manufacturer who was ready to believe in a new company and also someone who could actually have the capabilities to manufacture a product like this because it does contain a lot of different components.

00:20:13.647 --> 00:20:16.367
<Anton Kreicbergs> It does need kind of custom molding to get the handle right.

00:20:16.387 --> 00:20:18.467
<Anton Kreicbergs> That's not something you can just buy.

00:20:18.487 --> 00:20:25.907
<Anton Kreicbergs> It needs to create a mold and kind of create that kind of a cork under pressure and getting all of the things right, like just the flexibility of the rod.

00:20:25.927 --> 00:20:27.187
<Anton Kreicbergs> Is it too thick, too thin?

00:20:27.547 --> 00:20:29.427
<Anton Kreicbergs> There's a lot, a lot of testing.

00:20:29.487 --> 00:20:33.547
<Anton Kreicbergs> And we went through so many different prototypes with so many different manufacturers.

00:20:33.967 --> 00:20:41.867
<Anton Kreicbergs> And now I've found one who really kind of wants to achieve my vision and the owner of the manufacturing company actually has a cat.

00:20:41.887 --> 00:20:46.207
<Anton Kreicbergs> So he also did some testing and would send me videos each time we kind of got a new stage.

00:20:46.227 --> 00:20:50.107
<Anton Kreicbergs> So he really understands what we're doing and why we're doing it.

00:20:50.487 --> 00:20:51.807
<Anton Kreicbergs> But yeah, it's been a journey.

00:20:51.867 --> 00:20:53.247
<Rita Reimers> You got to find your tribe.

00:20:53.267 --> 00:21:00.687
<Rita Reimers> And then finding the right materials, too, had to be, you know, finding the right thing for the handle and the right material that's flexible enough.

00:21:01.147 --> 00:21:05.967
<Rita Reimers> So this is really a labor of love because anywhere along the line, you could have said, oh, this is too hard.

00:21:06.407 --> 00:21:10.227
<Linda Hall> Yeah, I don't have the patience for a year and a half of waiting.

00:21:10.247 --> 00:21:11.607
<Linda Hall> I wouldn't have made it.

00:21:11.627 --> 00:21:12.747
<Linda Hall> And I have to admit it.

00:21:12.767 --> 00:21:13.887
<Linda Hall> I wouldn't have made it.

00:21:14.447 --> 00:21:18.807
<Linda Hall> Anybody who knows me knows patience is, yeah, I'm just that line when God was handing it out.

00:21:18.967 --> 00:21:21.187
<Rita Reimers> Linda wants immediate gratification.

00:21:21.207 --> 00:21:25.007
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, this is not immediate gratification.

00:21:25.027 --> 00:21:25.807
<Anton Kreicbergs> Let me tell you that.

00:21:25.827 --> 00:21:29.147
<Rita Reimers> Well, our company isn't either, so she's learned to be patient.

00:21:29.647 --> 00:21:30.687
<Linda Hall> I'm trying.

00:21:30.707 --> 00:21:33.807
<Linda Hall> I don't know that it's any better, but I'm trying.

00:21:34.127 --> 00:21:34.707
<Anton Kreicbergs> That's good.

00:21:34.907 --> 00:21:45.447
<Anton Kreicbergs> No, and I should really also say thank you to my community, my friends and all the people who've supported me because a lot of the kind of feedback and insights I got was also from fellow cat owners.

00:21:45.787 --> 00:21:51.647
<Anton Kreicbergs> So a lot of the struggles and the frustrations that I had and kind of the needs that everyone had kind of built upon that together.

00:21:51.667 --> 00:22:00.467
<Anton Kreicbergs> The idea for using cork as a material for the handle actually came from a fellow cat dad friend that I have who knows a lot about materials.

00:22:00.467 --> 00:22:02.167
<Anton Kreicbergs> So thank you to him.

00:22:03.227 --> 00:22:06.507
<Anton Kreicbergs> And kind of the storage was also responded from the community.

00:22:06.527 --> 00:22:09.367
<Anton Kreicbergs> They were saying, no, I have this really nice apartment.

00:22:09.387 --> 00:22:11.727
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I care about my things and my design.

00:22:11.747 --> 00:22:17.127
<Anton Kreicbergs> I like a certain look and all of the things that I can find are this one kind of type.

00:22:17.147 --> 00:22:19.567
<Anton Kreicbergs> I want something more clean or easy to store.

00:22:20.487 --> 00:22:23.147
<Anton Kreicbergs> So yeah, a lot of thanks to the community, definitely.

00:22:23.507 --> 00:22:31.247
<Linda Hall> I was laughing when you said that about them sticking out of drawers because I remember I said I'd gotten a wand toy and I kept it for years that didn't meet the cat's needs.

00:22:31.267 --> 00:22:34.407
<Linda Hall> The reason I finally threw it away was because it was kind of sticking out of a drawer.

00:22:34.427 --> 00:22:35.767
<Linda Hall> And I was like, I'm so good at this.

00:22:35.927 --> 00:22:37.407
<Linda Hall> Okay, we're not using it.

00:22:37.407 --> 00:22:39.207
<Linda Hall> I'm getting rid of it.

00:22:39.247 --> 00:22:42.027
<Linda Hall> I feel guilty about everything I add to the landfill.

00:22:42.207 --> 00:22:44.027
<Linda Hall> The guilt is real, people.

00:22:44.367 --> 00:22:46.527
<Linda Hall> And so I don't want to throw anything away.

00:22:46.547 --> 00:22:47.347
<Rita Reimers> You need two.

00:22:47.347 --> 00:22:49.207
<Rita Reimers> You need one up, I do two, actually.

00:22:49.307 --> 00:22:51.387
<Rita Reimers> You need one upstairs and one downstairs.

00:22:52.347 --> 00:22:54.447
<Rita Reimers> So Nikki can use it with the cats upstairs.

00:22:54.547 --> 00:22:57.047
<Rita Reimers> I mean, her cats are all together, but she's like mine.

00:22:57.267 --> 00:22:58.807
<Rita Reimers> I have some that like to stay upstairs.

00:22:58.827 --> 00:23:00.247
<Rita Reimers> I have some that like to stay downstairs.

00:23:00.267 --> 00:23:01.947
<Rita Reimers> So you gotta be prepared, right?

00:23:03.107 --> 00:23:04.187
<Linda Hall> And sometimes they shift.

00:23:04.207 --> 00:23:05.367
<Linda Hall> She said to me the other day.

00:23:05.847 --> 00:23:08.587
<Linda Hall> Paws has joined my clowder and I don't know why.

00:23:08.607 --> 00:23:11.747
<Linda Hall> And I was like, okay, so he's hanging out upstairs right now.

00:23:11.747 --> 00:23:13.887
<Linda Hall> So yeah, they'll switch their moods.

00:23:15.007 --> 00:23:17.167
<Rita Reimers> He got tired of being on camera all the time.

00:23:17.887 --> 00:23:19.267
<Linda Hall> Yes, exactly.

00:23:19.527 --> 00:23:23.407
<Linda Hall> Yeah, he's tired of me talking about him, which is behavior bias.

00:23:23.747 --> 00:23:29.507
<Anton Kreicbergs> It's so important also, like what you said, contributing to the landfills, like playtime should be guilt free, right?

00:23:29.727 --> 00:23:31.407
<Anton Kreicbergs> It's something that we do that's great.

00:23:31.467 --> 00:23:34.287
<Anton Kreicbergs> It shouldn't have any kind of bad consequences.

00:23:34.827 --> 00:23:41.667
<Anton Kreicbergs> And especially for people who have multiple cats, like I know that you two do, that go through, of course, a lot of toys because cats are mini lions.

00:23:41.827 --> 00:23:42.467
<Anton Kreicbergs> They shrink things.

00:23:42.487 --> 00:23:43.047
<Linda Hall> Yes, they are.

00:23:43.047 --> 00:23:44.007
<Linda Hall> Yes, they do.

00:23:45.007 --> 00:23:54.127
<Linda Hall> And I love that you have that hook to hang it on because one thing that a lot of people do that scares me every time I see it is they'll leave their wand toys laying on the floor.

00:23:54.607 --> 00:24:01.267
<Linda Hall> A cat could start rolling, you know, you grab it in your mouth, you roll around, you could end up with that string around your neck really easily.

00:24:01.787 --> 00:24:04.127
<Linda Hall> I tell people all the time, pick them up, pick them up, pick them up, pick them up.

00:24:04.487 --> 00:24:06.607
<Linda Hall> So you've made a handy way.

00:24:06.627 --> 00:24:07.807
<Linda Hall> I've already got it imagined.

00:24:07.827 --> 00:24:09.787
<Linda Hall> It's going to go right inside my closet.

00:24:09.807 --> 00:24:12.167
<Linda Hall> So I can just, I've already got it placement, everything.

00:24:12.187 --> 00:24:15.467
<Rita Reimers> Although I wonder, I wonder if you disconnect the lead, right?

00:24:15.487 --> 00:24:20.327
<Rita Reimers> And just put something on the end, if you could hang it, if they could self play with whatever's on the end of it.

00:24:20.527 --> 00:24:20.807
<Linda Hall> Yeah.

00:24:21.007 --> 00:24:22.987
<Anton Kreicbergs> I think it depends on how aggressive your cat is.

00:24:23.067 --> 00:24:29.167
<Anton Kreicbergs> I think my cats, they would rip it off because it's, it's, you know, I really decided for storage.

00:24:30.067 --> 00:24:33.167
<Anton Kreicbergs> So they would just rip it off and run away with it, which they do sometimes.

00:24:33.187 --> 00:24:34.687
<Rita Reimers> So my jet would be that.

00:24:34.707 --> 00:24:40.807
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I don't recommend having it up with the string off because of course, swallow it or chew it or get it around their neck, like you said.

00:24:40.967 --> 00:24:43.927
<Anton Kreicbergs> But yeah, maybe for like kittens, I think it would be perfect.

00:24:44.627 --> 00:24:45.407
<Rita Reimers> Oh yeah.

00:24:45.427 --> 00:24:46.187
<Linda Hall> Definitely.

00:24:46.867 --> 00:24:53.807
<Linda Hall> And that cord is a lot more sturdy than the usual fishing wire we get with our toys.

00:24:54.667 --> 00:24:56.427
<Linda Hall> I liked that too.

00:24:56.447 --> 00:24:57.707
<Rita Reimers> Look at that.

00:24:58.067 --> 00:25:00.247
<Rita Reimers> I think my Oliver could probably chew that in two.

00:25:01.807 --> 00:25:03.827
<Anton Kreicbergs> Depends on how much of a chewier your cat is.

00:25:04.527 --> 00:25:06.947
<Anton Kreicbergs> I think no string is completely cat proof.

00:25:06.967 --> 00:25:08.607
<Rita Reimers> He's the only one that does that.

00:25:08.807 --> 00:25:09.167
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah.

00:25:09.407 --> 00:25:12.727
<Anton Kreicbergs> But this is nylon, twin paracord.

00:25:12.747 --> 00:25:14.027
<Anton Kreicbergs> So it's really, really strong.

00:25:14.047 --> 00:25:14.387
<Rita Reimers> Nice.

00:25:14.587 --> 00:25:21.827
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then for everyone who can't see, but it does come with one end, a metal loop to make it really easy to attach and detach from the Forever Stick.

00:25:22.467 --> 00:25:26.487
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then the other one has the universal quick clasp where you can just attach anything.

00:25:26.527 --> 00:25:32.887
<Anton Kreicbergs> I now have a little feather thing here, but on the wand, which has the same clasp, I have a little mouse for it.

00:25:33.307 --> 00:25:40.067
<Rita Reimers> Are you gonna sell those things on your website too, like extra leads and the little things on the end?

00:25:40.547 --> 00:25:41.627
<Anton Kreicbergs> That's a great question.

00:25:41.647 --> 00:25:43.867
<Anton Kreicbergs> The question I get a lot actually.

00:25:44.067 --> 00:25:45.947
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I would say not yet.

00:25:46.267 --> 00:25:47.187
<Anton Kreicbergs> I'm working on it.

00:25:47.867 --> 00:26:01.547
<Anton Kreicbergs> The reason why I've decided to launch it without the baits or the toys at the end is because I've tested, I think probably 50 different types, which I could find from a bunch of different manufacturers.

00:26:02.807 --> 00:26:07.047
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I didn't feel kind of comfortable putting my name on any of them.

00:26:07.367 --> 00:26:09.507
<Anton Kreicbergs> I felt that they wore out really quickly.

00:26:10.427 --> 00:26:13.107
<Anton Kreicbergs> They weren't kind of up to the quality standard that I want to keep.

00:26:13.807 --> 00:26:16.987
<Anton Kreicbergs> And it wasn't really as environmentally friendly as when I have it as well.

00:26:17.247 --> 00:26:18.987
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I'm, but I'm working on something then.

00:26:19.007 --> 00:26:20.527
<Anton Kreicbergs> I decided I'm going to do it myself.

00:26:20.807 --> 00:26:25.707
<Anton Kreicbergs> I'm working on something and I'm probably going to be launching it for the summer.

00:26:25.727 --> 00:26:31.127
<Anton Kreicbergs> Um, I'm, I'm hoping so maybe I can come back then and talk about that one.

00:26:31.167 --> 00:26:31.947
<Linda Hall> Absolutely.

00:26:31.967 --> 00:26:32.767
<Linda Hall> Yes, please.

00:26:32.787 --> 00:26:34.227
<Rita Reimers> And we want to test those too.

00:26:34.247 --> 00:26:39.087
<Linda Hall> I was just saying, you know, we got 30 cats between us who are dying to test these things out.

00:26:39.107 --> 00:26:45.267
<Rita Reimers> So in the meanwhile, though, any lead that has a clip on the end will work with your Forever Stick, right?

00:26:45.427 --> 00:26:46.687
<Rita Reimers> I mean, any toy.

00:26:46.907 --> 00:26:47.827
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, any toy.

00:26:47.847 --> 00:26:54.887
<Anton Kreicbergs> But I would also say things even without the kind of hook part, because I can show you here, but I'll also explain it for the ones listening.

00:26:55.507 --> 00:26:58.687
<Anton Kreicbergs> This is a mouse without any kind of hook at it.

00:26:58.707 --> 00:27:00.847
<Anton Kreicbergs> I actually just pushed it through the textile part.

00:27:01.347 --> 00:27:01.547
<Anton Kreicbergs> Oh.

00:27:02.247 --> 00:27:07.227
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I've done that with multiple kind of catnip pillows and even cardboard.

00:27:07.247 --> 00:27:11.667
<Anton Kreicbergs> I would just squeeze it through some some other textile things I have.

00:27:11.967 --> 00:27:16.267
<Anton Kreicbergs> And also random stuff that, you know, cats love the most random things, right?

00:27:16.527 --> 00:27:20.207
<Anton Kreicbergs> I think every cat owner can appreciate having your cat just laughing.

00:27:20.227 --> 00:27:21.047
<Rita Reimers> Linda's reaching for something.

00:27:21.067 --> 00:27:23.787
<Rita Reimers> Hair ties.

00:27:24.007 --> 00:27:27.307
<Linda Hall> People tell us all the time their cats love to play with hair ties.

00:27:27.327 --> 00:27:30.467
<Linda Hall> And I have to keep mine up and on a hook because my cats steal them.

00:27:30.887 --> 00:27:33.967
<Linda Hall> And we tell them this can become an obstruction in their belly.

00:27:34.587 --> 00:27:36.707
<Linda Hall> And they always say my cat doesn't eat them.

00:27:37.187 --> 00:27:44.687
<Linda Hall> Well, they do not intentionally eat them, but they have barbs on their tongue that point backwards and they naturally carry what's in their mouth down.

00:27:44.947 --> 00:27:47.627
<Linda Hall> So they could end up ingesting these unintentionally.

00:27:47.827 --> 00:27:52.187
<Linda Hall> But man, you could hook one of these on the end of the forever stick and say, partay.

00:27:52.867 --> 00:28:00.067
<Rita Reimers> If I put my hair up, which I do every night, in one of those, I have the scrunchies, Sweetie Pie will rip it right out of my hair.

00:28:00.527 --> 00:28:01.187
<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly.

00:28:01.687 --> 00:28:04.707
<Anton Kreicbergs> So like, just attach anything that your cat, exactly.

00:28:05.427 --> 00:28:08.287
<Linda Hall> Buzzy's scrunchie would be everything.

00:28:08.807 --> 00:28:10.087
<Anton Kreicbergs> This is the fun part, right?

00:28:10.107 --> 00:28:14.427
<Anton Kreicbergs> Like really understanding what your specific cat loves and goes crazy for.

00:28:14.607 --> 00:28:18.407
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then finding, using the forever stick to upgrade it to the next level.

00:28:18.427 --> 00:28:20.687
<Linda Hall> Anton, when's my stick getting here?

00:28:20.687 --> 00:28:23.267
<Linda Hall> Cause I'm like looking around going, I need this on it.

00:28:23.267 --> 00:28:25.287
<Linda Hall> I can put that on it.

00:28:25.447 --> 00:28:27.367
<Rita Reimers> Your cats might not get to see it, Linda.

00:28:27.387 --> 00:28:29.027
<Rita Reimers> You'll be too busy playing with it yourself.

00:28:29.047 --> 00:28:30.047
<Linda Hall> I know, trying to move things.

00:28:30.287 --> 00:28:37.167
<Linda Hall> Well, I had that thought when I threw away that one stick, because it was some weird little like triangle material at the end.

00:28:37.187 --> 00:28:39.267
<Linda Hall> And they were like, I don't know what you want me to do with this.

00:28:39.287 --> 00:28:41.387
<Rita Reimers> I know I have a bunch of them in my drawer I haven't looked at.

00:28:41.527 --> 00:28:44.027
<Linda Hall> I guarantee you have this one cause you used to get that too.

00:28:44.307 --> 00:28:48.407
<Linda Hall> But I was thinking about those little yarn pom-pom balls we used to make when we were in school, you know.

00:28:48.407 --> 00:28:49.507
<Linda Hall> I remember those.

00:28:49.527 --> 00:28:51.087
<Rita Reimers> And you'd zip it and it had the palm.

00:28:51.107 --> 00:28:51.867
<Linda Hall> Yes.

00:28:51.887 --> 00:28:57.327
<Linda Hall> And I thought, I wonder if I could, you know, put that string through here and then, you know, I didn't do anything with it.

00:28:57.347 --> 00:28:58.647
<Linda Hall> And so that's the end of that story.

00:28:58.947 --> 00:29:01.307
<Linda Hall> But that would work with the Forever Stick.

00:29:02.347 --> 00:29:03.947
<Rita Reimers> We're idea people.

00:29:04.187 --> 00:29:07.027
<Rita Reimers> We need engineers to make it come true like you.

00:29:07.727 --> 00:29:08.307
<Linda Hall> Exactly.

00:29:08.327 --> 00:29:10.987
<Rita Reimers> That really benefited you having that engineering background.

00:29:11.007 --> 00:29:13.807
<Rita Reimers> And I knew when we first talked, I said to you, you're an engineer, aren't you?

00:29:13.827 --> 00:29:18.067
<Rita Reimers> I knew I used to be married to one and his brother-in-law was an engineer.

00:29:18.087 --> 00:29:19.907
<Rita Reimers> And I know engineers when I see them.

00:29:20.467 --> 00:29:22.487
<Rita Reimers> Very smart, very smart engineer.

00:29:23.287 --> 00:29:24.727
<Anton Kreicbergs> I have the glasses and everything.

00:29:25.347 --> 00:29:30.347
<Anton Kreicbergs> No, but I like my playtime setup is really I have the Forever Stick.

00:29:30.527 --> 00:29:38.967
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then I have this box, which like they go crazy whenever they see it because it's just filled with random stuff that they love that I can put on it.

00:29:38.987 --> 00:29:41.387
<Anton Kreicbergs> So I have this broken old mouse.

00:29:41.627 --> 00:29:43.247
<Anton Kreicbergs> Tolstoy goes crazy for this.

00:29:43.267 --> 00:29:45.407
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I just hook the Forever Stick through it.

00:29:45.827 --> 00:29:47.407
<Anton Kreicbergs> He goes crazy for it.

00:29:48.727 --> 00:29:51.467
<Anton Kreicbergs> I have the normal kind of better propellers.

00:29:52.927 --> 00:29:54.787
<Linda Hall> Cats love feathers.

00:29:54.807 --> 00:29:55.367
<Anton Kreicbergs> Exactly.

00:29:55.567 --> 00:29:57.207
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then I have the mouse.

00:29:57.287 --> 00:29:59.407
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah, I have all of this random stuff.

00:29:59.567 --> 00:30:02.487
<Anton Kreicbergs> Even some old string that I just made a little.

00:30:02.487 --> 00:30:03.147
<Rita Reimers> I can see.

00:30:03.707 --> 00:30:04.107
<Anton Kreicbergs> Yeah.

00:30:04.187 --> 00:30:04.987
<Rita Reimers> Fun with this.

00:30:04.987 --> 00:30:05.707
<Anton Kreicbergs> So, yeah.

00:30:05.787 --> 00:30:06.407
<Linda Hall> Oh, yeah.

00:30:06.427 --> 00:30:08.687
<Anton Kreicbergs> You can use anything and have a great time.

00:30:08.707 --> 00:30:14.867
<Anton Kreicbergs> So not just have to buy new, but just reuse what your cat already loves and make it specific for their needs.

00:30:15.267 --> 00:30:17.247
<Rita Reimers> Spray a little silver vine spray on it.

00:30:17.547 --> 00:30:19.327
<Linda Hall> Yeah, or catnip sprayer.

00:30:19.347 --> 00:30:20.527
<Linda Hall> Yeah, exactly.

00:30:21.067 --> 00:30:22.727
<Linda Hall> We love this.

00:30:22.747 --> 00:30:28.967
<Linda Hall> I was writing words down as you were talking, like unbreakable, environmentally friendly.

00:30:30.627 --> 00:30:33.327
<Linda Hall> I love even the trees we chopped down for paper, yada, yada, yada.

00:30:33.407 --> 00:30:35.287
<Linda Hall> I love what you're doing with that cork bark.

00:30:35.307 --> 00:30:36.347
<Linda Hall> I'm so glad you told us that.

00:30:36.747 --> 00:30:43.907
<Linda Hall> Sustainable and didn't feel comfortable putting your name on something that you didn't love.

00:30:44.367 --> 00:30:47.467
<Linda Hall> Morals and ethics go a long way with us.

00:30:47.487 --> 00:30:49.667
<Linda Hall> We love everything you've said, Anton.

00:30:49.687 --> 00:30:52.727
<Linda Hall> We are just, we are in your fan club, babe.

00:30:52.747 --> 00:30:58.107
<Rita Reimers> There are some people out there that will put their name on anything just to make money and we won't do that.

00:30:58.547 --> 00:30:59.187
<Linda Hall> Exactly.

00:30:59.587 --> 00:31:00.247
<Anton Kreicbergs> Oh, definitely.

00:31:00.787 --> 00:31:02.667
<Linda Hall> And we're pretty tough on safety.

00:31:02.787 --> 00:31:04.847
<Linda Hall> And yeah, so we're pretty happy with this.

00:31:04.867 --> 00:31:08.867
<Linda Hall> We pull, yank, run things under water.

00:31:08.887 --> 00:31:11.187
<Linda Hall> You should see what we do to new toys coming in.

00:31:12.967 --> 00:31:13.407
<Linda Hall> Yeah.

00:31:13.447 --> 00:31:18.627
<Rita Reimers> Remember, what was it that we put in water and the whole water turned pink or red?

00:31:18.647 --> 00:31:25.107
<Linda Hall> So you're like, now your cats got this in their mouth with their saliva and they're ingesting these dyes.

00:31:25.767 --> 00:31:26.707
<Linda Hall> Are the dyes safe?

00:31:26.707 --> 00:31:27.407
<Linda Hall> We don't know.

00:31:27.427 --> 00:31:29.987
<Linda Hall> Yes, I pull, we were testing some toys.

00:31:30.007 --> 00:31:30.767
<Linda Hall> We bought one.

00:31:30.787 --> 00:31:33.667
<Linda Hall> It was supposed to be like a little bowl of ramen and it had these chopsticks.

00:31:33.667 --> 00:31:35.687
<Linda Hall> And I said, now I'll pull.

00:31:36.027 --> 00:31:38.007
<Linda Hall> And I just pulled it off in my hand.

00:31:38.027 --> 00:31:39.147
<Linda Hall> It was like felt.

00:31:39.167 --> 00:31:42.887
<Rita Reimers> I don't know about your cats, but my cats would have eaten that.

00:31:43.087 --> 00:31:46.707
<Linda Hall> Yes, they would have been in their stomach causing an impaction.

00:31:46.707 --> 00:31:49.327
<Rita Reimers> You can't get them to swallow a pill, but they'll eat that.

00:31:51.647 --> 00:31:52.607
<Anton Kreicbergs> That's so important.

00:31:52.627 --> 00:31:55.747
<Anton Kreicbergs> You know, I'm a solo entrepreneur.

00:31:55.787 --> 00:32:01.367
<Anton Kreicbergs> I'm just one crazy cat dad doing this now full time trying to launch this business.

00:32:01.467 --> 00:32:03.027
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I use this for my two cats.

00:32:03.447 --> 00:32:07.067
<Anton Kreicbergs> They're my most precious family members.

00:32:08.307 --> 00:32:10.207
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I just do this for them.

00:32:10.227 --> 00:32:13.127
<Anton Kreicbergs> It really came from a need to really activate my own cats.

00:32:13.207 --> 00:32:18.787
<Anton Kreicbergs> And now I just want to bring it to other cat owners to bond more with their cats and make their cats feel better.

00:32:19.687 --> 00:32:22.067
<Rita Reimers> I love that because they can't make the decisions.

00:32:22.087 --> 00:32:23.447
<Rita Reimers> We're the decision makers for them.

00:32:23.467 --> 00:32:26.047
<Rita Reimers> What we give them affects their health directly.

00:32:26.827 --> 00:32:29.167
<Rita Reimers> They're like perpetual toddlers.

00:32:29.187 --> 00:32:37.407
<Anton Kreicbergs> And their way of telling us is, you know, scratching on the sofa or peeing outside or running around like crazy at 3 a.m.

00:32:37.547 --> 00:32:43.707
<Linda Hall> We tell people all the time we're having problems with their cats getting along, burn out that prey drive or he'll use it on his sister.

00:32:43.867 --> 00:32:45.927
<Linda Hall> I mean, that's just the facts, right?

00:32:46.407 --> 00:32:47.247
<Linda Hall> Burn it up.

00:32:47.267 --> 00:32:51.567
<Rita Reimers> So this will definitely be a tool that we recommend to everybody we talk with.

00:32:52.007 --> 00:32:55.207
<Rita Reimers> On our write ups, we always put links into things that we love.

00:32:55.227 --> 00:32:57.367
<Rita Reimers> And at the bottom, I always have special links.

00:32:57.387 --> 00:33:01.827
<Rita Reimers> And we will be including your link on everything we send to our clients.

00:33:02.747 --> 00:33:03.607
<Linda Hall> Re-pounce.

00:33:03.667 --> 00:33:07.587
<Rita Reimers> As soon as it's out, we'll have links to it on our website too.

00:33:07.607 --> 00:33:09.487
<Rita Reimers> I'm sorry, you just blinked at me like Jeannie.

00:33:11.407 --> 00:33:14.227
<Anton Kreicbergs> And I'll just say why it's called Re-pounce.

00:33:14.247 --> 00:33:15.687
<Anton Kreicbergs> So everyone knows how to spell it.

00:33:15.787 --> 00:33:20.287
<Anton Kreicbergs> It's R-E, just because you can do it multiple, multiple times, because it's reusable and durable.

00:33:20.547 --> 00:33:23.387
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then pounds, because this will get your cat pouncing.

00:33:24.167 --> 00:33:26.247
<Anton Kreicbergs> And then it will pounce and pounce and pounce again.

00:33:26.367 --> 00:33:29.567
<Anton Kreicbergs> So repounce.com.

00:33:29.587 --> 00:33:30.947
<Rita Reimers> I can't wait to get mine.

00:33:30.967 --> 00:33:32.947
<Rita Reimers> I can't wait to see what else you come up with.

00:33:33.447 --> 00:33:35.867
<Rita Reimers> And thank you so much for being on our show.

00:33:35.947 --> 00:33:38.567
<Rita Reimers> And you're welcome back anytime, anytime.

00:33:39.127 --> 00:33:40.047
<Anton Kreicbergs> Thank you so much.

00:33:40.327 --> 00:33:41.127
<Anton Kreicbergs> This was great.

00:33:41.387 --> 00:33:42.707
<Linda Hall> We had a lot of fun.

00:33:43.767 --> 00:33:44.587
<Rita Reimers> Linda, always.

00:33:44.587 --> 00:33:47.427
<Rita Reimers> Thank you for being my ride or die BFF.

00:33:47.447 --> 00:33:49.307
<Rita Reimers> We've known each other for such a long time.

00:33:49.327 --> 00:33:51.847
<Linda Hall> 20 some years.

00:33:52.367 --> 00:33:54.067
<Rita Reimers> Which is impossible because I'm only 30.

00:33:55.927 --> 00:34:00.627
<Rita Reimers> On that happy note, thank you, Mark Winter, for giving us this awesome spot on Pet Life Radio.

00:34:00.647 --> 00:34:02.387
<Rita Reimers> We are forever in your debt.

00:34:02.687 --> 00:34:05.707
<Rita Reimers> And remember, every day is Caturday.

00:34:06.347 --> 00:34:07.507
<Rita Reimers> We'll see you next time.

00:34:08.327 --> 00:34:09.367
<Announcer> Let's Talk Pets.