Happy Cat Ideas by Anne

Cats love warm cozy caves and hideaways

2009-11-13T22:30:00.013-06:00

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

2009-10-30T18:28:00.006-05:00

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

2009-10-04T22:49:00.005-05:00

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

2009-10-04T22:28:00.007-05:00

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

2009-08-31T18:30:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-31T18:11:00.003-05:00

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

2009-06-03T20:45:00.002-05:00

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.

Brushing and combing your cat is a bonding experience

2009-04-19T18:04:00.004-05:00

I have my hairbrushes, combs, cat brushes, cat combs, slicker brushes, gromming mitts, a curry brush, a "Furbuster" and a "Zoom Groom" for my babies. Whichever I decide to use, both of my babies loved to be brushed and/or combed. If I'm brushing TC in the bathroom (on top of the vanity, of course), Sweetie will come running in to get her turn too.

TC loves to rub his face against my one hand, while I'm brushing him with the other. He loves to be brushed so much, that when he's not asking to be petted over his food dish, he'll walk straight into the bathroom and start nosing the brush and making noise, like he's saying "come brush me". I'll go brush him for a few minutes, and then he'll walk into the living room, still talking to make sure I follow him, and jump up on the sofa (on top of a nice fluffy robe that he has adopted as his new sleeping blanket) to be brushed some more. If I sit on the sofa, he will get on my lap and purr while I brush him. This is a fun experience for him, providing us with some quality time together, while at the same time removing some of the hair from his coat that he otherwise would ingest and cause more hairballs. He loves the attention, and it is amazing how much hair the brushes, comb and "furbuster" remove. Since it is Springtime, I think that he is shedding more than usual, so this ritual is helping to rid him of his thicker winter coat, although he is strictly an indoor cat.

Sweetie also loves being brushed, and will sit on your lap for 15 or 20 minutes at a time to be combed or brushed. She is a little more sensitve than TC, so I have to be careful when I brush her head, as sometimes she doesn't like the angle of the brush over her head. She loves for her back and sides to be brushed, as well as the base of her tail, but don't touch her tummy. Sometimes, she is so happy, she will start kneading to show her pleasure. She loves attention, too, so again, this is good one-on-one bonding for her.

Both babies are avid self-groomers, and will groom themselves before they take a nap, after they take a nap, before dinner, after dinner, and just "because". This is typical as cats love to stay clean, but can cause a problem with the formation of hairballs. I give them hairball medication every week to try and keep the hair moving through the intestinal tract, but I think it helps even more when I can remove a lot of hair through brushing and combing.

Give it a try, and see if it makes your baby happy. Sometimes, if cats are not used to being brushed or comb, it may take a while for them to get use to it, and they may try to bite or grab the brush to stop your efforts. That's perfectly okay. Don't stress your cat out, just try to brush for a minute or two a few times a day, until they finally get use to the sensation and then are looking forward to a grooming session. It's also helpful, if they are in their calm/sleepy mode, rather than their running around the house/play mode.

Let me know what you and your cat think of in-home grooming sessions. If you need grooming supplies, check out our website. http://www.shop.topcatpetproducts.com

Maybe the White House should consider both a cat and dog

2009-04-11T16:05:00.005-05:00

It's April 11, the day before Easter, and both of my cats, TC and Sweetie are napping and waiting for a visit from the Easter Bunny. I don't think they know that the Easter Bunny will bring them more cat toys tomorrow, but I'm sure they will enjoy them anyway.

We were thinking, however, that since the Obamas are having a rather hard time deciding on a dog for the White House, maybe a cat would be the purrfect answer, with the cat being the first resident and a dog companion to follow. There have been cats in the White House before, and they make wonderful additions to any household. Just think, the secret service wouldn't have to accompany them on any outside walks, they don't have to go through an obedience class before you bring them home, they could keep any rodents at bay, and would provide a warm, homey atmosphere. A cat could sleep with the children at night, play with toys and treats, curl up in the Oval Office, look cute for photographers, and spend their day spreading love and affection to everyone. There must be a lot of warm, napping places in the White House, and many places to put window perches so that the cats could enjoy the scenery. I'm sure there would be enough household staff to provide adequate food for any "first" cats, and water bowls could be provided on each level, along with pet water fountains for additional measure. A cat could provide a calming influence during meetings with dignitaries from other countries, and could be the focal point of conversations regarding animal welfare throughout the world.

Of course, with both a cat and dog at the White House, which would provide each other companionship, as long as they were properly introduced and socialized, the Obamas could have the best of both worlds. A cat for the "cat lovers" and a dog for the "dog lovers", with a bi-partisian coalition showing unity. I'm sure that The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary or some other animal welfare organization could come up with a good match. Imagine the cute pictures of a cat and dog playing with each other, sleeping with each other, being friendly with each other. Wouldn't this be a wonderful way to promote understanding for diversity? Any thoughts on this subject?

Be sure to visit our website http://www.shop.topcatpetproducts.com to browse our selection of pet products to keep your pet happy. This is the site for dynamic dogs and fabulous felines, where our passion is your pet's happiness.

April is a good time to think about new kittens and puppies

2009-04-02T13:51:00.008-05:00

I've finally edited some pictures of TC and Sweetie that are small enough to be included on my blog. From left to right - Sweetie, TC and both of them together on their perch. Aren't they beautiful???? I think so.

April means the beginning of Spring, which means lots of new kittens and puppies coming into this world that will need a good home. If your thinking about adopting a new kitten or puppy, be sure to check out my list for items your new baby will need when you bring them home on my website. Don't forget heartworm medication and a flea/tick product, if they are going to be outside. Be sure to check with your vet about the appropriate product for your pet, based on whether you have a cat or dog, and the size of the baby, as well.

I noticed in the new issue of Dog Fancy, that there is a new Drinkwell fountain on the market, specially designed for cats and small to medium-sized dogs - the Drinkwell 360. This fountain has five spouts that provide downflow into the circular reservoir. That way your baby could drink from any side of the fountain. I'm thinking about trying one for TC (Topcat), as he loves his original Drinkwell fountain, and especially likes to drink from the spout, rather than the reservoir. I'll let you know, if he likes it.

One happy cat (or dog) idea for Springtime is opening the windows to let some fresh air in the house, after being closed up for so long in the winter. This is especially true in colder parts of the country, such as here in Zion, Illinois. My two babies love to sit by the open windows, with the screens in place, and watch the birds and other activities going on in their neighborhood, feel the breeze on their faces, and breath in some fresh air. Occasionaly, I will let them out on the balcony/deck (second level) off the kitchen to explore the small 4' x 10' space, just so they can soak up some sunshine. However, I always supervise the cats, just in case they are thinking about jumping from the balcony to the ground level, and I am always watching over them, even if I'm sitting at the kitchen table only 2' away. As both of my babies are 13 years old, they are not as adventuresome as they use to be , and I don't think they would actually jump, but if you have an excited kitten or puppy, they just might try it. Be sure to put some type of mesh along the inside of the railing, so that they don't have an easy time getting through the slates. If you are planning on letting your dog or cat be outside for long, I saw on Animal Planet the other day, that dogs need sunscreen so they don't get sunburned. Again, you might want to check with your vet about that idea, and what products are best for your pet. I wouldn't want to put some products on my babies, as cats tend to bath themselves all the time, and I wouldn't want them to ingest any harmful ingredients.

Be sure to visit our website: http://www.topcatpetproducts.com for popular products for perky pets - dynamic dogs and fabulous felines.

Web-store launched for pet products

2009-03-25T22:25:00.003-05:00

Wow. It's been a month since I first signed up with GoDaddy.com for domain names and to set-up my e-store. I've been working hours and hours on refining the site, putting products up with descriptions, pictures, associations, etc. I've signed up for a payment gateway and a merchant service account so I can take credit cards for purchases, etc. All kinds of background work, as well, on the business end. Quickbooks, payroll, corporate taxes, articles of incorporation, business bank account, toll-free phone number, etc. I didn't realize how complicated it really is, but I now can appreciate all the effort that goes into the internet. I launched the site today, and have asked all my contacts in my address book to give me their insights.

In the meantime, I'm thinking up articles I can write to keep the website updated every months. I used many of the Happy Cat Ideas I had written about before as recommendations on the website. So I still need to come up with new and exciting topics to keep both the blog and the website on the move. I added my suggestions for pet sitters on my Panel of Experts page on the website, especially after my trip to Daytona Beach in February. I think next month, I'll explore the importance of keeping certain substances/items from pets. The ASPCA had a list of items that are poisonous to pets just a week or so ago, and thought I would research that article and try to summarize it for my site, with proper credit to the ASPCA.

I put banners/badges on my website to "stop puppy mills" provided by the Humane Society of the United States, a link to The Animal Rescue Site, so that people can click everyday for free to provide food for animals in shelters. I'm trying to include ideas on the website that are near and dear to me, or for the greater good in my opinion.

Many of the products that I'm offering on the site are those that I truly believe in myself, such as the Drinkwell pet fountains from VVI, life jackets for dogs so they can go boating with their pet parents, lots of toys and treats, and other things that I've found either my cats love, or are favorites of my doggie buddies.

I'm going to put a link from the website to this blog, and will also have a link from this blog to the website. Have to build up both external and internal links.

Wish me luck. Any ideas???? Go to my website to see what I'm talking about. http://www.topcatpetproducts.com

Setting up e-commerce store for pet products

2009-02-25T18:04:00.004-06:00

I'm in the process of setting up my website and e-commerce store through a domain from godaddy.com. I have to pick my products, which is an enormous task, as I want to appeal to both cats and dogs. I also have to find drop-shippers that are trustworthy. Labor-intensive start-up for the business, but I think that once it is set up, and then I only have to update articles, pictures, products, etc, it will be easier. I want to put a page on my website where clients can post pictures of their pets, to make the site more friendly, and will definitely put pictures of TC and Sweetie on the site, with their recommendations.

Wish me luck.

Starting on-line pet products website

2009-02-20T12:56:00.004-06:00

Due to my love for my cats, as well as the almost 13-years of experience with buying items to keep them happy, I've decided to open an e-commerce store for essential pet products. These items would include some of the cardboard scrathing pads, cat trees/condos, the self-warming thermal blanket/pad, catnip, laser pointers, treats, hairball medicine, stain remover spray, grooming accessories, various toys, etc. I'm not going to offer pet food, as there are many places where people can acquire that, but am going to try and find unique and different things that will make any pet happy, as well as the pet owner. Once, I have the products in place, I will then offer them on e-bay first, and then on my on website, doing business as Topcat Enterprises, Inc. I'm going to send out direct mail advertising, do some classified advertising, build lists on-line, continue my blog, and add a blog for TC. This will keep me busy, but still gives me time to devote to my babies, as I will be working from home. I'm hopeful that I can make a success of this new venture, and that the pet products offered will be loved by the millions of pets that have "happy homes".

I will offer my reviews of various products, based on my cats' reactions to them, and then report on those reactions, so that others will know how their cat might react.

Any comments you may have would be appreciated.

Coming home from vacation to your cats

2009-02-15T20:19:00.002-06:00

When I arrived home on February 15, after spending six days in Daytona Beach, I made sure that each one of my babies got extra attention. I gave each of them a bowl of food, a kiss on the head, and time on my lap. Since my ex-husband had been their baby-sitter, they were not traumtized, but I wanted to make sure that the primary bond was not weakened. TC and Sweetie both got to sit on top of the suitcase, before unpacking, they watched me put the dirty clothes in the clothes basket, they helped put all the cosmetics back onto the vanity in the bathroom, etc. Once home that evening, I didn't go back out of the house until the next day. That way, they had time to get back into the routine. Bowl of food before bedtime, Mommy sleeps about 7 or 8 hours, then cats get to eat as soon as I wake up. They watch me take a shower, re-fill the humidifier, change their water dishes, drink coffee, etc. By the time they were ready to take their normal during the day nap, I then could go out to the grocery store and run the other errands needed af5er my vacation. They still want extra attention - such as laying on top of me while I'm sleeping, but I'm right there for them when they need to be petted or talked to. I'm happy to be back home with my babies, but feel very lucky that I can take a vacation and know that they will be fine.

Vacation tips for pet parents - when you leave your babies home

2009-02-08T11:00:00.002-06:00

I'm in Daytona Beach for six days to celebrate my 50th birthday on Feb. 12. This is a long way from Zion, Illinois, so I left my two babies - TC and Sweetie - home, where they are familar with their surroundings.

My first tip is to hide your suitcases until the last minute. I waited until the night before I left to start packing, as the babies always know when something is up, if the suitcases come out of the closet. It didn't take them more than 15 minutes to realize I was putting clothes in a suitcase. I had two babies each trying to get in the suitcase and sit on top of the clothes I had packed. They took turns, and then Sweetie went to sleep on top of the clothes in the suitcase. They did not seem happy that I was packing, so I took a break from packing, and spent time petting them and letting them know that I love them. I gave them each some treats, and ignored the suitcases until they went upstairs to take a nap,

My second tip is to make sure that your babysitter is someone they love and trust, so they don't have any issues about hiding when someone comes in the house to feed them. My ex-husband is taking care of the babies for me, so I'm lucky that my babysitter is someone they already know and love. When I talked to my ex-husband today, he said that TC came out from under the dining room table immediately to be petted, and then sat on his lap for a while. After a while, TC decided he was hungry, so then he ate the food that my babysitter put down. Sweetie was also there immediately to get her food as well, and then sat on my ex-husband's lap after her meal. They each received their own special attention, and felt secure in their own surroundings.

I left each baby's cat food (three cases for variety) on the counter with a list of the babies' favorite flavors, so that my babysitter can alter the food that he puts down for them. Different flavors for morning and nighttime. Since I know my babies the best, I arranged the cat food so that it would be easy to alternate the flavors, and made sure that there were plenty of cans of their favorites, with a few cans of other flavors available for variety.

Tip #3, leave some old clothes on the bed or the babies' other favorite napping places, so they still feel connected with you, even though you are not there. They still get your scent, and feel more relaxed.

Tip #4, make sure your babysitter has the phone number and location of the nearest emergency animal clinic in case of an emergency, as well as the phone number and location of the regular vet. I don't think anything will go wrong, but it is better to be prepared.

Tip #5, call and make sure your babies are doing well with the babysitter, and no unresolved issues or questions are left. Its amazing how many times you might forget to tell the babysitter something very important, or the babysitter has a question to ask about a specific issue.

That's it for now. Will post again soon. Time to go enjoy the sun, surf and sand of Daytona Beach. Its going to be 75 degrees today. Wow!!!

Time to go cat food and kitty litter shopping

2009-02-04T16:03:00.005-06:00

It's time to go to Petsmart to stock up on food for my babies. They both like Fancy Feast the best, so I generally buy five or six cases of food at a time, so that they have a large variety of favorities. Just like people, they like certain flavors better than others, and also hav preferences as to texture. Sweetie likes the traditional ground cat food, which is finer and easier to eat. TC on the other hand likes the "grilled" variety, which is shredded or chunky in texture, and needs to be "smushed" up by me with a fork before he eats it. I've found that they like a variety of flavors, although beef, turkey and liver are generally their favorites. Both like some fish flavored food, but generally not salmon or tuna. I feed them a variety of flavors each day, so if they don't like one food for breakfast, at least later in the day, they will have a choice of another flavor.

As for dry food, they prefer Royal Canin or Purina One(Salmon and Tuna) or (Sensitive Formula). Don't ask me why they like the fish-flavored dry food, but don't care for the same in canned food flavor.

I also have to buy kitty litter, which they seem to prefer the unscented formulas and clumping litter. I scoop out their litter boxes at least twice a day. My babies are so used to clean litter boxes, sometimes they will wait for me to scoop the box, and then go immediately to use them. I've tried most every kind of litter out there - such as the pine, newspaper, wheat etc. They prefer just regular unscented clumping litter. Even though I have no-track mats by the litter boxes, litter still gets tracked around, but it really isn't that big of deal, as long as you sweep it up.

For a treat, I recommend Feline "Greenies". Sweetie loves them, although TC doesn't know how to eat a treat. Be careful though, and don't feed them too many greenies at one time. If you follow the directions on the back of the bag, you should be fine.

I'm going to buy more cases of food during this trip, as I'm going on vacation Saturday, and want my babysitter (my ex-husband) to have numerous choices for the babies. I'm very lucky that the babies' daddy (my ex-husband) lives in the next building and enjoys coming over to see them. He will generally stay for two to three hours at a time to give them each a chance to get some attention, "lap time", petting and cuddling. Since I know that they will be well taken care of while I'm gone, it makes my vacation much more enjoyable. I couldn't bear to see my babies in a kennel, while I'm away, as TC would most likely refuse to eat, and would not be happy. He only trusts a very few people, but still wants to be petted while he eats.

That's it for today. Petsmart is always happy to see me, although they always ask me how many cats I have when I buy six to nine cases of food at a time. I'm probably one of their best customers.

More Happy Cat Ideas

2009-02-01T17:34:00.004-06:00

It's February 1, 2009. I'm getting ready to watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, rather than the SuperBowl, and want to see the Kitty Half-time show. As you know, I love my two cats enormously, and consider them to be my "babies".

I don't know if your cats would like it, but my TC loves for me to pet him and stand over him while he eats. If I stop petting him, most of the time he will stop eating and just sit in front of his food dish and talk to me, as if to say - I'm waiting for you to continue to pet me. He has Mommy well -trained, so I generally stand over him while he eats. Sweetie on the other hand, just wants the food bowl in front of her, and then she'll act like she trying to bury her bowl, when she has had her fill. She will go back to it sometimes, and snack. I feed my babies both canned and dry food. Canned food gets served two to three times a day, while dry food bowls are over the house for anytime snacks.

Both TC and Sweetie love soft, warm, fuzzy things to sleep on. Either a fleece blanket on top of the bed, or the fake sheepskin pads that are available in the stores. They generally prefer to sleep on the furniture - top of chair, sofa, loveseat, bed, and I've found that if I put a fleece blanket on top, it helps keep the cat hair from getting too embedded into the furniture. One of TC's favorite sleeping pads, however, is the self-warming pad, that apparently reflects the body heat back to him. This comes in handy in Illinois, where winters can be cold, even inside the house.

Sweetie likes to lay in front of the heater vents in the floor in the bedrooms or the bath room, and also likes to stare at the humidifer that tends to "bubble/gurgle". She can stare at it for hours at a time. I've been told that if you can't find your cat in your house, look for the warmest place, and that is where you will most likely find them. This has been true in my case, and it might also be the case for your babies.

Give your babies lots of love and attention. Both of my cats love to be brushed. However, they both want to be brushed at the same time. Generally, I have one cat on my left, and one on my right, and alternate brushing between the babies. Consistent brushing helps to remove some of the cat hair, but I find that they keep shedding anyway. It doesn't matter to me, as the t-shirt says - Around here, cat hair is a condiment.

That's it for today. I'll post again soon.

Various Things to Make Your Cat(s) Happy

2009-01-29T20:52:00.001-06:00

I'm a Catmom with two - almost 13 year old, American Short-Haired gray tabbies, named Topcat (TC) and Sweetie. These are my babies and I would do anything in this world to make them happy, and to keep them healthly and content. I've spent thousands of dollars on cat toys, cat beds, cat perches, cat scratchers, cat water fountains, catnip, barley/wheat grass, hairball medication, various litter box options, etc. If it's out there in the stores, I've probably bought it for my babies. Suffice it to say, that some items have been greatly loved, and others ignored. Money was generally not an important issue for them. Sometimes, the cheaper and simplier it is, the more they like it.

I've found that one of the best things out there is a corrugated piece of cardboard in a cardboard frame that you can sprinkle with catnip to get their interest. I think it is marketed as a "Cat Scratcher". Both of my babies love these, and, so, I have two on the lower level of my townhome, in my home office, three on the main level (Living/Dining Room and Kitchen), and three on the upper level (bedrooms and bath). The cats will scratch them, and then just sit on top of them, or lay down and take a nap on them, or fling toys onto them and then kick them off, etc. You get the picture. It is such a simple idea, but I have to say, one of the best things in my house.

Of course, other simple things that my babies love are empty boxes, paper bags, or the good ol' laundry basket. TC likes to jump into the laundry basket (when its empty) and then have me carry him around in it.

One of their favorite toys is the small little cushions which are filled with "fluff" and apparently sprinkled with catnip, and then covered in simple material. Just little rectangles. Nothing fancy. But they will lick them and carry them around, or put their head on them, all the time. TC likes to kick his down the stairs, so Mommy (me) will go get it and throw it back up the stairs to him.

I've also tried other more complex and/or expensive items to keep them happy, such as the cat water fountain. TC loves it, and will not drink from other water bowls, although he mostly likes to drink from the spout, rather than the larger open bowl part. Sweetie, on the other hand, has never liked it and will not even get near it. She apparently doesn't like the noise.

I also tried Feliway, both the spray and the air diffuser, several years ago, when they had a spat and wouldn't talk to each other, because a stray cat came up to their window and wanted to come in. Due to displaced aggression, since they couldn't get to the stray cat, they started fighting with each other. Sweetie wouldn't come out of the bedroom for days, and would hiss and growl everytime TC came into the room. I think the Feliway worked a little bit, but I really ended up having to go through the introduction process all over again, although they had been together for at least seven or eight years. If you cat is easily frightened or nervous, this might work for them.

Of course, the cats' favorite things are their cat perches. I have six cat perches throughout my house. The babies like to have the highest view possible, and also love to have their perches near the window. That way they can watch the birds or other things outside, while still surveying their territory inside. I've found that my babies need percehes with the widest bases so that they don't topple over when one of the cats jumps on them. I would certainly recommend a cat perch or two to keep your baby happy.

Those a just a few ideas that came to mind initially. I would love to hear some of your ideas for making your cat or cats happy, and will continue to post frequently. It really doesn't take a lot of money or complex ideas to keep them happy, but if it did, I would go to any lengths for my babies' welfare.