A Holiday Gift Guide for Cats and their Humans: Our Favorites of 2018!

DISCLAIMER: THERE ARE NO AFFILIATE LINKS OF ANY KIND IN THIS POST.  I will not make a dime if you click a link and make a purchase. Some of these items were featured on our blog in 2018, some were not. I received no monetary payment for this post.

FOR THE CATS

Munchiecat

 "Part toy, part decor, this sushi set will stimulate your kitty's

 natural instincts to explore and play." The Munchiecat  toys are non-toxic. They are made using  pet-safe materials so you can feel good about offering them to your kitties! Munchiecat makes their toys in small batches to ensure freshness and quality. 

The Munchiecat Dream:   "Our dream is to make high quality, pet-safe toys that you can feel good about offering to your furry friends. We started with a Sushi set because even the grumpiest and aloofest (yeah, that’s a word) of cats deserve better than cheap plastic balls and rubber mice."

   "As a wife/husband business we hope to continue making fun and beautiful toys for the creatures that continue to fill all our lives with smiles."

Cat Approved! Creative, Attractive and Fun!

Cat Play Boxes from "Cat in the Box"

Aptly described by Designboom.com as being a "“stroke of Warhol-esque genius.”

The darling boxes are made in the USA from recycled cardboard

 and are imprinted with human-grade soy inks

"It's a Bird!!" Wait! It's a Bird in a Cage 

Electronic Action Cat Toy from OurPets®

Eeek! It's a Mouse! It's the Mouse In A Pouch

Electronic Action Cat Toy from OurPets®!

The Cat Amazing EPIC!

 the Ultimate PuzzleFeeder for Cats

Our FAVORITE Pet Feeding,

 Foraging and Exercise Toy for Cats

 and Small Dogs

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE HERE

Cat and Dog Bed: The MYLAP™ Pet Bed

"Irresistible to your pet's nose and heart" 

FOR THE HUMANS

Custom Canvas Pet Portraits By Petsy

 are"Painted Love" 

Petsy creates custom  canvas portraits of pets that are ANYTHING but ordinary. 

These custom canvas portraits are vibrant, fun and EXTRAORDINARY!!

Custom Pet Portrait Jewelry by

 MeowLoverClub

The MeowLoverClub custom pet portrait jewelry

 would make a wonderful gift for the pet lover in your life!

You will not believe the ENORMOUS selection of socks that they have!! They have nearly anything you can think of for adults, teens and children.  Different dog breeds, careers, funny socks, cute socks, soooo many socks!! So many to choose from! And.....the owner couldn't be nicer!! I met her at the Detroit Holiday Boutique last weekend and she gave me a number of pairs of socks in exchange for being featured on our blog. She is incredible and the socks are warm, cozy, and...are just adorable!!

VISIT THEM ON FACEBOOK

 SALENA'S ACCESSORIES

I bought this darling Laurel Burch purse from Salena's Accessories

 who was also a vendor at the Detroit Holiday Boutique.

I also bought a dog purse and wallet,

but they are a gift for someone

so I can't post them right now!

I linked to her facebook page above

and you can find her on Instagram too!

CAT EAR MUFFS

FROM FIVE BELOW!!

Yep! Cat earmuffs!!! I bought these last Monday

when I was out looking for other items.

I LOVE when things like this 

turn up unexpectedly!!!!

Well, there you have it! If you haven't finished your holiday shopping, and even if you HAVE there is always room for just one...more....item!!! Go ahead, gift yourself too!!!!  Once again, there are NO affiliate links in this post, and I am not receiving monetary compensation for this post. I just wanted to share some of my favorites with you! Happy Shopping!! 

Bat-A-Rat:Our FAVORITE Pet Feeding, Foraging and Exercise Toy for Cats and Small Dogs

Hi furiends!!! The first time we featured Cody's FAVORITE "pet feeding, foraging and exercise toy" (for cats and even small dogs!), Bat-A-Rat, it was way back on January 20, 2011.

Cody used that toy virtually EVERY SINGLE DAY until a few months ago when either his Dad or myself dropped it one too many times (and trust me, we dropped it A LOT) and it finally broke. That means that Cody used it EVERY SINGLE DAY for SEVEN YEARS!!! In our opinion, that ALONE is the BEST testimonial about this toy that could EVER be given!

I tried a few things in-between and NONE of them compared to Bat-A-Rat. My husband and I knew we needed another one and since I am cheap, the creator, Brian Dotterer is from Michigan and I was lucky enough to meet he and his delightful wife, Michele when I first reviewed it,  I decided to reach out and ask if Cody could have another, and offered to feature this fabulous toy on our blog again. He said YES!! We couldn't be more grateful!!


What Is "Bat-A-Rat?"

"Bat-A-Rat™ is an innovative pet feeding toy that provides hours of stimulation while controlling the amount of food being dispensed. Designed with a cat or small dog in mind, this feeder specifically helps those pets that tend to eat too much or too fast resulting in unhealthy and unwanted consequences.

In addition to controlling how much and how fast your pet eats, food dispensing toys like Bat-A-Rat™ (also known as foraging toys) give your indoor cat something to stalk and hunt, providing a much needed outlet for their prey drive and hunting instincts."

Why "Bat-A-Rat?"

• Designed for cats and small dogs
• Non-toxic, eco-friendly, food grade plastic
• Self-propelled; no batteries required
• Provides hours of stimulation for your pet!

How it Works

"The innovative design wobbles and moves about the floor, forcing your pet to move and interact with the toy in order to eat. The unique food dispensing hole adjusts by rotating the two ends; allowing for different sized dry food and dispensing rates. Holes at the bottom allow trapped bits to escape. The two ends come apart for easy filling and cleaning."

See for yourself in our video below!




With the holidays rapidly approaching this would make a GREAT gift for your kitties and small dogs, you can purchase Bat-A-Rat here, also YOU CAN FOLLOW  AND PURCHASE Bat-A-Rat on Facebook  you can purchase it there  AT A DISCOUNTED RATE!!! (Be sure to tell them Caren and Cody sent you!!)




FTC DISCLOSURE: we were not compensated financially for sharing about this product. We SINCERELY ADORE IT and have used it since 2011 as mentioned above. We received a new Bat-A-Rat when we asked for one and said we would feature it on our blog again. We only feature products that we have used or that we WOULD use and that we feel would be of interest to our readers.

#AdoptASeniorPetMonth :Caring for Your Senior Pet: 4 Tips from Pet Sitters International

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY:Pet Sitters International, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, offers important advice for pet owners with senior pets. When they sent us this information, we felt it was important to share with all of you! Cody will be nine years old in 2016 and is now a Senior (so hard for me to believe!!), and this information is important for me as well! We have posted some of our opinions/tidbits sprinkled throughout this post. Cody and I received no compensation for sharing this information.

While November is recognized as Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, pet parents of senior pets know that these special pets are worth celebrating year round.  Often overlooked at shelters, senior animals actually make great pets that offer unique benefits and lots of love. As pets age, they need our care even more—and pet parents must be committed to recognizing the signs of aging and monitoring their pets’ health and well-being.

Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, offers these quick tips for pet parents to help ensure their senior pets remain as happy and healthy as possible:

Don’t miss regular veterinary checkups.  Veterinarians suggest twice-yearly checkups for senior pets. Many diseases or health issues can be treated if caught early at a veterinary visit. These regular checkups allow pet parents to discuss any changes they may have seen in their pet/s with the veterinarian and to learn more about warning signs they should be aware of. 

Do focus on your pet’s dental health. Adequate dental care is important for cats and dogs at each stage of their lives, but especially important for senior pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association warns that periodontal disease can result in kidney, liver and heart muscle changes; and recommends that pet parents regular brush their pet’s teeth and have the pet’s teeth and gums checked at least once a year by their veterinarian.

Pet First Aid & CPCR Instructor Denise Fleck whose upcoming book on senior pets,The Autumn & Winter of Your Pet:  Make Those Senior Years Golden, is set to be released next month, (I had the pleasure of reviewing her first aid kit and book) . It reminds pet owners that age is often nothing but a number, so it’s important to become familiar with pet’s individual health and situation.

“A great way to better know the dog or cat in your care is to do a regular head-to-tail check-up (even twice weekly as our pets age) to really get acquainted with your furry friend's body.  Besides looking for the lump or bump, the human touch can feel like a soothing massage to a senior's stiff joints,” Fleck advises.

Don’t forgo your pet’s exercise routine. Physical and mental exercise is critically important for senior dogs and cats. Senior cats can benefit from interactive toys and food puzzles to keep them entertained and to burn excess calories. (Sorry about the quality of the video below, but it was filmed in 2011 when Cody first reviewed this amazing treat/food dispenser.) Bat-A-Rat can be purchased here.  (No we were NOT compensated for mentioning this, this dispenser fits with the subject and since Cody has been using this for almost five years and we love this product, we wanted to show it to you again!!)

Do use only a professional pet sitter experienced in caring for senior pets. If long hours at work keep you away from home (or if you are traveling for work or pleasure), the services of a professional pet sitter can be used to ensure your senior pet can maintain a healthy routine, including its regular exercise schedule. PSI provides pet owners with access to the largest online directory of professional pet sitters free-of-charge and recommends that pet owners ask seven important questions before selecting a professional pet sitter.

“Just as some people are ‘dog people’ and others are ‘cat’ or ‘bird’ people, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to finding the right pet sitter to meet the specific needs of you and your pet,” explains PSI President Patti J. Moran. “Pet owners should inquire about a potential pet sitter’s experience with senior pets and any specific training they’ve had, such as Pet First Aid & CPR or PSI’s Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting Program.”

To learn more about PSI or the professional pet-sitting industry, visit petsit.com. To find a pet sitter to care for your senior pet, visit petsit.com/locate. 

Founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world's largest educational association for professional pet sitters with nearly 7,000 member businesses in the United States, Canada and more than 15 additional countries. PSI provides current and prospective pet sitters with access to vital business and educational resources to build and grow their professional pet-sitting businesses. For pet owners, PSI offers the largest online directory of professional pet sitters at petsit.com/locate.