Tag: happy pets

Cats and kittens , , , , , ,

What type of litter is best for a new kitten?

by Jamie June 2, 2021 No Comments

Cats have an instinct to cover their feces to avoid the smell. This instinct can be beneficial for you if you are keeping a pet cat in your home. Several types of litter boxes are available in the market, which offers you the best option to avoid your cat’s feces smell.

Traditionally, clay litter has been used as a best choice for this purpose. But nowadays, there are several types of litters having different qualities. This article will educate you about the qualities of various litter types available to select the best from all available litter types.

Some people don’t choose special cat litter; rather, they prefer using some things available near their home such as dust, sand, animal beddings, chicken feed, etc. But these alternatives are not useful for long-term use because of dust, smell, parasites, etc. Another important thing to take in mind is whether your car likes or dislikes the litter. It is an important thing to consider while purchasing a litter for your cat.

1.    Clay litter

Clay litter is the most popular type of cat litter. Because of its easy availability and an established litter type, clay litter is the most used litter all around. It is available in low dust and dust-free options. Other varieties of clay litter include scented and non-scented, large clay pieces and fine clay particle litters. Clay litter turns into a softer wet cement-like structure after absorbing the urine.

Furthermore, clay litters are also available in clumping and non-clumping varieties. Some people prefer clumping clay litter in which the part of clay that absorbs urine becomes clumpy, and you can waste it. Some people prefer inexpensive regular non-clumping clay litter, which they waste as a whole when it is necessary.

2.    Silica litter

Silica litter is more expensive than a same-weight bag of clay litter. But silica gel litter lasts longer than clay litter. Many companies advertise silica gel litter as a better option than clay litter. In addition, they claim it is not as dusty as clay litter, absorbs urine, and you don’t need to scoop it out, offers a great smell, lasts longer, and is preferred by cats over clay litter.

It is expensive than clay litter, and some varieties of silica gel litter possess color change indicators to indicate the urinary system’s health. Some pet parents don’t see a difference in price as silica gel litter lasts longer than an equal amount of clay litter.

This is one of my favorites litter material and this is what we use. I am a big fan of Kitty Poo Club, a disposable litter box delivery service. We have tried several of the litter options they have and have always come back to their basic silica. We live in a small space and it is effective especially in the summer when it is hot and the box seems to be more noticeable in the small space.

June Special Kitty Poo Club Disposable Litter Box

3.    Pine litter

Pine litter is also one of the popular litter types because of its ability to fight off the odor. As the name indicates, pine litter is made of pine trees. In addition, it is famous for its lightweight and no dust characteristic. Because of its lightweight, it is softer than clay litter and easy to use and manage. Most people don’t prefer clay litter because of more weight and difficulty managing the litter box.

Pet parents prefer pine litter because they consider it more environment friendly and cherish its natural ability to fight off a bad odor. They are available in both clumping and non-clumping varieties.

4.    Wheat litter

Wheat litter is just like pine litter and is famous for its eco-friendly nature. Furthermore, it is a good alternative for clay litter, but it comprises processed wheat. It is pet parent-friendly as you can flush its clumps after absorbing urine. They naturally control the odor as there are no added dyes or perfumes in the wheat litter. When your cat urinates, it converts into a sawdust-like structure, and you can easily scoop it out of the box.

5.    Grass litter

Despite less commonly available, grass litter can also be an alternative to traditional clay litter. Structurally it is like pine and wheat litter types, but it is biodegradable dry grass seed litter. It also possesses the same characteristics of clumping as other litter types. When your cat urinates, it clumps so that you can easily scoop the waste out. Many pet parents avoid added dyes and chemicals, and to their desire, it doesn’t contain any. It is low dust litter and is soft and light as compared to clay litter.

6.    Corn litter

In the list, the next better alternative to clay litter is corn litter. Mostly it is available in scented variety, but it still is biodegradable litter. Comprising of dry corn kernels, it is lighter than clay litter. When your cat urinates, it forms clumps that are to scoop out. There are some varieties of corn litter that attract cat’s attention. There are some concerns over corn litter about mold growth. The main issue is about the aflatoxins that can be deadly for your cat. Contrary to that, companies offer aflatoxins-free corn litters.

7.    Walnut shell litter

Modern cat litter has expanded its varieties, and there is an available walnut shell litter type. Walnut shell litter has shown more absorbency than clay litter type, works great for odor control clumps. Low dust makes this litter type more popular, and some companies are offering red or brown color litter depending on your cat’s choice. Ground-up granular walnut shell litter is biodegradable.

8.    Paper litter

Among all other litter types, paper litter is popular among pet parents with cat paw injuries. Paper litter is recycled and processed paper or simply the waste newspaper. These litter types have low dust, and they offer little or no concern for irritating wounds. They are softer than clay litter and have no fragrance. Paper litter doesn’t form clumps and doesn’t control the bad odor very well. For these reasons, pet parents use them for short-term periods.

Final thoughts

Concludingly, you should choose the type of litter that suits your household environment and is liked by your cat. You can select the specific variety of cat litter based on their characteristics and your ease of management. A variety of litters will make your choice and life easy with pet cats.

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Cats and kittens, Pet Supplies , , , , , , , ,

How often should you feed your new cat ?

by Jamie May 28, 2021 No Comments

Pet parents are mostly confused about the quantity of food they should provide to their cat. And this results in an increase or decrease in body weight. Cats are usually more prone to the increased body weight or obesity. And therefore, it is important to have an adequate balance in their diet to provide them all the essential nutrients in the required quantity.

For this purpose, I will educate you in this article about the number of daily food requirements for your cats. In addition, I will also educate you about the frequency of meals per day.

Various factors that affect cat feeding

Cat’s feeding largely depends on various factors that affect them throughout the life. So, if you are a pet parent and want to know the transition in feeding habits of your cat, you need to know the factors that are affecting your cat.

1. Age

There is a difference in the feeding of a kitten and an adult cat. A kitten needs more nutritional requirements than an adult because of more growth and development. A kitten’s diet is more comprised of proteins.

2. Size

Larger cats require more nutritional value to carry out their metabolism and fulfill the body’s needs. Larger cat breeds require more food – similarly, bigger cats of the same breeds also require more nutrition.

3. Activity level

Activity level mainly affects the metabolic rate, and cats with higher activity levels have higher metabolic rates – and thus need more nutrition. At the same time, cats who live a more sedentary lifestyle require lesser nutrition.

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4. Reproductive status

Neutering and spaying affect the overall metabolic activity of cats. A cat with functional reproductive organs requires more nutritional value than a cat with non-functional reproductive organs. Likewise, in pregnancy, cats need more nutrition to meet the intense nutritional demands. And this is true for kittens whose reproductive organs are developing – they also require high nutrition to meet the required demands of the body.

5. Body conditioning and health

Body conditioning is also a factor that affects the food intake of your cat. You need to know that where your cat falls in a body conditioning score. Only then will you be able to devise a good diet plan for your cat. Ask your vet to tell you the body conditioning score and to devise a good diet plan accordingly.

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to how much cat food your cat needs. How much a cat needs to eat depends on a variety of factors, including size, age, metabolic rate, the amount it exercises, and even environmental temperatures. In addition, the same volume of different foods can have varying caloric and nutritional contents, showing that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work

How Much Should I Feed My Cat? | PetMD

How much should I feed my cat?

Now that you are well aware of the factors that affect the feeding habit of your cat, I will educate you about the feeding requirements of your cat at different stages of life.

Newborn to four weeks of age

Newborns frequently feed, especially during the first week of age. They typically feed every two hours a day. Gradually the decrease in the frequency of feeding to four to six times a day. It is important to check their body weight to be assured that your kitten is feeding right. On average, kittens should gain fifteen to twenty grams of weight each day. If your kitten is not gaining weight, you should consult your vet to change the food to a high-quality one.

Four weeks to six weeks of age

This is the age of weaning, and cats start to shift from a liquid diet to a solid diet. You should provide them access to solid food several times a day. You can also go for a gruel that you can make by mixing canned food with warm water. A gruel will help digest better. At the age of five to six months, there is no need for a gruel as your cat’s teeth are coming, and they will take care of the solid food.

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Six weeks to eight weeks of age

By this time, kittens are habitual to eating solid food, and they have started drinking water on their own. You can start providing dry foods but adding a tablespoon of water will help ease the chewing and digestion.

Eight weeks to ten months of age

 After eight weeks of age, most of the kittens’ feeding requirements start to decrease. The development period is over by this age, and their calorie intake starts decreasing down. The body conditioning score can help determine the number of calories your cat should intake at this age. If your cat’s body conditioning score is low, your vet will advise you to give a diet rich in calories.

More than ten months of age

At this age, your cat can switch from kitten food to adult food. Kitten food is rich in calories, mainly proteins, and fats. Some cats should switch earlier, while some cats should switch later depending on their physiology. Your vet will help you in this case.

How often should I feed my cat?

Well, cats prefer eating small meals many times a day. For a kitten, you should make the food available throughout the day. If you want your cat to eat both dry and wet food, you should make the dry food available all day and provide two to three canned food meals depending on the nutritional requirements.

Furthermore, here are some tips that will be beneficial for you.

6. Cats prefer multiple small feedings in a day

7. You should provide a minimum of 3 meals at four to six months of age

8. Minimum two meals a day for ten months old cat

9. Well, a total of six meals per day is better.

Final thoughts

Well, being a pet parent is no less than being a parent to a baby. You enjoy every stage of your cat growing from a kitten to an adult. But you should be conscious of some mistakes like providing less water, providing only dry food, providing too much or too little food, etc. you should learn from other pet parent’s mistakes and try to cater to your cat better. Not to mention, feeding depends only on your cat’s nutritional requirements, and many factors affect the nutritional requirements. And you should consult your vet for this matter to have a better understanding of your cat’s nutritional needs.

Pet Product Reviews , , ,

Chompers Creations – Need a unique gift for pet owners?

by Jamie May 22, 2021 No Comments

Looking for a unique personalized gift for pet owners / parents in your life? We came across this small owned local business and fell in love with Chompers’ Creations personalized pet pillows.

I came upon this Facebook page one evening and loved this companies work. I was looking for a gift for a friend and fellow animal lover. Chompers Creations offers personalized pillows in the likeness of your pet. How cool is THAT !

What a beautiful and unique way to celebrate a furry family member. All pet parents / owners enjoy gift featuring their pet. A pillow with your pets likeness is like snuggling up with two pets ! O.K. it is not exactly like that however, This would make a great gift for a child who cant always bring his pet with him on sleepovers. Even though pets are family members, they cant always come with us on vacation, but a pillow can! It’s a loving gift for a remembrance gift for a pet that has crossed the rainbow bridge. It is perfect for a pet owner who just really loves their pet and who likes to accessories.

How to deal with pet loss

Our Experience and Review

I placed an order via Facebook with Jennie I got a quote and I chose a photo of the star pet and messengered it off. She filled the order quickly. I asked if she would include a note. She graciously included a note for me. Once the pillow was completed, she send me a picture before she shipped it It was mailed quickly as stated. She send delivery information. The transaction was very smooth.

The work of art pillow is made of a fleece material is can easily be hand washed in cool water when it needs it. I am certain this will get some love and need a spot clean form time to time. We use this at home for all our important delicate laundry …. or all of it actually..

I was very happy with the service and gift. More importantly my friend loved the gift. Everyone needs a little extra gift of love these days. Chompers Creations helps to offer a creative way to make that happen. Giving a pillow is like giving a hug.

Our Favorite Products, Pet Product Reviews , , , , , , ,

Knead Love Bakeshop – A review you need to read

by Jamie January 27, 2021 No Comments

Knead Love Bakeshop offers homemade pet treats you BAKE AT HOME. It is a fun product if you enjoy a hands-on experience. A great quick project you can do with the kids while encouraging family bonding with your pets. Who doesn’t like to spoil their pets with homemade treats?

dog treats, organic dog treats, healthy dog treats

What is Knead Love Bakeshop?

Knead love Bakeshop offers a variety of “do it yourself ” bake at-home pet treats in a variety of different flavors. It comes in a colorful canister that includes all you need. They offer the following flavors. Although these have been made with dogs in mind, Some flavors are vegan and are safe for other critters like cats. guinea pigs even horses.

Sweet Potato and Chicken ** Peanut Butter and Banana ** Beef Jerky and Cheese ** Sweet Pumpkin and Oats **Cheese and Carrot (grain-free) **

Grain Free Carrot and cheese without added wheat flour.

Convenience/ Ease of use – It’s hard to resist the cute canister it comes in, but there is much more to it. Inside, is everything you need to make the product, AND the canister doubles as the treat container when you are finished baking. They thought of everything.

There is virtually NO WASTE (and no mess- my favorite part) Knead Love Bakeshop even thought of using the canister as the measuring cup for preparing the treats. Amazing!

They use organic ingredients.

Is Coconut good for your pet?

Our Experience -Did it Pass the taste test?

At home, To review Knead Love, I made a batch of Cheese and Carrot treats for the dog and cat at home. The golden doodle loves to play around with her treat ball, so I decided to make very small treats that would fit.

It was really easy to just snip the included pastry bag smaller than recommended and pipe out small shapes. Coconut flour is extremely absorbent and can make a thick easy to work with dough. However, if it is too stiff a little water can be added, but I found it to be extremely easy to work with. I also adjusted the bake time in half, but still just checked on them to make sure they were firm.

The lovely dog quickly ate the new snack. The brat cat did not… he prefers meat. I assume the coconut flour made the treats sweeter than his usual tuna flavored Temptations.

“Dogs are able to taste sweet foods and many dogs actually prefer the taste of sweet foods over any other taste profile”

wag.com

Can Cats even eat Vegetables ?

Our Conclusion

the golden doodle approves

Overall we were pretty happy with this product. They offer a 25% discount if you sign up for a “monthly subscription” and often run free shipping offers.

Free Shipping on all Orders

15% off two PLUS free shipping

Personally, it is important to know what you are feeding your pet. If you enjoy baking, this is a simple, wholesome organic treat that can be a relaxing activity that isn’t expensive or time-consuming.

Aside from the health benefits and unique opportunity to share fresh treats with your pet, purchasing products from Knead Love Bakeshop support a small family run business. Three young siblings wanted to provide healthy alternative snacks for their dog Penny and Knead Love Bakeshop was born. We think that is pretty cool.

We are looking forward to trying their new flavors this month!

April Showers Softpaws