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-

Have warring cats in your multiple cat household? Or perhaps you have a cat that is stressed out and you can’t find out why?

Feliway Comfort Zone Room Diffuser by Farnum Pet is a small unit you plug into a wall socket and just let it run. Over the course of about three weeks, it will disperse in small amounts, calming phermones into your home.

These pheremones, not evident to our sense of smell, but clearly captured by our cat’s keen sense of smell, will soothe the most ruffled furball that just seems to want to fight. Or soothe the cat who is stressed out and hiding from sight.

The unit also comes in handy for convalescing cats who are recovering from an extensive stay at the vet’s clinic, or just coming out of a long illness.

The unit has replacement vials you can buy, and I highly recommend this product for anyone with more than one cat.

It’s the extra things in life that are important: Time spent with our furry companions racks up to be of major importance for most cat lovers, especially after a stressful day. For PetExtras.com their efforts to supply our feline family with extra goodies translates into delectable treats for your pet.

Always willing to go that extra mile, PetExtra now unveils their latest additions- freeze dried rabbit, bonito, calamari and mouse…Wait a minute, did I just say MOUSE? I did indeed and the inclusion of this treat is brilliant.

I knew I was in a spot of trouble when I set the box down on the table and turned my back for a micro-second. That was all it took for my sharp-nosed shooters to jump on the table and nudge it to the ground. When I heard the box drop, I swung around and saw the faces of Everest, McKinley, Rocky and Mercedes looking up at me as if to say: “Are you going to open this, or shall we do it?”

Inside were several bags of the new POgOS treats. Even though the treats were sealed in heavy duty re-sealable bags, my research team with their feline ESP knew the shipment was theirs!

Opening the bags sealed the fate of the treats inside. The rabbit was more of a hit for the puppy, but the cats went wild for the calimari, bonito and especially the mouse. There were several of my team who doubled as cat burglars during the testing process, stealing the treats from unsuspecting researchers before they knew what hit them (usually just a paw).

Sullivan, one of the newest kitty rescues grabbed several chunks of mouse and slid under the desk with his prize. He reverted back to his feral state, growling a warning every time one of his feline friends tried to help him eat his catch.

According to Jonathan Kildow CSR for www.petextras.com , the rabbit, bonito, and calimari are all human-grade food. The mouse was considered an added benefit based on a study conducted years ago by the Iams Corportion that showed a diet of just mice in test cats prevented every cat from developing UTI. After all, a mouse is the prey that all cats were originally designed to eat. Mice are also the reason that man and feline joined together, because of the cat’s propensity to keep grain barns free of rodents and other pests. Unlike the mice in the wild, the mice treats are parasite free. All the treats are USDA and FDA inspected and Certified by a Veterinary Nutritionalist. Also the treats are grain and gravy free!

As long as I had those bags of treats in my hands, I had a kitty parade following me around the house. Finally in a last act of desperation, I tucked the treats into the freezer, where even my most talented polydactyl, Prowler couldn’t reach them!

The benefits of these treats are that they can be kept indefinitely in your freezer. It would be a good thing to have on hand for a cat who is so ill that eating isn’t on his agenda. One mouse treat ground into powder and sprinkled over his regular food might make him think twice about refusing to eat.

You can hide these treats around the house and let your obese cat find those hidey holes by following his nose.

The treats also roll quite nicely along the floor in a game of fetch, although the game is one-sided because the kitty gobbles up the treat instead of bringing it back.

Although these treats should never substitute for a good quality diet, they are an extra added treat for any cat-lover to have on hand. They come in 21 gram re-sealable zippered bags.

Currently, there is an Introductory Offer at www.petextras.com for a “Buy One, Get One FREE!”

Better hurry, once the word gets out in the cat world, these treats will be disappearing fast!

Five Stars from the Miller Clowder Research Team a definite Purrsonal Favorite was the Mouse!

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/