Cat Reviews

The eyes draw you in first; they are pensive, fleeting, playful, alluring. All elements successfully captured within the eyes of the cats painted by artist Margaret Loftin Whiting. This California artist’s unique portrayal of cats shows her clear understanding of the distinctive moods that cats portray.Printed on acid-free archival paper these 12″ x 18″ prints offer an uncomplicated look at a complex creature. in “CHAT” one sees a grey beauty sitting on top of the word with a subtle curl of his tail circling the “C”. The look on his face suggests he just got caught dumping over the potted plant you had sitting in the corner of the livingroom.

In her print “GATO” you view the sleek, sinewy shape of a black cat descending over the word in true predatory nature. The eyes show the mystique often attached to black cats as well as a hint of mischief lurking in the eyes. Any cat lover knows well that look when their cat is intently stalking prey.

Margaret’s style is simple but elegant. These multi-colored graphic prints stand out as a visual representation of a world where individuality is cherished and unconditional love abounds. The two prints GATO and CHAT now hang on my wall in the front entrance of my home. They are framed in dignity and elegance that fine art deserves.

Kubota, my four year old neutered feral had worked himself into quite a state. After falling victim to a urinary tract disease, he had been whisked to the vet and was poked, prodded and medicated. Now back home, he was confined to “Sick Bay”, his howls of protest filling the house. He was adamant in his demands. He wanted out, and he wanted out now!

Sitting at the computer, trying to get some work done was proving futile. Any semblance of clear thought was being chased out of my head due to his relentless yowling. This cat serenade needed to cease; calm had to be restored. 

Reasonably sure that when I moved, he would leap up and once again demand my lap, I carefully slid off towards the end of the couch.I was impressed when he remained calm and did not stir. I tiptoed out of the room, turned off the lights and left him and his new buddy alone.

The two retained their close friendship during the entire week that Kubota was in confinement. Peace prevailed; Snugglekittie had delivered on its promise. Every year in the springtime, kitten season brings me batches of orphaned babies. It’s been difficult to watch these infants have to grow up with no mother to cuddle them and no heart songs to help ease them to the transition from womb to independence. But now, armed with Snugglekittie, I am prepared and even looking forward to these kittens’ arrival!

For more information and to order please visit the http://www.snuggleme.com/

Resembling a huge prehistoric beetle in its sleek design, CityKitty Ionic Cat Litter Box Air Purifier, is a small unit performing a large job.  Undertaking the much-needed task of ridding your home of unpleasant odors, and cleansing the area around the litter box of harmful bacteria caught in the air, this unit is an invaluable asset to any pet owner.  Once I plugged the unit in and set it on the floor, my two kittens became consumed with curiosity about this new marvel.  Were it not for the Velcro tabs that mount the unit securely in place, I am sure that Taz, the more inquisitive of the pair, would have pulled it off into the corner to investigate it, in her own thoroughly charming kitten way.    The Ionic Air Purifier, is carefully designed; effective when  set outside the litter pan or on the floor, or shelf, it continues to work, moving its ionic breeze around the room, ridding it of pet dander, airborne particles and other hidden irritants.  Electronically powered ions and ozone circulate into the air, aiding any pet or human who might be afflicted with allergies or breathing problems, by remarkably removing any clay dust or other irritants from the area.   This is one of its most efficient features how the ions work to create a heaviness in the clay dust, keeping the clay dust down, so your cat does not inhale unhealthful bacteria, and other harmful disease-causing agents. Perhaps this explanation will help to further illustrate this. Your television screen attracts dust; due to the high voltage of the picture tube charging the dust particles and making them act like a magnet. Well in the same way, the clay dust in your litter carries a positive charge, so the ions are attracted to this dust. As the ions saturate the air they circulate and follow a path that lands them in the billions on the clay litter causing it to become weighted down. Even when your cat disturbs this union, by scratching and pawing to cover up his waste, the two charged particles stay together and keep the dust heavy, and out of the cat’s lungs. This can go a long way in preventing upper respiratory infections that plague many household pets, and substantially lower your vet bills! If you or your children are afflicted with asthma or allergies, this unit will bring relief, for it has been proven to be a beneficial health product!  My cat room houses several litter boxes, and after plugging in the unit, the difference in the air quality a few hours later was phenomenal! Even right after the litter pan was utilized, there was no disagreeable odor lingering in the air.  I also noticed an absence of dust that I can usually see that settles on the bookcase near the litter pan area.   If you happen to be fighting a mold problem, this unit will help you attack the mold and mildew; so multiple units are a benefit to any home. The unit is reasonably priced, and so compact, that it is easy to tuck it away out of sight while helping to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. Gone are the multiple cans of harmful air fresheners and sprays, and no more burning scented candles to mask the smell. For homes that are blessed with more than one cat, the cat loving owners will no longer be cursed with that one irritating question asked by guests as soon as they step through the front door:   “How many cats did you say you had again?”   http://www.citypet.com/

Beautifully laid-out in brilliant design, The Well-Lettered Cat is the type of book that as you read it, you sit on the edge of amazement. The clever use of fonts, patterns, colors and photographs not to mention the text, prompts the reader to continue turning the pages to the end.

            A sophisticated look into the unique characters of cats, this is an alphabetical journey unlike any other I have encountered.

In The Well-Lettered Cat,  “A” does not stand for achromatic, or ambiguous. In The Well-Lettered Cat “A” stands for acceptable, acute and addicting!

            Refined feline-fanciers and wordsmiths will rejoice and luxuriate in the literary style, while being thankful they are well-versed and well-read. Others may find themselves scrambling for their copy of the American Heritage Dictionary, all the time wondering,  “What in the world does animus mean?”.

My suggestion would be for the reader to have close at-hand a dictionary. This could prove to be helpful as your compass and guide to assist you through the journey.

I found the concept of  The Well-Lettered Cat fascinating and the content humbling. I was grateful for my own unabridged dictionary that I admit, I ended up using more than once!

With winter fast approaching, your feline floor squatter deserves a place to warm her toes.  K& H Manufacturing offers several varieties of heated cat beds, mats and bed warmers. For cats that have a hard time with movement, either from arthritis, past trauma or other health issues, you can allow them to stay on the floor and make it comforting, warm and inviting at a very inexpensive price. 

For Guinevere, a cat whose movement is hampered by past abuse, the Thermo Kitty Mat offered her the comfort she needed to get her off the wooden floor in the bedroom. The Thermo kitty mat placed on top of a lounge cushion became her place of choice as the weather turns colder. Offering relief to her weary bones, she climbs onto the cushion and reclines on the Thermo Kitty Mat for the majority of the time.  

With a dual thermostat and a removable heater, the Thermo Mat provides a perfect place for her to rest.The plug tucks conveniently out of the way removing the temptation that dangling electrical cords sometimes present to curious kitties. Unlike some heated cat beds, the Thermo Kitty Mat draws a low enough current (only 4 watts) to allow the plug to stay cool to the touch, even after being plugged in for weeks at a time.  

The Thermo Kitty Mat is a 12.5” x 25” flat mat covered by faux lambskin cover. The cover is removable and machine washable. The mat is designed to not draw heat until a heat source touches it. So when Guinevere moves off the pad, the pad will slowly cool down until she returns.  

Although recommended for indoor use only, K & H Manufacturing also offers heated outdoor beds for cats and dogs, thermal pads that fit inside kennels, carriers and Igloo dog houses.  

With so much satisfaction being shown by this grateful indoor cat, I will soon be purchasing their outdoor kitty beds, for my two barn cats who don’t wish to become house cats but would rather spend the winter either in the barn or on the back porch. 

You can purchase these mats through several online retailers: Pet Smart, Drs. Foster & Smith or Pet Street Mall.