Month: January 2016

Mixers Monday: Boost Your Pets’ Food

Published on by Service Cats U.S.25 Comments

Well meowllo Monday, weez havin’ a Mixer today. We totally missed a day. Fur all of ya’ dat follow us regular, you’re purrobly wunnerin’ where we was and what happened to Blest Sunday. Well weez still blest, no worries there, but mommy was in so much pain she just flaked out when it came to helpin’ me and sis Lexi on da catputer. It’s winter time in da South and dat means wonky weather and wonky mommy. She purromissed to try to do better. So anyways, weez on to our Mixer Monday. Me knows you really wanna know what me’s talkin’ ‘bout. As part of da Chewy.com bloggin’ team we get to review sum gweat purroducts, and da one we have fur ya’ today is no different. 

Dezi poses for the camera from the arm of the chair

 

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As a lot of ya’ know mommy switched up me’s noms recently cuz of da Cystitis. At this point she sez it was kinda a blessin’ in disguise cuz she was able to get me close to eatin’ a raw diet. Me always luvved fureeze dried treats, but not at meal time. But now…dat’s all me eats. Happy Dezi equals happy mommy. So when Chewy offered to let us try da Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Mixers we was all in. Mommy chose da rabbit furmula fur us, cuz as ya’ know we do luv us sum ‘wascally wabbit’. Now let me tell ya’ these mixers ARE NOT a balanced diet. Dat means they can’t be fed by themselves as your kitty or doggies only food. Thus da name ‘Mixers’. Da ingredient list looks purretty pawsum. 

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Ingredients

Rabbit, pork liver, pork heart, pumpkinseeds, carrots, apples, butternut squash, ground flaxseed, montmorillonite clay, dried kelp, broccoli, mixed tocopherols, apple cider vinegar, salmon oil, rosemary extract, blueberries, dried chicory root 

 

They look like little cylindrical pellets and have a crunch to them. Ifin you’re tryin’ to get your kitty off of da dry kibble they wuld make a gweat topper to get fluffy eatin’ better. Da pieces vary a little in size, and me’s a picky girly and likes everythin’ to be bite size; so mommy has to bweak up da larger pieces. Mommy sez they’re not so hard dat her arthritic hands can’t manage it. And they be made here in U.S. facilities. They come in a 6 ounce bag and fur kitties they come in 2 flavors, chicken and da rabbit we tried. Now dat da business be behind us, let’s get on wiff da eatin’.  Sissy why don’t you tell everypawdy what you think ‘bout da Instinct Raw Boosters Mixers? 

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Faynkz Dezi. I lubz da rabbit mixerz. Mommy addz lotz of water to mine and they puff up a little and don’t habz da saym krunch az they do dry, but they still tayzt grayt. I hayng over da edge of da tayble waytin’ fur mommy to bring my playt. She sez she’z worried I’z gunna topple off da tayble one of theze dayz. But dat’z not da poynt. I give theze Mixerz 4 pawz up.  

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Fanks sissy. Me’s gotta tell ya’ me worries da same thing. Anyways, glad you like ‘em. Now on to me’s ‘pinion. Me has never been da kitty dat meowed fur her meal. Me waited patiently and quietly fur mommy to bring me’s plate. Well not anymore. As soon as me can see dat mommy has da food in our plates, me runs to da livin’ room where me eats and starts meowin’ fur mommy to hurry up and bring me’s plate. As me sed earlier, mommy has to bweak up da larger bits but me licks da plate clean. So me gives these Mixers 4 paws up too. So dat’s 8 paws up fur da Instinct Raw Boost Mixers. Mommy, what do you think?  

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Well Dezi I like that you girls love them. And I like that the first ingredient is meat. Altho’ the bag is only 6 ounces, there’s actually a lot in it. They work great to stretch out your regular food since most freeze dried food is expensive and comes in small sizes. They also would have been a great choice for transitioning you from kibble to good food. And I like that the price, under $15.00 makes them affordable. So I give the Instinct Raw Boost Mixers 2 thumbs up.

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Fanks mommy. So duz dat mean we’ll be getting’ more? While mommy thinks dat over, me wants to tell ya’ dat we received these Mixers furee of charge fur our honest opinion. We didn’t get any gween papers, but hey, sissy and me can’t eat da gween anyways. Furee didn’t change our opinion as you know we always tell it like it is, good bad or otherwise. And we only share those things we use or have tried ourselves and think wuld be of innerest to you all.  Member to check out all da pawsum purroducts at Chewy. They have gweat purrices, customer service, shipping and even auto ship so you never run out of your furries favorite noms, treats or supplies. There’s a new blog hop where you can see all da purroducts reviewed and read everypet’s ‘pinion on what they got. Just click here and check it out. 

 

We have a lot of things to pack into this last week of January so stay tuned. And…

 

Till da next time………………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Dezi and Lexi

A Southern Belle and Her 1/2 Ton Pick Up Truck

Published on by Service Cats U.S.50 Comments

Happy Caturday. Well we went AWOL this past week cuz mommy had to hunker down and help me make a cool ride fur da Cardwood Derby at Cat Scouts. She got a 1 week reprieve last week, but didn’t figger dat was gunna happen again. She also got a little sick, so it was purretty slow goin’. Anyways, by da time we went MIA mommy had already destroyed 3 boxes and was tryin’ to find more. Mommy tried followin’ da written instructions, da picture instructions and da pics in her head. But she readily admits she isn’t da crafty kind. She is in awe of those dat are, but dat just isn’t her talent. Mommy be da artist part of da arts and crafts. She paints and draws and sings and plays instruments and writes of course; but give her craft paper, glue and scissors and she breaks out in hives. When she was yunger, like when dinosaurs walked da earth, she even messed up da linky circles kids made fur Christmas trees.

Dezi poses for the camera from the arm of the chair

So after box 4 was all cut up and didn’t resemble anythin’ but a cut up box, she threw her hands in da air and sed, “Dezi my dear, there are just some things your mommy can’t do, and I’m afraid this is one of them. I’m sorry sweety.” And she sat down and started coughin’. (member she had gotten sick) Me jumped up in mommy’s lap and meowed and patted her face wiff meez paw. Me was tellin’ her dat she was meez mommy and there wasn’t anythin’ she kuldn’t do. And durin’ her coughin’ spell a light went off in her head and she decided to try to draw a car fur herself. So once she quit coughin’ she grabbed up her sketch book and pencils and started drawin’. Me laid on da arm of da chair watchin’ mommy make magic wiff a pencil and she looked over at me and sed, “Y Baby, you’re a little Southern Belle, you need a pick’em up truck.” Meez moniker at Cat Scouts is Dezi La Belle. Anyways, mommy took da pencil to da sketch pad once more and drew up a truck. Voila, Dezi’s Motors was born. 

Side view of home made cardboard truck

We had a few more boxes, but this was da last of them, so she had to get it right da furst time cuz we only had 1 really nice sized box dat me wuld fit in. And to enter da Derby, me must sit in meez vehicle. So once more da measurin’ tape came out and da liquid pencil marked da areas fur cuts. Me hopped on da cat tree to watch from a safe distance as mommy can be quite dangerous wiff cut cardboard pieces and and a box cutter. A cut here, a fold there and a piece of Duck tape later and meez pick up truck began to take shape. Me kuld see hers vision now and it was purretty cool. She was workin’ hard and fast and started sweatin’ up a storm. Mommy decided it was time fur a break and so me looked over da unfinished truck and headed to da back to take a nap wiff sis Lexi. It wasn’t long afur me heard da sound of cuttin’ on da cardboard and duck tape bein’ applied. Suddenly mommy appeared in da doorway of da bedroom and sed, “Come see your truck angel. We need to take your picture so we can get you entered.” Meez respawnse, A half opened eye and a yawn dat sed, yeah, not right now mommy.

 

Me finks me can squeeze fru here.
Me finks me can squeeze fru here.

After all dat work, mommy wasn’t takin’ no fur an answer. She came in and picked me up and carried me to meez awaitin’ 1/2 ton chariot. She put me in meez truck and inserted da last piece of box dat separated da cab from da bed. Well me wasn’t havin’ any of dat. Da largest cut me kuld see was da windshield, but there was actually a windshield there so me kuldn’t escape dat way. Mommy was tryin’ to hold on to me fur dear life and snap a foto wiff hers other hand, but dat wasn’t workin’ out so good fur her. Me saw an openin’ she was callin’ a window, and stuck meez head fru it. Let me tell ya’ ifin a cat can get there head and whiskers fru sumfin’ we are pawsitive we can fit our whole body fru. (dat is a fallacy)  So me purrceded to try to exit out da window. One thing we cats don’t think ‘bout is dat our whiskers can be smooshed flat, our bodies…not so much. Head fru me pulled meez furst paw fru and…OMC…me got stuck. Mommy fru da camera down and tried pushin’ me back in da cab of meez truck to no avail. Me wasn’t goin’ back in there fur nuffin’. She was sure we was gunna have to use da jaws of life to get me out. Dat wuld mean no truck and no entry fur da derby. And well, mommy wasn’t havin’ dat. Me finally managed to get fru da window wiff da truck and meself still in tact. Scroll over da fotos below to see da captions.

 

Y This ain’t so bad after all.
Did ya’ get da foto mommy?

Mommy picked up da camera and took out da cab insert and sat down. She looked at me wiff a tear in hers eye and sed, “Oh darlin’ I worked really hard to make you a truck, won’t you purrlease let me take your picture?” Me cocked meez head to one side, very doglike, and meowed, “Well, since you asked so nicely and you did put a lot of work into meez truck, me will let you take sum fotos.” And me jumped right in meez truck and started checkin’ it out. And yes, da flashy box was flash, flash, flashin’ away. We didn’t have anythin’ to wrap meez truck wiff and mommy didn’t have enuff acrylic paint to paint meez truck so it still looks like a brown box wiff duck tape, but hey, rednecks luv duck tape, it’s a miracle worker. But we didn’t have enuff duck tape to wrap up meez whole truck eever. Considerin’ this is totally not sumfin’ mommy be good at, me thinks she did a fine job. Meez gunna go muddin’ now, so hope you all have a pawsum weekend. And weez joinin’ Athena today fur da Caturday Art blog hop. 

Dezi looks over the side of her derby truck box, cartoonized
Meez a cartoon

Have you or your humans ever made you sumfin’ from a cardboard box? 

 

Till da next time……………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Dezi and Lexi     

Mommy, Why Do Our Friends Have to Die?

Published on by Service Cats U.S.35 Comments

5 Ways To Help Your Pet Get Through the Grieving Process

 

Mommy why duz it have to get cold outside? Why duzn’t da sun always shine? Why don’t all kitties have a home? Mommy, why do our furiends have to die? And why duz me feel so sad when they do?  

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Oh Dezi you sure are full of questions today aren’t ya’? Honey, I don’t know why our friends have to die. I mean, I know that death is part of life, and the Bible says that it’s appointed unto man but once to die. (Hebrews 9:27) And that means all creatures who live on this planet, including our friends baby. Sometimes they just get old and their body gets tired and just can’t go on. And sometimes they get sick and there is no cure for what they have. And sometimes as awful as it is there are accidents that take our friends way before their time. Us humans have control over a lot of things, but only God controls life and death. God allows us all a chance to live and find happiness like we have with each other; until the day He calls us back to heaven. Our friends in heaven are no longer sick or old or in pain. As much as we loved them and wanted them to be a part of our lives forever, they are in a far better place now. The sads we are left with are called grief honey.

 

Grief comes in stages and no one can escape going through them. For humans the five stages of grief are:

  • 1.  Denial 
  • 2.  Anger 
  • 3.  Bargaining 
  • 4.  Depression 
  • 5.  Acceptance 

But animals grieve as well and we, your care takers should be sensitive to that. When an animal bonds with another animal or human, they grieve the loss of that animal or human. Grief in animals can be harder to spot because often the changes are subtle and can range in severity. Some of those changes are:

  • 1.  Appetite (eating less or not at all) 
  • 2.  Becoming more or less vocal 
  • 3.  Appear lost or confused 
  • 4.  Wandering in an attempt to find their lost companion 
  • 5.  Change in sleep patterns (sleeping more or less)
  • 6.  Spending more time with a toy or item used/favorited by their lost companion (clothing, blanket, bedding, etc.) 
  • 7.  Becoming more clingy to remaining household members
  • 8.  Acting Out 

These are just a few symptoms of grief in animals. As humans we must pick up on these subtle changes and do what we can to help you get through the grieving process. A few ways we can help are: 

  • 1.  Let survivors view the body of their lost loved one. ( funerals are for the living. A last chance to say goodbye and accept the finality of a loved ones’ passing.) 
  • 2.  Spend extra quality time with the surviving pet(s). Grooming, longer walks and more playtime are just a few ways to spend that extra time. 
  • 3.  Maintain your routine as closely as possible. 
  • 4.  Maintain discipline for those pets that act out. 
  • 5.  Depending on the severity of grief, adding a new animal to the household might be more stressful. Know your pets, you will be the best judge of when it’s time to bring home a new furry friend.

 

Although you can’t speed up the  grieving process, remember that cat’s shouldn’t go without food for more than 24 hours before it starts affecting their health. And if this process drags on, a trip to the vet might be called for to make sure there’s nothing physically wrong. Animals, just like humans will get through it. God has given us all the capacity to love, accept loss and love again. And also remember your anipals pick up on their humans’ emotions.  

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Fank you mommy fur takin’ da time to explain what meez sads are and how to help us anipals get fru it. Me hopes this will help meez furiends too. We have lost so many furiends this year and it’s still January. Me wants it to stop, but at least now me knows dat they are goin’ to a better place and dat me can get over da sads. Weez joinin’ Rascal and Rocco fur da Pet Parade and tomorrow weez’ll be sharin’ meez Carwood Derby entry fur Cat Scouts. Weez changin’ da day we share our adoptable furiends so stay tuned. 

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Do you know any other ways to help you or your pets get through the grieving process? 

 

Till da next time…………………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Dezi and Lexi   

Wild Prey On A Plate

Published on by Service Cats U.S.35 Comments

Well we sure hope you enjoyed our Service cat posty yesfurday. Yes it kulda been worse. MOL  Anyways, we have sumfin’ pawsum to tell ya’ ‘bout today so get yous caffeinated drink of choice and pull up a chair. As part of da bloggin’ team fur Chewy we get to try out a lot of gweat noms and sumtimes toys and gadgets. We are so blest. We don’t get any green papers fur our reviews, but we do get to try out sum amazin’ purroducts. and this monff was no different. So let me tell ya’ ‘bout what we got besides da gweat Chewy box. 

Dezi poses for the camera from the arm of the chair

 

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Inside dat box was a whole case of Ziwi Peak Rabbit and Lamb canned cat food. Let me tell ya’ they don’t skimp on size eever, each can be 6 whole full ounces. Now there be sum mixed infurmation out there ‘bout Ziwi Peak Cat food so let me tell ya’ a little bit ‘bout it. Da ‘Daily Fresh’ canned cat food be made wiff 100% natural raw meat and contains none, zero, zip, nilch of those controversial ingredients like da carrageenan. Ziwi Peak mirrors da wild-prey diet dat  fits a cats carnivorous needs. Remember it’s made from raw meats to mirror da wild prey model, so it duz contain bone. It’s high in protein and fat from honest to goodness real meat. Fur dat reason tho’ you may wanna innerduce it slowly, specially ifin your kitty has been eatin’ a lower quality food. Such natural goodness kuld upset kitties tummy a little. But not to worry it’s not cuz da food be bad or nuffin’ like dat. In fact, Ziwi Peak was included in a test of 1.759 cat foods and came out in da top picks list. You can view dat list and da testing involved here. So now on wiff da eatin’.

outer can of Ziwi Peak Rabbit and Lamb Cat Food

Sissy and me really like rabbit and lamb is a real delicacy fur us, so mommy was sure to choose da rabbit and lamb furmula fur us. Our box arrived a few hours afur dinner time and we kuldn’t hardly wait. Since sissy and me have been eatin’ high quality high protein diets there was no need fur slow innerductions here. So when dinnertime finally came, mommy opened da can and put sum in our plates. Of course sissy got her plate furst, but me was meowin’ up a storm from da livin room fur meez plate. Mommy wants me to tell ya’ dat it duz have a very strong odor. But dat’s to be spected from game animals. Me also oughtta tell ya’ dat it contains all da vitamins and minerals we cats need so it’s nutritionally balanced. Da texture is similar to a pate, but there are “bites” fru out. 

Can of Ziwi Peak Rabbit and Lamb Cat food

Dezi youz be takin’ too long to get to da likin’ or not part. I know youz gotta tell peepz ‘bout da nomz but they really wanna know what we fawt; don’cha’? I gotta tell ya’ I lubbed it!!! I put my head down and stardid nommin’ rite away. It waz so delishuz. We don’t show ya’ empty playtz in our reviewz cuz well um we ain’t reviewin’ our dishez. But we fawt you oughtta see juzt how good I fawt it waz. So I gibz it a awl pawz up. Dat’z 4 pawz in kayze you waz wunnerin’. Don’t furget to skroll over da fotos below to see what I’z gotta say.  

 

Yummmmm diz is sooooo good
I ate it awl up.

Well fank ya’ Lexi, meez glad you liked it. And what’s better, you continue to like it. Always a good fing wiff a picky CKD kitty. And this food actually be good fur kitties wiff conditions like sis Lexi’s or IBD, Urinary Crystals, Pancreatitis, Food Allergies and more. so you might wanna check it out fur yourself. Now dat sissy fast furwarded to da likin’ stage guess me will tell ya’ what me fawt ‘bout it. It was Yummmmmmmmmy. Me gives it 4 paws up too. So what did mommy fink?

 

Dezi eating dinner
Don’t bother me right now mommy, this is sum good eatin’.

 As Dezi told you earlier, it does have a very strong smell. That is to be expected from game animals, so I just hold my breath while preparing it. lol  I also added a little water for Lexi’s as it is a bit thick and she likes a little gravy with her meals. Because the girls like it, the ingredient deck is easy to read and contains only good quality meat, organs and the necessities and how it faired in testing, I have to give it 2 thumbs up as well. 

 

Fanks mommy. You can get your own by visitin’ Chewy right now. It comes in a variety of proteins so surely there’s one your kitty will like. But never fear, Chewy will always take care of ya’ ifin your kitty dusn’t take to it. Chewy has da bestest customer service peeps so you can shop wiff confidence and know your never stuck wiff a purroduct you can’t use. And while your there, check out all da other pawsum things Chewy has to offer. Let them be your one stop shop fur your pet needs. There’s always free 2-3 day shipping on orders of $49.00 or more and flat rate speedy shipping for all other orders. And don’t furget to set up your auto ship so you never run out your furries’ noms. You can make changes or cancel anytime.

Dezi looking back from the window on the cat tree licking her lips

Yep we still have snow and  da colds. 

 

So dat’s it fur today. All paws and fumms up fur this one here. Fanks fur lettin’ us try this pawsum food Chewy. Weez still workin’ on meez Cardwood Derby car, so weez’ll be visitin’ as we can. Hopefully this will all be over soon and fings will be back to normal. Here’s wishin’ you all a purrfect day.

 

What’s on your or your pets plate these days?

 

Till da next time………………………………………….Be Blest!!! 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Dezi and Lexi