Cat Reviews

Asking cats to share our home means we must accept all their basic instinct which is sometimes difficult because one of their most basic instincts is scratching. Scratching serves many purposes in the feline world. It is a visual reminder to other cats that someone alpha is in charge. Scratching leaves a lingering scent for the other resident cats (as cats have scent glands in their foot pads). My husband refers to scratching as a feline post-it note! Scratching allows your cat to exercise and stretch his muscles (generally following a meal.)

If you look up the word Imperial in the dictionary, one of the definitions reads: “outstanding in size and quality, regal and majestic.” This accurately describes the products manufactured at www.imperialcat.com  the maker of unique and functional kitty scratching pads from tough, corrugated cardboard.

When the Orca scratching pad arrived, my cats went overboard with delight! Although the unit arrives with catnip in a sealed pouch, no such enticement became necessary as my clowder crowded around the whale vying for their turn to perch on the back and claw the tail. The attraction was immediate and while the adults lounged on top, the kittens played underneath, in the belly of the whale.

There are times when new products arrive that my cats’ attention becomes short-lived. They focus on a new product, attacking the strange object as they would a prey item and then walk away never to return. Not with Free Willy- the cats have been a constant companion to this whimsical scratching pad ever since I set it on the floor. In a matter of my own survival, last night at 2:00 a.m. I had to get up out of bed and store Free Willy inside a locked closet so we could get some sleep!

Even with the constant attack of harpooning felines, the corrugated cardboard whale has stayed intact. The kittens seem to enjoy the rocking motion when they pounce on it, and become upset when the adult cats lounge on the whale’s back thus stabilizing the scratching pad.

For pure entertainment value on behalf of you and your cat visit www.imperialcat.com  Take a look at all the grand selections this innovative scratching pad comes in. Then click on a vendor, find your closest location and order one today.

Available in all shapes and sizes- prices vary-

I will be honest with you. When it comes to scented litter, my clowder generally turn up their noses. I can be assured that there will be litter pan reprisals and general litter pan mutiny if I dare put anything other than plain clay litter in their boxes.  When approached and asked to try a sample of Fresh Step® Fresh Expressions™ Scoopable Litter in Lavender scent, I agreed, but I had my doubts it would pass muster. 

Those doubts were displaced several minutes after I poured the litter into the pans. Several of my cats wandered over attracted by the scent and the temptation of new litter that was just waiting to be christened. My Alphas jumped in the boxes without so much as wrinkling a whisker!  They loved the litter and quite frankly so do I. 

The lavender isn’t so overpowering that it fills the room with perfume. It is a subtle scent that makes litter pan clean-up definitely nicer. There were no cries of litter upheaval during the test period. Interestingly enough, even my two strongest alphas  ceased litter pan ambushes of the other kittens when Fresh Expressions ™ Scoopable litter became available in their boxes. 

Lavender has long been used for both external and internal issues in people and pets. How insightful to take this flower scent, that retains the ability to calm and mildly sedate those in the immediate area and put that in with scoopable litter.  

Besides generating longer cat naps with the felines here,  Fresh Step® Fresh Expressions™ Scoopable Litter in Lavender Scent also cut down on the routine cat box odor in the room. This is now the preferred litter of choice with the Miller Gang!

More information available at http://www.freshstep.com/ 

It is refreshing in this day and age to come across true craftmanship in regards to cat furniture. Most pieces that exist out in the market today are slapped together hastily, made of pressed wood, chipboard and cheap carpeting that shreds instantly at the mere passing of  curious claws.

At moderncritter.com you are presented with cat furniture that puts the word FINE back  in refinement. True craftmanship molds and shapes this wood, forming a polished piece of furniture. The Miller Crew became receptive to the scratcher being placed on the floor versus hanging on the wall. One note, if you decide to hang your scratcher, the brackets are included and the installation is quick and easy. However, on my piece, the level included in the box didn’t allow for the scratcher to hang straight. I used my own level to get the piece to hang correctly.

The bent plywood cat scratcher provides your kitty with a comfortable place to nap,  stretch her back and sharpen her claws. Made of 5/8″ thick molded plywood, covered in a rich walnut veneer, the piece is  heavy and may require some assistance to mount on the wall.  The FLOR carpet tiles are easy to install. You can change-up the color and pattern to fit any of your room decor easily.

The Miller Cats are enjoying this combination perch/bed and scratcher and in an age where the purrsonal touch is mostly nonexistant, at moderncritter.com, the artist brings back into focus an originality and distinctiveness fit for a king, or in this case, any of your feline companions sharing your world.

Order through http://www.moderncritter.com/ 

Escaping from confinement, the tomcat bolted down the stairs. Under the cover of darkness, he power-washed the living room, spraying his urine on anything he could reach. The pungent smell traveled throughout the house upsetting the resident cats.

Coming into the room to discover what trouble was brewing, the smell sent me reeling back. Tomcat urine is quite potent. The military would do well to make it a weapon of mass destruction! 

Retrieving my black light, I doused the lights and swept the light over the room. I saw the telltale glow covering my file cabinets, books, paneling and carpet. He had even left his pee graffiti on our ceiling! My own feline stealth bombers were investigating the areas he left. When I saw the familiar quiver and tails starting to rise, I knew I had to act quickly.

 I grabbed up the latest product for removal of cat urine odor- Wee Cleaner Following the green glow reflected from the black light, I marked all the places outlining them with masking tape. Switching on the lights and viewing the long trail of tape, I knew my work was cut out for me. I just hoped Wee Cleaner would live up to the challenge. Using rubber gloves (the caution on the container said it might cause irritation to sensitive skin) I set to work. With a spray bottle, I liberally covered all areas with a generous amount of Wee Cleaner. Then, I let the areas air dry.  Because I share my home with multiple cats, when it comes to odor removers, I have a long history  with the products available. On the market today dozens of pet urine odor removers that use  stronger scents to remove the initial smell of pet urine from what humans can smell exist. Only a handful of odor removers effectively removes the odor so the cats can’t smell it. There are over 200 million smell-detecting cells in a cat’s nose. When they smell intruder cat urine, their response is to cover the area with their own spray. It can be a vicious cycle to break.

When you deal with multiple cats, urine in your carpet, your walls or even your ceiling, can become quite a battle.

24 hours after the application of Wee Cleaner, there were no repeat attacks. Wee Cleaner is biodegradable- phosphate free and feline-friendly. No animal testing is involved with the making of this product. No dyes are used. You will need to the test the surfaces being treated first to check for color steadfastness. Place a small amount in an inconspicuous area and wait 24 hours to see what develops. Do not use Wee Cleaner on metal surfaces, silks, leathers and non-colorfast surfaces as discoloration may occur. When it comes to combating urine odor, I am relieved to have Wee Cleaner added to my arsenal. 

Order through www.weecleaner.com available in 32 oz. or 1 gallon container. Comes with a money-back guarantee.)

Only rarely does a book cross my desk that makes me smile just when I look at it, before I even read and review it. Purr More, Hiss Less written by Allia Zobel Nolan and illustrated charmingly by Erika Oller is such a book. On the cover, two fat cats recline together. One is smiling, the other wears a scowl. The meaning is clear, the author and artist know and love cats!

As I turn the pages, I am reminded by short passages and amusing watercolors, how sweet life is when you share that life with a cat. “Don’t be a show-off!” reminds one page as an orange-striped tomcat does a one paw handstand on a fence next to two not even amused Queens. “Be Flexible” another passage encourages as a kitty stretches from end to end on someone’s lap.

I see many of my cats’  reflected on these pages. Many of the characteristics only understood by true cat lovers show on each page- “Live in the Moment…”Be Your Brother’s Keeper” and other sayings keeps you smiling ear-to-ear.

At the end of the book, I am craving more of these wisdoms, needing more smiles and giggles and rememberances of dear feline friends long passed.

 And now, if you will excuse me, I believe it is time for me to stop and smell the catnip…………