Monthly Archives: July 2017

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Dr. Elsey’s Respiratory Relief Cat Litter Silica Gel

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ELSEY’S PRECIOUS CAT RESPIRATORY RELIEF SILICA GEL CAT LITTER

Rating: Five paws
Pros: Controls odors extremely well
Light, making it easy to handle for the elderly and people with mobility and dexterity issues
Almost no dust for people and cats with respiratory problems
Cats love it

Cons: It tracks moderately
It’s a little pricey

This silica gel cat litter has been formulated by Dr. Elsey for cats who suffer from allergies or respiratory diseases. It’s also a plus for cat owners who endure similar issues. It’s hypo-allergenic, containing no plant protein, deodorants or perfumes.  It does have an herbal essence, similar to a flower essence, to help reduce feline stress.

Despite the fine, sandy texture that feels soft and comfortable against sensitive paws, it puts out a negligible amount dust. The Rainbolt Test Kitties love this litter. When given a choice between many different brands of litter, the pan containing Respiratory Relief received the most use.

Volunteer reviewer Margaret Woodruff (a home health nurse writes), “Dr. Elsey’s Respiratory Rescue cat litter was recommended by a friend for my 93-year-old mother’s cat box.

“The clay clumping litter she had been using was too heavy for her to handle and too bulky for her to scoop. Despite the condition of the litter box, the cat continued to use it diligently. Mom has a diminished sense of smell. She is extremely independent will not let anyone help her with tasks, including maintenance of the litter box. I live out of town and am not able to be there but once a month. As you can imagine, over time this became difficult for the staff at the independent living facility to tolerate.  The management called me to bring the odor problem to my attention, and recommended rehoming the cat.

“Respiratory Relief litter was the perfect answer.  After we changed to RR litter, the odor was completely gone!  And my mother scoops regularly now.  I change the box once a month when I visit, and there’s no odor when I arrive. I can imagine the kitty is happy to not have to put his little face so close to all that ammonia. The ammonia-free air is certainly a healthier environment for Mom, too.

“The Assistant Director asked me how my mom was doing after the kitty moved.  I told him the kitty was still there. He was surprised when I told him about the change in cat litter. He asked for information about the litter so he could suggest it to other cat owners there.  This litter allowed my mother to keep her beloved kitty companion. He means the world to her. His loss would have been devastating.

“Although $16 seems a lot to pay for a 6.5-pound jug of litter, it’s very cost effective because you only need one jug for one cat, and you only change the box monthly.”

The 6.5-pound container retails for $15.99 to $18.99. You can find it at Petco, Amazon.com, and numerous other websites. Get more information about all of Dr. Elsey’s litters at www.PreciousCat.com.

What do you think of Dr. Elsey’s Litters? Leave your opinion in the coments below.

MARGARET WOODRUFF has been a home health nurse since 1988. She tries to find solutions for not just her clients’ medical needs, but to improve their overall quality of life.

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SturdiPet Incognito

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The SturdiPet Incognito allows you to discretely carry your small pets with you.

 

SturdiPet Incognito Carrier

This light, discrete carrier works well for short trips, flights and times when you don’t want to draw attention to the fact that you’re carrying a cat. It measures 17-inches long by 15-inches high by 8-inches wide and weighs 2.6 pounds. The exterior cover is made of 600 denier polyester, and a polyurethane convoluted foam forms the core. It comes with a washable polyester fleece pad. It will comfortably hold a six to 12 pound cat.

This attractive, yet ultra light cat carrier features a double-zippered side door, plus a zippered top entry for easy access. Privacy flaps that stow into small exterior storage pocket can completely cover mesh vents. It also has a padded shoulder straps. Large pockets at each end keep vet records and show papers handy. I love the zipper safety security clips.

Incognito’s 15-inch ceiling allows George, my tallest test cat, to stand without bumping his head. He could also turn around, even if it was a squeeze. Slim padded carrying straps, reminiscent of purse straps, don’t slide off of my small shoulders.The handles and shoulder strap felt comfortable in my hands and against my shoulders. I carried my test cat all over with mall without anyone the wiser. I’ll also admit to sneaking kitties into grocery stores after trips to the vet. As long as they kept quiet, nobody caught on.

A Velcro strip between the handles sometimes catch in my clothes, but that is the only drawback.

The carrier retails for $74.00 plus shipping from the manufacturer’s web site: www.SturdiProducts.com. For more information call 800-779-8193.

 

 

Cat safety, Special Days

Fourth of July Cat Safety Tips

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Cat safety should be a 24/7/365 job, but more pets disappear around the July 4th holiday than any other time of year, even Halloween.
Cat safety should be a 24/7/365 job, but more pets disappear around the July 4th holiday than any other time of year, even Halloween.

Independence Day Cat Safety

Almost everyone loves the Fourth of July! Who doesn’t look forward to all the patriotism, picnics, barbecue, beer and fireworks? Cat Safety

Unfortunately your cat doesn’t share your enthusiasm for the July 4th celebration. Our pets have a whole different perspective. What we love most about the holiday, the fabulous fireworks and neighborhood firecrackers, may seem to cats and dogs like the alien invasion from science fiction movie, Independence Day, where humans (and pets) once again face a violent and noisy end of the world. It’s up to you to pay attention to cat safety and keep your kitty calm and safe on Independence Day and out of claws of hostile aliens.

Cats and Dogs Invade Animal Shelters

Staff at animal shelters across the country also brace themselves for an Independence Day invasion. Not an invasion of killer crabs or shape shifters Martians, but panicky pooches and pusses who disappeared fleeing the noise.

With all the chaos occurring over the holiday weekend, it shouldn’t be surprising that more pets disappear around the July 4th holiday than any other time of year, even Halloween. Loud noises from fireworks may sound like thunder or an explosion to terrified pets—so frightening so they bolt from the yard to escape the perceived threat. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. Animal shelters across the country actually report a 30 percent increase in lost pets reported between July 4 and July 6. Sadly, only 14 percent of those pets ever return to their families.

In addition to explosions and party chaos, wandering pets can fall prey to malicious lowlife. Nine years ago, Zeki, a kitten from Dallas, almost became one of those tragic statistics. Abandoned when her family moved away, she was captured on July 4th by some wacko and mutilated with a hunting knife. Zeki survived and was rescued and eventually found a loving home, but many panicked pets fleeing the flashes and kabooms disappear without a trace.

July 4th Cat Safety Tips

Regardless of your Independence Day plans, keep your pets safe and happy by taking seven simple precautions:

  • Make sure pets wear ID, even indoor pets. However, collars and tags can become lost. In addition to name tags, microchip your cat and keep your contact information current with the microchip registry. In the event your cat and his tags go AWOL, a microchip will give him his last best hope of returning home.
  • Before the weekend arrives, bring your outside cats inside so they can’t run away in a panic.
  • During parties and firework displays, put cats in a calm a bathroom or other escape-proof room. A frightened cat allowed to wander the house may dart out of the door to escape the pandemonium. Set out food and water bowls, litter box and favorite toys. Put a “Do Not Enter” sign on the door to prevent guests from accidentally releasing the kraken (kitty.) Keep pets inside the entire weekend just to be safe.
  • Use pheromone products that mimic the cat’s own friendly pheromones. Synthetic pheromones such as Comfort Zone® with Feliway®, Comfort Zone® with Feliway® Multicat, and Sentry Calming Spray for Cats and the Sentry Calming Collar may help your cat cope more effectively with loud noises, house guests and other stressful situations.
  • Play soothing music, white noise or cat videos to mask the sound of fireworks. Even better, offer music specifically composed or arranged to calm kitties such as Music For Cats or Through a Cat’s Ear. Start the sound therapy before the guests arrive or the fireworks start.
  • Calming vests. Swaddling apparel such as a Thundershirt or CalmCat shirt may reduce anxiety in cats.
  • Take action immediately if your cat goes missing. As soon as you realize your cat can’t be found, contact your local animal control facility and your cat’s microchip registry. Put up lost cat flyers. Always visit the animal shelter and eyeball all the cats. The person taking your report may not make the connection between your cat and your description of your cat.

Did we leave anything out? Have you lost a cat over the Fourth of July? Tell us about it in the comment section below.

Cat safety should be a 24/7/365 job, but more pets disappear around the July 4th holiday than any other time of year, even Halloween.
Cat safety should be a 24/7/365 job, but more pets disappear around the July 4th holiday than any other time of year, even Halloween.

About Dusty Rainbolt

Author Dusty Rainbolt is an award-winning veterinary journalist according to her answering machine. She is an associate certified cat behavior consultant and member of International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, as well as past president of the Cat Writers’ Association. Her books, columns, reviews and articles have been honored with more than 50 writing awards including three-time recipient of Friskies Writer of the Year. Her just-released award-winning cat behavior book, Cat Scene Investigator: Solve Your Cat’s Litter Box Mystery, is the consummate guide for dealing with a cat who sidesteps his/her appointed toilet. CSI, which provides science-based methods for determining the medical or behavioral causes of feline inappropriate elimination, teaches cat parents to view their cat’s litter box avoidance through the eyes of a detective to determine the cause and, ultimately, the remedy.