Product Reviews Don't Always Go as Expected (or, My Cat Has Other Plans)

My extremely photogenic cat

I received the following products in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I love doing product reviews. I especially like when I can review pet products. Sometimes my cat really likes a product, sometimes she hates it. This time, she's not cooperative.

The product in question is the Window Mounted Cat Bed by Pets and More. The idea is that you assemble the cat bed, mount it on the window and your cat loves it.

My cat had other ideas. She did anything but sit on the bed while it hung from a window. I tried it on a bunch of different windows, too. The most success I had was after I mounted it on a sliding glass door; she sat under the bed. She also sat on it when it was on the floor.

Not my cat

The window-mounted cat bed itself seems good. The first product that I received came with a broken pipe and the stitching along the bed was too tight, so the non-broken pipe didn't fit through it. I contacted the seller and they sent me a new bed without any problems. The new bed was in good shape. My cat didn't care.

Cats never care. Cats are jerks.





I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com.

My Cat Likes Bird Watching

I received the following products in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I had the opportunity to review the Sherwoodbase Window Bird Feeder, which my cat particularly liked since she likes to watch the birds outside. She likes bird watching so much that she should be a member of the Audubon Society. 

Here is my review:

 

  
I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com.

Remedies for Sick Pets

FROM:



Sometime our pets get sick at home and you may have a remedy in your pantry or medicine cabinet.

I saw a segment the other day on how to care for your pet if either: 1) It is too late/too early to go to the vet or 2) the illness is not severe enough to go to the vet. Remember: always consult your vet if you are not sure what to do. Also remember: I am not a vet and I am just reposting this advice I found that may be helpful to you and your pet.

3 Percent Solution of Hydrogen Peroxide
This remedy, used if your pet has gotten into something poisonous, induces vomiting. Give 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight; the process may be repeated once. Note: Mineral oil and milk of magnesia can be used for toxin ingestion.

Credit Card and Benadryl
This home remedy will help with bee stings. Remove the stinger by scraping the area with a credit card; apply a baking soda paste as a poultice. For an allergic reaction, administer a dosage of Benadryl (1 mg/lb) every six hours. Benadryl comes in 25 mg capsules or as a liquid. For pets up to 30 pounds, use 25 mg. For pets 30 to 80 pounds, use 50 mg. For pets 80 pounds and up, use 75 mg.

Dryer Sheet
Use a dryer sheet to help with thunderstorm phobias. Anxiety in a pet during a thunderstorm isn't the flashes of light or the sound, but a buildup of static electricity in their coat. Rub a dryer sheet on the coat to remove the static electricity. It will reduce or eliminate the pet's extreme anxiety and discomfort. (This method works about 50 percent of the time.)

Pepto Bismol
Use Pepto to help with an upset stomach and vomiting. Use this only for dogs; it contains an aspirin-like substance that is bad for cats. The dose for a dog (either liquid or tablets) is a child's dose for every 40 pounds of body weight every six hours. For example: A 10-pound dog would receive one-quarter of a child's dose, and an 80-pound dog would receive twice the amount of a child's dose.

Kaopectate
Kaopectate helps with diarrhea. You can also give your pet Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Ensure to rehydrate and replace potassium, sodium, and essential minerals after diarrhea or vomiting.

Canned Pumpkin (No Spices)
Canned pumpkin helps with constipation. Note: You can also use Dulcolax or Metamucil.

Vaseline
Use vaseline on cuts or to prevent ice formation. Rub it on the affected area to protect a wound from further contamination. You can also place it between the animal's pads or toes during the winter to prevent ice formation.

Epsom Salts
Use epsom salts for abscess/wound treatment. Use the salts in a soak for irritated, itchy skin.

Bag Balm
A friend of mine recommended Bag Balm lightly over hot-spots to help heal them quickly.

Things to Remember When Using Household Remedies
You should always consult your vet first regarding your pet's situation and then he or she can suggest a home remedy for you to try. Depending on your pet's weight, your vet will determine what dosage you should give. Depending on what's wrong with your pet, the vet will have you give the home remedy, then consult back with him or her in a couple days if the situation worsens or doesn't improve.

A guide to my emotions

There's Another Cat in the House?

The weather has been a little warm lately, so Kyle and I opened up the backyard door. However, we didn't notice the screen door was also open.

About an hour later, Kyle noticed a black cat in our house. Then he asked where our cat was. We both got up and went out back and called her. We then hear a "jingle, jingle, jingle..." growing louder as the cat approached our house. The black cat was on the patio.

Later the cats started crying to each other through the screen door. When the cries turned to howling and hissing, Kyle tried to close the patio door and the cat got mad and freaked out. Needless to say, someone was on a time-out tonight.

Cats and Facebook

My cat just had to go and make herself a Facebook page. Good grief.

A mouse in her tummy?

I helped out in Sunday School today a bit. I told the kids my cat likes to eat queso (cheese). The kids all looked at me like I just said the craziest thing in the world. Then a first-grader I've known since she was a baby says, "I thought a mouse was the only animal that likes cheese."

"Yeah, me too," I reply.

Then the little girl says with a looks that shows she has definitely come a reasonable conclusion about the situation, "Maybe your cat has a mouse living inside her tummy and that is why she eats cheese."

I then told the little girl I was going to listen to my cat's tummy when I got home to see if I could hear any squeaks.

If I Was A Cat...

If I was a cat, then this would be me today.

(Narcoleptic kitten....zzzzzzzzzz......)

Cataplexy sucks.

Scooter Googles & Treats

Kyle and I got some scooter-riding goggles. Here are some pics:

Even the cat wanted to try them on.

This is Mango being scary.

This is a really good cupcake I had last weekend. I got it for free! It is a vanilla batter with a vanilla frosting, topped with shaved dark and white chocolate.































This is a way-too-perfect-looking chocolate I got. I had to take a picture of it before eating it. It has gold leaf on the top.


My tummy has been hurting a LOT. I have been drinking this acidophilous to help it out.

Cat Update

My cat has moved on from attack-hugging me to snatching my pizza. I sit down to eat dinner and have the new park & rec. catalog in front of me. As I have the periodical in my face and am wishing I could attend the Tai Chi class, my cat is sneaking bites of cheese off my pizza.

She always likes to see what I am eating. She sometimes tries to stick her head in my bowl of cereal. I blame Kyle for the food snatching because he feeds her human food, which I never do. Well, I don't do that anymore.

When we first adopted Mango, we didn't have any cat food and she was tiny and starving. I put together some rice and ham for her to eat until we went to the store. She liked it a lot. In Costa Rica, people feed their cats and dogs rice and ham with eggs. Isn't that what most pet food is made of anyway?


I swear, my cat's grandpa is Garfield.

Home Remedies for Your Sick Pets

FROM:



Sometime our pets get sick at home and you may have a remedy in your pantry or medicine cabinet.

I saw a segment the other day on how to care for your pet if either: 1) It is too late/too early to go to the vet or 2) the illness is not severe enough to go to the vet. Remember: always consult your vet if you are not sure what to do. Also remember: I am not a vet and I am just reposting this advice I found that may be helpful to you and your pet.

3 Percent Solution of Hydrogen Peroxide
This remedy, used if your pet has gotten into something poisonous, induces vomiting. Give 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight; the process may be repeated once. Note: Mineral oil and milk of magnesia can be used for toxin ingestion.

Credit Card and Benadryl
This home remedy will help with bee stings. Remove the stinger by scraping the area with a credit card; apply a baking soda paste as a poultice. For an allergic reaction, administer a dosage of Benadryl (1 mg/lb) every six hours. Benadryl comes in 25 mg capsules or as a liquid. For pets up to 30 pounds, use 25 mg. For pets 30 to 80 pounds, use 50 mg. For pets 80 pounds and up, use 75 mg.

Dryer SheetUse a dryer sheet to help with thunderstorm phobias. Anxiety in a pet during a thunderstorm isn't the flashes of light or the sound, but a buildup of static electricity in their coat. Rub a dryer sheet on the coat to remove the static electricity. It will reduce or eliminate the pet's extreme anxiety and discomfort. (This method works about 50 percent of the time.)

Pepto Bismol
Use Pepto to help with an upset stomach and vomiting. Use this only for dogs; it contains an aspirin-like substance that is bad for cats. The dose for a dog (either liquid or tablets) is a child's dose for every 40 pounds of body weight every six hours. For example: A 10-pound dog would receive one-quarter of a child's dose, and an 80-pound dog would receive twice the amount of a child's dose.

Kaopectate
Kaopectate helps with diarrhea. You can also give your pet Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Ensure to rehydrate and replace potassium, sodium, and essential minerals after diarrhea or vomiting.

Canned Pumpkin (No Spices)
Canned pumpkin helps with constipation. Note: You can also use Dulcolax or Metamucil.

Vaseline
Use vaseline on cuts or to prevent ice formation. Rub it on the affected area to protect a wound from further contamination. You can also place it between the animal's pads or toes during the winter to prevent ice formation.

Epsom SaltsUse epsom salts for abscess/wound treatment. Use the salts in a soak for irritated, itchy skin.

Things to Remember When Using Household RemediesYou should always consult your vet first regarding your pet's situation and then he or she can suggest a home remedy for you to try. Depending on your pet's weight, your vet will determine what dosage you should give. Depending on what's wrong with your pet, the vet will have you give the home remedy, then consult back with him or her in a couple days if the situation worsens or doesn't improve.

Animal Hearts

Animals know how to love. Take a look:

Cat Hat

My cat sometimes likes to sleep on my head. No joke.

Here's a snapshot of her and me sleeping in the morning. It obviously takes a stampede to wake us up, especially when we have a plethora of pillows around us.