Children's
Software Review of: |
| Did
you ever think about getting an animal for your children, but were afraid
that they would eventually get tired of it, and you would end up taking
care of the poor creature? Well, have I got a program for you! Catz 3 –
your virtual Petz by PF.Magic and The Learning Company, is a great first
cat (or catz) without the kitty litter. The program is a CD–ROM, and requires
Windows 95/98. Catz is expandable through the Internet, with a vast array
of cool stuff to download, like toyz, accessories, other animal friends
(i.e. Dogz, or Pigz). There is also a matchmaking site, and an owner’s
site where you can meet other Catz owners, and compare kitty notes. The
website also includes the
Petz Publisher, the Petz Web Fun Pack, and an instant "make-your-own" website.The
computer I was using is mainly for our smaller children, and does not have
Internet access.
To obtain your very own cat, you must first go to the Adoption Center and choose from 10 different breeds. You must name your cat, and agree to feed and play with your cat at least daily. If you forget to feed or play with your cat, you are not allowed to adopt any more catz until you pay enough attention to the cat that you already have. You can adopt as many catz as you wish, but the adoption center will remind you of your obligation to these animals, and will take them away if they are neglected. This feature is good for children, and teaches them responsibility. Our children are 4 and 6, and when one of their catz got taken back to the Adoption Center, they realized that they had to feed and play with each cat in order to keep them. We have an older cat at our house that doesn’t require a lot of attention, unlike kittens that need tending to. This program is more along the lines of what my husband, Larry and I like to refer to as the "high maintenance" type animal. Once you receive your cat you are provided with a cage and toys. There are five different play scenes you can explore with your cat. The kitchen is where you feed your cat. The food and treats are kept there. You can also give your cat a bath in the sink, but watch out, cats don’t like to get wet! The back yard if full of fun outdoor toys. You can throw the ball or one of the toys and teach your cat to fetch by offering them a treat for their effort. It was fun to watch the cat play with the butterfly. The family room is a fun place to play, and has it’s own unique toys. The cat likes to play hide-and-seek under the rug. To summon your cat, click the mouse twice. A hand will appear, will give the "come here" sign, and will make the kissing noise. To pet your cat, place the arrow on the cat and double click the mouse. The hand will appear and the cat will purr, and will move around under the hand. It is fun to watch the interaction. To move your cat or put him in his cage, simply place the arrow on the cat, click the mouse and the hand will appear. Pick him up by holding down the left mouse button. You can then put him where you want him. When you put your cat in the pet taxi be sure to close the door, or he will get out. Putting your pet in his cage is one of the ways you care for him – keeping him safe when you are not with him. The Beach is a fun place to go, as all of the creatures that you would find at the beach are there. Sand crabs come out and snap at the cat, seagulls fly overhead, and waves pound the beach. Remember, cats do not like to get wet! My favorite scene is the clothes closet. There are all kinds of outfits to put on your cat, one for every play scene in the program, and more! You can put the bathing suit on the cat, and accessorize with sunglasses and a hat. It’s a lot of fun to dress up the cat and take him to a different scene. Download the latest styles from the website to keep your cat "in" with today’s fashion scene. The feature that I liked the best is the ability to put your cat or catz on your desktop. They will play with their toys, play with each other or sleep. They make a lot of noise when they are roughhousing, but the mute button works wonders when the racket is more than you can bear! It’s fun when more than one family member owns a cat, as the catz interact like siblings; sometimes they play well together and sometimes they fight. All the catz live in the same pet taxi or cage. You can also make a catz screensaver. They run around in whatever outfit you had them in last, playing, exploring and occasionally finding new toys to bring onto the screen. Create your own family of catz by adopting a boy and a girl. Watch newbornz develop their own unique looks and personalities. The best part of creating a family is that you determine the number of newbornz. PR.Magic, Inc. also makes Dogz version 1, 2, and 3. The price for Catz 3 locally is $19.99 to $29.99. When you purchase Catz and Dogz, all of your petz can live and play together. One big happy family without the trips to the vet or the pooper-scooper! Enjoy!
Marta Grosskopf is a school nurse in the Northeast Independent School District. She and her husband have two children at home, ages 4 and 6. |