A Few Of My Favorite Things

Hi, my name is Fo. I am a cat and I love feathers! Feathers are one of my favorite things to play with. To me, feathers are mystical. They feel so silky and they float and I'm told that feathers are very pretty to look at. I say “I'm told” because I am blind. I was born blind so not seeing isn't a big deal for me. Without my sight, I hear better than most other cats and although cats have a great sense of smell, mine is even better. My whiskers help me “see” where I'm going, so being blind hasn't slowed me down at all.

Catnip is another of my favorite things. Catnip is a plant in the mint family and there are about 250 different kinds of catnip. The one thing they all have in common is something called nepetalactone. Nepetalactone is what makes it so special to cats. Because it's the smell of catnip that cats react to, I really enjoy playing with catnip.

Not all cats respond to catnip but for those of us who do (about 50%), catnip is a fun, fun experience. When I smell catnip I love to roll on the floor, rub on the carpet and run around the house. I go, go, go and then, boom, time to crash. But, it's okay. Catnip is not harmful to cats and we know when we have had enough. Sometimes, after I rest, I like to go back and play some more with catnip and sometimes, I don't.

Catnip is best when it is fresh. I like it when my human girl brings me a new catnip toy. Lots of pet stores sell catnip inside toys or in little bags and just a teeny, tiny bit is enough. Catnip is easy to grow so if your human likes plants they can keep a pot growing in the window and you can sniff it anytime you want. If your humans grow catnip they can dry it and sprinkle it on the floor for you or your human can pinch off the leaves, put them in an airtight container and freeze them for later.

One other really good thing about growing catnip is that mosquitoes don't like it! When I told Zeva about catnip keeping mosquitoes away, she said she was going to get her Mom to plant some all around their pen to keep the bugs away.

It's good to know that dogs and people can benefit from catnip even if they don't have the same fun, fun we cats do.

I will be writing for Zeva's blog regularly so if you share your house with a cat or have friends that are cats, please let them know. I would love to meet them and hear all about them. I'd be interested in where they live and how they love to spend their days.

Love,

Your furry feline friend,

Fo

P.S.  If you haven't checked out the cat gift baskets at PawPalsBoutique.com you really should.  They put catnip toys in lots of the gift baskets!

Here We Grow!

We're a small, family owned company. I had been doing lots and lots of different things in the company so when DixieLee came to live with us a couple of years ago she was able (after I trained her) to help me with product testing and help Dad with shipping and receiving.

When we decided to give the Pet Division its own website, we contacted my friends Bumo and Miu and asked them to help. Bumo and Miu are dogs who live with their graphic artist Mom. They helped me design our new website and are really helpful with market research. I love the logo they designed, don't you?

I think we make a good team but there was still something missing. Cats. Many of our clients are cats and we have lots of gift baskets designed specifically for cats but, if we are going to grow and give our clients what they want, we needed input from cats.

We were so lucky! Bumo and Miu have a cousin who is a cat and they told me about her. Her name is Fo and she is super special. You see, Fo was born blind.

I'm getting ahead of myself here. Fo was born in a litter of four kittens. A human girl named the kittens Fee, Fi, Fo and Fum, like in the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Anyway, when the human girl found that Fo was special, she asked her parents if she could keep her.

Fo loves her human girl so much. She spends all the time she can with her. She sits with her while she does her school work and listens really well when her human girl read stories. Fo started thinking about stories and how wonderful they are. Stories take you to places you physically can't go, especially if you are a blind cat.

Not long after Fo started thinking about telling stories, the human girl brought another cat home. A little kitten she named Alpha. Like most youngsters today, Alpha is very tech savvy. Even with paws, Alpha became really good at typing on the computer. So, while the human girl is at school, Alpha and Fo spend their time surfing the web.

Fo and Alpha have agreed to help us by being guest contributors to our blog. They are very excited and look forward to your comments. I hope you find their blogs interesting and informative and if you have any questions about cats, please, let them know.

As always,

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant Self-promotion.  Check out our new website and tell us what you think.  PawPalsBoutique.comhttp://pawpalsboutique.com/

Dogs At Play

Playing is so much fun I didn't realize it is actually very good for dogs.  You've heard the expression "a tired dog is a good dog", well, it's true.  I can see it with my sister DixieLee.  I'm a pretty laid back dog but DixieLee is hyper.  If we don't do a lot of play she manages to find some way to get into trouble.

Neither one of us is a puppy any more be we still love to wrestle and fight like puppies do.  Some people think we are vicious because we play rough but we know the rules and never hurt one another.  When we go to day care we have  to remember that not all dogs like to play as hard as we do.  If I am playing too hard the other dog will let me know.  He will nip me or just not want to pay any more.  If this happens I know I need to say I am sorry and then most of the time they will want to play some more.

Chasing around the pen is another of our favorite games.  DixieLee can run really, really fast.  We love to chase each other around the house too but Mom gets all grumpy we we race down the hall to see who can jump on the bed first then race back down the hall to see who can get the best seat on the couch.

We like to play with our humans too.  It's great fun to steal socks and have them pay tug of war with us.   Mom doesn't like that game so much but she will play if we use one of our tug toys instead.  Games that make me think are lots of fun. Dad does good hide and go seek and I love when I have to figure out how to get the kibble out from inside the Kong.

Play is good exercise too.  We like to take Mom and Dad on hikes because they are getting old and exercise helps to keep them young.  Walking also keeps everyone's weight down.  Being a lab, I love to eat and if I don't get enough exercise, I get a buffalo butt.  Going on hikes is fun and going on hikes at Dog Park is the BEST.  It's so much fun I never want to leave so sometimes I don't get in the car when I am supposed.  Not getting the care makes it so everyone has to stay longer.

Some dogs like to chase balls or Frisbees but DixieLee and I would rather chase squirrels.  We never catch them cuz they can climb trees but one of these days...

I hear that we re going to go to day care tomorrow.  The weather has been cold and rainy and I hate to get wet so we have been staying inside.  The day care people have a big covered outside area where we can play and we can run all we want in the big inside room.  It's lots of fun to run inside and not have anyone tell you to stop!  The bestest part is that there are so many other dogs to play with.  I can't wait. Maybe I'll see you there.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  We now have our very own website with the BESTEST dog gift baskets in the whole Universe.  Check it out at pawpalsboutique.com

My Space

I am internet savvy dog but I'm not talking about the social media site, I'm talking about the place in our house that is all mine.  My sister DixieLee and I share our house with our two humans.  We get to play in all the rooms and even have a big fenced in place in the yard where we can run and play.

We get to sleep on the sofa, Dad's comfy chair and even the big bed.  We love sleeping on the big bed cuz we can see out of the window and watch the birds and squirrels during the day and cuddle with Mom and Dad during the night.

That's lots of places to share but there is one space in our house that is all mine.  My crate.  Nobody gets to go in my crate but me.  DixieLee tries to steal my blanket sometimes but we made the rule that we each have our very own crate.  Period.

I've had my own crates since I was a baby.  Those crates were smaller than the one I have now cuz I've grown some and crates need to be the right size.  A crate should be big enough for a dog to stand up in and turn around in and to lie down comfortably but shouldn't be too big.

Lots of people think crates are only used for house breaking.  Others think crates are places for punishment.  Sure, crates are good training tools but they should be places of safety and comfort, not places only used for punishment.  Some times we are told to go to our crates for a time out but it's only for a little minute.  When DixieLee does something and she knows she has been bad, she gives herself a time out in her crate.  Her time out usually last as long as it takes Mom to clean up whatever she has gotten into.

When there are big noises, like a thunder storm, a crate is a good place to go where we know we are safe and we get unstressed out.

A good crate should feel like a den.  Our ancestors made their homes inside of dens because they were safe places.  DixieLee's crate has wire on all the sides so Mom put a nice blanket over the top and two sides so it is private and cozy.

We have soft blankest in our crates that we can make into nests and snuggle down in.  Some people use old clothes with their scents on them which is a nice because dogs like the smell of their humans.  If you like to chew things, your humans should be careful with blankets, clothes or dog beds. 

Chewing on blankets and stuff is very dangerous for dogs and can make you very sick or even died.

When DixieLee first came to live with us, she was afraid I would steal her food so she ate in her crate.  Once she got used to me and learned I wouldn't steal her food, she started eating in the kitchen next to me.  We still eat in our crates when we have a special treat like a carrot or a marrow bone.  Mom says crate floors are easier to clean than rugs.

It's raining today and DixieLee is being a pest.  So, if you will excuse me, I think I will go in My Space for some alone time and maybe a nap.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out the BESTEST pet gift basket company in the Universe at pawpalsboutique.com 

Talkin' Trash

I hate to be a snitch but DixieLee is in trouble again.  We understand.  Before she came to live with us, she lived on the streets and didn’t have anyone to give her food so she had to find her own.  She said the best place to find yummy food was in people’s trash bins and sometimes she didn’t eat for days because she couldn’t find any bins and was hungry for days.

When she came to live with us, she didn’t realize we get good food and treats all day long and she would go into the trash because there was food there.  She was sneaky about it and only did it when she thought Mom and Dad wouldn’t see her so it was hard to teach her not to go in the trash and of course she wouldn’t listen to me.

I can see how frustrating it was for Mom and Dad to come into the kitchen and see trash spread all over the place.  DixieLee especially likes to eat paper towels so she would hide paper towels in her crate.

Mom bought trash bins with tops, but DixieLee figured out how to get into all of them, until, Mom found a bin with a top that could only be opened by stepping on a thingy on the bottom.  As smart as she is, DixieLee couldn’t manage the stepping on the thingy part.  She tried just knocking the whole thing over but the top still stayed shut.

We thought she was cured of her dumpster diving but recently she started trying to get into the little bin in the bathroom.  A dog has a sense of smell that is a gazillion times better than a people’s sense of smell so I can see why she would want to get into the kitchen trash where food goes.  I sometimes get tempted when I smell chicken bones but I know how bad going in the trash is.  So I asked DixieLee what was so interesting in the bathroom.  She said not much but she gets bored easily and getting into the trash is just something to do.

If your house has a trash can bandit there are a few things you can do to keep the peace.

1.  You can buy trash bins with tops.  There are several different kinds and you may not need the super metal ones with the step on thingy like we have.  They work best for us and they come in lots of sizes so we use them in the kitchen, bathrooms and Mom’s workshop.

2.  Keep your trash in a cabinet or closet.  That didn’t work for us since DixieLee learned how to open all the cabinets.  We even have a child proof lock on the cabinet that holds our dog food.   It’s not too bad when you only have to open it a couple of times a day but having to unlock it several hundred times a day gets old fast.

3.  Place the can out of reach.  This is sort of like using a cabinet or closet.  Mom keeps one bin in our studio on top of her work station.  It’s convenient for tossing ribbon ends and other trash but too high for DixieLee to reach.  Your garage is a great place for your bin if you have a door right in your kitchen.

4.  If your dog is getting into the trash because she’s bored like DixieLee, the best way to stop her is to find ways to make her not bored.  More walks or toys like a Kong with peanut butter inside are good ways to keep any dog from getting bored.

Let me know if you are a recovering dumpster diver and what your humans did to help you break your habit.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out the BESTEST pet gift basket company anywhere at pawpalsboutique.com 

A Country Dog Goes To The City

We live in the country where we are surrounded by forests and open spaces.  When we want to go outside to play or to pee, we just go to the door and our humans let us go outside by ourselves.  Of course we have to stay inside our fence but it’s a big area where we are safe.

I’ve talked with friends who live in cities where they live in high houses and they have to get their humans to put on leases and take them out to get exercise or, you know….  It’s a delicate subject and even though we are friends I haven’t asked but I do wonder how they can pee on a sidewalk and not get splashed on their feet and butts.  Even when we walk in town we have lots of grass nearby so I don’t worry about getting splash back and as long as Mom has a pocket full of poop bags, we’re good to go.

Recently I’ve read about a couple of ideas people have had to make living in the city easier for dogs.  In a place called Instanbul in a country called Turkey, one company has set up feeding bins around the city to help homeless dogs and cats.  I think these feeding bins are a wonderful idea.

We know that humans have finally realized that drinking water is very healthy and they carry bottles around with them.  Instead of throwing the empty bottles in the trash where they will hurt the environment, the company in Instanbul made boxes that pour fresh water and some food into dishes to feed homeless dogs and cats when a human put their empty bottle into the box.

All they have to do is put an empty bottle in the top and clean food and water comes out the bottom.  How cool is that?

What a super idea!  Everybody wins!  The humans drink more water, the bottles get recycled instead of getting thrown in the trash and a dog or cat gets a nourishing meal.  What’s not to like?

Another interesting idea I read about lately was the Dog Parker.  It is not only dangerous to leave a dog in a car when the temperature is too hot or too cold, in many places it is illegal.  A dog could easily get died!  We all like to go for rides with our humans and sometimes they need to run errands while they are out. It is very difficult for a human to take their dog for a ride and stop to shop when it is not safe to leave them in the car.

When we go for drives or walks in the city and Mom wants to go to a store, Dad waits with us in the car or on the sidewalk.  That’s fine but what about dogs who are  driving or walking with only one human.  Sometimes they get tied up to a post outside the store which could make them easy to be stolen or to eat something bad.

A human in New York, invented a little house type thing called a Dog Parker.  It’s a very secure dog house where the human can pay money to have their dog stay safe in the Dog Parker while they shop or have some food.  There are some rules like you have to join the Dog Parker club and have to show you have had your shots but it seems like a good idea.  It’s still dangerous for pets to be in an enclosed place when it is too hot or too cold so when it gets really cold or really hot, the Dog Parkers are put away.  It may not be perfect but it’s a start.

Dogs can now fly safely inside planes with their humans on some airlines and lots of hotels allow dogs to stay in the rooms.  We have a couple of big food stores that have staffed play areas so Moms and Dads can leave their children in a safe place while they shop.  Maybe someday stores will have dog parks where dogs can play while their humans shop.

It's not easy being a dog in a human world but we are making progress.  Whether you live in the city or in the country I hope you get to share lots of rides and walks with your humans. 

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out the BESTEST pet gift basket company in the Universe at pawpalsboutique.com 

Canine College

Dogs are really smart animals.  We can do lots of things.  There are Therapy Dogs that provide affection and comfort to humans and Service Dogs that are trained to help people with disabilities.  Seeing Eye dogs were the first Service Dogs but now there are many different kinds of training.  Today dogs can be trained to assist humans with conditions from Autism or Allergy Alert Assistance to Diabetic or Seizure Response and even psychiatric conditions like PTSD.

There are Military Dogs that are trained to do all sorts of important jobs.  Jobs like sentry duty, walking patrol with human troops and being messengers.  Military Dogs, and Police Dogs, are trained to sniff out bombs and drugs.  Some Police Dogs are trained to track lost peoples or to catch bad guys.

I didn’t have any special training, only puppy training, but I thought I was really smart.  I mean, it was my idea to start the Pet Division of Laurel Mountain Basket Co and I helped my Mom get it up and running.  I have my own blog where I take on serious and not so serious issues concerning pets.  I have hundreds of friends on sites like 3 Million Dogs and PetPav.  I am paw pals with dogs all around the world and I can get Mom and Dad (especially Dad) to do pretty much what I want them to do.

I thought I was really smart until DixieLee came to live with us. We don’t know what kind of training DixieLee had before she came to live with us and she's not talking.  For all we know she could have worked for the CIA.  Anyway, DixieLee is lots smarter than even me and Dad.  She might be almost as smart as Mom!

She figured out how to open the cabinet where we keep the kibble so now it has a childproof lock on it.  She knows how it works but you need an opposable thumb to make it open.   Not saying she won’t overcome that obstacle but not just yet.

I don’t mind that she learns commands faster than me.  She was first to figure out “show me where the cookies are”.  No big deal.  We both get cookies even if she learned it first.

What I don’t like is when she outsmarts me.  Everybody knows there is only one THE BEST place to sleep in the house.  In our house it’s the certain corner of the couch.  Couches have two corners but the one nearest the table is the Best one.

Sometimes, when I am sleeping in the Best Corner and DixieLee wants to sleep, she tries to get me to move.  As I said, I am smart so her running up and down the hall and being a total pain may make Mom and Dad wonder what’s going on but I’m wise to her tricks. Or maybe not.

How am I supposed to know that her sounding the alert that there is a squirrel in the yard or that the post person is coming is not for real?  She gets me every time.  She runs to the window or the door so convincingly that I am sure we are under attack.  Then, when I no sooner get to the window or door, she jumps into the Best corner and goes to sleep with that smug look on her face. 

I know many of my friends are really smart dogs.  What is the best trick you know how to do?  And if you know how I can outsmart DixieLee on the Best seat in the house thing, let me know.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant Self-Promotion. With one of our You Name It! Gift Boxes you can say congratulations to your favorite canine upon graduation from puppy school, Canine Citizenship Class, Agility Training or however they show you how smart they really are.