Author: Michelle Ashbery

Being an animal lover is a case of nature and nurture! All of my life I've grown up having a wide variety of pets and couldn't wait to take on the responsibility myself. Cats being my all-time favorite pet, I am the proud momma of two precious girls, Tinkerbell and Tidbit. Since I adopted one of my girls from a shelter (Tidbit) I decided that it's only appropriate to give back since they gave me such a precious kitty. I've witnessed and experienced that sharing space with pets has a profound impact on people. For these reasons, a portion of my sale proceeds are donated to the SPCA. I passionately believe in the work done by animal shelters to place homeless pets and educate people. Aside from being a pet parent, I like to read, exercise and bake. I enjoy nature and being conscientious of my carbon footprint. I work in a cube-farm by day but my passion project is my Etsy shop and everything that goes along with it. www.facebook.com/swankykittydesigns
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What Cats Want; Thoughts Via An Animal Communicator

Breakaway Cat Collar

Every wonder what your cat is thinking?  Perhaps it’s more of a constant “what are you thinking?” as you witness a curious behavior!  As cat owners, I think we’ve all been there.  After a lifetime of living with cats, I thought maybe I could finally get an answer to some of my questions and decided to reach out to an animal communicator.  Whether you believe in this or not, I thought at the very least, it could be fun.

First, a little background on my cat family.  I have three cats; Tinkerbell an 11 year old female, Tidbit a 9 year old female and Gherkin a 4 year old male.  Each one of my kitties is a rescue and I’ve had them all from a young age.  So overall, they’ve had a very stable (and comfortable) life.  Sometimes it seems like they do like each other, then times that I’ve convinced they really dislike each other.  On top of my perceived  mix messages, I have a host of other questions:

  • Are they happy?

    Tinkerbell breakaway kitten collars
    Tinkerbell
  • What is the dynamic between them?
  • Do they like each other?
  • Any complaints?
  • Why is Tidbit so anxious?
  • Any requests?

Who To Choose?

I knew what I would ask, next I had to figure out who I would ask.  Since this field of work is a little, unstructured lets say, I didn’t want to just use a name I found when I searched “animal communicator” on Google.  I wanted recommendations from people that had good experiences with animal communicators.  So I posted on one of my cat groups on Facebook, asking to hear about people’s experiences and asking for recommendations.  People were happy to share their experiences and referrals.  I ended up with a list of 5 names to choose from!  Honestly, I just chose the first referral from the post.  I made the appointment then had to wait for it.

How The Call Is Structured

I read through her website and the registration emails, a couple disclaimers;

  • the communications are from your pet’s perspective
  • this is not a replacement for medical diagnosis (fair enough)

The call is structured that I am to call the communicator at my appointment time and that I give the name, age and color description of the cat I would like to discuss.

Tidbit breakaway kitten collars
Tidbit

What I Learned

  • My cats overall:
    • are content
    • accept each other or at least don’t dislike each other
    • feel OK (this is not a medical diagnosis but cats are infamous for hiding ailments)
  • Tinkerbell
    • is the boss
    • thinks Tidbit isn’t too smart
    • asked for her water to be changed more often (even though they have a fountain)
  • Tidbit
    • hates change (apparently kept saying this, repeatedly)
    • isn’t nervous as much as she is demanding, controlling and annoyed at everything (charming, isn’t she?)
    • doesn’t acknowledge any other human lives in the house except for me
    • doesn’t understand why Gherkin doesn’t care about anything
  • Gherkin
    • doesn’t care about anything
    • asked for another cat

Overall

Gherkin breakaway kitten collars
Gherkin

I thought the animal communicator was right on with each of their personalities, she picked up on each of their energies perfectly.  She even said “Gherkin hasn’t jumped in on the conversation yet….” which was interesting because he was sleeping next to me when she said that.  Eventually he woke up and jumped in.  It was interesting when she spoke about Tidbit not acknowledging any other people in the house, she doesn’t like anyone touching her except me and is quick to run away from anyone but me.  It’s also no surprise that she said Tinkerbell is the boss and said that it’s like the other cats have to ask her for permission!

This is something to consider if you’re having questions or issues with your cat that you can’t figure out.  I will try other animal communicators to compare and contrast the experiences.  I thought the conversation was entertaining and did offer some insight into what is going on in each cat’s pretty little heads!

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Social Distancing; When You’re Staying In (With Your Cat)

Social Distancing

Cats have mastered it, cat owners understand it and dogs can’t even comprehend it; social distancing.  During this crazy time, more and more communities are being asked to practice social distancing.  While some of us might be struggling with this, cats will skate right through this time without a batting a paw.  So what do we do when we’re asked to stay home and stay to ourselves?  For our health and that of our pets, we have to find ways to stay busy and  cope with the situation.

Take your cat for a walk

Or rather, let your cat take you for a walk!  A few things to keep in mind, cats should not be walked with leashes on a collar, instead a harness and leash should be used.  Their necks are too small to be pulled at.  Your cat should be current on shots and their flea treatment, because that’s always a good idea.  If you have a cat with anxiety, like I do, they may not be a good candidate for a stroll outside.  Like with anything, know your cat and what works best for them!

Catch up on grooming

When we’re busy, things always fall to the wayside.  Now is a great time to catch up on all your feline grooming!  Start with a nail trimming.  Be sure to replace your nail trimmers yearly to keep them sharp and use the type that cut and don’t crush the nail.  This helps with the cats comfort.  I recommend a scissor style trimmer, they’re light and easy to use.  I use a professional pair that you can find here.

After nails are trimmed (to minimize potential scratching!) brush your cat!  I take my cats outside to brush them to avoid the mess and dander getting all over the house.  I also use a Furminator brush that has proved to be the most effective of the brushes I have tried!  There are different varieties for long and short hair, so you’re able to get the brush that matches your cats fur!

Brush your cats teethBrush your cats teeth

Just like us, cats should have their teeth brushed to maintain good dental health.  Look for cat toothpaste and toothbrushes.  Cat toothpaste comes in flavors like tuna or chicken and is an enzymatic to help fight bad breath and tartar build up.  Pet toothbrushes come in two forms (that I’ve seen,) one looks like a regular toothbrush with a smaller head and the other is the type you put on your finger.  For me, the regular style toothbrush has been easier to use as the head is smaller and easier to navigate my cats mouths.

Sign up for a cat newsletter

There are veterinary schools that regularly publish cat newsletters discussing various aspects of cat health and life.  I find these to be informative and from a reliable sources as they don’t accept advertising to remain unbiased.  The two I read are Catnip and Catwatch.Brush your cats teeth

Catwatch is an independent newsletter that is produced in collaboration with Cornell University College of Vetrinary Medicine Feline Health Center.  Catnip is similar and produced by Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.  Both contain articles about cat health and safety!

Have your cat DNA tested

This one is more for fun than anything and has the added benefits of checking your cat for genetic health markers.  Basepaws offers a DNA test for your cat that will tell you what breeds they’re most like and provide a health report.  It was easy to administer and send back while maintaining your social distance!  You will receive email updates letting you know when your report is available.  They also offer a Facebook group to join that involves a lot of cat pictures and cat talk.  Who doesn’t want to see more cat pictures in their feed (while social distancing)!?

Setup auto-ship for all your cat’s needs

Cat ToyIf you already order your cat supplies online then you’re halfway there.  Some sites offer auto-ship subscriptions and will automatically ship your pet supplies at the interval you choose.  There’s no extra charge and sometimes signing up for auto-ship qualifies you for a discount.  What happens if you’re not ready for a new shipment?  Not a problem, use the option to postpone the shipment until you are ready!  Who wouldn’t want the big (or small) bag of litter delivered right to your door for no extra charge?  Food, litter, treats, litter disposal bags, cat grass, catnip and more… these can all be setup for auto-ship and Chewy (my favorite pet supplies site) will also let you add in one time purchases onto your shipment like toys or a water fountain!  Then everything arrives at once and saves on packaging.

Make your cat a playlist

This is a real thing!  Most streaming services offer music just for pets and some claim to help with separation anxiety and general anxiety.  If you can’t find cat specific music, classical music will work!  Check out this article to read more about music for cats.

Relax and snuggle

What is better than a good kitty snuggle while social distancing?  Cats love laying around while allowing you to give them some pets or chin scratches.  Grab the remote, a blanket and a furball and settle in for some relaxing quality time!  Life is good with a kitty by your side!

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‘Tis the Season to be Careful (with Holiday Plants)

The holidays are a hectic and fast-paced time. It can be easy to forget that in all the hustle and bustle, your pets and their health may be at risk. Many popular seasonal plants like poinsettias, holly and mistletoe, lilies, and even Christmas trees can cause irritation and illness in pets if ingested. Here is a quick guide to what plants are dangerous and how to avoid trips to the vet.

What you can do

An important thing to remember is that any plant treated with pesticides is an immediate danger to your pets. Ingestion of pesticides can result in a number of physical side effects such as vomiting and indigestion, and in cases of vast consumption, seizures and death. When bringing any new plant into the home, good practice is to wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth.

A few of the plants to look out for

Often, flowers are gifted around this time of year. While beautiful, amaryllis, daffodils, and lilies are toxic to pets, especially cats. The leaves, petals, and even the bulbs of these flowers, when nibbled on, can severely impact your pet’s health. Keep them out of your home; re-gifting these flowers isn’t such a bad idea.

It has long been thought that poinsettias are deadly to pets and children once ingested. However, the leaves and flowers of the plant contain a sap that can cause irritation and sometimes vomiting. In order to reach dangerous levels of poisoning, the animal must ingest an extremely large amount of the plant. This is unlikely, as the sap is pretty gross to humans and animals. However, it is still a good idea to keep this one away from children or pets.

Oh, by gosh, by golly, keep pets away from mistletoe and holly. Both popular plants in the lore of the holidays, they are extremely dangerous to pets. Symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and intestinal upset. The leaves and berries of both holly and mistletoe contain toxins that can cause a severe drop in blood pressure, issues in breathing, and hallucinations. Ingesting large amounts of the plants can result in death. It is wise to keep mistletoe and holly out of the home.

The beautifully decorated Christmas tree in your home is not only at risk of damage from furry friends attempting to explore its boughs; it can also pose a risk to your pet’s health. The sap holiday evergreens produce is linked to vomiting and excessive drooling, and ingesting the needles can result in internal punctures and damage. Further, water meant to nourish the tree can breed bacteria and mold, which can make pets very ill should they decide to take a few sips. Artificial trees are a safe bet for a pet-friendly household.

Don’t be shy

While popular gifts and decorations, some holiday plants should remain out of the home or displayed with great care. Should you be offered one of the plants listed above as a gift, don’t be afraid to refuse on the basis of maintaining a healthy and safe home for your pets. No one would fault you for being a responsible and knowledgeable pet owner. Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to ask friends, families, or coworkers if they have pets should you wish to gift any of the above plants yourself.

Have a happy and healthy holiday!

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What To Give? A Gift Guide For Your Favorite Cat Lover

Tinkerbell

When it comes to the season of giving gifts, we all run out of ideas!  Look no more, help has arrived…. if you’re shopping for the cat lover in your life!  (We all know at least one!)  Here are a few thoughtful cat themed gifts.

For anyone:

This one is for the true cat lover in your life and it can’t get more personalized than a customized calendar with a picture of their cat for each month!  Or better yet, find a local artist that creates pet portraits, like this one.best breakaway cat collar

Stone cat coasters are a versatile gift.  Cute enough to have on your table but also for the cat lover in your life.

No cat themed gift list would be complete without suggesting a cat collar!  Keep them festive with a seasonal collar and keep them safe by letting others know this kitty has an owner if you have an escape artist!

For the philanthropist or cat activist:

A donation to an animal shelter in the recipients name.  There are so many good organizations out there that are always in need of resources.  Whether it’s local or national, there are organizations that adopt cats, some take care of feral populations and everything in between.  Check out this article for more on where Swanky Kitty donates.

For the game enthusiast:

Catopoly is just like Monopoly but with cats!  Did you ever wonder how Monopoly could get better?  This is your answer!

Exploding Kittens is brought to you by the creator of TheOatmeal.com, Matthew Inman, a fellow cat lover!  It’s a card game with unique and quirky cat illustrations.  The directions even come in the form of a YouTube video.  It’s an uncomplicated card game with a little bit of strategy.  Purrfect for sitting around the table and chatting with friends and no worries, no kittens were harmed in the making of this game.

For the baker:

This is a very personal gift, customized pet cookie cutters are available at this Etsy shop.  This does require a good picture of your recipients pet and lead times are to be considered.  With a personalized gift like this, you can’t go wrong!

best breakaway cat collarFor the gardener:

Depending on how much time you have, depends on how far you can go with this one.   An indoor cat garden should include the staples; cat grass and catnip and the rest can be filled in with rosemary, mint and parsley.  Combine that with a charming planter and you have a thoughtful and personal gift.  If you don’t have enough time to get the plants growing, then grab all the fixings from your local nursery!

For the ladies:

A cat purse hook is a gift that any cat loving woman can use.  A purse hook folds up small enough to easily keep in your purse but unfolds to hang a purse from it when there’s nowhere else to put it when you’re out and about.

Probably the ultimate cat lover gift is The Cat Lady Box!  This is a monthly subscription box (gift cards also available!) that delivers items selected for the cat person and, if you get the upgrade “Crazy Cat Lady Box” you also receive two items for the special cat(s) in your life!

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Cat Grass; Part II

The Cat Ladies Organic Cat Grass Kit

Cat grass is a staple in my house.  This is mostly because it helps reduce hairballs and my cats just generally like it.  It’s a calorie free treat!  For anyone that purchases or grows cat grass on the regular, you know that it only lasts so long and has a tendency to get moldy (usually when over watered) or die out when it has run it’s course.

My dedicated followers know that I’ve already written a post on the why’s and how’s of planting cat grass already but this is about and ease of use.  Let’s quickly recap a few of the cat grass growing options:

Box o’ Grass

This is just a plastic bin, potting soil and cat grass seed.  The box was big enough for the cats to lay in, which they did, so it required a good spot.  At the time the cats had a large second floor porch all to themselves, so this was the perfect solution and they thoroughly enjoyed it.

Catit Senses Grass Planter

This comes with it’s own seed and medium to grow the cat grass in.  This also was easy, smaller than the box o’ grass and had a grate on top to help prevent the cats from making a mess if they like to pull the grass out by the roots, which mine do.  I liked this for it’s tidiness.

Pet Greens Pre-Grown Grass

This is all about convenience.  Buy it, bring it home, put it out and the cats can chow down.  Simple as that.  However, I’m not sure if it was me or the grass but it always seemed to get moldy after a certain amount of time.  It’s possible I never mastered watering it but I followed the directions.

The Cat Ladies Organic Cat Grass Kit

The Cat Ladies Cat Grass Kit
The Cat Ladies Cat Grass Kit

This was actually given to me as a gift so I had to try it out.  This comes with it’s own compact dirt ‘disc’ and organic cat grass seeds.  This is interesting because adding water to the dirt makes it puff up and fill the mug, in a way that’s fun to watch.  The grass grows quickly and the mug doesn’t take up much room and possibly because of it’s size, the cats didn’t make a mess of the grass and dirt.

The Cat Ladies Organic Cat Grass Kit
Day 4

After the grass ran it’s course, this was easy to clean and start all over again.  The dirt comes out in one ball, which I threw into the garden and I rinsed out mug and put it in the dishwasher.

The Cat Ladies Organic Cat Grass Kit
Day 6

The ease of use along with the inexpensive cost of the refill kits, especially compared to other refill kits, has made this my new favorite cat grass.  It is as convenient as it gets, the grass grows quickly and at ~$4 per refill, this is more cost effective than purchasing pre-grown grass from the store.  This also makes a great gift for any of your cat lover friends!

 

 

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If My Cat Had A Dating Profile; Tinkerbell

If My Cat Had a Dating Profile; Tinkerbell

Basic Information

  • Name: Tinkerbell
  • Nicknames: Tink, Tink-ro-bell (her robot alias), Sweet Pea, Mama Cat
  • Sex: Spayed Female
  • Breed: Domesticate Short Hair/Barn Cat
  • Eye color: Green
  • Fur type/color: Short haired tuxedo
  • Sign: Leo
  • Siblings: Yes, one brother, one sister, both younger
  • Microchipped: No

My Self Summary

The first thing others notice about me is that I’m very laid back, likely asleep at any given time.  So laid back that I don’t wake up for loud noises or interruptions of any kind and sometimes not even for mealtime.  I’ve been like this my whole life.  I know what you’re thinking, this sounds like I’m a catnip addict.  Although I am a catnip enthusiast, it actually makes me feisty.  I am just naturally more laid back than the average house cat.

I am an indoor cat but I do enjoy the outdoors and try to get out at every opportunity.  I often get outside and make a run for it and lay down under the neighbor’s deck where no one can get me.  This is why I have a custom made harness and leash that is sometimes imposed upon me.  Being outside automatically puts me in a good mood and makes me purr.  When I’m not running away, I like to graze on grass like a cow in a pasture.

Other things I enjoy are the occasional game of laser or string but mostly I like to watch TV and snuggle under the covers.  I invented Netflix-and-chill.  My favorite shows are Friends, I Dream Of Jeannie and Gracie and Frankie.

Other things I enjoy are freeze dried treats, kibble that is small and round in shape, tennis balls, bath puffs,

If My Cat Had a Dating Profile; Tinkerbell
Snuggling a freshly laundered bath puff

scratching the furniture to make a point, giving kisses, playing with packing paper, laying in front of heat vents, bathing in the sun, my red velvet collar, big dogs (probably from my early days of living as a barn cat and being co parented by a golden retriever) and chin scratches.

My dislikes are baths, fish oil added to my wet food (it’s good for my shiny coat and dry skin in the winter), loud noises, small dogs that bark a lot and going to the vet.

One thing I wish people noticed about me is that I am a sweetheart.  People often don’t see this side of me as I am very weary of some strangers, it’s really hit or miss with no rhyme or reason, but I like those with stinky feet the best and sometimes fall asleep with my head in their shoes.  The smellier the better. Seriously.

If My Cat Had a Dating Profile; Tinkerbell
Just lounging…

If you hang out with me, expect an extremely well mannered, delicate, laid back couch potato.  I may beg for your  food, mostly bacon, cheese and smoked turkey but I’ll do it in the cutest, sweetest way possible.

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How To Keep Your Kitty Hydrated; Water Fountains For Cats

Gherkin & Water Fountains For Cats

We all know that drinking water is essential not just for us but for our best fur friends as well.  Pets should have clean water available to them at all times.  When I first brought Tinkerbell home, I made sure she had a dish for food and a dish for water.  As time went on and we added another kitty to the lineup, I thought maybe there was a better way.  After reading that cats are attracted to moving water because in nature stagnant water could harbor parasites and bacteria.  This is the reason water fountains encourage increased water intake and why I ventured down the rabbit hole of looking into water fountains for cats.

A Few Things…

Just a few things to keep in mind with all fountains.  First, they all require regular cleaning that takes a little more time and effort than just a regular bowl.  There are usually a couple pieces that come apart to be cleaned and then have to be put back together.  The second thing is that all of the fountains I’ve seen have a filter or two.  All of the below fountain have a charcoal filter that needs to be replaced regularly and some included a foam filter that can be cleaned are reused.  With that said, let’s discuss actual fountains.

Fountain #1

The first water fountain I bought was fairly inexpensive and made of plastic.  I think I spent around $30 and ended up returning it at least twice before returning it for good.  The pump was extremely loud and it generally didn’t do a great job.  Additionally, I don’t like drinking out of plastic, so why should my cats?

Fountain #2

Tdibit & Water Fountains For Cats

The second fountain I bought was a much nicer fountain.  I opted for the Petsafe Pagoda fountain which is made of ceramic, a larger size and a nice quiet pump.  This includes a charcoal filter and foam filter around the pump.  This setup is pretty straight forward and easy to clean.  I have also found the water pump online, so if need be, the only wearable part would be easily replaceable, which is a bonus.  Overall, the maintenance on this (filters, pump if needed) is fairly low cost so I expect this fountain to last a long time with minimal additional cost.

Fountain #3

The third fountain was the American Valley Nature Spa fountain.  I saw this advertised somewhere and thought it looked nifty.  This one had a separate reservoir to keep the fountain full and claimed to have UV purification.  It looked cool with the blue light and the sound of the water was very soothing.  After using this for a while, I took it apart and found it extremely difficult, essentially impossible, to clean and the UV purification (which I think is just an LED light) didn’t seem to help keep the internal tubing clean, that is inaccessible.  When we added Gherkin to our family, our third cat, the fountain just seemed to always be empty, despite opting for the larger reservoir.  Also, Tidbit would knock the reservoir off or into the fountain and end up getting water everywhere.  This fountain seemed like a great idea but for several reasons but just isn’t practical for us.

For All Water Fountains For Cats

With every fountain, I found the following:

  • Cats generally enjoyed it, sometimes playing in the water stream a little
  • The sound of the water running is relaxing
  • All fountains required some upkeep with cleaning and changing of filters
  • They volume of a water fountain was generally more water than an average water bowl
  • The fountain does seem to encourage more water intake

The Final Decision

In the end, I went back to our Petsafe Pagoda contain for a few reasons.  I like that it was made out of ceramic, versus plastic.  The fountain itself held a good amount of water and was relatively easy to clean, which was ultimately the deciding factor.  The fountain is just simple and straight forward to use and clean.  Of course the kitties all like it and continue to drink lots of water and dip their paws in the stream now and then.

Tinkerbell & Water Fountains For Cats

What To Look For

If you’re going to make the leap to get a water fountain for your cats, I would say to look for a few things:

  • good quality materials, for me this is ceramic rather than plastic
  • easy to take apart and clean
  • low maintenance cost of filters and possible parts
  • adding an absorbent mat under the fountain helps contain splashing from anyone playing in the water

The Pagoda cost a little more upfront but is worth it in convenience and knowing that I am able to give the whole fountain a good cleaning ensuring my kitties have fresh water, was ultimately the deciding factor.

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When Your Cat Has More Energy Than You; Toys For An Energetic Cat

I am a cat lover, no question about that.  I love my cats, however, when we brought home our sweet little Gherkin, we had no idea what we were really in for.  Perhaps it’s because it had been 6 years since we had a kitten or maybe it was because he had more energy than a nuclear power plant.  Seemingly, the only way to cope was to have a few toys for an energetic cat.

Mind you, I played and snuggled with Gherkin a LOT because he’s a kitten (and because that’s just what I do with kitties) and needs the extra love and attention.  Since I have a job, I can’t be with him all day, every day so I had to find some solutions to his endless amounts of energy.  This is how I dealt with an energetic little boy.

Toys For An Energetic Cat

Go Cat Teaser Wand – Our cats have had all sorts of teaser wands, feathers, plush, etc.  The kitty crew will play with them all but there is something about what’s at the end of this teaser wand.  There are a couples options; a bee or mouse and my cats love both.  They will play with the bee all by itself.  This is by far their favorite teaser wand!

Window PerchToys For An Energetic Cat – This is great for even the laziest of cats.  All three of the cats thoroughly enjoy lounging on the cat perch.  They also like sitting on it to watch the birds or whatever else it is that they watch outside.  If you have the window space, you have to get one of these!

Feeder Ball – This is less of a toy and an interactive way to feed your cat.  This also slows your cat down from gobbling up food, so this too would be good for a larger or lazier cat.  The ball has a removable lid which makes it easy to fill with food.  The outside of the ball has holes that can be adjusted for the kibble size and to adjust the level of difficulty for your cat.  I advise making the feeder ball as easy as possible for the first few go arounds and increase the difficulty after your kitty has the hang of it.

Kick Stick – I was hesitant about this one but I gave it a try and bought a few kick sticks.  Their favorite kick stick, Toys For An Energetic Catthat gets a lot of attention, is a large durable denim kick stick with a pocket for catnip.  We tried microfiber and plush but it’s this denim kick stick that won them over.  Try different materials and see what works best for your kitties.

Automated Toys

Interactive Laser – Again, this is like playing laser with your cat without having to actually be there to play laser.  Hit the button, the laser turns on and after a while it automatically shuts off.  It also requires batteries but, they last a while.

Interactive Butterfly – Another automated toy that has the appeal of a fluttering butterfly going around in circles.  This one is pretty engaging and fun to watch the kitties play with it.  This model is nice because the base is wide enough that they can’t tip it over and you can turn it on with the tap of your toe. This toy doesn’t shut off on it’s own so you’ll have to stick around to turn it back off.

Mystery motion toy – This is a cute toy but you’ll need a hard surface, it won’t work as well (if at all) on Toys For An Energetic Catcarpet.  It has an arm with a feather at the end that rolls around under a piece of fabric, using random motions.  When Gherkin was a kitten he loved this toy so much that as soon as we woke up in the morning, he would run over to the toy and start crying until we turned it on.  It’s still a big hit to this day.  Yet another toy that could use an auto shut off feature but until they improve it, I will have to deal with it.

Flik Automatic Teaser – This is essentially like playing string with your cat minus the human element.  Most important, the cat actually plays with it!  You turn the toy on and the string flicks out at random times and has an automatic shutoff.  It requires batteries but they last a while so it’s worth it.  This is one of our favorites!

Other Strategies

As you can tell, my strategy is play as much as you can and in between distract, distract, distract!  I also rotate all their toys and put them away for a little while before bringing the toy back out for play.  This helps prevent boredom with any one toy.

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How to Make A Bed; A Cat Bed

Cat Bed

Occasionally, in my spare time I enjoy a little knitting and might make myself or my husband a scarf or hat.  My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was young and then a little later taught me to knit.  (Her first attempt at teaching me to knit was a total failure because I just wasn’t catching on!)   I am by no means nimble with yarn and patterns are like reading Greek for me.   I can count on my hands the number of things I’ve ever knitted or crocheted.

With that said, every time I go to the craft store I see the over sized yarn and think ‘it’s so cool, what could I ever do with that?’  Then I saw a cat bed made from jumbo yarn, I had to make one too!

What You Need

I watched a number of YouTube videos and settled on this video.  The woman in the video is thorough and goes at a good pace.  Don’t feel bad about watching and re-watching the video, I did too!  I used two bundles of this yarn.  This is “arm crocheting” so no additional crocheting tools are needed.  I also used a binder clip to keep track of my beginning stitch, I found this extremely helpful in minimizing the confusion.

Ultimately, below is the “pattern” (using the term loosely since I can’t read patterns, I certainly don’t know how to write one) I used, consider them my notes, after using the video as a guide.  I made the bed larger to accommodate my bigger kitty, ~13lbs and possibly still growing.  The first version of the bed was way too small for Gherkin, luckily this is easy to unravel and try again.  Last thing anyone wants is a cat bed that no one can fit in!Cat Bed

The Pattern

  • Row 1 – 3 straight stitches
  • Row 2 – 3 double stitches (total stitches: 6)
  • Row 3 – 6 double stitches (total stitches: 12)
  • Row 4 – alternating 1 single stitch, 1 double stitch (total stitches: 18)
  • Row 5 – alternating 2 single stitches, 1 double stitch (total stitches: 24)
  • Row 6 – alternating 3 single stitches, 1 double stitch (total stitches: 30)
  • Rows 7+ – single stitch until desired completion

The whole bed took maybe 45 minutes and that includes starting over once to make the bed larger.  Once it was done, Gherkin could not wait to hop in and do what kitties do best, take a nap!  Tinkerbell and Tidbit also enjoyed the new nap spot!

Cat Bed

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What To Do On Giving Tuesday

custom cat collars

For most of us holidays are filled with the hustle and bustle of trying to see all your family, shopping, eating, drinking and generally being merry or at least giving it your best shot!  It starts on Thanksgiving, maybe even the day before for some, and the holiday marathon goes straight through until New Year’s Day recovery.  With the hustle and bustle aside, let’s talk about Giving Tuesday.

I personally like the holidays, I love seeing all the lights and decorations and I appreciate getting into the spirit of things with holiday activities and a few traditions.  Most of the time I don’t even mind shopping.  This year I think my favorite activity will be participating in Giving Tuesday.  Although Swanky Kitty donates a portion of proceeds all year round, I will be participating in Giving Tuesday as well.

There are a number of organizations that I wholeheartedly believe in.  I wanted to specifically mention the organizations that Swanky Kitty supports.

Organizations we support:

This year I am choosing HEART Animal Rescue because they gave us our little Gherkin!  What a great job they did raising this little boy until we were able to give him his forever home.  These are all great organizations and I hope you too participate in Giving Tuesday!