I know this is a child's toy, but I bought it for my cat when trying to find something interactive to replace a moving ball who's motor burnt out after only a week! This is not true of the hamster ball. It has been running around here for a month and is still going strong. It is sturdy and cute, and it runs all over the house by istelf. If it bumps into something it instantly turns and goes the other way. I have seen it get out of some tight spots by itself. So you can just set it down for your cat to watch, and get some peace! I have a cat who gets bored easliy, and he will play with this for a half hour or more. If you run it for a half hour a day, the battery will last about a week, which is the only drawback. This is a great toy.