We bought this item in the hopes that it would simultaneously get our "large" cat some exercise, and get him to leave us alone when he's hungry long before feeding time. It definitely helps with the between-meal begging, but I don't think he gets ANY exercise out of it! He just nudges the ball around ever-so-slightly until a little food falls out.Overall, I think the product does what it's supposed to. My cat is just lazy. That's not the manufacturer's fault!