Pruven™ Litter Trap Mat-Review/Give-Away!

Hi and Happy Monday all!

I got a good MEOW out of the fact that when Mom went to BARKWORLD she found a SUPER GREAT product for CATS!!! Go figure!!! Just goes to show ya, you never know WHAT you are gonna find if you venture out of your comfort zone!

Mom met the great folks at Pruven Pets and got to chatting, and told them she would LOVE to try their Litter Trap Mat! Mom thought the look of it, all squiggly and all, was just so intriguing!

Our friends at Pruven said they would be happy to send us a mat to try out, and when it arrived, Mom was just as pleased as she thought she would be! I was too!

Mom kept my old mat there for a few days and put the  Pruven™ Litter Trap Mat along side of it because she wasnt' sure at first how I would react to the feel of the mat on my paws. Well, I'm hear to tell ya that it feels great! Here is how it looks by my litterbox.

It has been there a few weeks now and Mom is quite pleased that it really helps any tracked litter stay in one place!

Here are some impawtant points for you to know!

Pruven™ Litter Trap Mats traps and holds 99% of litter that usually gets scattered around your floors. It provides superior litter capture to protect your floors from grit and moisture.

  Traps 99% of litter

  Less mess

  Open web technology

  Thousands of tiny litter-grabbing loops to keep your home clean

  Soft and pleasant to the touch

  Easily vacuumed or rinsed for cleaning

Don't believe me? See for yourself!!




Want a  Pruven™ Litter Trap Mat of your own? Why OF COURSE you do!!! My furiends at Pruven Pets are offering ONE READER WHO LIVES IN THE U.S. the chance to win their own  Pruven™ Litter Trap Mat

HOW TO ENTER:

MANDATORY-leave a comment telling me what your BIGGEST cleaning PET peeve is! REMEMBER THIS IS MANDATORY!!

BONUS ENTRIES 3 ENTRIES EACH:

FOLLOW @PruvenPets on Twitter
FOLLOW @catchatcaren on Twitter

Leave a comment telling me that you did these and you will get the extra entries!

The give-away is open NOW (to those 18 and older who live in the U.S.) and the deadline to enter is MONDAY OCTOBER 7TH AT 5PM EST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be announced WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH! GOOD LUCK!

Can't wait to see if you won, and want to know where you can purchase the  Pruven™ Litter Trap Mat or any other pet products by Pruven? Click here!


In full disclosure: Mom and I were not compensated for this review/give-away. We were sent a litter mat to try in exchange for our honest opinion!

Happy International Coffee Day! Want a free cup?

Hi and happy Sunday all!
Today is a special day for my Mom, it's International Coffee Day!!
My Mom and Dad are COFFEE FREAKS!
They like it so much they make at least TWO pots per day! mainstream it into their veins!

WANT TO KNOW WHERE

 YOU

 CAN GET A FREE CUP TODAY?

VISIT 

the places listed below

click on their names

to be connected to their sites

for more information

DUNKIN' DONUTS

KRISPY KREME

STARBUCKS

Remember Me Thursday...#LightforPets

Today is a most impawtant day. It is the day when we honor the millions of pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home, and shine a light on the millions of healthy pets who are still awaiting adoption.

Animal lovers across the planet will honor these loving babies

 by lighting candles on the exact same day.

I am a rescue kitty. I was blessed that I had an amazing foster mother and was adopted by my Mom at a young age, but things could have been different.

Today I want to acknowledge animals who weren't as lucky as me and pray for those who are still waiting to be adopted. May they all find loving homes.

Join the Remember Me Thursday movement and see how YOU can be involved.

Detroit Tigers Clinch the Central Division! Congratulations!

Oh Soooo WORDLESS Wednesday!

Hey Gang! It's Sammy of One Spoiled Cat,  Mom's birthday!  head on over to wish her a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! WE LOVE YOU PAM! Cody and Caren

Tie Dyed Tuesday!!

Hi my furiends! Today's post is waaay overdue! I have been meaning to tell you about some CATABULOUS shirts that my Mom bought for her trip to BarkWorld and somehow the days got away from me!

Allow me to introduce you to my furiend Scrotchy! Some of you already know him because he is the Head Cat Daddy over at The Katnip Lounge!

Did ya know that he has a shop on Etsy? He sure does!

Click here to visit!

My furiend Scrotchy makes all kinds of far out tie dyed T-shirts, and boy was my Mom happy when she first learned about them! You see, Mom went to college in the 70s, (Kent State no less, so you can figure out what SHE spent the majority of her time doing at college and it DIDN'T involve studying, but I digress). Mentally Mom has never left that era, so when she learned about these shirts she just had to buy some!

She bought TWO!!
and she is planning on buying more!

OMC is she ever in LOVE WITH THEM! So much so, that when she went to photograph them for this blog post, they are currently hanging out in the the wash basket, because Mom is CONSTANTLY wearing them! They are her new "uniform"! Here is how they looked in the packaging when they arrived:

They were wrapped and Scrotchy even threw in some tie dye hand towels!  See the shirt on the top right? Mom wore that for the Block Pawty at BarkWorld when Nutrish gave people the opportunity to paint their own ceramic dog bowls! It was the PAWFECT shirt for the pawty! Mom received so many compliments!

Mom LOVED how easy it was to order, and Scrotchy even gave Mom impawtant sizing info because she is hard to fit larger than a cow. Actually it was the Katnip Lounge Mama who gave the sizing info, but that's ok, she gave pawfect advice and the shirts fit beautifully! If they have shirts that will fit my Mom a cow, they can fit ANYBODY!!!

One of the shirts on Tie Dyed Hippy Wear
Photo courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TieDyedHippyWear

Tie Dyed Hippy Wear  shirts are wonderful quality! They wash well and DO NOT FADE in the washing machine! They also have stockings, purses, etc!

Another example of a shirt on the site
Photo courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TieDyedHippyWear

So if you are a hippy at heart like my Mom is,  go and visit Tie Dyed Hippy Wear on Etsy and show my pal Scrotchy some love by ordering a shirt or two, or three....tell him Cody sent ya!!!!

BREAKING NEWS FROM SCROTCHY!!!! YOU CAN GET 50% OFF OF YOUR ORDER BY USING THIS CODE WHEN YOU CHECK OUT: FALL50....now get shopping!!

Book:Adventures in Veterinary Medicine by Ingrid King

What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me

About Life, Love, and Myself

-Ingrid King

It is an honor to present to you the latest book by author Ingrid King, Adventures in Veterinary Medicine.

I am a believer in synchronicity, and the quote, "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.", as well as listening to your gut and your heart. The path you are meant to take in life will often be clearly revealed to you, IF YOU LISTEN.

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine by author Ingrid King, is a heartfelt, true story of how a former computer manual translator , and later an executive for a financial services corporation, discovered her life's passion/calling as a result of having to spend an inordinate amount of time at various veterinary hospitals treating her first cat and "soul kitty", Feebee for bladder stones.

There are people who would love a high profile position in corporate America and would thrive, but to Ingrid, regardless of her stellar performance of the tasks required of her in those early positions, she felt a void. The speed bumps of life (a divorce and the heartbreaking passing of her beloved mother), helped pave the way for Ingrid's true calling, working with and writing about pets (primarily cats). 

From Ingrid King: Adventures in Veterinary Medicine is a "collection of essays" , many of which are about special cats and dogs that touched my heart to heroic veterinarians and staff who are in the business of saving lives every single day."

In Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Ingrid gives the reader detailed information about what it was like to first, be a volunteer at a clinic, and the often "lowly" tasks that are part and parcel of the position, (meticulously cleaning the cages of the animals, performing fecal tests, emptying trash, etc.)

As "dirty" as these tasks were, Ingrid "was in heaven." She had "found her bliss." Those early volunteer days paved the way for what would be a twelve-year journey. No two days would be alike. 

Ingrid also conveys through her touching essays, that those that work in veterinary clinics are often brought to tears by the animals in their care and are deeply affected by them, often more than we could possibly imagine.

Some of my favorite essays feature:

 A cat named "Beast", a brown -and -white tabby with a long rap sheet. It was Ingrid, and her soothing aura and voice,  who was able to get through to this gentle giant  like no one before her could. Her affect on Beast was so profound, that he rubbed his face against Ingrid's and would "hug" her shoulders with his paws.  From Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: "things aren't always what they seem. A fractious, aggressive cat may simply be starved for attention. A big, intimidating tom with a name that is meant to inspire fear may be, in reality, a great big teddy bear."

Virginia, "the poster child for "tortitude" (tortoiseshell cats), who served as Ingrid's introduction to this wonderful breed and would be the catalyst for her love affair with torties. Little did she realize at the time how tortoiseshell cats would be changing her life.

Jake the handsome young vet who Ingrid developed a crush on. This essay particularly delighted me because anyone who knows Ingrid, knows that she keeps the majority of her life private, and this essay offers us a glimpse into the giddy, smitten "school girl" side of this amazing woman while making us laugh when Ingrid reveals that she "was so dazzled by his good looks, caring and compassionate manner, and veterinary skills, that I overlooked one minor detail: Jake was gay."

There are also essays on  Kennel Work, Finding a New Vet and Life After Veterinary Medicine.

To purchase CLICK HERE

For those familiar with Ingrid's previous books: Buckley's Story-Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher and Purrs of Wisdom:Conscious Living Feline Style,  (to read my reviews of both of these marvelous books click here to be re-directed to my book review page), Adventures in Veterinary Medicine is a welcome addition to this impressive collection, and is  a "must-read" for those that believe, as Ingrid does, and I do, that sometimes you CAN "find your bliss in unexpected places."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ingrid King is the award-winning author of Buckley's Story-Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher. She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, has been called "educational catnip for the cat lover" and is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. The Conscious Cat has won multiple awards, including DogTime Media's 2011 AND 2013 Pettie for Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog in 2012,. She also won About.com's 2012 Readers Choice Award for Best Website About Cats. Ingrid is the publisher of the online magazine News for You and Your Pet, which goes out to subscribers around the world. For more information about Ingrid, please visit www.ingridking.com

To Purchase Adventures in Veterinary Medicine (digital format) click here

In full disclosure: those who know me and my reviews, know that I normally do NOT review digital books. An exception was made when Ingrid King contacted me asking if I would review her latest book and offered to mail me the manuscript (which I could hold in my "paws" and turn the pages like a "normal" book).  I am delighted and honored to have been sent the manuscript. None of this had an affect on my opinion of Adventures in Veterinary Medicine. All opinions are my own.

"Cat Chatting" with Cody and World’s Best Cat Litter™!!

Cody: Hi every furry and Happy Friday!

It’s “Catvocate Cody” here, and have I ever been one busy cat! Since I posted my review of new Advanced Natural by World’ Best Cat Litter™, my inbox has been leaking  FLOODED with questions about litter box usage!!! (You will have to excuse the leaking reference, I have peeing on my mind!) 
To help me reply to these questions I have invited my furiends at World’s Best Cat Litter™ to help me answer them.

World’s Best Cat Litter™: Hello Cody, thank you for having us, we’re excited to answer any questions you may have for us.

Cody: So, without further “pawsing” I am happy to present you with the first question that I received:

Why do cats pee and poop outside the litter box? Ohhhh World’s Best Cat Litter™,  we can’t wait for your reply!

World’s Best Cat Litter™:  There are many reasons cats might choose to do their business outside the box. Often times it’s because the box isn’t properly cleaned and the litter needs to be either scooped more or changed completely. As you know cats have high standards when it comes to cleanliness!

If they have problems accessing the box, feel cramped or don’t like to share it with other cats, they may show their displeasure by simply refusing to use it. Stress as a result of a major change in the cat’s daily routine can also be a factor. Anything from a move to the introduction of a new family member (human or pet) can lead them to stop using it. 

If these don’t seem to be the reason, consult your vet to determine if it’s a medical issue.

Cody: That’s some great advice! My human sister has been having this problem with HER kitty! I am going to make sure that she sees this!

When I was a kitten I was super quick when it came to learning about how to use the litter box. For kittens that aren’t as quick as I was, how do you teach them about using the litter box? 

World’s Best Cat Litter™: The good news about cats is that they all naturally understand how to use litter (i.e. sand-like substance = bathroom). So the key to teaching them how to use the litter box is to start immediately upon their arrival into your home. Just fill the box with litter and gently place your kitty inside of it so it can start getting used to the smell and feel of the litter. For the next few days continue introducing your kitten to the box whenever it might need to go (i.e. upon waking up, after eating, following playtime etc.) and it’ll quickly learn to use the box on its own. (Please note that kittens must be at least six weeks old to use World’s Best Cat Litter™.)

Cody: Sounds like a plan to me!  That is what my mom did with me and it worked like a charm!

My Mom keeps my litter in an enclosed litter box in her bathroom. A number of kitties asked me: Where’s the best spot to place the litter box?

World’s Best Cat Litter™: Sounds like your mom really knows what she’s doing! The bathroom can be a great spot for a litter box. Ideally you want to choose a clean, quiet, low-traffic area where your cat can do its business privately without having others disturb it. It’s very important that your kitty can easily get in and out of the box so remember to provide ample room for easy access.

Cody: You are absolutely right! Do you know that if my Mom enters the bathroom and she seeks that I am “busy” she will apologize to me and promptly leave the room? I have her super well-trained!

How do you prevent cats from tracking litter throughout the home?

World’s Best Cat Litter™: Crunch, crunch…there’s nothing quite like the sound of stepping on some litter before dragging it throughout the floor of your home — never a pleasant experience. The best way to avoid this problem is to purchase a special mat to be placed right under the opening of the box. This way the litter granules get trapped in the mat and away from your carpet. It’s also important to pick a litter that helps you avoid tracking. Litters with a fine consistency can be easier to track out of the box while large granule litters can be tough on a cat’s paws. That’s why World’s Best Cat Litter™ has a balanced granule size that helps avoid tracking and the abrasiveness of large pellet litters. 

Cody: That’s what my Mom has too!

I am the only kitty at my house, but I have readers who would like to know: Do I need to have a separate litter box for each of my cats? 

World’s Best Cat Litter™: The general rule is one litter box for each cat in your home. However, if your kitties don’t mind sharing and you’re limited on space, you might be able to get away with only one. Just watch out if they have to go at the same time!

Cody: I’m not a sharing kinda guy, and I think that many kitties aren’t. I would go with your one box per cat rule. That sounds like the best bet!

Since I am a “Catvocate” For World’s Best and I have been using it for a few years now, I KNOW it’s the best on the market. What do you tell people when they ask: What’s the best cat litter on the market?

World’s Best Cat Litter™: We’ll admit that our response will probably be a little bit biased… but in all seriousness, we feel strongly that cat owners prefer a long-lasting litter that safely eliminates odor while simplifying cleanup. World’s Best Cat Litter™ accomplishes all of these because it’s the only litter that offers concentrated power to help you maintaining a cleaner litter box. Who doesn’t want to waste less litter and less time cleaning the box? We also feel different cat owners (and cats) prefer different types of litter. That’s why we offer 6 natural choices – everything from scented and multiple cat to high performance clumping. Feel like giving it a try? Then head over to our website and try World’s Best Cat Litter™ for free with a limited-time rebate.

Cody: So there you have it! All of your URGENT litter box questions have been answered by the EXPERTS at World’s Best! I want to put my paws together and THANK THEM for taking the time out of their busy schedule to reply to your questions! Thanks so much my furiends! You are the best and hey, so is your litter!

World’s Best Cat Litter™: The honor was all ours Cody, thank you again for giving us the chance to lend a helping paw. Please take care of your mommy and try to stay out of trouble! 

Cody: I sure will! Now if you will excuse me! I have  impawtant business to take care of that I just can't hold any longer!

"Catvocate Cody" signing off for now!

In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this post. I am a "Catvocate" for World's Best Cat Litter and I agreed to take part in an interview for today's guest post. The pleasure was all mine and I truly ALWAYS use their litter!

Meow like a #Pirate Day!!!

Well avast mateys!! It's that time again! Today is actually International Talk Like A Pirate Day but in the interest of our kitty furiends we call it MEOW Like A Pirate Day!!!

We have blogged about it before and today we want to share our favorite photos from this fun day with you!

Our first photo is our ALL TIME FAVE! It was done by our furiend Mr.Puddy  (we sure wish he would blog more often like he used to! We miss him!) for Cody to use on his first Pirate Day!

The next photo was made for us by our furiends at Cat Wisdom 101 and it was made back in 2011!! It is also one of our faves!

Then, last year MOM got into the act!!!! If you ask me, she looks better as a Pirate!! She should walk around like this EVERY DAY!!

And now for your listening pleasure! One of Mom's most favorite movies in the entire world is Disneys Peter Pan. Mom LOVES the song, "Never Smile At A Crocodile" from the movie.  ENJOY!!

HAVE A HAPPY PIRATE DAY!!!

So Many Cats, So Little Room....#Michigan @FFDAS PLEASE RETWEET!

This was just sent to me by

PLEASE SHARE!

SO MANY CATS, SO LITTLE ROOM Reduced adoption fees, adult cats (6 months or older) only $5 now through Monday, September 30.  Please help us find homes for these fabulous felines. Forward this email to friends, Share on Facebook, Tweet about our special, anyway you can lend a hand is greatly appreciated. There are so many wonderful cats for you to choose from.  Here are just 5.  This is Louie. This handsome red mackerel tabby is a lover.  Louie is 8 years old and is quite the character!  He has a lot of life ahead of him and deserves to be in a loving home. Connie is another sweetheart waiting for a forever home.  She has a short, thick white and grey coat.  Connie is affectionate and loving and waiting to meet you! Visit our website or call the shelter for more information on how to adopt a cat or complete an online application.

Aeon is a large and lovely 3-year-old.  She has short white hair with brown tabby accents.  Aeon is waiting to be part of a family.  Could that be you?   He's not really a Crybaby though that's his name.  He's 9 years old and an active, lovable guy.  He loves attention and will be the cat who will greet you at the door when you come home. He likes to jump and play too!   Madden is 3 years old and has a beautiful brown spotted coat.  He weighs 11 pounds.  When you meet him you will fall in love with his charming personality!

SOME OF THE LINKS TO THE CAT'S NAMES ARE NOT WORKING....ALL OF THESE BABIES CAN BE FOUND ON www.petfinder.com or CONTACT FRIENDS FOR THE DEARBORN ANIMAL SHELTER AT 313-943-2697

Friskies® Signs ‘Spokescat’ Endorsement Deal with Grumpy Cat!! Cody is in an uproar!

While  Cody and I were reading email, we came across one from our friends at Purina letting us know that today, Friskies announced it has formally extended its relationship with internet cat sensation Grumpy Cat.  The two giants of the internet cat content space partnered in March when Grumpy Cat starred in a celebrity edition of the Friskies “Will Kitty Play With It?” online video game show series and national promotional media tour. Now, the two will work together for additional Friskies online programs and integrated opportunities.

Grumpy Cat doing what Grumpy Cat does....GRUMPY

Cody is in an uproar. He is beside himself. Thanks Friskies because he is now all over ME telling me how everything in life is "timing" and that if I had gotten off of my lazy behind and submitted HIS "grumpy" photo we could  be rolling in kibble, catnip and Friskies and raking in  the big time bucks right now, just like Grumpy Cat. You and I know that this is not true, but try explaining that to Cody!

"Hey Friskies!! How's THIS for GRUMPY!!??"

But no....our lives consist of scratching and clawing to make ends meet while  Grumpy Cat  will be appearing LIVE at  “The Friskies” Award Show to receive the highly-coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.  Cody is sooo jealous that Comedian Michael Ian Black will host the live show, and $25,000 in total cash prizes will be awarded to winners in various categories. Grumpy Cat will play a role in the show in addition to accepting the award. Fans may tune in to “The Friskies” at 7PM ET October 15 at www.thefriskies.com.

Cody knows that Friskies is a leading brand in internet cat culture. In addition to the “Will Kitty Play With It?” video series, the brand created a line of eight free tablet and mobile Games for Cats and apps available for download through App Stores for iOS and Android.

"Hey Friskies!!! Aren't I CUTE enough for ya???"

 Friskies also features DIY Homemade Cat Toys on Pinterest. The brand awarded its first major prizes for the best cat videos of the year in 2012 at “The Friskies,” which is like the OSCARS® for cat videos. The 2013 “The Friskies” Video Contest is underway.

Internationally famous for her pessimistic yet hilarious photo memes and viral videos, Grumpy Cat has a rabid fan base (don't they give shots for that?) that includes over one million Facebook fans, (must be nice!!) and wide appeal across social media. Grumpy Cat has also taken the real world by storm with a movie deal, (will it be called "Fifty Shades of Grumpy Cat"?)  a book on the New York Times bestseller list, a branded coffee drink, and an expanding line of merchandise, making Grumpy one of the biggest cat celebrities of all time.  That's it, rub it in why don't cha? 

For more information about Friskies and “The Friskies” awards for best internet cat videos of the year, please visit www.TheFriskies.com, like on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Friskies or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Friskies.

For more information about Grumpy Cat, please like on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheOfficialGrumpyCat or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/RealGrumpyCat or visit www.GrumpyCats.com

 oh and while you're at it, would you mind showing Cody some love on HIS Facebook page  and on Twitter?   Then maybe he will get off of my back!!

About Friskies

The Friskies® brand offers a complete line of great-tasting cat foods, including more than 60 wet, dry and treat varieties. Friskies is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis; Mo. Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food company.

OSCARS® is a trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. or used with permission.



In full disclosure. I received no compensation for this blog post. Many thanks to Friskies/Purina for being good sports. I am a member of the Purina Cat Blogger panel and was asked if I would share the Grumpy Cat info with my readers. I asked if Cody could put HIS spin on it and they said yes. Thanks! Oh and Grumpy Cat, we DO love you.....sorta.....

How can you help the animals affected by the #CO Flood?

From www.blogpawsbethechange.com:

 Please spread the word. If you can make a donation that would be most appreciated by the people and the pets. If that is not feasible for you right now, please share their efforts.

The Longmont Humane Society started an online fundraiser specifically for the displaced pets. You can make a donation here. 

The Humane Society of BoulderValley has been taking in pets and is taking donations here.  

The Larimer Humane Society is accepting pets and housing some lost pets from the heavy flooding that hit Loveland, CO. You can make a donation to them here.

You can also follow Colorado Disaster Wildfire/Flood Lost & Found Pets on Facebook and Twitter. 

Google interactive map of flooded areas: http://google.org/crisismap/2013-boulder-floods

How to help from the CO Government: http://www.helpcoloradonow.com/

Hashtags to follow on Twitter: #COFlood, #BoulderFlood, #LongmontFlood, #LarimerFlood and #COwx. 

PetAid Colorado on Facebook is actively involved in assisting with pets: https://www.facebook.com/petaidcolorado

Can't a cat get any service around here?

Happy Monday! Cody and I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

This past Saturday I had family over for Yom Kippur  (the holiest day of the year for Jews. One of the ways it is observed is by fasting for approx 24 hrs.), then when the holiday ends at sundown, you have guests over to "break the fast."

In Cody's world  not eating for 24 minutes is fasting. 

While I was stressing and busy getting ready, as well as fighting a killer headache from not having eaten,  Cody gave me some much needed comic relief. I guess he felt it was time for HIS "fast" to end! His relentless quest for food began here:

And when that didn't work, Cody pulled out all of the stops:

Gotta give him an A+ for persistence!

and for sitting like the

purrfect gentleman!