IShopForCats

 When Nadia joined the family this past December, a third litter box was added to the household.  She is a small kitty and I wasn't expecting her new potty to become the center of toilet tourism. But her bigger sister and brother take frequent trips to the new loo to mark the territory and make sure the little girl know that tu casa es mi casa. The bigger kitties are powerful diggers and lots of litter winds up outside this smaller box. I've purchased two previous mats and this is the second time purchasing this model.  The mat is made of lightweight, durable and eco-friendly EVA foam rubber, which makes it a soft material for my kitties. I appreciate that it is non-toxic! The double-layer honeycomb litter trapper mat design is helpful in gathering litter. While it's not a perfect capture when my kitties exits the litter box, the litter that is stuck to its paws is mostly left behind within the large honeycomb holes on the top layer of the mat. This has helped me to keep ab

Just Nadia today 😻

 This product is so simple that you might not think you need it. A little plastic wrap would do it right?  For less than a venti latte though, you could be capping your cat food containers in style! If you feed your kitties wet food and find that you have are putting leftovers in the fridge, these lids are perfect.  They replace the plastic wrap so are eco friendly.  They are dishwasher safe, which makes them easy to clean.  They fit every size of cat food can you can purchase.  What's not to like?  I've found that they also fit narrow and wide-mouthed mason jars and can be used as a snap on lid for those in a pinch.  #PetCanLids #FoodGradeSilicone #BPAFree #PetFoodStorage #UniversalCanLids #EasyToOpen #GoodSealing #Reusable #Durable #PetEssentials #PetSupplies #PetAccessories #EcoFriendly #DishwasherSafe #FreshPetFood #PetLovers #PetOwners

To this day when I turn this toy on the the kitties are a bit purr-plexed.  With somewhat erratic movements, this toy spins, rolls and lurches around the room unpredictably making even the most disinterested cat (Yoru) pay attention to it.  While Nadia is the only kitty in the household who wants to swat at it, all three pairs of eyes follow this toy when it is turned on.  For some reason on this product I really wanted to do the pros and cons because there are both.  PROS: This toy is definitely a great distraction.  If you have bored or needy kitties who want to be on your work-from-home lap or keyboard during your presentation to your boss, this is an ideal toy to fire up and let-er-rip to give you a good thirty minutes of respite to finish that presentation.  It's rechargeable via micro-usb and has a charge indicator light letting you know when it's ready to go. The ball is made of tough enough plastic to withstand being pawed into the wall or self-driven collisions into ob

 All I had to say was, "Yoru, come demonstrate your cat scratcher." and ran my finger across it. There he was, showing why this was one of the better Amazon purchases that has been permanently fixed to the kitchen island. It becomes particularly useful in the springtime, when the temperatures rise and the shedding starts in earnest.  All of the kitties have used this but Yoru is the power user with Kassy a close second.   Some of the great features: the bristles are stiff enough to give them a good scratch, but soft enough to be safe.  The adhesive strips that came with the unit have held strong since purchasing and installing it four years ago and undergoing thousands of scratching sessions.  The front face pops off for easy cleaning but has never once come off by accident or by cat contact. And if you let your cats indulge in catnip, the side rails allow you to put catnip inside for a turbo charged grooming session where the cats rub on it like crazy!  All in all, it is a g

There are times when you know that crazy-cat parenthood really has you in its grip. This happened to me last September when I knew the next step in the evolution of modifying the house to suit the comfort and interests of the resident cats needed to happen. What could be more obvious than needing to build a series of shelves that would allow the cats a high place that they could watch from?  Not only is near the ceiling the coziest place in the house in the winter among all that rising warm air, the shelves gave a great vantage of the room to feel safe.  Yoru, ever the cat who refuses to be typical, didn't like the high place. This was Kassy's jam, as you can see. She struck the perfect stretching pose to show what a delight her new stairs were. The play corner became one of Nadia's favorite too, shortly after she joined the family.  The shelves had been on my mind for a while, but what really unlocked the project for me was seeing a kitty stairway on Instagram. I found a h

 This is probably THE classic toy that I've purchased in the years of our kitty ownership. It has been a favorite of all the kitties at different times.  It was Nadia's first toy love when she joined the household and she's pictured her with her littermate, who was visiting to make her transition to the household easier. Both of them could not stop playing with this toy.  Even to this day, I can hear Nadia throughout the day poking the balls around the racetrack, making that distinctive swirl sound as they zip around in circles.  She loves when I pick it up and swirl all the balls at once and they are all moving at the same time.  Keep your cats entertained and engaged with the Tower of Tracks cat ball toy! With its 3 levels of tracks and bright colors, this toy is perfect for single and multiple cat households. The unique safety bar design and sturdy construction with a non-slip base make it a must-have for any cat owner. #CatToy #InteractiveCatToy #MentallyEngagingCats

 When Kassy was added to the family, it was time to upgrade the kitty carrying infrastructure.  Our vet sometimes had us bring in both kitties at the same time and so Yoru got the clunky, green plastic carrier and Kassy got the slick carrier linked below.  The big advantage of this carrier was that you could zip it all the way open so no matter how widely they spayed their legs or protested when it was time to load up for the vet, they could still be easily loaded.  This became the go-to carrier when I didn't have to take both kitties because it was softer on the kitties, easy to get a kitty loaded and out the door and had better access when I needed to put a hand inside the carrier to pet a kitty to calm them down. When Nadia was added to the family, I bought the exact same model but this time in pink! The airline approved cat carrier from Pet Magasin is the perfect solution for pet owners on the go. With dimensions of 18" x 11" x 10", it's airline approved an

 Yoru has always been an indoor cat and for cats on the inside, looking out, there is a big wide world of possibilities on the other side of the glass. Squirrels, birds, even the odd rabbit hopping through the garden all catch Yoru's eye and when a neighbor kitty stopped by, Yoru was crazed to go outside and say hello.  I ordered this harness because it was affordable and well reviewed as a simple, but secure way to keep the big boy safe while he explored the outdoors.  The photo shows Yoru in action as he was able to meet his neighbor and cautiously explore the back yard.  The clips made it relatively easy to get Yoru into the harness and while the straps were thin, the quality is good and it didn't feel like Yoru had any chance to escape.  I've subsequently used this with Kassy and it has worked well for her also. The Pupteck (should be called Kittentech) cat leash is a great choice for small cats and puppies under 12 pounds. With an adjustable neck size and chest strap,

 Yoru always had particular taste in toys. The crinkly, crunchies were always his favorite.  He could stalk, chase, bat and pounce on these for hours at a time! When I tied one to a helium filled balloon and had it suspended in the air (pictured here), it became one of the all-time greatest toys he'd ever played with. The PETFAVORITES Original Mylar Crinkle Balls are the perfect toy to keep your cats entertained and engaged. These funny and interactive cat toys are designed to calm down your cats and provide them with hours of exercise and play. The bright metallic colors and soft, lightweight mylar texture make these cat toys irresistible to your furry friend. When your kitten plays with these balls, the crinkle sound is sure to drive them crazy with excitement. At 1.5 inches in width, the balls are the perfect size for cats to bat, chase, and pounce. These toys are perfect for providing mental stimulation and exercise for your feline friend, keeping them healthy and happy. Ove

When Yoru was tiny (I can't believe he was ever this small!), I looked for a cozy little hut that would make him feel safe and at home.  It was early on that I discovered that Yoru was not the typical "box kitty" that so many kitties are. So many cats love to go inside tiny spaces and test the theory that cats are a liquid, not a solid 😂  While he didn't spend tons of time inside, he did seem to find some safety and comfort in there.   This cat igloo is a great choice for pet owners looking for a cozy and comfortable bed for their furry friends. The small size makes it perfect for cats, kittens or other small furry friends. The plush fabric provides maximum coziness and comfort, and the enclosed space will appeal to pets who like to hide away and snooze. The removable foam cushion is a great added feature, providing extra padding, support and warmth, especially for elderly pets. The ability to hand wash the bed in cold water is also a convenient feature. Overall, thi

I bought this fountain as a relatively inexpensive solution to a problem we discovered when Kassy joined the family. Whenever I put out a bowl of water for Kassy, she'd start bumping it with her paws, her head, and her body.  No bowl was too big or too sturdy for her to flip, bump or move.  I bought wide bottom, "untippable" bowls, she'd move them.  Water was everywhere, every day. I later learned from a vet friend that some cats are just strongly genetically programmed that still water will probably make them sick so moving water is the only way to go!   This fountain was a flooring and towel saver!  No more cleaning up Kassy's version of moving water.  The cat watering fountain from  Veken is a great option for pet owners looking for a high-quality and convenient way to keep their pets hydrated. The ultra-quiet and low consumption pump is a major plus, and the 2.5L large capacity makes it great for small to medium-sized pets, though at three cats, you need to ad

    This automatic food dispenser is a great option for pet owners looking for a hassle-free feeding solution. I’ve owned it for just over 5 years ago and originally bought it because Yoru, my first cat was waking me up earlier and earlier in the morning. This product was a lifesaver to convince my kitty that food came from the friendly robot dispenser and not from me so he could let me sleep. Young Yoru I’ve only used up to 3 portions of food per meal but the ability to dispense from 1-10 portions per meal is very flexible and fine-grained. The option to set up to 4 daily distributions of food makes it easy to ensure that your pet is getting the right amount of food at the right times. The blue light-up LCD clock and display make it easy to adjust the settings, and the magnetic lock lid provides added security. I should note that after about 4 years, the latch no longer hooks securely. Fortunately, my cats can’t figure out how to lift the lid. The ability to record a personal meal cal

Yoru and Kassy  In the beginning, there were cats...well, there was one cat name Yoru.  He was a beautiful black American shorthair who was a bit standoffish at first but became heartbreakingly sweet as he got a bit older.  And then there were two. Kassandra the calico joined the family as a fearless feminine feline, unhindered by her paralyzed tail. Such soft fur under her chin, one could only dream about. Nadia Baby Playful, determined, snuggly and sweet, Nadia was added to the tribe.  Her nickname quickly became Waterbug as she zipped around the house, literally bouncing off the walls and furniture. Her gorgeous tortoiseshell coloring and corkscrew bob on the end of her tail are darling. That's how it happens, the descent into cat craziness. You start off with one and think, "gosh, wouldn't he be happy with a sibling to pass the time?" You buy all the toys, and arrange your house for the comfort of the sweet babies, install climbing shelves on the walls, build a ca