Ingrid King's Blog: The Conscious Cat, page 390

Review: Felix Katnip Tree Company Scratching Beam

This post is sponsored by the Felix Katnip Tree Company

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. Cats scratch to groom their claws, the scratching motion helps remove dead sheaths from their front claws. They scratch to mark their territory. Their front paws contain scent glands, and scratching leaves behind their unique signature on the object being scratched. They scratch for exercise; scratching stretches the muscles in the front legs and all along the back. And they scratch simply beca...

Friskies® Pull ‘N Play: Cat Toy and Treat Design Fail

I get multiple requests to review toys and treats almost every day. The majority of these requests are for clever, innovative and fun designs, and I share the ones that I think you’d be most interested in on this site. Every once in a while, I get a request to review a toy that just doesn’t look good to me, so I politely decline, and that’s the end of that. Reviews, by their very nature, are always in part opinion: just because I don’t like something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good...

Litter Box Issues: A Round Up of Solutions for a Frustrating Problem

Dealing with a cat who pees outside the litter box is one of the most frustrating issues cat guardians may be faced with. It’s also one of the most common reasons why cats are returned to shelters. The reasons why cats eliminate outside the litter box vary, and include litter box aversion, urine marking, hormonal problems, and medical issues.

Peeing outside the box is often referred to as inappropriate urination, but it’s important to understand that from the cat’s perspective, what he’s do...

Conscious Cat Sunday: A Change of Scenery

No matter how much you love your life, your environment, and your routine (and I do), sometimes, it’s good to have a change of scenery. Changing your environment can get you out of a rut and stimulate your creativity. A change of scenery can be as small as taking a different route to work and as big as a trip around the world.

I got to do something somewhere in between the two last weekend: I visited friends in New York City. New York City is my favorite city in the whole world. I love that...

Mews and Nips: It’s National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

America’s cats are not getting the healthcare they deserve. 83% of cats are taken to the vet during the first year after they’re adopted, yet over half of them don’t return for subsequent wellness visit. Given that cats age more rapidly than humans and are masters at masking illness, these statistics are disturbing. National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is designed to improve awareness about the importance of regular, routine check ups. Click here to learn five reasons why routine veterinary...

SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Winner

Congratulations, Glogirly! You’re the winner of a SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder!

Look for an email from Ingrid.*

For more information about the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, and to purchase, please visit SureFlap.com.

Special discount for Conscious Cat readers: Get 25% off each feeder!

Use code CONSCIOUSCAT at checkout

*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 an...

Review: Chermpf (The Cats of Nova Book 1)

I’m not a huge fan of reading Fantasy, nor do I generally read middle grade novels, so Chermpf* by William S. Russell III was a bit of a stretch for me, and I’ll be honest, the only reason I even picked it up was because the pitch email from the author’s wife was so lovely, I had to at least give it a try. And I have to say, I’m glad I did.

From the publisher:

Everyone should have a name; with that thought Gracie Fisher steps into her backyard on a moonlit summer night. Leaving her sleeping...

Fur Family Arts Festival: A MEOWvelous and BARKingly Good Time for the Whole Family

I’m excited to announce that I’m going to be part of something very special: the first Fur Family Arts Festival will take place in Fredericksburg, VA on October 16 and 17. This celebration of cats and dogs is the brainchild of Bob Walker, one of the pioneers of the concept of “catification.” Bob and his wife Frances Mooney transformed their San Diego home into The Cat’s House by creating brightly painted ramps, stairs and cat walks throughout the entire house.

The Fur Family Arts Festival wi...

Allegra, Ruby and the Cable Box

No matter how many cat beds I put around the house, the top of the cable box is one of the most coveted napping spots, especially during the colder months. Allegra and Ruby must have worked out a schedule, because they both seem to get equal time on it. All of my cats over the years have always enjoyed napping on the cable box, and these things must be pretty sturdy, because I can only imagine the amount of cat hair that ends up inside.

Last week, however, the cable box met its maker in the...

Review: Fresh Wave Odor Eliminators

This post is sponsored by Fresh Wave

I’m always interested to learn about safe and effective household products, and was intrigued with Fresh Wave, a line of odor-removing products has been around for over 20 years. According to the company, Fresh Wave has been made with natural ingredients since long before natural products became popular. Their products are used in such places as wastewater treatment plants, paper mills,and refineries. I would imagine that if they can work in tough spots l...