Tuesday, October 31, 2017

How I Motivated my Cat to wear (and be photographed in) his Halloween Costume

Rachael Ray Nutrish has sponsored this post, but all opinions are my own.

 I love looking at other people's pets wearing Halloween costumes! Often these pets are seen cavorting or posing in darling and creative scenarios. Not my boys.  Neither of my "boys" are huge fans of :
1) having their photos taken
 2) wearing much of anything other than the fur that they were born with.
 That is their right and I do everything in my power to honor that...except for maybe a handful of times each year. One of those times is Halloween. There are so many darling Halloween items available and tons of photos around the web of pets wearing them, that I so wanted to participate!   This year  Dakota was sent some adorable bandanas and I wanted  Cody to get in on a little bit of the "fun" of  wearing one. 
HOW DID I TAKE THIS DARLING PHOTO? READ ON!

One of the occupational hazards of having blogged for over eight years is when your pets see you coming with anything that looks even remotely like it might take photos, they often will:
  1) look in any direction other than the direction they should be looking towards in order to take a decent photo.
 2) Or, they will leave the room completely.

The other day when Cody and I were celebrating "a-certain-day-that-honors-cats" I decided I wanted to take some photos of him in his darling Halloween bandana.  The problem? Cody was sound asleep.  While an annoyance for him, I figured it was my perfect chance to make my move.

Why of COURSE I have food Cody! It may have taken me much of your ten years of life to learn this, but finally I learned that being the food-obsessed cat that you are, you will pretty much do ANYTHING for food. YES ANYTHING. 


My main tips for motivating YOUR cat (if they are food motivated as Cody is), to participate in a photo session that involves a Halloween costume or an item they normally wouldn't wear, and  that he  or she might not be over-the-moon about wearing is:

1) Schedule your photo shoot at meal time
2) Pick a food that he LOVES. In Cody's case that is his Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor CompleteRachael Ray™ Nutrish® Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils&Salmon Recipe is a natural food for cats with added vitamins, minerals & taurine. This recipe contains a real superfood blend to meet the complete needs of your adult indoor cat and is available right where you shop for your family’s groceries!!
3) Allow him to sniff the bag of food. (you can loosely tie the bandana on while he is focused on his food!)
4) Be sure to pick an item/costume that your cat will NOT mind wearing for a few minutes. Some cats hate having anything on their heads (Cody is one of those cats), try and respect that whenever possible. 
5) Don't have them wear anything that will hinder or restrain their movements, breathing, etc.
6) Keep the session as short as possible! If your pet absolutely HATES what they are wearing REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY. NO PET SHOULD BE MISERABLE TAKING A PHOTO. IF THEY ARE, STOP!


7) Don't tease your kitty make sure you are feeding some food each time you are snapping away!


A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation,
which helps animals in need through  Rachael’s Rescue® Through September 2017,
Rachael’s Rescue has donated more than $21 million dollars to pet charities and
other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food,
medical supplies, treatments, and more for animals in need. Many more animals
around the country need help, and through Rachael’s Rescue, together we can make
a difference in the lives of many four-legged friends


The photo above and the photo below were taken by holding Cody's bowl of Nutrish just high enough to pique his interest.  His expression in the photo below shows that he had just about enough of the photo session so we began wrapping it up.
Once we finished this part of the photo shoot, Cody decided he had a MUCH better idea for a Halloween costume! He decided he would trick or treat dressed as a bag of Nutrish!

See? I told you Cody would do ANYTHING to have his Indoor Complete! So, what do you think of Cody trick or treating as a bag of Nutrish? We LOVE IT! 

 Did you dress your pets up for Halloween? If so, Nutrish wants to see them! Get in on the fun by following @Nutrish on Instagram and sharing your photo with the hashtag #NutrishPets and #Sweepstakes and you could win $500 !!


Speaking of photos! Don’t forget to enter the Nutrish Furever Home Sweepstakes, which ends  on October 31, 2017 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET –you just might win $25,000 and a year of Nutrish food for your cat!

After all of that posing you humans will need a relaxing reprieve! Nutrish has MORE HALLOWEEN FUN JUST FOR THE HUMANS! DO YOU LOVE TO COLOR?
my hastily colored picture



Visit the Nutrish Pinterest Page  print out the special coloring page, create your masterpiece and share on Instagram using hashtag #NutrishPets


About Rachael Ray Nutrish: In 2007, with help from pet nutrition experts, Rachael Ray created Nutrish super-premium food and treats for dogs inspired by recipes from her own kitchen. In 2014, they were very excited to grow the brand into the world of cat food. Whether intended for dogs or cats, Nutrish recipes are made with simple, wholesome ingredients like real meat or fish, and do not contain poultry by-product meal or fillers.
HAVE A HAPPY, SAFE AND 
"DELISH" HALLOWEEN!!

 Love from,

A few years ago we received this
Pumpkin made by Marv's Mom Barb!

67 comments:

  1. I always get paid in treats for my photo sessions! It's a requirement! And the more elaborate the costume, the better the treat!

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    1. we don't do "elaborate" here, I'm lucky to get a shot with a bandana or collar LOL!!

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  2. Well, Cody, you really know how to keep THEM in THEIR place. And frankly, that bandana suits you, especially in the bag suit!!! Tres chic.

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    1. Yes, I do! No food, no photos!! MOL!!! I don't mess around! Thank you, Mom loves that bandana on me too!

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  3. Happy Meowloween! Treats always help photo sesshuns!

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    1. Yep, we prefer to use their actual food though (at a mealtime!) Happy "Meowloween!!"

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  4. Thank you for sharing the tips! I tried and it's very helpful for taking some nice photos.

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  5. It's a good thing Cody is food motivated. Maybe next year he could be a pirate or bumble bee. Just Kidding!

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    1. Glad you were kidding but no pirate or bumble bee for him! I keep his stuff as simple as I can.....he doesn't love wearing things and I don't want to torture him. He got fed quite a bit of Nutrish when taking these photos but he was so involved with eating it that he didn't notice me tying the bandana on (or care), WHILE he was eating! lol

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  6. Cat bro Bert will work for food too. He has a lot of dog in his kitty self.

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  7. Happy Halloween Cody and Caren. Love the scarf! It suits you.

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  8. Replies
    1. Cody said to tell you that he is jumping on the FIRST plane outta here!!!!! That's all you had to say! He said to tell Mudpie to guard her food and toys! Happy Halloween!!!

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  9. Awww, so adorable. I linked this post to Awww Mondays.

    Have a purrfect Halloween, Cody. My best to your wonderful mom. ♥♥♥

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    1. He does look awfully cute in that bandana doesn't he? lol. Colors go with his gray fur beautifully! Thanks so much for linking us! xoxoxo

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  10. What a good and festive boy you are, Cody! The only one willing to work for food around here is pup Astrid. We're sending lots of virtual treats your way, Cody! Happy Halloween!

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    1. thank you! Believe it or not, I sometimes pose better with food than Dakota does! Mom swears by that I will do ANYTHING for food! MOL! Happy Halloween!

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  11. haha...we love it. What a great way to work into an advertisement! We know how Cody feels. He looks handsome in his bandana. Still think this is terrific...an ad yet so amusing. A great way to have peeps remember the product. As far as we have seen Rachel Ray is not available in Canada.

    Shoko, Kali and mom Jean

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    1. Oh my Jean I am "verklempt!!" THANK YOU!! Your comment means so much and what an honor! THANK YOU!!! That was my intent and I am so happy that you feel that the post succeeded, THANK YOU!! I don't think Rachael's food is available in Canada either.......I am going to go to the store locator and check but I don't think it is. Thank you soooo much!! xoxo

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  12. Cody, as handsome as ever! If she's gonna make you work, she's got to pay!

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    1. thank you!!! Exactly!! Keep that food rolling in!!! MOL! Just had some 45 minutes ago.........I have my Indoor complete for lunch every single day! Love, Cody

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  13. Hee hee....he was so cute in his bandana, but the bag of food was the best!
    Luke is actually our one pet that likes to see the camera coming. He enjoys posing because he knows food will be involved. I can even get him to pose occasionally without having treats handy, but he loses interest far more quickly!
    Those are great tips for getting photos. Happy Halloween!

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  14. You look great, Cody! And good tips from your mom.

    I am normally happy to have my photo taken but Iwill never let my mum dress me in anything.

    Happy Meowloween!
    Purrs xx
    Athena

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    1. Thank you Athena!! I am pretty much like you, if there isn't food involved I won't cooperate at all!! Happy "Meowloween" love, Cody

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  15. Your photos are terrific Cody, you are such a good sport! My Dad is a good sport too, shuffle board I think. Happy Halloween!!!

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    1. I'm a good sport if FOOD is involved and your Daddy is silly!! Happy Halloween!! Love, Cody

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  16. Cody, that was a great photo shoot, and hey, if you're going to endure this sort of thing, it might as well be for food you love. Happy Halloween to you all. :-)

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  17. thank you so much my friends and Happy Halloween!

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  18. Yes, some kind of food treat can distract them from the camera or costume for a few seconds, but you have to be fast on the trigger!

    greg (felinecafe)

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  19. You were very cooperative, Cody, that was a great photo shoot ! Happy Halloween ! Purrs

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  20. I've mastered the art of editing treats out of my pictures :)
    Yesterday's photo-shoot only cost me a couple treats ... and Bear and Ellie were especially cooperative. Then again, some ideas are easier to execute than others!
    Very handsome, Cody. The bandanna looks really distinguished on you!

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  21. Cody, you look really adorable in your Halloween bandana! Happy Meowloween :)

    the critters in the cottage xo

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  22. I only wear hats...any kind of hats, but only when I sleep...kind of...MOL :D You look great with your bandana, Cody and we love the pictures, especially the one where you put your whole nose into the bag...boo...that was real scary...MOL :D Pawkisses for a spooky Halloween...BOO :) <3

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  23. dood...knot reel lee post ree lated but We gotta hand frum copee N paste heer two day …coz we canna sneek round on line… like we want… sew we R stopping bye ta say…. happee howl o ween…. N heerz ta treetz outta pumpkinz wazoo ♥♥♥

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  24. You have your mom well trained, Cody. Happy Halloween!

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  25. Oh, yes. Annie does both numbers one and two when she sees me with a camera. These are very good tips you shared, and judging by these pictures of Cody, they work. He looks adorable in his bandanna.

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  26. That is a great idea to tempt with food. Cody looks great. Happy Halloween! XO

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  27. Cody, you look great! Did you get the whole bag of food for posing so nicely? ;). Happy Meowloween!

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    1. Thank you!! Mom says if she left me to my own devices I would eat an entire bag in one sitting MOL. That bag is crinkly because I legitimately eat Nutrish!! Hope you had a great Halloween!!!

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  28. Cody looks fabulous in the shots! I did not eve try this year with Marv. I am having a tough enough time getting him to wear his harness so I can train him to walk on a leash! Thanks for the hints I WILL try food! (Though hes not really food or treat motivated).
    I am happy to see you still have your pumpkin!
    Love Barb

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    1. Thank you!!! Marv is still too new for you to try anything like that, I bet next year will be totally different! I can't believe he isn't food or treat motivated, in a way that is a GOOD thing! lol. Of course I still have the pumpkin, I had forgotten I did til I was going through my photo files the other day. So happy I kept it! xoxo

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  29. Our kitties love Nutrish so much we actually use it as a treat!

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    1. Glad to hear that! I do too :) Meal and often for a treat as well!

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  30. You make me glad. Your love for your babies shines like the sun.

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    1. YOU make ME glad....your comment brought tears to my eyes. That is so important to me! And...i once had a Hebrew teacher tell me that my name means "Rays of the Sun" in Hebrew, so your comment made me EXTRA happy! Coming from YOU who loves your furbaby (and I remember The Admiral!) more than life itself, it is a HUGE compliment! xoxoxoxo

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  31. Cody, you're absolutely precious! We're glad you got foods out of that deal!

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  32. OMC@ Cody, you look adorable! Heh heh! Of course I'd never allow that. I don't like anything on my head but really freak with anything around my neck. Nope, I won't even do it for food.

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    1. Thank you so much!!!!! I don't love it but I ignore it as long as I am eating MOL!!

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  33. Cody, you look so handsome in your bandana! And we are glad you got paid for your modeling work. :)

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  34. So much easier to make Choppy cooperate than Schooner. Time it takes to get Choppy to cooperate in wearing a complicated costume: however long it takes me to dress her up, get my camera, and snap the picture. Time it takes to get Schooner to cooperate: 5-10 minutes if I have to do it myself (he seems to have decided this is a good chance to play - meanwhile, Choppy patiently waits for him to cooperate the whole time).

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  35. Cody we like that Nutrish too. Glad you got paid for your hard work
    Purrs from us all and thanks fur coming to our Halloween Pawty
    Timmy and Family

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    1. So happy you like it too! You are smart kitties! You are most welcome, the pawty was a blast! Love, Cody and Mom

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  36. You look so cute, Cody!
    Good thing you trained Mom to feed you when you work so hard at modelling!
    =)

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  37. We love Nutrish, it's such yummy food. Cody, you look SO cute!! Great modeling job.

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  38. Rachel Ray's Nutrish is my favorite too. I love the size of the kibble and each one tasted a tad different...all yummy goodness though
    Hugs madi and Mom

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  39. wait a minute, you have me concerned, did your HUMAN eat it??? MOL MOL MOL!!! Love, Cody

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  40. Oh, Cody, you look mahvelous in that colorful Halloween bandana! I didn't know that about Rachel Ray. That's wonderful!

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  41. Oh my gosh, those two photos of Cody when you're holding the bowl up high - too cute!!! He's so handsome! (And he knows it!)

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  42. Cody, those are the best pictures evfur!!!

    I, Pipo, am not food motivated so that would not work, purrhaps some potent nip..but then I will nod off...I don't much care fur picture sessions...though my angel brofur Minko did not mind...too much.

    We here had a good giggle at the cat in the bag:)

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