The post Sunday Quotes: The Wisdom of Cats appeared first on The Conscious Cat.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo's New Dog
The governor of the state of New York got a new puppy...and he's facing all the same issues that pet parents everywhere face.
Governor Cuomo held the large, squirming 14-week husky-shepherd mix in his arms at a press conference Tuesday. "This is Captain." He wanted to name him Excelsior, the state motto, but got outvoted by his family.
"This was the idea of my daughters, who had to have a puppy, had to have a puppy."
He added dryly, "They are nowhere to be found now."
The adorable dog has a gray face, white markings, and black eyebrows and rings around his eyes. His tail wagged and he seemed relaxed and curious during the press conference.
The governor also explained about house (or mansion) training. "He goes outside. He'll stay outside for any period of time he deems necessary and he will then come inside and urinate as soon as he gets inside He will only urinate indoors." Captain also keeps the family awake with his nighttime howling. That's why they make puppies so cute, right?
I'm sure Captain will be a wonderful addition to the family and that the daughters will form close bonds with this adorable little guy. All the best to Captain in his new home!
You can watch the governor's press conference here:
Governor Cuomo held the large, squirming 14-week husky-shepherd mix in his arms at a press conference Tuesday. "This is Captain." He wanted to name him Excelsior, the state motto, but got outvoted by his family.
"This was the idea of my daughters, who had to have a puppy, had to have a puppy."
He added dryly, "They are nowhere to be found now."
The adorable dog has a gray face, white markings, and black eyebrows and rings around his eyes. His tail wagged and he seemed relaxed and curious during the press conference.
The governor also explained about house (or mansion) training. "He goes outside. He'll stay outside for any period of time he deems necessary and he will then come inside and urinate as soon as he gets inside He will only urinate indoors." Captain also keeps the family awake with his nighttime howling. That's why they make puppies so cute, right?
I'm sure Captain will be a wonderful addition to the family and that the daughters will form close bonds with this adorable little guy. All the best to Captain in his new home!
You can watch the governor's press conference here:
Classic Cat Books Series: On Cats by Doris Lessing
This post contains affiliate links*
First published in 1989, On Cats by British novelist, poet and Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing is a charming memoir about the cats who shared her life.
From the publisher:
Lessing’s love affair with cats began at a young age, when she became intrigued with the semiferal creatures on the African farm where she grew up. Her fascination with the handsome, domesticated creatures that have shared her flats and her life in London remained undiminished, and grew into real love with the awkwardly lovable El Magnifico, the last cat to share her home.
On Cats is a celebrated classic, a memoir in which we meet the cats that have slunk and bullied and charmed their way into Doris Lessing’s life. She tells their stories—their exploits, rivalries, terrors, affections, ancient gestures, and learned behaviors—with vivid simplicity. And she tells the story of herself in relation to cats: the way animals affect her and she them, and the communication that grows possible between them—a language of gesture and mood and desire as eloquent as the spoken word. No other writer conveys so truthfully the real interdependence of humans and cats or convinces us with such stunning recognition of the reasons why cats really matter.
I discovered Doris Lessing’s novels in the 1980’s and I did what I tend to do when I like an author: I read everything they ever wrote. Of course, I was delighted when I realized that Lessing was a cat lover.
On Cats is available from Amazon in a variety of formats.
*The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.
The post Classic Cat Books Series: On Cats by Doris Lessing appeared first on The Conscious Cat.
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Good Night, Sleep Tight...Dog Bed Review and GIVEAWAY
Ernest and Petey love having their very own special napping places. We have several beds both upstairs and down. They always like trying out new ones, too.
We were invited to review a dog bed from Smiling Paws Pets. They carry pet beds for cats and dogs, along with other pet supplies. Would your dog like a new bed? We're giving away one free dog bed in the Rafflecopter below. So be sure to enter!
We received the Modern Dog Bed in size Large. The bed was too small for our adult golden retriever Ernest, but 9-month old Petey took to it immediately. It was actually on the small side for him too, but he loved rolling over atop the super-soft sherpa fabric.
Some of the pluses are that the bed is attractive, with a striped exterior and a brown sherpa interior. The bottom is a waterproof, slip resistant fabric. On the negative side is that the bed is more lightweight than I expected and the sides are not as sturdy as I thought they'd be. This hasn't detracted from Petey's enjoyment of the bed however. He returns to it often for a cozy place to relax.
I think this bed is nice for the home or good for a lightweight travel bed. I haven't washed it yet, but it appears that it would machine wash well.
So are you ready to win a Smiling Paws Pets dog bed of your own?!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Full Disclosure: We were provided one Modern Dog bed to review and one to give away in exchange for my honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
We were invited to review a dog bed from Smiling Paws Pets. They carry pet beds for cats and dogs, along with other pet supplies. Would your dog like a new bed? We're giving away one free dog bed in the Rafflecopter below. So be sure to enter!
We received the Modern Dog Bed in size Large. The bed was too small for our adult golden retriever Ernest, but 9-month old Petey took to it immediately. It was actually on the small side for him too, but he loved rolling over atop the super-soft sherpa fabric.
Some of the pluses are that the bed is attractive, with a striped exterior and a brown sherpa interior. The bottom is a waterproof, slip resistant fabric. On the negative side is that the bed is more lightweight than I expected and the sides are not as sturdy as I thought they'd be. This hasn't detracted from Petey's enjoyment of the bed however. He returns to it often for a cozy place to relax.
I think this bed is nice for the home or good for a lightweight travel bed. I haven't washed it yet, but it appears that it would machine wash well.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Full Disclosure: We were provided one Modern Dog bed to review and one to give away in exchange for my honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
How to Make Moving With Cats Less Stressful
This post contains affiliate links*
Moving is stressful for humans, and it’s even more stressful for cats. Cats are creatures of habit who hate having their routine disrupted. There are things you can do to make a move less stressful for your cats and avoid problems associated with moving, such as inappropriate elimination, fear based aggression, and hiding.
Before the move
Get your cat used to his carrier. It can be helpful to leave the carrier out where the cat can always see it. If your move involves a lengthy drive, start taking your cat on increasingly longer rides in the car so he can get used to it.
Put moving boxes out several days, or even weeks, before you actually start packing so you cat can explore the boxes, and get used to their presence. Most cats consider boxes fun toys, and allowing them to become familiar with the boxes can create a pleasant association. When you actually start packing, watch your cat closely. If she seems to become agitated or nervous watching you pack away familiar things in her environment, you may want to confine her to a quiet room away from all the action.
If your cat is easily stressed in general, this is the time to think about using natural anti-anxiety products or, in severe cases, anti-anxiety medications. Products such as Stress Stopper or Rescue Remedy, which are made out of flower essences, work well for most cats. Feline pheromone plugins can also help calm your cats.
Moving day
Confine your cat to a quiet room or bathroom that the movers do not need to access. Post a sign on the door to keep movers keep out of that room. Make sure your cat has a litter box, fresh water, and comfort items such as a bed and favorite toys in the room with him. If you have multiple cats who get along, place all of them in the same room together. However, if you have cats that don’t get along, make arrangements to keep them in separate room.
Some people recommend boarding your cats for moving day, but unless your cat is used to and loves the boarding facility, this will only add more stress to an already stressful situation.
When it’s time to move your cat, place her in her carrier while she’s still in her safe room. With all the furniture and boxes gone, the rest of your house will no longer be familiar territory, and your cat could get spooked and bolt.
Cats are “stress sponges” – they tend to take on their humans’ stress. The better you manage your own stress throughout the moving process, the calmer your cats will be.
Arriving at your new home
Before you even move your cat into your new home, cat proof the entire house. Make sure window screens are secure. Check for any areas where a scared cat could hide and close them off. Make sure that any chemicals such as pest control traps or cleaning supplies that may have been left behind by the previous owners are removed.
Set up a quiet room for your cat that includes a litter box, fresh water, and his comfort items. This can be your bedroom if you cat sleeps in the bedroom with you. Scatter some cat treats around the room before you let the cat out of her carrier to explore. For the first few days in the new home, especially while you’re still unpacking boxes, it may be a good idea to confine the cat to her quiet room. Make sure you spend time with your cat in her safe room, no matter how busy you are with unpacking and getting settled. Your cat needs to know that some things haven’t changed.
Slowly start giving your cat access to the rest of the house and let him explore gradually. Supervise your cat during these exploration sessions until he’s comfortable. During this phase of the move, you should place litter boxes in their permanent locations in the . Don’t get rid of the litter box in the safe room until you can be sure your cat is using the other boxes.
No two cats will react to the stress of a move the same way. Some cats will immediately explore and take over their new house, while others will take weeks to venture out of their safe room. Let your cat’s temperament be your guide as to how long this initial settling in phase needs to take.
Even though moving is stressful for cats, most cats will adjust quickly. It’s up to you to help make things as calm as you possibly can for your cat.
This article was previously published on Answers.com and is republished with permission.
*The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.
The post How to Make Moving With Cats Less Stressful appeared first on The Conscious Cat.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Tortitude Winner
This post contains affiliate links*
Congratulations, Nancy Dloughy! You’re the winner of an autographed copy of Tortitude: The BIG Book of Cats With a BIG Attitude!
Look for an email from Ingrid.*
Tortitude is available from Amazon and everywhere else books are sold. If you’d like a personalized, autographed copy, please email me.
The purrfect Valentine’s gift for cat lovers
click the image below to order!
*Winners are selected by random drawing. Winners need to provide a physical address to which the prize will be mailed within 72 hours of receipt of notification e-mail or announcement of winner’s name(s) on The Conscious Cat. If this information is not received within the timeframe stated, an alternate winner will be chosen.
The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.
The post Tortitude Winner appeared first on The Conscious Cat.
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