Friday, August 29, 2014

Try New Simple Solution Super Absorbent 30 Day Cat Litter!! Give-Away! Six Winners!

Hi all! Glad you stopped by!

For the past few months Cody and I have been on a mission. We have been trying out various brands of cat litter, and over the next month we will be sharing our opinion of a couple of them!

Many of you know that for MANY of Cody's seven years on this earth, I was using another brand, and that for the past couple of years Cody was a Catvocate of that brand. Cody and I still like that brand quite a bit, but due to packaging/size changes, formula changes, price increases, to name a few, we have decided to investigate other litters. Change is GOOD, right? But CONSTANTLY having to scoop litter clumps isn't!!!




Cody and I were thrilled to have been contacted by the super nice folks at Simple Solution. They asked if we were interested in testing their litter, and we jumped on board in the litterbox! Welcome Simple Solution Super Absorbent 30 Day Cat Litter!


Most cat owners would agree that there are a minimum of FIVE requirements that a cat litter must meet in order for it to be deemed "effective." They are:


  • The litter must help keep their home free of cat litter odors
  • Simple Solution is the only cat litter on the market that stays odor-free for 30 days
  • that it require little maintenance
  • There is no scooping of litter
  • Simple Solution litter is 300% more absorbent than traditional litters.
  • that it is lightweight and easy to use
  • it is about half the weight of competitive standard clay litters
  • their cats must love it.
  • Cody has no complaints!


Now, my review isn't quite like others, because for the past 2 months I was STILL mixing Simple Solution litter with my "old" litter. My results and testing I am certain are a little "off" because of that.  That being said, my experience was positive. Even mixed with my "old" litter (and as of this writing there is MUCH MORE Simple Solution in Cody's box than our old litter), I noticed among the other benefits listed above,  a marked difference in odor, a positive difference! There IS less tracking and less dust as well. More importantly, Cody has adjusted to Simple Solution Super Absorbent 30 Day Cat Litter quite well!

I love that the box has instructions for NEW users such as myself:
Most cats transition easily to 30-Day litter. For finicky felines, we recommend the following steps:

  • Pour a 2-inch layer of 30-Day litter into a clean litter box
  • Add a layer of your current litter thick enough to cover the 30-Day litter
  • Use less of your current litter each time you clean the litter box


Simple Solution is a clay litter. The unique attapulgite clay is so effective, it doesn't need to clump-so you don't have to scoop urine (just poop!!). Attapulgite clay is a unique, lightweight mineral that quickly attaches to, absorbs, and traps moisture and odor. (Other clay litters are made of bentonite, which doesn't have these benefits!)   It is also a rather pretty color, see the texture and color for yourself!

Other claims that 30 Day Litter makes that are  true are:

It is COST EFFECTIVE! It truly DOES last longer than other commercial litters which enables cat owners to spend LESS money on litter! Money is tight for many of us so this is an important benefit. This is a KEY reason why I find it to be so intriguing and beneficial for my litter needs.

It is GENTLE on your cat's paws. The litter has a soft texture and it is infused with aloe which makes it easy on the paws!

MY OPINION: I am quite satisfied overall with Simple Solution 30 Day Cat Litter. The ONLY thing I missed was the "flushability" factor of my previous litter. But, when you don't have to scoop urine and are only scooping poop, you are spending considerably less time scooping, PERIOD which makes it  that much less of an issue. Also, the "other" litter has removed "flushablity" from their packaging because that claim is now open to debate.

For me, the scent wasn't overpowering or unpleasant. I found it to be just right. As I mentioned earlier, Cody likes it and has adjusted quite well. That, the convenience, the money saving factor, and ease of use makes it a winner in my book  Cody's box!!



And....

Simple solution cat litter is available in 2 sizes, 9lb and 15 lb. Price: $10.99 to $15.99--LESS than my previous litter. ( I have the 15 lb box and it has lasted AT LEAST 2 months)

Where to buy? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!

LEARN MORE BY VISITING www.30daycatlitter.com



WANT TO TRY SIMPLE SOLUTION LITTER? They have generously offered SIX of my readers who reside in the U.S. OR CANADA the chance to win a 15 lb box to try for themselves!!! (A $15.99 value). Entering is easy! Just enter on the rafflecopter below! GOOD LUCK!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




In Full 
Disclosure: I received this product for review at no charge. I also received compensation for writing this review and conducting this give-away. Receiving the free product and the fee did not influence my review. I make it a point to ONLY feature products that I either USE, WOULD USE or that I feel will be of benefit to my readers. My reviews always reflect my honest and unbiased opinion.










      .





Thursday, August 28, 2014

When a donation brings an unexpected gift

On August 26th I was reading about the Announcement for Sparkle's Memorial Service


and knew that I was going to make a donation to Tabby's Place, as was requested above:

Tabby’s Place: a Cat Sanctuary
1100 US Highway 202; Ringoes, NJ  08551

908-237-5300 ext. 235  908-237-5311 (fax)
 
at@tabbysplace.org
 http://www.tabbysplace.org/


What I DIDN'T know was that I was going to be blessed with a new friend! After I made my donation, I was gifted with the most heartfelt and warm email from Angela Elizabeth Townsend, the Development Director at Tabby's Place.

I have donated to MANY places and causes throughout the years, but none have taken the time to respond with a thank you that exuded such warmth.

She conveyed her sadness at Sparkle's passing and also gave me the added treat of attaching this!

With a caption that read
"Brielle sends you her thanks and love "
and at the bottom of her email she wrote:

PS: As I type this email, Brielle,
 one of our sweetest Special Needs cats,
 is keeping me company.
 She sends you her purrs (and asked me to attach her photo as her thanks to you).

I was so taken by the story behind this cat,
that  as a tribute to Sparkle, I have joined other bloggers
who have already signed up to sponsor a kitty.
I signed up to sponsor Brielle!

Here I thought it was ME who was hoping to honor Sparkle's memory by simply making a donation to Tabby's Place. In the end it was ME who felt that they received a most unexpected and most welcome "gift." The GIFT of helping Brielle!!

#Catification Winners!!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for a copy of:

THE INCREDIBLY LUCKY
WINNERS ARE:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE
 CONCATULATIONS!
They both have blogs too!
Pamela's is:
ONE SPOILED CAT
STARRING SAMMY!!

And George C. is 
none other than:
CLOONEY'S NUM-NUM FUND
STARRING GEORGE CLOONEY
AND NEYTIRI!

So happy you won!
Mom will
be in touch soon!!!

Love, Cody


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering Cats, a Guest Post by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States

As a child, every birthday and holiday I begged for a cat, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I finally got one. I eagerly adopted four month old Shasta from a friend whose cat had kittens. Oops! My friend wasn’t planning on her cat having a litter of kittens, but didn’t get around to spaying her cat in time.


Shasta, Nancy's first cat
Photo Courtesy of HSUS


It didn’t take long to fall in love with my beautiful gray Shasta, and I often shared stories about her with my work colleague Susan, who had six cats and was a fount of kitty information. After a while, I began to suspect that Shasta was in heat, but Susan would disagree. Finally, I came in one day and announced, “Oh, my goodness. Shasta is in heat.” Susan nodded yes and smiled.
If you’ve ever lived with a cat in heat, you know it’s not fun. She’ll be calling loudly for a male cat, rolling around on the floor, and constantly rubbing against furniture or your leg. Cats have multiple heat cycles during breeding season, which is affected by geographic factors, temperature and number of daylight hours. She’ll be in heat and accept a male for three to 16 days. If she doesn’t become pregnant, she’ll keep coming into heat every two to three weeks until she mates or the amount of daylight decreases.
If I would have known then what I know now, I would have spayed Shasta before she came into heat. I certainly wasn’t planning on breeding her, but I didn’t realize that a cat could go into heat and become pregnant as young as four to five months of age. I also didn’t know that cats who are spayed before their first heat have a decreased risk of mammary tumors or that female cats who aren’t spayed could get pyometra, a potentially fatal uterine infection. Caring for a cat with pyometra can cost way more than the cost of a routine spay surgery.


Shasta cuddles in the warm laundry. 
Photo Courtesy of HSUS

When I adopted Shasta in 1974, it was common to wait until cats were six months old to spay or neuter. Nowadays, due to several advances in medicine, many animal shelters spay and neuter cats before they’re adopted, even as young as two months old or two pounds.
Neutering male cats before they can reproduce is important too. Male cats can reach puberty between four and six months of age. Living with a male cat who isn’t neutered is no picnic either. Your un-neutered male cat may try to escape the house to find a mate and spray urine. Also, once males start spraying, it’s a habit they might continue. If he’s neutered before puberty kicks in, the urge to mark territory by spraying urine is more likely to be nipped in the bud. Un-neutered male cats also have a higher chance of prostate cancer, whereas neutered male cats have a zero chance of getting testicular cancer.
In addition to helping individual cats, spaying and neutering is very important for combating cat overpopulation. According to The Humane Society of the United States, on an annual national average, 70-75 percent of cats entering animal shelters are euthanized. The reasons include lack of resources to care for cats who are too young, too old, sick, aggressive, and so on. Some heartbroken owners who don’t know that many cat behavior problems can be solved surrender their cats. Then there are community (feral and stray) cats who produce about 80 percent of the kittens born each year. Only two percent of community cats are sterilized and they are the most significant source of cat overpopulation. Check out The HSUS website to learn about and find help for community cats in your area.
So, what keeps people from spaying and neutering their cats in a timely manner? Well, they may not realize how early a cat can become pregnant, or that a cat who is nursing kittens can become pregnant as soon as two weeks after giving birth. They also may not realize that 10 percent of female cats go back into heat between the third and sixth week of pregnancy, possibly resulting in litters of different ages.
There are lots of myths surrounding spay and neuter. Some people may think that it’s best to let their female cat have at least one litter or that spaying and neutering will change their cat’s personality or make him or her fat and lazy. Not so. If anything, intact cats who reach puberty are ruled by their hormones, kind of like human teenagers, whereas spayed and neutered cats are calmer and easier to live with. Other people may put off spaying and neutering because they’re concerned about the cost of the procedures. Fortunately there are lots of high quality, low-cost spay and neuter options for pet cats.



 Shasta
Photo Courtesy of HSUS
If you’re thinking of adopting a cat or two, your local animal shelter or rescue group will be happy to introduce you to cats of all shapes, sizes, and personalities. In addition to getting a great pet who is likely already spayed or neutered, you’ll be saving a precious life.

I wish someone had clued me in on all the benefits of spaying and neutering cats before they are able to reproduce. But once I knew, you can bet my subsequent cats were spayed and neutered as soon as possible. Please be sure that you beat the heat by getting the job done earlier rather than later.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Cat Book: "Houdini" by T.J. Banks

Imagine if you will,. that you are a mere wisp of a kitten. A Flamepoint Siamese to be exact, and you discover that you have been deserted. You're hungry, frightened, thirsty and ALONE. 

The above scenario occurs on the first page of one of the most beautifully written cat books I have been afforded the pleasure of reading.



Sitting down on a Saturday night, from the moment I read the first page of Houdini by T.J. Banks, I did not move from the couch. I did not lift  my head from the pages until I finished reading, nearly two hours later.

As cats are drawn to catnip, Houdini will lure you into his world as he extends his paw from the pages of this beautiful and touching story about the love and undying loyalty of a cat for "his girl".  You will fall in love, as I did with the determination, devotion, faith, loyalty and love that is evident on each of the 190 pages of this book that is a MUST READ for all who love cats.

"A Siamese only gives his heart
to a human once....

" For Houdini, an abandoned down-on-his-luck Siamese kitten, that human is Jill Leonard, the girl who smuggles him home aboard an airplane. He lives a good life out of doors with Jill's other cats. That life has dangers of its own, however, as he discovers when he inadvertently strays from his home.

Lost and injured, Houdini finds a safe haven with a cat-loving artist, but his longing for the child who first gave him love and a home is as intense as ever, and he is determined to find his way back to her."

While the plot of Houdini is captivating, touching and sometimes humorous, that isn't all that I was impressed by. I was impressed by the obvious knowledge of cats that Author Banks possesses. There is a vast amount of thought and detailed description of the qualities that make cats, CATS. Banks enables us to be privy to what their thoughts might be, (if we only knew,) their motivation, what delights them, and what perturbs them.

  As a cat effortlessly weaves through your legs when he or she wants to be fed,  Banks expertly weaves into the story details about how cats move, the meaning behind their interaction with other cats and  how they find their "place" in  a  pre-existing cat hierarchy.

"So Houdini crouched down and lowered his head to show that he understood whose territory this was. The tabby cuffed him lightly and stalked off. He sat down by the kitchen table and watched Houdini with wide friendly green eyes. Want to play? those eyes said. I might, the Siamese telegraphed back. He sat up and began lightly touching up his fur, feeling a bit more like his old self. Definitely more at ease."

There are important  lessons to be learned  in Houdini as well. Lessons about abandoning pets, the love they need, outdoor dangers, spay/neutering,  lest I reveal more, I will stop here, when you read Houdini you will find out the rest. Banks doesn't preach, many of these messages are subliminal,  but their impact is strong and clear.

If you love cats (and I know that you DO), if you want to be inspired, delighted, charmed, and wish to join Houdini as he experiences life and love, then this is one that MUST be a part of your cat book library.  It is sheer purrfection in every sense of the word.

ISBN:13:978-1-59113-734-4
ISBN:10:1-59113-734-9

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:T.J. Banks is the author of Sketch People:Stories Along the Way, A Time for Shadows, Catsong, Derv & Co.: A Life Among Felines, and Souleiado. Catsong, a collection of her best cat stories, was the winner of the 20007 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award. A Contributing Editor to laJoie, she is also a columnist for petsadviser.com and has received writing awards from the Cat Writers' Association (CWA), ByLine, and The Writing Self. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Guideposts' Soul Menders, Their Mysterious Ways, Miracles of Healing, and Comfort From Beyond. She has also worked as  a stringer for the Associated Press and as an instructor for the Writer's Digest School. 

She lives with her son Zeke, their power-mongering cats, a rabbit, and chinchilla, in a sometimes peaceable but always interesting kingdom.

I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a copy of Houdini in exchange for my honest review. It is my pleasure to share a book as marvelous as this one with my readers.


 



Friday, August 22, 2014

Friday Fun!! Meet the Kitties of the Katzenworld Blog!!

One of a zillion things that I love about blogging, is meeting people from various points on the globe! Cody and I are blessed to have furiends in the UK, France, Greece, Australia and many other countries!  Prior to the internet, the idea of meeting people from other countries seemed out of the question, now it is commonplace, but it is something that I never take for granted. Meeting a new furiend from a far-away place is like opening a beautifully wrapped present!

One day, about 2 months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting the Katzenworld gang on Facebook,  we agreed to share interview questions on both of our blogs, (Cody was the one who asked the questions!), to introduce each other and our cats to our readers! It was Katzenworld's idea, Cody and I loved it and agreed to purrticipate! You can read the interview they posted about us, here!

Please enjoy the interview Cody did about them!


Click here to follow their blog!



How long have you been running Katzenworld?
We had the idea last year in November, but didn't actually get around to start it up until March this year. You know what it can be like with real life getting in the way LOL.

I originally started the blog on my own but invited one of my best friends Yuki to join in as she too has two cats as well! Additionally our friend Laura is also helping us, but is currently working in Japan. :)

How did you decide to become a Blogger?
I always wanted a presence on the internet for my kitties. They are both rescue cats from a local charity and I thought by starting a Blog I could get the word out that it is worth adopting a rescue cat and especially a black and black and white cat that often seems to be the last to be adopted! 

Also before starting the Blog I would often spend ages telling other like minded friends about purrtastic products for their feline friends, and now I can do that on my blog!

What are some of your favorite things about sharing a life and living space with a furry friend or two?
You are never alone! They just know when you are feeling down and will come to purr on you and cheer you up. There is nothing better than coming home from a long day at work - potentially feeling down or grumpy - and being greeted by a purring and headbutting cat to make your day. :)

Who is your favourite internet cat celebrity?
Maru! He is just too adorable and also if you take the first letters of my two first and 2 last names it forms his name :D (Yes I often get called by that nickname at work LOL)

Any tips you would give to first-time cat owners?
Make sure that you have plenty of toys around the house. Especially if you have a sofa etc that you don't want them to scratch. I would also suggest to get a water fountain! Many pet shops will try to sell you bowls but a lot of cats don't like still water so go for the fountain. :)

And of course most importantly have plenty of time for cuddles. 

What do you love the most about your cat companion?

"Oliver"

Oliver is cute and cuddly and will always roll around on the sofa, bed or me and purr away. He does however have his mischievious moments and that's why he received the title Maker of Mischief!

"Nubia"

 Nubia on the other hand is very very noisy, but that's exactly why I love her so much! No need for an alarm clock because she knows exactly at what point I have to go to work (or give her breakfast I should say ;) ) And hence her title as the Disturber of Peace LOL!

"Snowball"

Snowball is crazily adventerous and gets up to all kind of trouble. Despite him being a mean boss cat to neighbour cats he is super soft and cuddly with Yuki and her family.

"Mao"
When him and Mao go outdoors he will look after her and be her protective warrior cat. Mao on the other hand is super chubby and fluffy and amazing for cuddles. Indoors she keeps Snowball in check and will glare at him if he is up to no good ;) Both of Yuki's cats have learned how to open doors and unfortunately Snowball even knows how to lockpick windows but hey this is exactly why Yuki loves them so much LOL



Marc it was a complete pleasure meeting you and getting to know your feline furmily!!!!!


I am loving reading your blog and I am sure that your new furiends here will love reading it as well!


Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

The World Has Lost Its "Sparkle"

Photo used from Sparkle's blog
We pray her human doesn't mind
Thank you to Sparkle (and her incredible human), for the never-ending kindness that you both showed Cody and I from the day we began blogging in 2009. 

You ALWAYS visited us and 100s of other bloggers EVERY DAY without fail. Your comments often made us laugh and we looked forward to them.

Sparkle, we all promise to take care of your human, she is always concerned about all of us and the kitties of the World. We will make sure that she is looked after too.

In honor of Sparkle's memory and the wisdom she shared with all of us, Cody and I wanted to share our review that we did back in 2012 of Sparkle's book. It meant the world to us to review it, the book is one of thousands of examples of Sparkle's wit and talent with words. We hope that her humor and insight brings you comfort, we are hurting along with all of you.........THANK YOU SPARKLE for the joy you gave to all of us and for the kitties you have helped. This is the WORST day ever.

From:November 20, 2012: Dear Sparkle: CAT-TO-CAT advice from the world's foremost FELINE columnist-Sparkle The Designer Cat

Dear Sparkle,
I kicked my Mom off of the computer because I think that it should be ME writing the book review today.
It only seems right that I should write the review and not my Mom because you wrote this advice book for CATS ONLY.
Mom is not a CAT. I am a CAT, so I do the review.
Love, Cody



Dear Sparkle,
I would like to thank you for taking the time to sign my book. That was pretty darned cool of you. Especially being as famous as you are.
Love, Cody


Dear Sparkle,
I really like how you have the replies to the letters seeking advice from assorted kitties broken down into various CAT-egories such as:
GAMES KITTIES PLAY
STRANGE INVASIONS
CAT VS. HUMAN
EPI-CURIOUS
LITTER BOX LETTERS
MIXED MAILBAG
I can see how you are famous. You organized this stuff really well. If a kitty has a problem that purr-tains to a certain CAT-egory. All they gotta do is put their paw on the right chapter.
Love, Cody


Photo courtesy of Janiss Garza
Dear Sparkle,
The photos that you have in this book are of superior quality. I understand your human captured your beauty by herself? Wow! She is purrty darned talented. I like how she put your sagacious words under each photo.
You have trained her well.
Love, Cody


Dear Sparkle,
I liked the advice letter about “Playtime Time Out” Wanna know why? My Mom is super lazy. She doesn’t play with me enough. She says she has BLOGS to write, BLOGS to read, it’s all about BLOGS, BLOGS, BLOGS!
When she does try to play with me, I go through my “cobra-routine” on the carpet. I stretch out and barely move. This frustrates Mom and she stops playing with me.
I guess I need to follow  your advice and show some enthusiasm when I play and maybe she will play with me longer.
Love, Cody

Dear Sparkle,
Thanks for printing the letter about “Housekeeper Havoc.” I could really relate.
I have a housekeeper who comes to my house and moves things around and makes everything smell AWFUL! She even has the nerve to tell me that she knows when I have POOPED! She tries to cover up the smell after I have worked so hard to make it smell like ME in my litter box.
You are right about the sucky monster dust inhaler not being dangerous, as long as I stay out of its’ way.
Thanks for the advice.
I could really relate to “Scared for my life” who wrote that letter.
Love, Cody

Dear Sparkle,
I want to thank you for answering the age-old question of why cats have expressive ears. I am sure a lot of kitties and their humans wanted to know the answer. You said, it’s because we don’t have eyebrows”
You aren’t just beautiful, you are brilliant.
That’s why you make the big bucks.
Love, Cody

Dear Sparkle,
It’s about time that SOMEONE addressed the issue of “Nickname Nightmare” as you did in your book.
Humans need to realize that we don’t like nicknames. I hate being called “Codester”, “Jelly Belly”, “Co-Dependent” and a host of other ridiculous names.
Thanks for your advice of telling us “when your human mangles your name, make yourself scarce.”
Keep up the great work!
Love, Cody


Dear Sparkle,
4-paws up on your idea for Vet Care Reform: “put the vets into carriers and bring them to US, instead of vice versa.”
PURR GENIUS!!
Love, Cody
Photo courtesy of Janiss Garza


Dear Sparkle,
I think your book is a MUST HAVE for any kitty worth their kibble. Who better to go to for answers to our burning questions than ANOTHER CAT?
You are right, about humans possibly not liking some of what they read. Sometimes the TRUTH HURTS!
I showed your book to my Mom and in a few instances you helped her see the error of her ways. Will she change? One can only hope.
You pointed out some impawtant issues that my Mom and other humans need to pay attention to!
Thanks for taking these impawtant matters into your own paws.
Love, Cody



Dear Sparkle,
Last but not least, I couldn’t agree more with your “Sparkle Says tidbit: the fact that dogs are so trainable does not make them smarter than us cats. Since when has being easily manipulated become a sign of intelligence?”
Love, Cody





Condolences for Sparkle's family may be left here

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

‘NAME YOUR OWN PRICE’ ON CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTIONS AT MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY!! FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!!

"Peter" Photo Courtesy of Michigan Humane
In an effort to help adoptable cats find homes quickly during the extra-busy warm weather season, when shelters across the country are bursting at the seams with felines, the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) has announced a “Name Your Own Price” promotion for its cat adoptions. “Name Your Own Price” will began on Monday, August 18 at all MHS adoption locations and will continue for a limited time only. During the promotion, adopters can name their own adoption fee on MHS Certified Pre-Owned cats and kittens; any chosen adoption fee will be honored. The regular MHS adoption process will apply.  Cody and I love when Michigan Humane does this, it enables so many cats who might not have found a home, find their FUREVER home!

"The more quickly we find loving homes for these cats and kittens, the sooner we can help even more cats in need.”, said CJ Bentley, MHS senior director of operations. 

Help make "ZZ" happy!
Adopt a Cat!
Photo Courtesy of Michigan Humane

MHS is the original home of “Certified Pre-Owned Cats,” which are available in many makes and models, and Cody and I are proud to partner with Michigan Humane, helping to spread the word about as many of their adoption events as possible! Each kitty comes with a multi-point inspection, spay or neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, standard microchipping and more.

Meet your very own Certified Pre-Owned Cat at one of the three MHS adoption centers, Monday through Saturday (hours vary by location):

  • MHS Detroit Center for Animal Care: 7401 Chrysler Drive
  • MHS Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care: 3600 W. Auburn Road
  • MHS Berman Center for Animal Care (Westland): 900 N. Newburgh Road

In addition, MHS Certified Pre-Owned Cats can be adopted seven days a week during regular store hours at five PetSmart locations: in Dearborn, Rochester Hills, Roseville, Taylor and West Bloomfield; and at Petco in Sterling Heights.
For the complete list of MHS adoption locations and hours, visit www.michiganhumane.org.



The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.






Dogs N Pawz

Welcome to Tuesday’s Tails Blog Hop

 hosted by

 


This is the Blog Hop that features shelter animals. Find a cat, dog, rabbit, etc. at your local animal shelter or rescue and feature them on this Blog Hop! Come join the fun and help a furry friend find a forever home! And while you’re at it, don’t forget to visit the other blogs and share their doggies, cats, rabbits, and all the other animals that need forever homes on your social media sites. Please spread the word!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Friday, August 15, 2014

Get "CATIFIED!" Enter to win Catification, Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!!) by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin

On the heels of yesterday's blog post,  where I discussed the importance of keeping cats INDOORS, it is appropriate that I present to you THE ONLY book you will EVER need to help you create an indoor utopia that will not only provide hours of entertainment for your cat(s), but it will enable you to design that utopia based on YOUR cat's needs (after all, they ARE ALL DIFFERENT!). You will learn how to do this  by using design choices and ideas that are unique and personal to YOUR home decor!

While discussing the merits of keeping cats inside, one of my insightful readers left this comment that I couldn't agree with more:

From Fuzzytales:when the cat is indoor-only and doesn't have access to a catio or something similar, I think it's hugely important to make the living environment as enriching as possible. It's not just about having a cat live into its teens or even to 20, it's about *quality* of life as well.

So True!

Want to make YOUR cat's environment "as enriching as possible?"


Are You Ready To ROCK?

I proudly present:



What is "Catification?"

From JacksonGalaxy.com:

Catification is about creating feline-friendly environments that cater to a cat’s natural instincts to climb, perch, rest, play, and own their space. We’re here to tell you that you can accommodate your indoor cat’s need to climb, perch, play and relax — in a way that makes you both happy.

            According to JACKSON GALAXY, the star and executive producer of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell and author of Cat Daddy, you don’t have to choose.  In CATIFICATION: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) (Tarcher/Penguin paperback;  on sale 10/14/14), Galaxy joins one of my favorite "Cat Women",  Kate Benjamin, of the popular cat website Hauspanther.com to help cat owners everywhere design a happy feline home that is both functional and chic. 

Kate Benjamin the reigning "Queen of Cats"
at her "Cat Style Lounge" at BlogPaws 2014
Read Kate's "Pro Tips" in Catification!!

 Drawing on their extensive human/feline relationship expertise, Galaxy and Benjamin here offer an indispensible guide packed with more than fifteen fun DIY projects and countless design tips and tricks. 

More than just a design book, CATIFICATION also teaches readers:

•           The instinctual hard-wiring  behind your cat’s indoor needs
•           What your kitty’s behavior is trying to tell you-Catification provides the meanings of ear and tail and whisker positions, as well as body language.
•           How to determine your cat’s specific personality and desires-Catification comes with a worksheet with questions to help determine the needs for EVERY cat in your household!
•           Small changes you can make to improve your relationship with your pet

This beautifully designed, full-color book includes practical and attractive projects—from kitty hammocks and “catios” (cat patios) to cat towers and superhighways—that will make both human and kitty happy. Catification is FAR from just being a "picture book." I was completely blown away by not only the AMOUNT of information in this book, but there is everything from finding the perfect cat bed, to creating the purrfect space for your cats while keeping an eye on your BUDGET!



 By designing an optimal living space for our feline friends, owners can minimize cats’ negative behavior and promote a healthy lifestyle for their pets, all while maintaining a beautiful home.

Catification is 304 INFORMATION PACKED PAGES that should be a part of EVERY cat owner's reference library. It would make a great "new kitten" gift, a gift for a shelter, or for any cat lover in your life!

ISBN 978-0-399-16601-3


 Enter to Win!!!

A special thank you to Jackson, Kate and Tarcher/Penguin for allowing me to have a give-away for my readers!!!! The give-away includes a "proof" copy of Catification, AND an adorable LUNCH BAG that looks like, who else? CODY!!!!!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!!!! OPEN WORLD-WIDE!! YEP! WORLD-WIDE!

 I will mail the International winner their copy of Catification and the lunch bag and Tarcher/Penguin will mail the same prizes to my winner in the U.S.!!!!!!

Entering is "Easy-Peasy!" there is only ONE requirement on the rafflecopter at the END of this post!



Pre-order to Support Cats!
For every copy of Catification pre-ordered, the publisher Tarcher/Penguin will donate $1 to organizations supporting cat welfare. We will be sure to update you once the organizations have been chosen. In order for your pre-order to count toward the donation, please email a copy of your receipt to catificationbook@gmail.com.More details at www.tarcherbooks.com/catification. Pre-order your copy now on AmazonBarnes & Noble, from any major bookseller, or visit Indiebound to find a local bookstore in your area.

a Rafflecopter giveaway





I was not compensated for this review. I was sent  two "proof copies" of Catification and 2 lunch bags in exchange for my honest review.