Tag: Cat

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

 

Raena sits on cat tree

Chatting Cats: 12 Amazing And Fabulous Facts

Published on by Service Cats U.S.20 Comments

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. Hey sissy, I’s think we got a new neighbor. I’s saw peeps cartin’ stuffs in to that ‘pawrtment on the end there fur the last couple of days. I’s sure hope all their stuffs didn’t get soaked durin’ the storms. Can you ‘magine sittin’ on a soppy wet chair? Ugh (Raena shudders and turns back to look out the door again.) I’s bet it would stink too. 

 

Dezi lays in chair while Raena gets down behind her

 

 

 

          Actually Raena, me can ‘magine it. Our ‘pawrtment flooded a few years back and everythin’ was wet and yucky. It took furever to get the management peeps to do their job and get us dried out. Are you sure you saw ‘em carryin’ in furniture stuff? Ya’ know, it might just be somepawdy cleanin’ up the ‘pawrtment after the last purrson moved out. Anyways, me thought we were gonna play CK’s amazin’ facts game. 

 

Raena lays on the liberty cat treeI’s don’t know why you kitties don’t wanna purr along with mine’s business plan?.

 

 

 

Oh yeah. I’s just luvs learnin’ things ‘bout our furiends. I’s hope lots of kitties, woofies and peeps play along. Maybe I’s can even get mine’s next business idea from it. Ya’ know, the plans fur Purrs with a Purr-Puss aren’t goin’ so good. Lots of kitties don’t seem to wanna work. They’d rather give their purrs away fur a few measly treats. I’s keep tellin’ ‘em we could be rich, rich, rich and have tons of treats. Y, We could even make enuff green papers to buy our own treat farm. But no, no kitty seems innerested. And well, we can’t be every where ourselves, so looks like I’s need another plan. 

 

Raena lays on scratcher looking over her shoulderBack to the drawin’ board, Raena.

 

 

 

          Sorry ‘bout that Raena. Me did think that was your bestest idea so far. Anyways, let’s answer these questions and see what happens. Me’s sure you’ve got ideas just waitin’ to come out. Me will take the furst question.

 

Blest Sunday purple kitty clip art graphic

 

 

 

1. What is your favorite day of the week?

          Truth is, we luv everyday. Mommy says each day we have together is a Blessing. But, me is pawrtial to Sundays cuz that’s the day we get to meow Fank you fur all our Blessings.

 

 

2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

     It’s mine’s turn now sissy. Altho’, we don’t actually eat many strange things ‘round here. I’s think I’s might have eaten one of those crazy gnats once. And I’s have been known to eat a dried up left over piece of food that you spit out onto the floor. Other than that, we don’t really get many strange things here.

 

 

3. What small business would you like to start?

     Well, I’s tried to start up Purrs with a Purr-Puss. And, I’s not completely sure it’s a dead idea. But I’s will be lookin’ into other ventures. Maybe I’s could get peeps to pay us fur the honor of feedin’ treats to kitties. Or maybe… 

 

          Enuff Raena. Let’s move on to the next question.

 

 

4. What is the best food on a hot summer day?

          When it’s really hot, me doesn’t really wanna eat much. But, me has had a few licks of ice cream befur, and it was purretty tasty.

 

 

Baby Dezi lays in a basket atop a soft bath towel

 

5. When have you had a small decision bring big consequences?

          Me fur sure wants to answer this one. The day me met mommy, me chose to go to her ‘stead of play with me’s 10 littermates. And cuz of that, mommy saved me’s life and brought me home with her to live and luv furever and ever.

 

 

6.What vegetable do you like?

     We’re kitties and obligate carnivores. We don’t like vegetables. Any vegetables. Come to think of it, is mommy an obligate carnivore too sissy? You know, she don’t really like veggies either. 

 

          That’s a good question Raena. Me has no idea. But, you’re right; mommy doesn’t like veggies.

 

 

7. Where are you most likely to be at 8:00 on a Saturday night?

          Anyways, it’s me’s turn. Ifin we’re on time, then we’ll be eatin’ at 8:00 on any night. Least that’s the case at this time of year. Now, in the winter time, we eat at 7:00 p.m.. You oughtta take the next one Raena. You’re the one that watches too much tv and uses all those silly terms you learn.

 

 

8. What slang word or phrase do you like to use?

     Are those slang words sissy? Hmmmmm I’s don’t really have a favorite. I’s hear mommy say somethin’ ‘bout kissin’ her lily white sometimes. Not sure what her lily white is, but…

 

 

 

9. Did you ever want to change your name? If so to what?

          Me would never wanna change me’s name. Mommy said the minute me chose her that me was her Destiny, and that’s what she named me. She just changed the spellin’ so me could be unique. 

 

I’s wouldn’t wanna change mine’s name either sissy. Since mine’s name means new beginnings, I’s think it’s purrfect.

 

 

10. What food do you crave?

          Rabbit!!! Me can meow fur both of us on this one. And pizza, we do luv a good pepperoni pizza.

 

 

Dezi and Raena eat Primal Freeze dried Cat food

 

 

 

11. If your life had a sound track what song would you pick for it?

          Mommy says our soundtraks would be, You are so Beautiful and Unchained Melody and… 

 

It’s mine’s turn sissy. Mine’s would be, Stand By Me and Walk Through This World With Me, and I’s think the soundtrak fur our family would be When You Say Nothing At All and The Keeper of the Stars. Yep, I’s think that’s it fur sure.

 

 

12. If you could have lunch with anyone living who would it be?

          This one’s easy peasy and would be the same fur all of us. We’d luv to have lunch with all of you, our dear furiends. 

 

Dezi atop the liberty cat tree with Raena sitting pretty on a lower ledge

 

You’re so right sissy. That would be such an amazin’ lunch. This has been lots of fun. ‘Course as always, when we get sentimental, we shed a few tears. Mommy says music speaks to the heart and can soothe the savage beastie.

 

          Me thinks that’s why she sings to us so much Raena. She’s tryin’ to calm you down. MOL  

 

Funny sissy, very funny. Let’s go play. I’s think you got a package fur one of your cat scout projects. And, we need to visit a few furiends durin’ the storm’s lull. 

 

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

 

Raena: Navy Blue  

Dezi: Vibrant blue 

 

 

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee

Raena lays atop the liberty cat tree with arm outstretched

Tell All Tuesday: Piddle Pads And Cat Diapers, Oh My

Published on by Service Cats U.S.27 Comments

Raena:  Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. Can anypawdy hear me over all these thunder boomers? Mommy, I’s don’t think anypawdy can hear me. (Raena looks around from her perch at the door and sees mommy taking photos of a very displeased Dezi.)  Sissy!!! What in the world are you wearin’ sissy?

 

 

Dezi layd in chair with diaper

 

 

 

          Dezi:  Nuffin!!! Me ain’t wearin’ nuffin’ but me’s furs Raena!!! Mommy get this thing off me, right now!!! Can’t you see it doesn’t fit? Me has too much tail floof. Besides, what self respectin’ kitty belle would wear such a thing? Me doesn’t care that it would be helpful. Me wishes you had known ‘bout it when sis Lexi was sick too. She would’a fur sure told you where to put it. Me can hear her now. The hissin’ and screamin’…it would’a been epic. What’s that? You think she would’a worn this, just cuz you asked her too? Well, guess we’ll never know. Me can tell ya’ that me will have to be one sick kitty befur you ever come near me with that thing again. Hmmmmpht 

 

 

Pet Parents Brand cat diapers

 

 

 

Sissy, you shouldn’t meow at mommy like that. (Raena sees mommy A heading her way with the diaper and runs.) Don’t you dare mommy!!! I’s a good girl. I’s use the pawtty box every single time. And I’s always try to make it to a piddle pad befur I’s hurl any hairballs. Meowin’ of, I’s know you’re happy that the new Washable Piddle Pads don’t move ‘round all over the floor, but I’s want mine’s slide back. What happened to the cheap plastic ones? 

 

Dezi sniffs diapers

 

 

 

          Well Raena, since you like to use them as slides, they don’t stay put and sometimes get all torn up. Mommy says they won’t absorb much if the piddle absorbing middle is shredded. So, when the peeps at the Pet Parent Brand reached out and offured to send us a couple of washable ones, mommy jumped on it. Me’s not sure why she thought we needed the diapers too tho’. Me’s not wearin’ those, they pinched me’s tail. 

 

Raena sits pretty in the hallwayYou can see how much nicer the Washable piddle pad I’s sittin’ on looks.

 

 

 

You do have a lotta fluff back there sissy. Mommy said she had to order by waist size and not tail floof. Anyways, they may come in handy someday. You know, you’re no spring kitty anymore. 

 

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          HiSssssssss  Watch it Raena, me’s still got it. Me ain’t that old. Anyways, the Piddle Pads and even the diapers are really well made. Mommy said she was really impurressed by them. They’re sturdy, nice and thick, very absorbent and washable. And mommy says they wash up really well too. No shrinkage or bleeding of colors.

 

 

Dezi lays on piddle pad in wheelchair

 

 

 

 

We received the cat diapers and washable piddle pads in exchange for our honest opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it. We only bring products we use or have tried and feel would be of interest to you, our readers and friends.

 

Raena lays atop the liberty cat tree with arm outstretched

 

 

 

They’re nice and soft too, sissy. They’re waterproof, leakproof and they have a Sticky Paw backin’ that keeps them from slidin’ ‘round. They look nice and come in a 2 pack with one gray and one natural, so whether you’re puttin’ ‘em on the floor or the furniture, they look really nice. They also come in a variety of sizes and sell fur $17.00 – $37.00. We give ‘em 4 paws up each and mommy gives ‘em 2 thumbs up. The diapers come in both kitty and doggy form and a variety of colors. Check their website for sizing and color options. The peeps at Pet Parents are lettin’ us give a set Piddle Pads away to one U.S. resident. So be sure to enter by clickin’ the Enter Here graphic below. We’ll be ‘round to visit when weather purrmits.

 

 

 

Give away entry graphic

Give away is open to U.S. residents. You must leave a comment on this post to enter. Click the Enter Here graphic for more entries. Winner will be notified via email and must confirm within 24 hours or forfeit prize and a new winner will be chosen. 

 

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

 

Raena: Navy Blue 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

 

 

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee

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