Category: Blog Hops

Raena sits on cat tree #RememberMeThursday

Tell All Tuesday: Keeping The Gut Healthy #ChewyInfluencer

Published on by Service Cats U.S.16 Comments

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. I’s comin’ to ya’ live from the new swamp lands of Oklahoma. Just kitten. MOL  Altho’ there’s some floodin’ goin’ on, we’re not swampy…least not yet. And the better news is that sissy, has been hangin’ out with me and mommy ‘stead of hidin’ huntin’  UTB. 

 

 

Dezi lays atop the liberty cat tree while Raena scratches her neck on the ledge below

 

 

 

          Me sure has Raena. Altho’, me’s thinkin’ you might wanna do some hidin’ UTB today. Me heard mommy say somethin’ ‘bout it bein’ your turn to go to the V-E-T. 

 

 

Raena sits on the table at the Vet's office

 

 

 

What are you meowin’ ‘bout sissy? I’s done went to the V-E-T this year. Don’t you ‘member? Mommy took me in cuz me’s eyes were all gunky. 

 

 

          Yeah, well, you didn’t get stabbed at that ‘pointment, did ya’? Cuz that’s the kind of ‘pointment you have today. Our State requires that we get a rabies shot every year or three, and your time’s up. 

 

Nooooooo!!! I’s don’t wanna go get stabbed and jabbed. Furiends, come save me, purrlease!!! 

 

Chewy Logo

 

          Hmmmmpht  Me doesn’t think anypawdy can save ya’ from this Raena. Befur ya’ go, let’s meow ‘bout the Fortiflora we got from Chewy this month. Ya’ know when mommy changed us over to raw food she started addin’ ProBiotics to our meals to help with keepin’ our guts healthy. But befur that, mommy added Fortiflora to me’s meals to help me switch from kibble to raw. See, peeps seem to think that it tastes like kibble and will fool us kitties. Me wasn’t fooled. Nope not fur even a minute. But hey, it tasted purretty good, so me obliged mommy and ate me’s new noms.

 

Fortiflora Probiotics

 

 

 

Really sissy? Is that what kibble tastes like? I’s never had kibble befur. Let’s see what Chewy has to say ‘bout it. 

 

 

 

Description

For the dietary management of cats with diarrhea, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora probiotic supplement has been proven to promote intestinal health and balance as well as a healthy immune system. Proven safe and effective, FortiFlora contains guaranteed levels of the probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium SF68 to provide shelf stability and to arrive alive in the intestinal tract.

Key Benefits

  • Contains 500 Million live microorganisms.

  • Proven to promote intestinal health & balance with microencapsulated probiotics, which guarantees that they arrive alive in your pet’s digestive tract.

  • Contains antioxidant vitamins E, C and beta-carotene which have been shown to support a strong immune system.

  • Tastes great, has excellent palatability and may even increase a pet’s desire to eat.

  • Easy to feed – just sprinkle on your pet’s food.

Ingredients

Animal Digest, Enterococcus Faecium, Brewers Dried Yeast, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Zinc Proteinate, Taurine, Salt, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.

Caloric Content

3,848 kcal/kg, 4 kcal/packet

 

Mommy says it kind’a looks like blood when ya’ dissolve it in water. It’s a really fine brownish powder that gets sprinkled over a kitty or doggy’s noms.

 

Dezi sniffs the box of Fortiflora

 

 

 

          Me’s not so sure it makes us want to eat more, but it doesn’t make us turn our noses up at dinner either. It’s made by Purina and comes in 2 different sizes, 1) 30 count box or 6) 30 count boxes and costs $27.99 to $167.94. Accordin’ to the directions, kitty should get 1 whole packet daily. Mommy usually divides the packets t’ween us and our meals. We get a little over each meal. Me likes it just fine and gives it 3 paws up.  What ‘bout you Raena? 

 

Dezi and Raena eat out of their new dishes

 

 

 

It’s okay sissy. I’s give it a couple paws up too. Mommy says it’s a bit on the ‘spensive side considerin’ it’s only a 30 day supply fur one kitty. That means ifin ya’ give it as directed, it’s almost a dollar a day on top of the cost of kitties noms. So, mommy gives it one thumb up. As always, we give Chewy all paws and thumbs up. They have purroducts fur the whole family and offur speedy furee shippin’ on all orders $49.00 and up; as well as speedy flat rate shippin’ on all other orders. And, their customer service peeps are just pawsum and available 24/7. You can even set up an autoship so you never run out of your pet’s favorites and save an additional 5% on most everythin’.

 

 

Disclaimer: We received a box of Fortiflora in exchange for our honest opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it. Chewy nor Purina are responsible for the opinions expressed unless otherwise stated. We only bring you products we use or have tried and believe would be of interest to you, our readers and furiends.

 

          You never have to worry ‘bout those autoships, isn’t that right Raena? You can always skip, cancel or delay up to 24 hours prior to shipment. And Chewy has the bestest boxes ever. With Christmas right ‘round the corner, you know you oughtta check ‘em out. Me hopes mommy adds a little birthday surprise to our next autoship fur me. 

 

And me too sissy. I’s wanna surprise too. 

 

Dezi and Raena bather atop the Liberty cat tree

 

 

 

          ‘Course you do Raena, but it’s not your birthday, it’s me’s time. Meowin’ of special surprises, ‘member that Cat Amazing puzzle toy? Well, Andrey’s gone back to the drawin’ board and has created one called the Epic. Check it out the kickstarter campaign right now. Y, me even bets it’ll be available at Chewy in no time. 

 

Sure nuff sissy. We better wrap this up and finish our brekky. Click here to see other Chewy product reviews.

 

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

 

Raena: Navy Blue 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue  

 

 

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee

Dezi with headphones on - selfie

Blest Sunday: Sisterly Conversations

Published on by Service Cats U.S.24 Comments

MeOW  WooHoo  It’s Blest Sunday and me has so much to give fanks fur this week. RaenaBelle, where are you, it’s time to count our Blessings. Me swears, you’re never where you’re s’posed to be. (Raena comes running down the hall and jumps over Dezi) Hisssssssss Quit jumpin’ on me!!! Kittens, You can be such a pest sometimes. 

 

Blest Sunday purple kitty clip art graphic

 

          But I’s luvs you sissy. I’s just wanna play with mine’s bestest sisfur ever. 

 

Dezi and Raena eat out of their new dishes

 

 

Me’s your only sisfur, Raena. Besides, what you call play is more like bein’ a pest. You know, like me’s piddle purroblems. Mommy insists that me splain to everypawdy why me was avoidin’ the pawtty box, so they wouldn’t think mommy be mistreatin’ me and overlookin’ me bein’ sick. Furst me wants to meow fank you fur your concern, but me’s pawtty box issues are more behavioral and have a name…RaenaBelle the mighty huntress. 

 

Raena lays on top of the litterbox

 

 

 

          You blame me fur everythin’ sissy. It ain’t right, just not right at all. I’s gonna tell mommy you’re bein’ mean to me. 

 

Hmmmmpht  Go ahead Raena, you’re fur sure to blame here. Some of ya’ may ‘member back when sis Lexi got sick and had trouble balancin’. Mommy took the covers off our pawtty boxes to help her. Then when Raena showed up, she kept tryin’ to play with me’s tail while me was takin’ care of business; so we had to get a new pawtty box with a lid. Things were goin’ purretty well till this summer, when Raena took up layin’ in wait on top of the pawtty box. Me swears, the girl never stops. Anyways, bein’ the ambush hunter she is, she started tryin’ to whacky paw me while me was usin’ the facilities. So, me’s only recourse was to pawtty somewhere else…the floor and then the piddle pads. Most of this has been worked out, but mommy decided to leave some piddle pads down, just in case. And of course, she hopes we’ll use them fur hairballs and upset tummy hurls. 

 

Raena wipes her eye while laying on the cat scratcher

 

 

 

          Yeah, like you’d actually try to hit a piddle pad sissy. When you need to hurl, you just stand up and let ‘er rip no matter where you are. 

 

That’s not true Raena, me hit the piddle pad just the other day. 

 

          Sure you did sissy. That was after lettin’ a big chunk go on the floor and mommy runnin’ over to try to put somethin’ unner you. You took off runnin’ down the hall and hit the edge of a piddle pad. 

 

Dezi eats out of new dish

 

 

 

Still, me did hit it Raena and that’s all that counts. Anyways, ‘nuff ‘bout all that. What did you think of our new dinner plates that we won? 

 

          I’s thinkin’ I’s gonna like ‘em sissy. At furst I’s was a little ‘fraid of ‘em. But hey, they hold more than our current dishes, so that’s a win in mine’s book. Now we just gotta convince mommy to fill ‘em up.

 

Me agrees Raena. No sense in lettin’ all that space go to waste. Me knows you like that they’re shallow cuz of your smashed face. 

 

Dezi and Raena eat out of new dishes

 

 

 

          Mine’s face isn’t smashed sissy. I’s just got a short nose. Mommy says I’s bootyful, even with mine’s short nose. 

 

Whatever Raena. Hey did you see me’s new get up fur the Cat Scout choir auditions?  

 

          I’s did sissy. Can I’s use it too? I’s luvs to sing. Maybe we can record a song and dedicate it to mommy. We’re so Blest to have such a pawsum mommy, and I’s sure she’d luvs to hear us sing a song to her. 

 

Dezi with headphones on - selfie

 

 

 

We’ll see Raena. Furst me has to figger out how to set up everythin’. But you’re purrobably right, mommy would luv us to sing together. She luvs any kind of togetherness. And, since me’s been hangin’ out with ya’ll all week in spite of the storms, she’s on cloud nine right now. 

 

          That’s true sissy. I’s know we’re both very purroud of you fur overcomin’ your fears. 

 

How many times does me have to tell ya’, me’s not afraid Raena. Me just didn’t see any need to hunt UTB this week. 

 

Raena lays in mommy's lap getting loveDo you like mine’s pawrty plans mommy?

 

 

 

Sure sissy, whatever you meow. Anyways…I’s wanna give fanky fanks fur you and mommy. I’s so Blest to be a pawrt of our family. And, we’re so Blest to have such amazin’ furiends. And meowin’ of furiends, I’s was thinkin’ we could have a Carnivale themed pawrty to celebrate your birthday and gotchaday. You know, like in Venice. What do you think? I’s thinkin’ everypawdy could throw on their bestest carnivale masks and send us their fotos. We could even have a contest fur the bestest outfit. 

 

 

Dezi looks up at the cat tree while laying on the arm of the chair

 

 

 

That sounds like fun Raena. You just might pull of me’s pawrty after all. Me can’t wait to see all our furiends dressed up fur the pawrty. Let’s wrap this up fur now so me can go and find me’s own mask. As we do each week, we’d like to remind you all to take a minute today and every day to Give Thanks fur the Blessings in your lives. Fank you fur bein’ Blessings in ours. 

 

          Don’t furget the Sunday Selfies with the Kitties Blue. 

 

And, there’s still time to enter our Piddle Pad give away here. 

Put on your Carnivale masks, your best duds and send your foto too: lexi.dezi@yahoo.com

 

Till the next time…………………………………………………Be Blest!!! 

 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue 

Raena: Navy Blue

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Dezi in harness

Service Cats: Pet Food Ingredients: Pt. 1

Published on by Service Cats U.S.24 Comments

What You Should Know About Your Pet’s Food:

 

MeOW  Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. We’re workin’ hard on exposin’ the truths behind the ingredients in your pet’s food. Who knew it could take so long to find definitions and reasons fur everythin’ pet food companies put in those bags and cans or pet feed. It’s fur sure nufffin’ like you humans walkin’ up to the butcher and orderin’ a grass fed steak as opposed to grain fed. Anyways, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series you can ketch up by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page. And don’t furget to submit your own questions or topic suggestions by leavin’ a comment below or sendin’ us a purrivate email via our Contact page.

 

Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

 

 

 

 

The following post will be written in human English for reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat posts aren’t intended to be an all inclusive Training Manual but rather Tips, Tricks and Techniques used/developed by mommy A thru her many years of animal training, cats in purr-ticular. And to offer insight into your questions about Everything Feline. Always remember, successful Training is all about Repetition and Rewards.

 

Raena sits posing in her tiger harness

 

 

 

     So, we thought we’d break things up a bit. There’s just too many ingredients in most pet feeds to list in one post anyways. We will be covering a lot of ingredients in this mini-series. Not all the ingredients we’ll cover are in every food/feed on the market. These posts are just to make you aware of what you need to look for and/or avoid. More than a few years back, the standard for label reading was to check for the first 3 ingredients listed. The idea was that those 3 ingredients made up the bulk of the contents of the bag or can. The problem with that theory is that you don’t often know where those ingredients come from, the quality of those ingredients or how they were processed.

 

Different meat cuts

 

 

 

Protein:

     Let’s talk about Protein. Protein is required for your pet to live. Cats being obligate carnivores must have Meat. We can’t survive, much less thrive without it. But, what kind of meat or protein is found in most pet foods? The truth is, you can never be completely sure unless you’re preparing it in your kitchen. Pet food companies want to put pretty pictures on their labels to make it appear as if top shelf meat is contained within the packaging. However, often the protein is comprised of meat meals and by products that you would never feed kitty or doggy if you actually knew the truth. Rarely do they contain anything that remotely resembles the photo on the package. Pet food companies are allowed to use not only appropriately sourced and rendered meats, but also diseased, and non slaughtered animals, such as those killed by lethal injection (phenobarbital), road kill, drowned due to acts of God, etc.. Not only are these animals used, but they also throw in the feathers, hooves, beaks and everything else.

 

     It’s then cooked at high temperatures, removing most if not all nutritional values, bleached/sterilized and then dried to be made into pet feed. At this stage it’s no longer called meat, it’s called meat meal. Now, pet food manufacturers would have you believe that meat meal provides a higher quality of protein for your pet than the actual meat does. If that’s the case, why don’t you humans eat meat meal? Why doesn’t the USDA (truthaboutpetfood.com) approve of these meats for human consumption?

 

Raena looks back from her dinner plateFanky fankfully, mine’s dinner is made with human grade meats

processed in a facility overseen by the USDA.

 

 

     Mommy says she remembers a time when all pet foods had a statement on the label that warned against using the same utensils for pet food as one would use for human foods, even though those utensils would be washed between uses. That’s when mommy got serious about looking into the food she fed. After all, if whatever is contained inside that package is so toxic that it can’t even be cleaned off a stainless steel utensil, then how could it possibly be safe for us to eat?.

 

 

Dezi lays on the floorTime fur a nap.

 

 

The reality is, that there are far more deceptive tactics and ingredients in the pet feed industry. However, Not every company or food is bad. The best thing one can do is to educate themselves, and know the products you’re buying and serving to Fluffy and Fido. We’ll delve into more ingredients in the coming posts. Until then, get your questions asked and topic suggestions in. Just leave them in the comments section below or send us an email. And don’t furget to check out the other posts in this series on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page in our menu. We’re joinin’ Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday. Our purrayers go out to all affected by the weather and storms.

 

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

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

 

Dezi gets love while laying in mommy's lap

Blest Sunday: Dezi Held Her Ground

Published on by Service Cats U.S.26 Comments

MeOW MeOW (Dezi runs through the house mewing and swishing her tail as the storms outside rage)  Look, mommy, me’s not hidin’!!! C’mon RaenaBelle, let’s eat dinner; it looks so yummy. Then maybe we can play. (Suddenly there’s a clap of thunder that shakes the walls. Dezi looks up from her dinner plate with concern, as Raena runs up the cat tree and back down again. Dezi looks over at mommy A who smiles and says it’s okay. Dezi walks over to mommy A for a little love and pets and returns to eating her dinner.) 

 

Raena lays atop the liberty cat tree with arm outstretched

 

 

 

          I’s really purroud of you sissy. It’s stormin’ like crazy out there and here you are, actin’ like it’s just another day. I’s been tryin’ to tell ya’ that the storms can’t hurt you and now you can see it fur yourself. Wanna play?

 

Hmmmmpht  Me saw your eyes get bigger than saucers a few times too Raena. Miss ain’t afraid of anythin’ looked a little scared just a few minutes ago.

 

          I’s wasn’t scared sissy. But, that thunder boomer sure was loud. I’s don’t think I’s ever heard one quite that loud befur. (Suddenly there’s another loud clap of thunder and the lights flicker. Dezi and Raena look at each other and then over to mommy A who sits calmly smiling at them. And then another clap and the lights flicker off. There’s a pop from down the hall and then the lights come back on. Mommy A gets up to reset the breaker that got switched. Raena runs after her.) Wait mommy, I’s wanna be right beside ya’. I’s can purrtect ya’ ifin the lights go out again. You know we kitties see really good in the dark; much better than you. 

 

Dezi gets loving while laying in mommy's lap

 

 

 

What a kiss up you are Raena. Kittens, it’s not like the lights were out fur hours. Besides, what do you think all these candles sittin’ ‘round the house are fur? 

 

          Well sissy, I’s always kind’a wondered what they did? I’s mean, they do smell nice, but I’s sure didn’t know they put off light. 

 

Yeah, me’s only seen them a few times me’s self. Mommy used to burn them more, but she says the good ones costs lots of green papers so she’s savin’ ‘em fur special occasions. And of course to find the pawtty box room ifin the ‘lectricity be out. Unlike us, she can’t find her way ‘round with her nose. MOL

 

Raena lays on the liberty cat tree

 

 

 

          You are a funny one sissy. In any case, I’s just happy that we’re all together and safe and that you didn’t run UTB at the fust sound of storms. I’s know that makes mommy happy too. I’s even heard her fanky fankin’ God fur blessin’ her with such amazinly pawsum babies.

 

Me heard her too Raena. Mommy’s always givin’ fanks fur how Blest she is and how much of a Blessin’ we are fur her. Sometimes, me thinks she’s got it all wrong. We’re the Blest ones. Only God knows what our fates would’a been ifin He hadn’t sent mommy to us. While we’re meowin’ ‘bout our Blessings, me would like to meow that every kitty who crosses paths with a rescuer is a Blest kitty indeed. You rescuers and tenders of ferals are just as Blest as the kitties you tend. We know some of those kitties may never let you close enuff to even touch them, but we know they luv you and they know they owe their lives to your kindness and luv. 

 

Raena lays atop cat tree with arm outstretched

 

 

 

          That’s so true sissy. And, with all the stormin’ goin’ on, we should count our Blessings now. Mommy says it may be days befur these pass over so we gotta make the most of any lull. I’s wanna make sure that we get the word out and invite all our furiends fur your Birthday pawrty. We are Blest to have so many wonderful furiends and it just wouldn’t be a purr-opurr celebration without all of them. As most everypawdy knows, your Birthday is on November the 1st and your Gotchaday was just a couple weeks later, so I’s plannin’ a mid month pawrty. We’ll keep everypawdy updated as the plans get squared away. 

 

Dezi gets love while laying in mommy's lap

 

 

 

Y, Fank you Raena. You’re right, it wouldn’t be the same without all our furiends there to celelbrate with me. We better wrap this up so you can get back to plannin’. As we do each week, we’d like to remind you all to take a minute today and every day to Give Thanks fur the Blessings in your lives. And we’d like to fank you all fur bein’ Blessings in ours. And, me’s gonna beat Raena to it today, we’re joinin’ the Kitties Blue fur Sunday Selfies. 

 

          Don’t furget, there’s still time to enter the give away here fur Prancie’s Prayer. 

 

You’ve always gotta have the last word don’t ya’ Raena?  

 

Do you think we should have a theme party?

If so, what theme would you like to join? 

Or, do you have another brilliant idea for Dezi’s party?

 

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

 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue 

Raena: Navy Blue

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle