My mom the hero!

Guess what my mom has been up to? She decided to try and fix my broken cat tree! 

I tried to help but I guess it didn't quite do it. But I hope the cat tree holds now, I have to wait for the glue to dry up before I can use it again. I will report back how things turn out!

Going Home: Raisin

TGIFF: it's Feline Friday!

To start the weekend off right, we have a short and sweet Going Home announcement for a short and sweet little kitty named Raisin.

Raisin was just a few months old when she found her snuggly new home with Amanda B. 

Amanda sent us this update via our Facebook page:

"Hi! I adopted Raisin a couple of weeks ago. Just wanted to let you know she is such a love. Thank you so much!!!"

Thank you, Amanda, for giving this itty bitty kitty her new home sweet home!

Want to welcome a new feline into the family? Berkeley Humane's Adoption Center is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 11 AM – 5 PM. Come on by and see if your new kitty is waiting for you!

Cheek to cheek

Sometimes I get all cuddly and sweet with the kids. And sometimes we chase each others around the house.

Anyways, mom wanted to ask you my dear readers, do you have any experience of GPS cat locators? It seems my staff is planning on getting me one for the summer, so that I would't get lost at the cottage. I'm not sure what to think; is it a gesture of love and caring, or is it a violation of the kitty's free will and rights of being able to wander off where ever we feel like? What do you think?

Did you see a bird?

*burp*

Nooo, just kidding! It was just a loose feather from a cushion. No birds were harmed by me!

Going Home: Dahlia

Happy Woof Wednesday, everyone! Today we are back with a special story about Dahlia, who was formerly named Diamond. Not only did she become a precious part of her family, but she also helps her foster brother get used to life with a loving family.


Dahlia is the perfect role model for her foster brother. She is a quick learner, obedient, and makes sure to take care of her foster brother. Let us see what her family, Catherine, says:

"Hello, I adopted Diamond about six months ago from you and wanted to update you! She's huge now! And her ears popped up lol. We are fostering through OAS and PALS and she adores her foster brother. His name is Dancer and we changed Diamond's name to Dahlia. She is definitely a mellow dog and very very smart. She can get hyper but once I break out the treats she falls right into her obedience training. She loves walks and hikes, but has yet to understand the Heel command. She even loves taking baths lol! She was a devil child in the beginning when it came to biting, but since we got her foster brother she rarely bites anymore, except him. They wrestle and play constantly!”


What a cute and understanding dog! In the picture above, we can see Dahlia and Dancer proudly facing the camera.

In the right picture, we see these two happily playing with each other.

We thank YOU Catherine, not only for adopting, but also for taking part in a foster program. The dogs have received tons of love from your family. By participating in the program, we know that Dancer will have a higher chance of getting adopted in the future.

Even if one is unable to adopt, fostering is always another choice. Fostering helps the dogs learn how to live with a family, and helps them get comfortable in that environment.

If you are interested in our foster program in any way, please check out our link here!

Mom...

...you can say what you like...

...but this is MY bed now.

Cold weather fun with cats ...naturally!

Connecticut has had its' first winter storm of the season and the air is cold and crisp, ice is etched on bare tree branches like silver filigree and the landscape is blanketed in a white snowy stole.  It is no time for the cats to go wandering about.  If your cats are anything like mine, they watch and appraise almost every move I make with a look of curious boredom mixed in with a glint of mischievousness!

I have a surprise for them today... it's Nature's Variety Raw Boost Mixers the Chicken Formula.  This company provides holistic nutrition for dogs and cats.  Nature's Variety offers food in a variety of choices from raw frozen diets to grain free cans and kibbles as well as holistic Prairie kibble and cans.  Located in the midwest, the company  hails from St. Louis Missouri with manufacturing operations in Lincoln Nebraska. They make two lines of pet foods, the first is Instinct Foods that specializes in raw frozen diets, kibble, cans, biscuits and freeze dried raw & bones; the second is the Prairie food line that is composed of holistic canned and kibble food.

This food topper is freeze dried for freshness and, best of all it provides pure animal protein for lean muscles and strong bones and contains nutritious oils for a healthy skin and coat -- this caught my eye because raising himalayans it is important that they have food that contains nutrients to help maintain their long luxurious coats.  I was amazed at the delicious ingredients that included chicken, turkey, turkey liver, turkey heart, pumpkinseeds, carrots, apples, butternut squash, ground flaxseed, montmorillonite clay (that acts like a detoxifier), dried kelp, broccoli, apple cider vinegar, salmon oil, mixed tocopherois (a natural antioxidant) , rosemary extract, blueberries and dried chicory root. 

 Ziva and Zoey were especially interested as I plated up their lunch... I put a layer of their favorite cat food on the plate in the shape of a lighthouse, in honor of Connecticut's Sheffield Lighthouse, one of my favorite attractions in the state and studded it with Nature's Variety Raw Boost Mixers the Chicken Formula and added a sprinkle of catnip for garnish!  What a grand feast on a cold winter's day!Needless to say, all five cats -- Ziva, and Zoey, theMaxx, and Sabu and Mocha loved it  --every last kibble!   You can order Nature's Variety Raw Boost Mixers the Chicken Formula from chewy.com it's quick, easy and takes only two days door to door.

Travel Tip - Sheffield Island Lighthouse - Norwalk Connecticut

Take a ride out to Sheffield Island Lighthouse located in Norwalk Connecticut from May through mid.-September. Activated in 1868, the Sheffield Island Lighthouse - now listed on the National Register of Historic Places - was in service for 34 years until its retirement in 1902. Today the Norwalk Seaport Association’s volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve.  Visitors can board the Seaport ferry at the Sheffield Island dock, adjacent to Stroffolino Bridge, corner of Washington and Water Streets, South Norwalk for their trip to the island, the lighthouse or harbor cruises.  Each year the ferry takes thousands of visitors back to a time when this and other lighthouses were critical to coastal and oceangoing shipping.

Once on the island, visitors are treated to a tour of the lighthouse. The 10-room lighthouse showcases period furniture, and offers a chance to see what life was like for the families of 19th century light keepers.  Another island attraction is the Nature Trail through the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge, which completed by the Seaport Association in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From a viewing platform, a variety of wildlife including nesting herons and other birds can be observed.

Batman, a black owl or a cat?

It was about time!

Well, as I expected, mom went away for a couple of days again. The only good thing is that she brought some decent snacks for me from a fancy pet store.

I got to taste them in the evening already, but I was craving for them also during the night. That's why I had to get to them through the package. Delicious!

Have a great Caturday!

Makes you wonder...

It looks awfully lot like mom would be traveling somewhere again... I haven't seen any applications though, I hope she knows better not to leave me again on this short notice!

Going Home: Henry

Ready to put a little woof in your Wednesday?

Today we'd like to share the adoption story of Henry, formerly named Giles. The pictures his adopters shared with us show a smiling, happy dog who was excited to be with them from the first car ride home!

Henry on his way to his new home

Henry's adopters, Jose and Berenice, had this to say about welcoming Henry into their home:

Giles new name is Henry after Henry Ford. My boyfriend is a huge fan of Mustangs that he decided to change Giles name to Henry. He responds to Henry very well. Henry has adapted to his new home since the first day. He has hes section of our pack yard where he goes potty. He enjoys his walks in the mornings and at night. Henry has learned to do a hand shake and he behaves very well with my 2yr old niece and 8yr old nephew and is very gentle with her.

Thanks for checking on Henry!

Jazlyn and Henry

Our 1st selfie with Henry

Henry!

We're so pleased to learn how happily Henry has fit into your lives, Jose and Berenice. Thank you for the update! 

If you're looking to add some woof to your home, take a look at our adoptable animals.  To make sure your dog is as gentle with children as Henry, keep an eye on our dog training classes, where we occasionally run a "dogs and children" class. 

Monday, what else.

Busy times ahead for mom. Monday is almost done, somehow we survived the - 27 temps and all the rest of the mondayish stuff. Oh well, I'll keep myself warm on the fireplace, so there's no harm for me. 

Musing on Thailand, Tonks and ZiwiPeak Cat Food

It's a cold winter day in Connecticut and the cats seem restless.  It is too cold to take the Tonkinese out for a walk on their leashes.

Winter always makes me think of the tropics and my mind drifts back to Thailand  (where my Tonks are from) an exotic tropical paradise with opulent palaces and temple spires that glitter with gold, gems and even broken pieces of porcelain.  Traveling on the Chao Phraya River  to the temples of Bangkok is one of the best ways to explore this intriguing city whose skyline changes every time I visit...but some things, like the temples and the friendliness of the people remain the same.

The good news is that  I just received a new shipment from ZiwiPeak... and because this company takes such care in the way it prepares its' product, I am confident that my cats will  love the new dry cat food.  This should also add a bit of culinary excitement to their day. The food they will try today is  ZiwiPeak Daily Dry Cat Food.  I am trying the Lamb formula that contains over 90% natural meat and organs from select farms in New Zealand...and this country raises the best lamb in the world on  its pristine countryside. I wish I could buy imported lamb from New Zealand in my grocery store!

The ingredients are impressive and include: lamb meat, liver, tripe, lung, heart and kidney plus essential vitamins.  Best of all, there are no artificial preservatives, colors, salt, sugar fillers or grains. Mocha, my Thai Tonkinese took to it right off -- he loves it.  Interestingly, recent  research shows that emotional well being is directly influenced by the amino-acid L-tryptophan and this dry food with its balance of meat and organs is a good source of this.

Little Zoey my gorgeous Himalayan kitten from Spice Hill Cattery was not about to be left out... she pushed her way right in and finished the bowl!  Mocha, the ultimate Tonk gentleman from Great Pine Farm stepped aside and let her try out the new food. I am delighted to tell you that  ZiwiPeak Daily Dry Cat Food is easy to digest, and that they devoured it like wild cats without "incident" -- that is a real plus for this pet owner!

ZiwiPeak is easy to get in the States just go to www.chewy.com and order it online.  There are discounted prices on the air dried lamb treats that my cats beg for !   To learn more about ZiwiPeak, check out their website, http://www.ziwipeak.com. The company also carries a full line of food for dogs.  Please like our Facebook Page at  https://www.facebook.com/catsandproductreviews101/?ref=hl

Thailand Tip: Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River is the first Thai temple I visited on my first trip to Thailand. I will never forget it.  The scale and intricate artwork of the temple was beyond my expectations. I spent hours marveling at  its scale, architecture and detail. The temple has so many nooks and crannies with various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers and animals, guardians,  fabulous murals and six riverside pavilions. Wat Arun is encrusted with broken pieces of colored faience and porcelain giving it a 3-D effect that makes it one of the most unusual temples in all of Thailand.  Early morning is the best time to visit; it's the coolest time of day, the light is magnificent for photos and it's before the hordes of visitors arrive.

The smell of brand new shoes...

...is very tempting.

So she's back...

Mom left me alone with the rest of the staff for two days. Now she's back and thinks I'm going to sleep on her lap like nothing happened. She should think again. I'm gonna let her feel the guilt first...

It wasn't me!

My mom is getting better at killing plants! I don't have to do it all by myself anymore! Cool. She moved this plant to a different room, and apparently the plant didn't like it there and decided to drop its leaves. Fine by me! For once she couldn't put the blame on me.

Ice ice baby...

Kids are making the most of the chilly temps, and are playing with snow and ice. They had some ice lantern project going on which didn't go quite like it should have. Anyway it resulted in a bucket full of ice on a hall floor for a while. You know what I did?

It was some serious water on the rocks! I'm thinking summer heat and a piece of ice for me to lick. Let's hold that thought while the summer approaches...

Treats and Memories of New Zealand

Kia Ora as they say in New Zealand...it's a Maori greeting that has made its' way into New Zealand English.  It means literally to be well/healthy and translates into an informal hello, farewell and thank-you.  Having visited New Zealand I could not help but try a new cat treat product by ZiwiPeak imported from Mt Maunganui New Zealand.  It is being offered by ww.Chewy.com and is discounted this month.  Sabu, my Tonkinese imported from Thailand is definitely intrigued....he has just turned one isn't he a beauty?

Mt Maunganui, a coastal resort town with drop dead beautiful beaches  is located on the North Island  and is where ZiwiPeak, a family owned company is located. This company is founded on the belief that there is no better pet food than raw natural meat, in short, they believe in natural feeding for cats --  and dogs too. Cats are descended from big cats that survive on a diet of high levels of protein and fat from raw meat and organs. ZiwiPeak uses a unique air-drying system that reduces moisture in raw meat and organs that make up their dry food and treats. This method of air-drying preserves nutrients in this product.

 Farms are a big part of life in New Zealand, with sheep, cattle and dairy farms being the most popular.  On my drive from Auckland to Wellington I lost count of the number of farms I passed.  While the coastline of New Zealand is mostly pristine, the interior of New Zealand seems to be an endless patchwork of lush open pastures, colorful orchards and sun dappled vineyards.  Farm to table dining is a way of life; and knowing this, ZiwiPeak Good Cat Treats Jerky Lamb and Liver  seemed to be a must have treat for my tribe of cats -- two Thai Tonkinese, Sabu and Mocha and three Himalayans -- two seal points  TheMaxx and Zoey and Ziva, my little silver lynx point.

There was a great deal of excited sniffing (and begging) going on when I first opened the package of Lamb and Liver Jerky Cat Treats.   Zoey, my 4 month old Himalayan was really quite interested in trying the Jerky Treats... and she gobbled them up... this was taken just before she knocked the bag over and started to try them...

Not to be outdone by her half sister, Ziva, my silver lynx Himalayan was also curious...and loved them as well...she is more cautious than Zoey so she ate just three!  The cat treats are made with 90% natural New Zealand ingredients with 10% comprised of  vitamins and minerals plus select herbs like parsley to keep your cat's breath fresh...I like that idea!  I also like the fact that there are no nasty additives like sugar, glycerine, antibiotics, growth promotants, fillers, grains, or potatoes.

ZiwiPeak comes in a resealable package and is good for adult cats and kittens --- obviously -- but, more to the point, these treats  are easy to digest because they mimic a cat's natural diet.  New Zealand is known for raising the best lamb in the world so in my book, it really is a treat to be able to give my cats this jerky cat treat made of New Zealand Lamb and Liver.

As always, patient Mocha, Sabu's half brother is waiting, patiently for his turn to try the Jerky Treats...if he likes them as much as Sabu does... then I think I shall have to get another bag!  Thanks http://www.chewy.com/

www.chewy.com sent this for review.

Skates and a box

My silly mom bought herself new ice skates, and went skating with the kids in this balmy -15 C we are having now. She hasn't been on skates for over twenty years, so it was quite brave from her.

Anyhow, she got skates, I got a box to scratch. 

Happy Caturday friends!