"R-E-S-P-E-C-T...Find Out What It Means To ME!" #NationalRespectYourCatDay

Hi all it's Cody!! Yes, yes, yes, I KNOW that ALL of you are going to say that cats should be respected EVERY DAY and YOU ARE RIGHT!!!  Respecting cats shouldn't be just one day a year at all, I couldn't agree more! But because March 28 is a historic day for me and my feline friends, today is the day that was designated as National Respect Your Cat Day because allegedly,

 on March 28, 1384, Richard II of England forbid the consumption of cats. Why anyone would want to eat a cat anyway is beyond me, but I digress...

So, in honor of this momentous occasion and as a reminder to my Mom EVERY DAY, here is a little somethin' somethin' which will hopefully get through to my Mom for something that SHE does that I take issue with,  AND make YOU laugh!!! My deepest apologies to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin for taking some liberties with the lyrics to RESPECT.

Kitties what kind of EXTRA respect do YOU need shown to YOU today!!! I know we are shown respect EVERY DAY by our humans, but we can always use MORE!!!

Discuss!

Love, 

Cody

An Easter Greeting....

Yes, we posted this last year, but we love it and wanted to post it again! Wishing those who celebrate a joyous and blessed Easter! Love from Caren and Cody.

This is too appropriate NOT to post!!!

Found on Pinterest

It is impawtant for you to know that the above photo refers to MOM and NOT to ME!!!
This...is from ME!!!! 
Love, Cody

HAPPY EASTER 

FRIENDS!!!

A Most "Precious" Message In Honor Of Poison Prevention Awareness Month

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: As we approach the end of Poison Prevention Awareness Month, (which frankly should be EVERY month),  we would like to repeat a post that we did back on April 17, 2010, when we were brand spanking new to the world of blogging. 

It is one thing to write about the perils of certain toxins after searching on the internet, it is another thing ENTIRELY  to have an email sent to you, begging and pleading to share a little boys' heart-breaking story. It was this little boy, (Zack Flewelling),  (who is now a man), who begged his Dad to contact me. This post is a TRUE STORY, and addresses how hazardous houseplants and flowers can be to our feline friends. When one hears a story that impacted someone else, it brings it that much closer and takes on an entirely different meaning.

 I had been contacted by Zack's Dad in April of 2010 asking me if I would share his "message", I was  happy to do that  then and am happy to do that now.

 After I first posted this in 2010, I posted it again in 2015. It is now going to be a yearly tradition. I am sure when Zack sees this post repeated, he will be thankful that this special message from his cat "Precious" lives on.

(This year I added an infographic from SheKnows )

Zack and "Precious"

It is hard enough to lose a pet when it passes of old age, it is another thing entirely to have your pet die suddenly at the still vital age of 7, which is how old Zack Flewelling's cat "Precious" was when she died suddenly just a few weeks ago.

Zack Flewelling, age 12, possesses a caring and sensitivity at his young age that many much older than he will ever attain.

Back track to approx. April 11th when Zack's Dad, Jerry was relaxing at home, while his wife (Jennifer), and kids ran to the store.  He noticed Precious meowing more than usual, not in a "feed me" kind of way, it was more like a "low growling". When Jerry went to scoop her up "she was like water, there was nothing to her, she was totally limp and very cold but aware."

They rushed her to the vet where they discovered that Precious was in renal failure. The vet also wanted to know if Precious had gotten into any rat poisoning or "was there anything else she could have ingested"?

When the doctor left the room Jennifer's eyes spotted a bulletin board with a sign that said "DANGER! Easter Lilies are toxic to cats and dogs" Her heart sunk. They had had an Easter Lily plant on their table for a week now which they had paid no mind because Precious ate the houseplants "all of the time". Jennifer called Jerry at home and had him photograph the Easter Lily with his cell phone. Sure enough, many leaves were gone and there were teeth marks in them, Precious had "eaten it, and a lot of it".

Photo Courtesy of the ASPCA

The Flewellings and the vet tried everything, but there was nothing that could save Precious, she passed early the following morning.

When I spoke to Zack who is devastated by the loss of his dear "Precious", there was no hint of anger, just a young man with a thoughtfulness and depth beyond his years. When I asked Zack what the message was that he wanted to relay about Precious, he said, "I want an article to be put in the paper to let people know that plants do not come with "warnings" like other dangerous things do", he continued, "there are many poisonous plants out there, Easter Lilies and tomato plants", just to name a few.

Zack is right, there are literally hundreds of plants that are poisonous to both cats and dogs, and on most lists these plants are not identified by a photo, which makes it that much harder to know which plants are safe and which are not.

Infographic From SheKnows

Zack said that "his mission now is to spread the word to other cat owners (and dog owners as well) that plants should come with a warning", (as well they should, or they can be researched online or  at the library or bookstores, to find out if they are toxic to animals). Zack would "love to spare anyone else the pain" that he is experiencing after having lost his beloved cat, Precious,  by making them aware that toxic plants exist and to keep them away from cats and dogs.

Zack's cat may have been named "Precious" but Zack, with his unselfishness and caring for others, by wanting this message relayed for the safety of their pets, is quite "Precious" himself.

FOR A LIST OF TOXIC AND NON-TOXIC PLANTS FROM THE ASPCA CLICK HERE


****NOTE:if you suspect your animal may have ingested a poisonous plant or other poisonous item the symptoms can range from seizures and foaming at the mouth to vomiting and coma. DO NOT WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO APPEAR. Immediate medical attention is necessary.


THE ASPCA 24-HOUR EMERGENCY POISON HOTLINE IS 888-426-4435 (There is a $60-something  fee payable via credit card)

My Current Favorite Cat Illustration!

IT'S CODY

AND I LOVE IT!!

I was sent this digital gift for winning

 the St.Patrick's Day contest over at:

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Spring Is Here...

Twitter Turns 10 On March 21st! What Was YOUR #FirstTweet !?

While watching the Today Show yesterday morning I learned that Twitter is turning 10!!!!!!  (on March 21st).

Back in  2009, I was encouraged by many to join Twitter which I fought tooth and nail! (I normally embrace change, but I am often slow to jump on the bandwagon pertaining to certain issues, it often takes much prodding for me to try a new social media platform.  I fought Instagram tooth and nail too until I finally gave in. I still have issues with it lol.)

I finally relented.  I remember for MONTHS feeling as if  I would never have any followers. I thought Twitter was ridiculous, now 6577 followers later on Cody's Twitter handle, and almost 3000 on Dakota's, (Dakota didn't join Twitter until 2011),  I am singing tweeting a different tune.

While many sing the praises of Facebook, I have made many of my most lucrative, important, (and more importantly, ENDURING), connections/relationships, on Twitter. (I find Facebook to be more of a "look at me, like me" forum which I often view with disdain.)

Wonder What Your First Tweet Was?

I did!! Contrary to what Cher says, you CAN "turn back time", you can see YOUR first tweet!!  I am sooo embarrassed that my first Tweet was to Ellen DeGeneres (whom I never tagged because I had no clue as to how!) And here it is!!

Is that hilarious or what?

What struck me as strange though, was I could have sworn I didn't join Twitter until AFTER I began blogging. I began blogging in October of 2009, and the date of my first tweet is March 2009. If I didn't have a blog, I am thinking my first user name had to have been different (I can't remember), because "Cat Chat" didn't exist. Regardless, I cracked up laughing when I found out my first tweet was to Ellen. I must have been watching her show that day, and she probably encouraged people to join Twitter and follow her. I am betting that is what it was.

Back in the "old" days, I was "live" on Twitter much more than I am now. I share my posts and the posts of others, I am big on tweeting quotes, photos of food and other things that strike my fancy. I tend to not do what others preach that we do, "just tweeting pet information" since my handle is pet related. I function the same with Pinterest, and have had success NOT doing things the way we are "supposed"  to.

I enjoy tweeting things that are a reflection of my diverse interests, I'm not one-dimensional, and just tweeting about pets or just pinning pets would pigeon-hole me. I love having followers that aren't necessarily actively involved in the pet world. By tweeting/pinning things that reflect all of my interests, I have found that many who end up following me, might have been interested by a tweet or a pin that wasn't pet related, and they end up having a cat or a dog (or whatever). It turns out being a "win-win."  When I follow people on Twitter I am intrigued by those who tweet a variety of topics,  and I think that many feel the same when deciding whom to follow.

It is mind-boggling to me that ten years have passed so quickly, will Twitter enjoy another ten years? It remains to be seen.  I do know that I myself and many others owe Twitter a world of THANKS!! Keep on Tweetin' on!!!!!


ARE YOU ON TWITTER? List your Twitter name in the comments so myself and others can be sure we are following you!

Cats for Corned Beef

SkratchKabin™ from KatKabin® Winner!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for: 

SkratchKabin™ from KatKabin®

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO THE LUCKY WINNER

LISTED BELOW!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So, Who's Tired Today?

This post first appeared on Monday, March 14, 2011. Each year we are blessed with new readers and I thought since MANY of the sentiments I expressed are still valid, it was worth sharing this again with a few changes beginning with the new photo at the top! Enjoy!!

I'm tired.

I'm feeling out-of-sorts, cranky and off schedule (yep even being unemployed, I DO have a schedule thank you very much!).

I'm TIRED!

I can't concentrate.

I'm T-I-R-E-D!!

Many of us throughout the world follow Daylight Saving Time.  (No, I didn't forget the "s" it IS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME). It was bad enough when the clocks were turned ahead an hour the last week of April,  now the dreaded "spring-ahead-an-hour-and-want-to-scream-at-everyone-around-you-because-you-are-TIRED-event" (for me at least), takes place in early March. Couldn't "they" (whoever "they" ARE, leave well enough alone?)

While much of the rest of the country  is  preparing to tip-toe through their Spring tulips and are giggling at the prospect of longer days to come, those of us like myself who already don't get enough sleep, (I am often up til the wee hours of the morning) are seething.

I'm tired.

I need my sleep.

Ironically while I am sitting here at 12:20am, which to me is 11:20pm..(mentally changing the time when I look at the clock is a little game I will be playing for at least the next week), all I can hear is the tick, tick, tick of the wall clock in front of me...it's ticking beginning to sound like "Ha...ha...ha... I... got.... you".  

I'm TIRED!!

Don't mess with my clock, my routine, my internal alarm, don't mess with my sleep-deprived self!

You are probably asking "what in the heck does ANY of this have to do with cats? Isn't this a CAT BLOG for Pete's sake?"

Don't mess with me.

I told you... I'm TIRED!

I'm feeling out-of-sorts, cranky and off schedule.

"Cats don't like change

 without their consent."

Roger Caras

For the record....neither do I!

Now, if you'll kindly excuse me, I am going to bed. It's 1:15am or 12:15am or whatever it is and I'm TIRED!

Weekend Plans

Here is what I will be doing this weekend....turn up your volume and listen to my cute little licks!!




What are YOUR plans for the weekend?

Love, Cody

"No" Means Nothing: Wordless Wednesday

Cat Product Review/Give-Away! SkratchKabin™ from KatKabin®

 SkratchKabin™ from KatKabin® 

"The Purrfect Cat Bed and Cat Scratcher!"

Hi my furiends!! It's Cody! I couldn't be more excited that you stopped by today!!

For the longest time Mom and I have been lusting after the KatKabin®  and the SkratchKabin™  's that we would see on a number of our furiends blogs. Mom knew that I would love one, so as luck stalking would have it, Mom connected with KatKabin® on Instagram and they offered me the chance to review either the traditional KatKabin® or the NEW SkratchKabin™!!! 

About KatKabin®:

"The original KatKabin® DezRez is designed and made by Brinsea Products.  It is a fun yet practical shelter for your cats, and can be used indoors and outdoors.  It was developed by designer Trevor Hudson in conjunction with advice from the Brinsea cats, Chas, Cleo and Astra." "The original KatKabin® was designed by a Hungarian innovator called Elvira Brocher to answer some of the challenges of owning a cat today. Many working owners worry about their cat when it is outside during the day, particularly if the weather is bad."

"Elvira developed the KatKabin® to solve these problems by creating a special space in a garden, patio or balcony where your cat can be safe and secure. The design of the KatKabin® has evolved over the last year, but the concept of providing your fabulous feline with a safe place to shelter, nap and relax is still the same.  The KatKabin® will quickly become part of your pet’s life and, as it is easy to move, can also be used when away from home, in a cattery or on holiday."

Mom and I chose the NEW SkratchKabin™ because it is intended for use indoors. I also was given my choice of colors and Mom and I chose the 

NEW SkratchKabin cat bed cat scratcher in Cocoa Bean

The day my SkratchKabin™ arrived I knew the second I saw the box that something special was inside! I was beside myself with excitement! Mom could not take it out of the box fast enough! Mom was shocked because unlike most items that arrive for me that takes me days, even weeks to check out, that was NOT the case with my SkratchKabin™ !! I IMMEDIATELY went inside and started investigating! It must have had some kind of a smell that I liked because I just couldn't get enough of it! The SkratchKabin™ that I received is  a lovely dark brown. (There are color variations in my photos due to lighting changes in the room and photo editing). It is  designed to blend in with any interior. Our living room is primarily earth tones (browns, olive green, tan, etc.) so it fits in purrfectly! It is a great size too! The overall dimensions are : L 20 " (51cm)  x W 16" (40.5cm)  x H 13" (32cm) and it fits quite nicely right next to one of our couches and is completely unobtrusive. Can you see my nose and whiskers peeking out? The SkratchKabin™  is a  warm and cozy place for me to sleep. I can scratch it if I want to, the curved, textured scratching surface is wonderful for my manly claws! I don't normally scratch our furniture, but for kitties who are inclined to do that, this is the purrfect alternative to ripping to shreds one of your humans' favorite chairs or couches! The SkratchKabin™ is available in 3 gorgeous colors and comes complete with a machine washable KatKushion, (that is the green pad you see me sitting on in the photos), it is super comfy. It also comes with  a FREE toy hanger and a FREE sisal mouse!! (I did not hang my sisal mouse because Dakota hangs out in the living room with me and Mom was afraid he might try and eat the mousie. Also, I didn't need to use the mouse as encouragement to use the SkratchKabin™ because I liked it on my own!) But it IS cute and I can play with it in another room. I LOVE my SkratchKabin™ even MORE than Mom thought I would! There is NOTHING that I would change about it and I give it a resounding FOUR PAWS UP!! I love to hang out here and just watch my Sheltie brother doing the crazy things that he does. It also offers me a great haven to escape to so that I can get away from his maddening barking!!! Speaking of Dakota, has anyone seen him? He doesn't seem to be over there, or over here.............

Wait! I think I see him!! I must tell you quickly that our friends at KatKabin® are allowing us to do a give-away!!!! Isn't that the best news? The give-away is open to those who live in the U.S., CANADA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM!!! Woooooooo hoooooo!!!!!! ONE WINNER CAN CHOOSE  either the original KatKabin® or the new SkratchKabin™ !!!!  (An approximate $99 value!!) Entering is super easy, just enter on the Rafflecopter below, good luck!!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a SkratchKabin™ in exchange for my always honest review.

Poison Prevention Awareness Month for Humans and Their Pets

The ASPCA just released their list of  the TOP PET TOXINS OF 2015,  which inspired me to share portions of a post that I did on this important topic last year. Mine is based on real-life experience and it is definitely worth repeating. Also on February 29th, 2016 our friends at East Side Cats did a timely post addressing a Medication Error   that is worth a look as well!

March is  Poison Prevention Awareness Month, and throughout this month, you will more than likely see a number of bloggers stressing the importance of knowing what items can be harmful to your pets and humans as well.

Our friends at Cat Wisdom 101 did a marvelous post last year about cleaning products that can be hazardous to your cat, there is also a wonderful infographic  that recently appeared on Catster:

Infographic Courtesy of Catster

Today I want to share my own "real life" story about medicine that happened to me last year.

There are a few times during the year that Cody takes Prednisonol for his allergy flare-ups and I keep his meds in the kitchen cabinet. For a while, I used to keep my blood pressure medication in the same place.

The year before last, at around 11pm I had gone to give Cody his pill, after I gave it to him I had a panic attack that was overwhelming, it suddenly hit me that I didn't know if I had accidentally given him one of MY blood pressure pills instead of HIS meds. The bottles were side-by-side, I had been distracted and was quite tired, and I couldn't remember which bottle I had grabbed.

I went into full blown panic mode. I called my vet screaming into the phone after 11pm that "I had poisoned Cody!!" Being the calm angel that he is, he immediately told me to call the ASPCA Pet Poison line 1-888-426-4435 (there is a $65 fee but it is worth EVERY PENNY!) They also have a Pet Poison phone app that you can download here.

When I called, the person on the other end was calm, she had me tell her exactly what I thought I had given to Cody, the name of the meds, dosage, etc., (if you ever have to call the Poison Hotline (and I pray you don't), here is the info you will need to have on hand:

• The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved.
• The animal's symptoms.
• Information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.

Have the product container/packaging available for reference.

Please note: If your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she may call the APCC.

 As it turned out, I had NOT given Cody the wrong pill by mistake and thankfully if I had, it would not have killed him. The woman I had spoken to on the Pet Poison Hotline  had said the most it would have done was make Cody  sleep more than usual, and she told me what other symptoms to watch out for.

I learned a valuable lesson. From that moment on, I moved MY meds into MY medicine cabinet where they belong, and Cody's meds are separate. I had forgotten I had the Pet Poison Hotline number on a magnet on the fridge, in my panic, my mind had gone blank.  I don't know what I would have done without that hotline number that awful night, it was an experience I pray I don't have to re-live again. Please keep the number  handy so you don't have to panic as I did!

If Pets Had Thumbs Day

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Another throwback!! This is from 2015 with some minor editing.

Hi all it's Cody! Well, it's Cody DICTATING this post to my incompetent human Mom. Which leads me to the point of this blog post.

As many of you know, today happens to be If Pets Had Thumbs Day, (or, in MY world, and for purposes of this post, it is If CATS Had Thumbs Day!)

No one seems to know the exact origin of this day (no surprise there, just add it to the ever-growing list of mindless holidays which in reality mean nothing, but hey, they are FUN, right?) So, without further pussyfooting around, just exactly WHAT would THIS cat do if he had thumbs?

Well, the obvious of course:

•  I could open my own bag of treats
• I could open my own containers of food
• I could turn the doorknob and escape to parts unknown
• I could grab my annoying woofie brother with BOTH paws and hold that giant, furry head between those paws...and.....squeeeezeeee......oh! Please excuse me I got carried away!
• I could take my OWN photos! They sure couldn't be any worse than Mom's!

• I could text with the speed of light and not only that, I could pilfer Mom's iPhone and make all sorts of crank phone calls! Does anyone even still do that?
• I could steal the keys to Mom and Dad's car and drive them around town, Mom drives a stick and I could shift that gear stick like there was no tomorrow!
• I could brush my own teeth
• I could play computer games the right way!!

Those are just a few things that I would do....but...I believe the MAIN thing I would do is COMPLETELY BAN MY MOM FROM WRITING ON THIS BLOG! It would be MINE, ALL MINE! I would be able to type to my heart's content, I could say what I want without fear of upsetting Mom. I would change all of the passwords on her social media accounts too!

 If we all band together, and if we ONLY had thumbs, we would take over the world!!!!!!!!!!



What do ya think kitties? Are you with me? 
Let's take back our blogs!!! Love, Cody

#ReadAcrossAmerica: Happy Birthday To YOU Dr.Seuss!

This post first appeared on our blog on March 2nd, 2013....I decided to have it  make an appearance on EVERY Dr.Seuss  and Read Across America Day! 

Today is the day,

it's truer than true,

today is the day 

we tell Dr.Seuss

"WE LOVE YOU!"

We GRATEFULLY
THANK GLOGIRLY DESIGN
FOR DESIGNING OUR GRAPHIC!
YOU CAN HAVE ONE TOO BY CLICKING HERE

Mom first discovered Dr.Seuss

as a child of age 4,

When she would "read"

The Cat In The Hat

she would shout

"I want MORE!"

March 2, 1904

is a date to be remembered

evermore! 

Write it on your wall!

It is  the birthday

of probably the most

popular children's book author of all!

courtesy of cracked.com

He wrote Mom's faves,

oh how she  LOVES those green eggs!

Mom's first long word,

that she ever read,

was "Bartholomew" 

it was in one of Seuss's books

and at age 6,

 Mom figured it out

just by using her head!

It is only appropriate on this

most special day,

that we wish 

Dr. Seuss the
 HAPPIEST

of BIRTHDAYS!!