Cats love warm cozy caves and hideaways

I don't know about your cats, but my babies, TC and Sweetie love to hide in caves, tents, hideaways, etc. Anywhere dark, warm, cozy and private draws my babies like a magnet. they both love to hide and then run out and surprise you. Or in Sweetie's case, she just likes to take a nap in them sometimes. She and TC have a small multi-colored pet tent, that has a toy hanging from the top. They generally take turns taking a nap in the tent. Other caves are generally for playtime for TC. He likes to go in and out, kick one of his catnip toys into the cave, and then kick it back out, again and again. I've put some pictures here of the caves and tents that my babies like. You never know, your babies might like them, too.

Sweetie in her tent.

These are cute cat "caves" or "hideaways" that provide a warm napping area for all cats. All three of these items can be found at our website http://www.shop.topcatpetproducts.com under the Cat Toys or Cat Accessories categories.

And, now for the "Cat Thought of the Day" - Did you know that in ancient Egypt, entire families were forced by law to shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning when the family cat died? I saw that "cat fact" on the Catster.com blog on November 9, 2009.

If you are a pet parent, and are looking for interesting websites with lots of pictures, check out Catster.com and Dogster.com. You can sign up your babies and post their pictures.

Do you have any special ideas for the holidays for your cats? If you do, be sure to post your ideas here.

Happy Halloween with Cats

I'm so happy to be able to share another Halloween with my two 13-year old cats, Topcat (TC) and Sweetie. I have gotten them a small bag of Feline "Greenies" for their Halloween treats, this year, as the Greenies are good for their dental health, and both of them love them. One caution, however, be sure to feed them in accordance with the feeding instructions on the bag, and don't give them too many at any one time. This can cause stomach upset, or even can cause more serious digestion problems, which would require a visit to the vet.

Another treat that they really enjoy are "Temptations". These treats are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. TC likes to eat these out of my hand, while Sweetie wants them put on the table so she can eat them at her leisure. Their favorite flavors are turkey and "free-range" chicken. I give them each a few treats at a time a couple of times a day, between their regular meals.

No costumes for my babies, as neither one likes to have anything around them, unless of course they are under the blankets on the bed, or on their thermal cat mat.

Topcat (TC) will hide if any trick-or-treaters come to the door and ring the doorbell, while Sweetie will sit at the top of the stairs and look to see if the visitors are for her. However, neither one of the cats enjoys loud noises or a lot of activity in the house, so sometimes, even Sweetie will retire to under the dining room table to get away from the hub-bub. TC will already be hiding under the bed upstairs.

While I know that the babies shouldn't be overfed, in some part, due to their age, I generally give them three small meals a day, rather than larger meals, to help with their digestion. One small can of Fancy Feast (3 oz.) can be divided into two separate bowls for the babies, and they feel like they are getting a nice meal every eight hours or so. This only becomes complicated when both of the babies don't like the same flavor, but as the years go by, I'm finding that the cats like variety, just like people. Some days, TC likes Sweetie's food rather than his own, and vice versus for Sweetie. She would rather eat his food than her own.

I've found that when I give the babies a small snack before bedtime, that they are more likely to settle down for the night and ready to sleep, with less nocturnal wandering around the house. Of course, part of that might be their age, as they both love to sleep many hours of the day as it is.

I didn't get special Halloween toys for them this year, but did get some extra furry mice in orange and black (for my Halloween theme, rather than their preference), and will give them a sprinkle of catnip for some fun. In addition, an extra play session with the FroliCat Bolt toy is always appreciated by the babies, as they both get to chase the red laser light, and the toy stays on for 15 minutes automatically. This is one of their favorite toys, and I'm so glad that I found it. The FroliCat Bolt also received the 2009 Editors' Choice Award by Cat Fancy magazine, and would make a great present for a special cat this holiday season. Our friend, Jack, took a FroliCat Bolt toy home to the Northeast, to give to his feline buddy, Blob. We are waiting to hear how Blob likes the new toy.

Please keep your babies indoors during Halloween, as this time of year can be a hazard to cats, especially black cats.

Enjoy your Halloween, and we hope that both you and your special cats stay safe and have fun.

It's almost time to watch Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, on National Geographic Channel, and then a new show called "Rescue Ink" following that. We enjoy both of these shows, you might like them also.

New toys for cats

I don't know about your cats, but Topcat (TC) and Sweetie love new toys. Everytime I come home with cat food, they like to look through the bags just in case I also brought them some new toys. My babies also can lose interest in some toys quickly, so I like to rotate the toys on a periodic basis, so when I give them a toy they haven't seen in a while, they think it is a new toy.

My babies love catnip pillows, furry mice, foam balls, etc. There are also some cute cat toys for Halloween now in the stores, including pumpkins, witches, and bats. There are also toys with feathers (although you have to be careful that the babies don't swallow the feathers) attached to a straw ball, that seem to attract the cats.

Of course, the old stand-by of empty paper bags and boxes are always a good choice for cats. They can amuse themselves for hours with these everyday items.

One of their most recent favorite items, is a little cat "tent" that has a toy hanging inside. These small tents are relatively inexpensive, but give the babies a place to nap (Sweetie), or a place to play (Topcat), as TC likes to move his tent all around the living room while he is playing. If you want to see a tent like my babies have, I carry them in my pet products store. Just click here, or copy and paste this link:

http://www.shop.TOPCATPETPRODUCTS.COM/Multi-color-pet-tent-Tent101.htm

Besides a lot of toys, good nutritional food, and regular visits to the vet, one of the most important things to provide for your cat is love, affection and attention. My babies thrive on interaction, and it makes me happy, too. I'm so lucky to have such wonderful cats in my life.

Helping Feral Cats this Winter

It's October, and the weather is starting to change. Although my two cats are indoor only kitties, I do know that there are many, many cats that have to survive on their own, or in feral colonies on the fringe of residential, industrial or commercial areas. My friend, Sandy, helps take care of some feral cats behind the restaurant where she works, who otherwise would probably not survive the harsh winters here in Illinois.

I received the following tips from Alley Cat Allies on how to help feral cats during the winter months, and wanted to pass them on to anyone that might want to help cats in their neighborhoods.

The first tip is to provide dry, warm shelters, that will allow the cats to escape the cold but still remain "free" and outdoors. Alley Cat Allies has instructions on how to construct one of these.

Make sure to provide wood chips, straw or hay for bedding to help keep them warm and provide comfort. These materials are much better than blankets, towels, or carpets, which can retain moisture and become cold and damp, which defeats the purpose of the bedding.

If you can, add a flap to the shelter to help keep the wind out. The shelter will stay warmer, but the cats can still come and go easily.

Prevent water from freezing in water dishes by keeping the dishes in sunny spots. Wide and deep dishes take longer to freeze than shallow, narrower ones.

Cats like to curl up in warm engines during cold days. By honking your horn or banging on the car hood before you start the engine, will scare any sleeping cats and give them the chance to leave.

If you are trying the Trap, Neuter, Release system to manage a feral colony, take the female cats to be spayed in the Fall so that their fur has a chance to grow back after the surgery before the coldest days of winter arrive.

Anti-freeze is LETHAL and POISONOUS. Ethylene glycol tastes sweet to cats, so it is a temptation. Even "pet-safe" antifreeze (propylene glycol) is dangerous. The safest product is one with a bittering agent, but this type of anti-freeze is not available in all markets. Support legislation that mandates adding a bittering agent to anti-freeze, making it unappealing to animals.

For information about helping feral cats you can visit the Alley Cat Allies website @ http://www.alleycat.org/.


For inside cats, be sure that if they ever get in your garage, that your car is not leaking anti-freeze. Be sure that your inside cats don't go outside during the coldest days, and that if you use salt to remove ice from your steps or sidewalks, that you wipe your cat's feet off to remove any salt residue that remains when they come back inside, so that they don't ingest the salt when they groom themselves.

New pictures of Topcat and Sweetie

Here' two recent pictures of Topcat and Sweetie looking cute and cuddly. Sweetie is sleeping in her little cat bed in the living room, and has to curl up to fit in it. Topcat is lounging on the top of one of his perches in the living room, watching all the action.

I think my babies are just the cutest cats in the whole world. Don't you agree?

New Tip for Happy Cats

It's been a long time since I've posted here, as I've been busy with my new e-commerce pet products website, writing monthly newsletters, updating product offerings, coming up with new marketing ideas, and spending lots of time on direct mail postcard campaigns as well as other advertising strategies.

My new tip for happy cats is to get them a new laser toy that is now on the market called "FroliCat Bolt", which is an automatic laser toy that will run on its own for 15 minutes, or that you can play with together with your cat. Both Topcat and Sweetie love the FroliCat Bolt Toy. I can turn it on and place it on the floor, and they both will sit and stare at for a couple of minutes, and then try to catch the red light. The toy makes different patterns as the beam keeps moving all over the floor. You can also adjust the mirror in the toy that the light beam goes farther up the wall. Even after the toy shuts itself off automatically after 15 minutes, both Topcat and Sweetie are still looking for the light. So, most times, I turn it on for another 15 minutes.

I think this toy is great because it gives Sweetie some much needed exercise, both physical and mental, and gives her a chance to play. Topcat always wants to play, so it is also good for him. However, TC likes to hide in his little tent, and then comes running out to pounce on the light beam. Then he goes and turns his little tent upside down and sits in it for a few minutes. Then he goes under the dining table, and then runs out and pounces on the light again. Both of my babies are very funny when they are playing, and I can tell that they are enjoying themselves immensely. As they are both 13 years old, I think it is good to try and stimulate them to keep playing and getting exercise. Otherwise, they prefer to sleep most of the time. Although Topcat will follow me around the house for attention for several hours everyday.

Topcat has also been enjoying his "cat grass", which is growing in a little pot on the balcony off the kitchen. Every time he has a chance to go out on the balcony, the first thing he does is to nibble on the "cat grass". The "cat grass" is basically barley, wheat and other grain grass, but it does supposedly help aid digestion. Topcat has always had a delicate digestive system, as he was separated from his actual feline mom way too early, and I don't think he got enough immunity built-up from her milk. Sweetie on the other hand does not care for the cat grass, but does love her "Temptations" treats. She will nose the bag of treats until I pay attention and give her some. I only feed them to her as an extra, not as replacement for any meals, but she loves the extra attention.

Try a "FroliCat Bolt" laser toy for your babies. I'm sure they would enjoy it as much as my babies.

Summer is for cats and dogs

Sorry it's been so long since I posted here, but I've been very busy with my e-commerce website. Now it's time for a new post about keeping your cat(s) happy.

I saw a new toy that looks soooooo cool. It is the FroliCat BOLT Interactive Laser Toy. It will go automatically for 15 minutes and then shut off. You can turn it on, put it on the floor, or some other flat surface, or even hold it in your hand, and all kinds of neat laser patterns are formed. My cats love it. They will chase, pounce, spin, just to try and get it. This toy won a Best in Cat Category at the big Pet Expo in Orlando in February 2009, and Dr. Marty Becker featured it on his Best of Best Awards. This toy is great to keep your cat active, and helps to relieve boredom, as well. Both TC and Sweetie love it, and our feline friend Colin is getting one next week. It is a little pricey at about $20, but well worth it if your cat likes laser toys. I also saw in the video on the FroliCat BOLT website, that dogs also like this toy.

Give it a try. You can find this product at http://www.topcatpetproducts.com, and it is cheaper at TopcatPetProducts.com, than in the Taylor Gift catalogue or on Amazon. com.