Pet Vacuum

Riding the Roomba – Cool for Cats

With all the serious content being created on Pet-Vacuum.com I thought it needed a bit of fun. As the site is about vacuum cleaners for pets what better than to search through videos online to find how they are getting used. I will run a series of articles here covering them; the first was an obvious choice – the iRobot Roomba. I think this vacuum cleaner has had the biggest impact on the home for those that use them.

So first post of the series ‘Riding the Roomba’, it appears to have caught on in a big way. If you find better videos than the collection here then let me know and I will add them and occasionally look in to keep it up to date.

Here we go, the first on the list of feline Roomba riders…

 

Popular Cat on a Vac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-jv8g1YVI

The most popular cat on YouTube to ride the Roomba, with almost 5 million views, posted on YouTube in November 2008.

Notice how the cat’s tail looks like it might to leave a trail of cat dander and hair behind, assuring that the task will never be completed – a kind of perpetual motion! The Roomba does appear to be confused by this constantly going back over the same spot as if to say ‘Hey – This does not compute – I cleaned this patch! – Why has is still got cat hair!!’

The cat perfectly poised does seem to be enjoying the ride, just like we would at the fairground, maybe this is a version of feline dodgems – this idea has sparked a few comments. What if you had two or more cats on Roombas at the same time.

Now imagine, not ever seeing this, you buy a Roomba, leave it on while you go out, you come back into the room to see kitty riding around on it. The shock of seeing this might make you walk straight back out again and take stock of what you just saw, realising your pet has taken over one of your household appliances! Or do you head straight for the nearest web cam or video camera for a YouTube upload.

 

Willow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaGosrtdzAY

Not happy that the nearby brush didn’t go very fast, our next rider is little Willow von Willoughby, cruising along to the music of Yakety Sax. There are moments he decides to jump off and unsuccessfully attack Roomba’s legs, even give it a little push with its paws.

The Roomba by the way has a name – Bruschi?!? Maybe its a ‘was before thing’, before the Roomba was the Brush, before the brush there was the willow – something like that. Or is it a case of anthropoMEOWphism?

 

Max-Arthur – The Most Talented Feline Roomba Rider Award

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf9wHkkNGUU

Max-Arthur back in November sees the Roomba as a means of dominating poor pit bull Sharky with a few right-handed swipes of the paw whenever there paths meet.

You get to feel sorry for Sharky who has to move out of the way, obviously iRobot needs to come out with a more commercial sized Roomba that will support the weight of the pit bull and the playing field will be evened out a bit.

My money is still on Max-Arthur though, even though he displays lack of control when curious of the contents of the white bin he still looks as if he is in charge. I am sure we are going to see more of his antics.

 

Max-Arthur – Latest Update

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbjlR33lbLk

Max-Arthur again, a video that has just come in on 5th March 2010, showing that within the space of a few months he has worked out how to turn the Roomba on for himself.

This cat is smart!!!

Again, displaying typical feline curiosity over how his hover disk is moving though – or is he looking for more controls on the Roomba to outsmart his fellow householder Sharky.

Notice the tail dragging action – Is this to confuse the poor Roomba with more pet dander or is it a helpful gesture of sweeping up behind? Finally, what is this feline fascination with Roomba’s legs?

We’ll see more of Max-Arthur later in the series where in July 2009 he took passengers.

Can any cat beat Max-Arthur? Let me know…

If now you have “got to have a Roomba!” then try here for the Roomba 560, this is the best value we can see at the moment. As we haven’t done a proper review yet look around the site for other merchants you might get a better price on. Remember if budget is a concern you can find many reconditioned ones there for a VERY good price if you look around that site.

If you DO find cheaper than there then please let me know…

Or maybe you have a Roomba and now you know you have got to have a cat!! A tip – if searching for a cat ensure that is states that it is ‘Roomba Trained’.

There’s more to come…

Mar 12, 2010 | 2 | Vacuum Cleaner Fun