October 21st, 2011
Mittens has been named the ASPCA Cat of the Year for 2011. She was nursing her kittens in a milk crate when two teenage boys trapped her and doused her with lighter fluid. Then they struck a match.
Visit Baltimore Sun to see an image of Mittens with her kittens.
Not only did Mittens escape, she put out the fire and returned to care for her kittens. The brave cat, who lost her ears, continued to care for her kittens even while recovering from third and fourth-degree burns covering 70 percent of her body. She was also friendly with the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter staff, her caregivers until being placed in a loving home.
Mittens has touched many animals. She helped inspire the 2011 Maryland Congressional Session to pass new laws to protect animals in her home state. Plus, the main tormenter of Mittens pled guilty to felony animal cruelty.
Also honored by ASPCA:
- Dog of the Year, a Golden Retriever named Ricochet who has raised more than $125,000 for many causes by surfing (in water, not the web)!
- “Tommy P. Monahan” Kid of the Year, Stevie Nelson, who raised more than $28,000 for the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society after losing his two black Labs.
Mittens, Ricochet, Stevie and other animal advocates will be honored at the ASPCA Humane Awards luncheon on November 17 in New York City.
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
September 9th, 2011
Maybe cats can’t use recycled toilet paper, but they can use litter that’s annually renewable by nature.
Purr & Simple Kwik Klump formula is an odor-controlling clumping litter made from a blend of fibrous material from tree-nut crops. It’s 100 percent natural, so it’s also biodegradable and compostable.
In June I reviewed the Purr & Simple pellets, which were nice, but many of us with kitty companions dig on clumping litter. (Disclosure: I received a free sample of Purr & Simple litter for review.)
Purr & Simple’s clumping litter is safe for cats. It’s low dust! But how is it to use?
I found that Purr & Simple Kwik Klump is as easy to use as similar litter like World’s Best. The big benefit with Purr & Simple is that it’s better for odor control, but you may or may not like the dark color of this litter.
Dark Litter: A Pro or Con?
The color of Purr & Simple is very similar to the color of a cat’s brown business. That could mean that you enjoy the camouflage in uncovered boxes, or it could mean that you spend some extra time digging.
Dark litter on the floor is a reminder to sweep or vacuum, which could be a good thing, unless you don’t like to be reminded to clean!
Purr & Simple will track, but not much more than World’s Best or similar clumping litters. A litter mat is in order.
Overall, I believe that Purr & Simple is a good option for environmentally conscious cat lovers. It certainly is worth a trial. After all, it would be like switching your kitty to recycled toilet paper!
If you’ve used Purr & Simple clumping litter, please share your experiences here.
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
August 2nd, 2011
Most cat lovers already know that felines ignore about 90 percent of the toys made for them.
My cats like to play with shoelaces, ponytail holders and boxes.
In this case, all I had to do was remove the window cling from this pasta box, throw in one of Oscar’s beloved ponytail holders, and instant new (and free!) kitty toy. Continue reading »
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
July 19th, 2011
Scratch ‘n Shapes aren’t your ordinary cardboard scratchers.
Imperial Cat has created a giant bunch of fun shapes
for kitty (and their owners). These modern and eco-friendly scratchers come in more than 80 interesting shapes like orca, turtle or whale.
I received a free scratcher for review from Imperial Cat. See my disclosures page for more info.
How are Scratch ‘n Shapes eco-friendly?
• They’re made with 100 percent recycled paper.
• They include organic catnip, yum.
• They’re printed with soy-based inks.
• They’re made in the United States.
• Plus, you can recycle them when you and kitty deem the time is right.
Choco (black and white kitty below) loves his Scratch ‘n Shapes Cheetah Chaise!
He was interested from the very beginning. My other cat Oscar seen sniffing the scratcher prefers carpet scratchers (sigh).
I’ve purchased other cardboard scratchers made of recycled paper, but Scratch ‘n Shapes is unique since it looks more like a piece of furniture. It doesn’t stick out so much.
Also, it seems to be more sturdy than some other cardboard scratchers we’ve tried. I haven’t noticed excessive cardboard scraps lying around.
Choco doesn’t need catnip on his scratcher to be attracted to it, but he enjoyed the organic catnip very much. In fact, he started eating it! As you can tell, Choco loved not only scratching his chaise and eating some catnip, but also just lounging around.
It’s great that these scratchers come with organic and apparently tasty catnip, but I found that the catnip didn’t stay on the scratcher.
Once I relocated the scratcher, I noticed a pile of catnip that had fallen through the bottom or somehow escaped through a mystery method. I suppose this is one disadvantage not being an ordinary scratcher encased in a cardboard box. If you go with these scratchers, I suggest applying only a very small amount of catnip at a time.
Closing thoughts…
Overall, these durable scratchers are great for kitties who like cardboard and their human companions who want something more decorative. The only disadvantage I could find is that some of the catnip may fall off the scratcher. Scratch ‘n Shapes scratchers have many earth-friendly advantages, and they’re made in the USA by a company that works to help shelter cats.
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
July 12th, 2011
During a heat wave, we have to look out for the little guys too. After all, you want insect-munching lizards around. They’re beneficial for gardens. 
I noticed this shy lizard searching for a cool drink. At least I think that’s what he was doing by the water hose while the temp reached 100 degrees F with a heat index of 123.
Maybe he was just hunting for a shade. I wanted this lizard to have a cool little pool he could easily climb into. Bird baths are a bit tall.
One quick glance into my recycling bin and I came up with a solution: the metal lid to a jar of peanut butter. Continue reading »
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
July 12th, 2011
This is very funny stuff, but some people do get bent out of shape by cats eating birds.
Mother Jones recently published a piece where they painted quite the harsh picture of feral cats and the Trap Neuter Return (TNR) method of controlling cat colonies.
Where do you stand on the cat versus bird battle?
Me? I side with Alley Cat Allies in support of TNR, but I do keep my two cats indoors.
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
June 25th, 2011
The product:
Purr & Simple All-Natural Cat Litter pellets formula, which is made from a blend of fibrous material from tree-nut crops
Benefits:
- Can be used as compost with removal of solids
- Is natural and biodegradable
- Is made from an annually renewable resource (nut shells)
- Conquers ammonia smell
- Low dust compared with clay formulas
Things to Note: Continue reading »
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (0)
June 21st, 2011
Even if you can’t adopt a cat this month, you can make a difference in a shelter cat’s life. Imperial Cat offers Scratch ‘n Bits, an affordable line of recycled scratchers created just for shelter cats!
Scratch ‘n Bits are made in the United States from 100% post-consumer recycled materials, and may be recycled after they’ve been lovingly scratched to pieces.
Scratchers can help sheltered felines relieve stress and feel more at home. Also, once cats are adopted, the scratchers can go home with them, helping to ease the transition and discourage scratching of furniture, the leading cause of relinquishing household cats. Continue reading »
Filed under Pets + Animals | Comment (1)
