Mad About Pets!

Charlie & Barbara Lampert

“Charlie: A Love Story”, by Barbara Lampert, is the story of love, illness, and loss between the author and her beloved Golden Retriever, Charlie. Barbara is an avid gardener and was journaling the progress of her huge garden and landscaped yard, but as Charlie began getting sick with a myriad of illnesses, the journal became as much about his struggles as it did about gardening.


For anyone who has ever lost a pet or struggled with a pet’s lengthy illness, Charlie’s story is a tough one. Having dealt with a pet with an extended illness myself, I sympathized with the emotions Barbara was going through in an all-too-real way. The constant ups and downs, worrying if you’re making the right decisions, hoping for more time with your beloved pet but realizing nothing lasts forever…the feelings are raw, deep, and unforgettable.

“Charlie: A Love Story” is a perfect portrait of the emotional depth of love we can feel for our pets, and a testament to the lengths we will go to ensure our pets can stay with us just a few, precious moments longer. It proves how those of us who love animals can have multiple pets and love them all equally, but still have a particularly special bond form with one pet that sets them apart from the others. It is also a testament to the strong, positive spirit that animals can possess even when their pain and sickness becomes too much for their humans to emotionally bear.

If there is one criticism of “Charlie: A Love Story”, it is that perhaps the journal entries heavy on gardening talk may not be universally interesting to all readers. There is much discussion of different sorts of plants, and readers unfamiliar with them (or with no interest in gardening) may find themselves skimming through the descriptions. Those interested in Charlie's story alone (and not the garden journal backstory) may find their interest wandering during these passages.  However, even for those without interest in horticulture, the sheer joy and relaxation her yardwork brings to the author is palpable. I found myself picturing Barbara’s garden, and wishing I could sit on the soft grass with a loving Golden Retriever by my side. I understood the tranquility and bliss that Barbara must have felt.

A word of warning: you WILL need tissues when you read this book. I found myself raising the book up to eye level so that my husband wouldn’t catch my eyes welling up with tears every few chapters. It was hard not to re-live the emotions I felt during my own pet’s extended illness, and I expect it would be hard for anyone who has lost a pet not to do the same. At the same time, it reminded me of the special bond I felt with my own pet and allowed me to experience that special love again.

Lacey's Barkery gluten-free crisps

Lacey’s Barkery was kind enough to offer Mad About Pets a sample of their most popular baked treat flavor, Peanut Butter and Bacon. We wanted to put Lacey’s to the ultimate test, so we recruited a particularly selective test subject. Meet Amos, the 8-year-old rescue poodle. Amos’ person reports that he does not eat treats; in fact, he has no idea what to do with them. When offered a dog bone at the bank drive-up window, poor Amos just stares at it. Growing up in a puppy mill, Amos never learned the simple pleasure of a dog treat. Even if he wanted to eat a treat, the amount of teeth he’s missing makes it quite difficult. Yes, Amos is a tough test subject indeed!

Lacey's Barkery baked treats

Amos the test dog gives Lacey’s Barkery two enthusiastic paws up! Besides the glowing review from the pickiest poodle in Madison, Mad About Pets loves that Lacey’s donates part of the purchase price to animal charities like AKC Canine Health Foundation and Romania Animal Rescue when you use the appropriate promo code (found at the bottom of this page.) If you’re looking for tasty homemade treats you can feel good about giving your dog, check out Lacey’s Barkery and the full line of great products they have available to spoil your dog rotten!

Living in the Madison area, I am fortunate to have access to a number of really great pet food suppliers like Mounds, Bad Dog Frida, Tabby and Jacks, etc. and have no trouble finding high-quality food for my pets. It wasn’t always that easy, though. I used to live in a rural community in northern Wisconsin, where the nearest shopping outlets are at least a 20 minute drive away. Even after embarking on the 20 minute drive, Wal-Mart, grocery stores and other mass merchandisers are really the only convenient places to purchase pet food for residents in that area. That’s where great online retailers like Mr. Chewy come in handy!

I recently had the chance to try out the pet food website Mr.Chewy. They carry pretty much every brand of pet food imaginable, including the many popular holistic, grain-free, and other specialty foods popular with modern pet owners. They also carry other essentials like treats, cat litter and flea and tick medications.

Mr. Chewy makes it easy for people like those in my rural hometown to have access to all of the great pet products we take for granted here in larger communities. The prices on Mr. Chewy are really great, and shipping is free for orders over $49. And shipping is FAST! I received my order 2 days after I placed it. The website is also easy to navigate and order from, so it’s a great option for busy pet owners who don’t always have the time to get to the store.

I’d definitely recommend Mr. Chewy for your pet’s nutritional needs; I had a great experience ordering from them.

Mad About Pets was lucky enough to try out the Neko Flies Small Kittenator, which is a wand toy for cats. Also included was a Kragonfly attachment which can switch up the Kittenator's furry mouse attachment for a little variety. The Small Kittenator package includes the wand and  realistic furry mouse that you can make scurry along the ground or fly about for your cat to chase.

Neko Flies Small Kittenator

 In my opinion, wand toys are one of the most important types of toys to include in your cat's toy-arsenal. They encourage instinctual stalking and chasing behavior, get your kitty up and active, and also allow you time to interact and bond with your cat. You may have noticed that some kitties like to play with a stationary mouse, throwing it around the room and stalking it as though it were real...yet others will stare at it as if to say "What the heck should I do with this thing?" Wand toys are the perfect solution for kitties that just don't grasp the idea of playing with a traditional mouse toy; I've yet to meet a cat who can resist a scurrying mouse or waving feather that seemingly moves on its own. In our home, we refer to it as "fishing for cats"; just throw out the line, and you're basically guaranteed to snag a cat or two.

Summer is here, and unfortunately so is allergy season. But did you know that many pets suffer from seasonal allergies, too? If your pet is one of those unlucky allergy sufferers, you know just how uncomfortable the sneezing and itching makes them. Just in time for allergy season, Mad About Pets was given the opportunity to test out 2 seasonal allergy products for dogs by Vet’s Best: their Seasonal Allergy Support supplement and Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo.

Canine volunteer Harley

Since there are currently no dogs residing in the Mad About Pets household, I enlisted the help of a canine volunteer to test these products. Harley, a friend's 9-year-old Golden Retriever, stepped in to assist. Harley is allergic to flavored rawhide bones, damp weather, and certain foods such as lamb and rice. Harley is currently on allergy medication, and his owner reports he is generally uncooperative in that he tends to spit out his allergy pills. Two days prior to administering the first dosage of the Seasonal Allergy Support supplement, Harley quit taking his allergy medication so that he would have a clean testing slate. Much to my surprise (and to Harley’s owner’s), Harley had no qualms about taking the Seasonal Allergy Support Supplement. He was given one pill each morning and evening for a week and took the pill with no issues. To quote Harley’s owner: “I let him play outside as it was rainy and damp all week. I left him run through weeds. I let him eat flavored rawhide bones. I gave him extra meaty treats. He did not break out with a hot spot. I was surprised that the supplement worked!”

Harley was also on the job to try out the Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo. Harley was allowed to get extra dirty during the week, so his fur was nice and full of weeds, dirt and even a bit of poo when the time came for his bath. Harley’s owner reports that “the shampoo cleaned him nicely by removing all the dirt, weeds, grass, loose fur, loose dander, and poo.” She also states that it did not irritate his sensitive skin like many shampoos do. Due to the hypo-allergenic nature of the shampoo, it is unscented so it should not bother the sensitive skin and noses of dogs with allergies. In other words, your dog will not have that freshly-shampooed smell…just a clean dog with no extra scent.

Many thanks to Harley and his person for giving these great products a try!

Want to win a bottle of Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for your dog?

Win a bottle of Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo!

Mad About Pets is giving away 1 bottle of Vet's Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo  to a lucky reader. Here's how to snag a free bottle for your pup:

To enter the giveaway:

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling me a little about the dog who would enjoy this shampoo. Make sure to leave me a way to contact you, whether it be Twitter, email, etc. so I can notify you if you win!

Want some extra entries? Here's how:

5 extra entries:

*Blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave me a comment with the link)

1 extra entry:

*Tweet a link to this giveaway @MadAboutPets
*Follow me on Twitter
*Join my Facebook fan page
*Subscribe to my feed
*Post a link to Mad About Pets on your blog or site

Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry to state you have completed the requirement. I highly suggest that you leave your email address (use "name [at] domain dot com" format to avoid spambots) in your comment(s) so that I am able to contact you ASAP if you're a winner. If I cannot contact the winner within 3 days, I will have to draw a new winner.

Entry deadline is July 13, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time. This giveaway is open to United States residents only.

Good luck!

If you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably tried just about every cleaner under the sun to get rid of pet stains and odors. I was lucky enough to try out Fizzion, a new and unique product designed to break down the toughest stains and odors (even urine!) Fizzion is a little different than the “usual” cleaners, as it comes in a concentrated tablet form rather than a pre-packaged spray bottle. You just drop the tablet into a 16 oz. spray bottle full of warm water, let it dissolve, and you’re ready to go. This is a great concept, as you are reusing the same bottle over and over, thus reducing plastic bottles in landfills and the petroleum needed to produce more plastic bottles. During my test-run of Fizzion, I just used a well-rinsed bottle from a previous cleaner that I had run out of.

Fizzion was developed by a chemist, and oddly enough the formula was originally developed for cleaning bowling lanes. As it turns out, the product worked amazing on all kinds of stains, including chocolate. The formula breaks down proteins to dissolve them, and also includes a bacteria-killing chemical that prevents stains and odors from sticking around. This awesome stain and odor removal plus the non-toxic nature of the formula made it a perfect match for the pet care market.

Personally I rarely have difficulty getting stains out of my carpeting, but odors are another story. Urine, in particular, is a smell that I’ve found to be nearly impossible to get out. I decided to test Fizzion on a urine spot—the ultimate challenge. I had an old couch in my basement that one of our more neurotic kitties decide to urinate on…repeatedly. As you probably know, once a cat pees on something it will likely continue to do so if it continues to smell the urine there. After several incidents of urinating on the couch, the urine began to seep through the frame and ended up on the carpeting below. Even after we got rid of the offending couch, the carpet still reeked of nasty boy-cat pee. Icky! After I prepared the Fizzion (which is super-fun to watch dissolve, by the way!), I liberally sprayed the area and crossed my fingers. I should mention that Fizzion smells really, really good…it has an amazing clean scent, like freshly washed laundry or something. I let the cleaner do its job, and checked back in on the carpet the next day. Amazingly, it did not stink of cat urine any longer. I gave it another week, just to see if the cat in question would begin urinating on the carpet, thus indicating the smell of urine was still there (but undetectable to me). He didn’t. As of today, he has not peed on the carpet and is back to 100% litter box usage. Yay!!! Turns out Fizzion's claim to get rid of that stinky ammonia smell is absolutely true.

Here are some highlights of Fizzion, straight from their website:

*Fizzion promotes the use of a reusable spray bottle to prevent landfill waste.
*Non-toxic formula is safe for pets to sniff or lick.
*Prevents pets from returning to the same spot to relieve themselves.
*Easy dissolvable tablets mix up fresh every time you use it.
*Formula lasts over one year at 100% potency after activation.
*Can be used on most protein-based stains including red wine and chocolate.
*Can be used on most fabrics and textiles.

Rory, the guilty party

Fizzion is also a very affordable cleaner. All in all, it works out to around $3.50 for one full bottle of solution. Compare that to other leading pet stain and odor removers: Nature's Miracle (around $10/bottle), Urine Off (around $10/bottle), Simple Solution (around $12/bottle), Arm and Hammer Pet Stain & Odor Remover plus OxiClean (around $6/bottle). The best part is, you mix up Fizzion when you need it; this way, it's at its strongest and most effective. And it stays effective for up to 1 year after dissolving.

After testing Fizzion, I’m a true believer in their product. In addition, they have the lowest carbon footprint of anyone else in their category, so they are truly a GREEN company. Fizzion is currently available at 2 stores in the Madison area: Bad Dog Frida and Nutzy Mutz & Crazy Cats. It can also be purchased online at the Fizzion Online Store.

Use code MADABOUTPETS at the Fizzion Online Store for $1.00 off your order!

We’ve all seen the average cat bed. Heck, you may even have a few hanging around your house. Most have a tacky print bearing a strange resemblance to your great-grandmother’s “davenport”, or flaunt kitschy pawprints or zebra stripes. This would not fly in our house. We prefer a minimalist décor, and that includes the places our cats eat, sleep, and lounge. Enter: the Crater Dot!

The Crater Dot is a fashionable lounge where kitties can nap, snooze or hang out. The manufacturer states: “The polyester plush dot center provides an easy to clean and comfy spot to relax. The foam lounge base is polyester fabric over a moulded foam form that is contoured to provide just the right padding for your pet.” I was skeptical at first from the photos just how “plush” this bed was going to be, but the center is surprisingly dense and soft. It reminds me of a memory foam pillow, one that will gracefully hug your kitty’s adorable, rounded, sleeping form.

Gabe enjoying the Mossy Green Crater Dot

The Mad About Pets testing cats were immediately enthralled with the Crater Dot. They each patiently took a turn trying it out, and eventually Gabe was kind enough to pose for a photograph. As you can see, the Crater Dot is a great solution to de-fuzz your cat’s favorite couch spot. I just toss the Crater Dot up on the sofa seat and the cats seem to gravitate to it, rather than smooshing down the backs of the couch cushions and using them as a lounge like they normally do. It also has a nice hanging hook for easy storage, such as when guests come over. The Crater Dot is so stylish, however, you won’t feel obligated to hide it away like normal pet beds.

The bottom of the Crater Dot also features a pocket to place the optional warming pad (sold separately.) This is a great option for those who might turn the heat down while they’re away at work but worry about the kitties catching a chill, or to soothe the joints of arthritic cats. But really, do cats NEED a reason to find a warm place to curl up?



Mad About Pets is giving away 1 Crater Dot pet lounge (a $69.00 retail value!) to a lucky reader. Here's how to snag a free Crater Dot for your kitty:

To enter the giveaway:

Win a Crater Dot! (Gorgeous Bengal not included)

As a pet lover, I am always looking for ways to incorporate animal-themed items into my home decor. Usually my husband deems them "too tacky for display", which is quite unfortunate. However, thanks to CSN Stores, I think I may have found the cutest piece of husband-approved animal-themed decor EVER! With over 200 stores to choose from, CSN Stores is the ultimate source for ultra-modern wall art and decor, and really anything else you could possibly think of. Cookware, furniture, storage, mattresses...you name it, CSN Stores has it.

I am so excited to share this fun piece of home decor with you! Keep reading Mad About Pets to find out just what item has got me all shook up.

I have long been on the quest for an electric cat fountain that would provide my cats clean, fresh drinking water and not provide me a hassle. Every single fountain I've ever purchased has had the following things in common: cheap pump that either clogs or simply stops running altogether, cheap plastic basin that is nearly impossible to sterilize, and expensive custom filters that rarely do much of anything to truly filter the water. To prove my point, here (in the order of purchase) are the different pet fountains I have bought, used and subsequently tossed in the garbage when they inevitably failed:

-PetMate Fresh Flow Fountain
-Cat It Fresh and Clear Drinking Fountain
-PetMate Ultra Bubbler
-Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain

All of the above: EPIC FAIL!

The final straw for me was the Drinkwell 360. It was beautiful when I first got it. Like a garden fountain decorating some lovely manor house in the English countryside. Within months, the thing was nothing more than a thorn in my side. The fountain was constantly clogging with cat hair to the point where water could not pass through. Calcium deposits were forming on the inside of the bowl that even the toughest elbow grease could not rid. Worst of all, the plastic bowl was consistently accumulating a yellowish orange slime that nearly made me gag. I decided that I'd had enough! I began to scour the internet for the pet fountain to end all pet fountains...the last pet fountain I would ever need...the most highly prized pet fountain that mankind has yet to concoct.

I found it, and it's called the GlacierPoint Perfect Pet Fountain.

Perfect Pet Fountain (basic)

Upon brief communication with Barry Farris, the mastermind behind Sierra BioScience LLC, I found myself the proud new owner of a basic model GlacierPoint Perfect Pet Fountain. When I first took it out of the box, my husband immediately quipped: "What on Earth is this Rubegoldbergian contraption? Please tell me this isn't another pet fountain." I nervously assured him that it was, in fact, another pet fountain and that with any luck, it will be the last pet fountain we'd ever need. The reason for my husband's disdain is evident upon first viewing of the GlacierPoint Perfect Pet Fountain product line. These fountains are not pretty. They do not look as though they could adorn a manor in the English countryside. As a matter of fact, they look positively prototypical. "Form over function" simply does not apply here; but why would it? As it turns out, cats could not care less about the look of their water fountain. What they really want (and what you should want for them, too) is the cleanest and safest drinking water available. A consistent, steady flow of clean water encourages cats to drink, which will head off all sorts of future health problems like kidney disease. Trust me: renal failure is no picnic, and you don't want your cat to get it!

Inventor Barry Farris

Okay, so we've established that the Perfect Pet Fountain is not attractive. What we haven't yet established is what sets this line of fountains apart from all the others. The man behind the brand, Barry Farris, is an award winning medical device inventor with more than 20 issued and published patents. Barry enjoys finding problems that need innovative solutions, and in 2006 he decided to apply his problem-solving skills to the issue of sub-par pet fountains currently available on the market. From this initial idea was born the full line of Perfect Pet Fountains you see today. These fountains are different in just about every conceivable way. First, the water basins are made of ceramic which can easily be sterilized with hot water and are even dishwasher safe. There are no tiny nooks and crannies to gather bacteria. Remember that icky slime I talked about in the Drinkwell 360? That's bacteria. Plastic is generally porous, and therefore the bacteria is virtually impossible to get rid of. In short, plastic water dishes are a danger to your pet. The ceramic basin is a simple solution to a dangerous problem. I don't want my cats ingesting slimy bacteria globs! Now, they don't have to. The second major difference is the pump. Sierra BioScience uses high quality and powerful pumps that keep the water running constantly. These pumps are not chintzy little pumps like you usually see used in commercial fountains. You know the ones I'm talking about: The ones that clog up when a few stray hairs make their way into the bowl, or simply stop working after a few months for no conceivable reason. Those pumps have no place on a Perfect Pet Fountain. If you want to see what I'm talking about, just watch this video! The final main difference is the filtration system. The pump itself sits in a foam housing that prevents microbes and other ickies from getting into the pump to begin with. The water then goes up through a tube which contains foam filters and charcoal. This two-step cleaning system ensures that your pet consistently has good, clean drinking water. These filters are easy to change out when necessary, and are a cheap option compared to the filters needed on many other commercially available models. These are just the advantages of the basic model; some of the larger models have even more innovative solutions, like a system to actually chill the water for your pet. Ooh la la!

Another awesome thing about Sierra BioScience is their "green" mentality. From using tubes approved by the USFDA for food/drug use to only patronizing companies that are earth friendly, you can feel good about purchasing a Perfect Pet Fountain. To fully understand all the ways that this company embodies the "green" lifestyle, check out this page. Personally, I feel great knowing that my cats are using a quality product that was made in the USA, uses human-quality parts, and espouses the "green" values that mean so much to me!

A kitty (not mine!) enjoys the Perfect Pet Fountain

So what did my cats think? The second I set the fountain up (which literally takes about 5 minutes, max...it is far from the Rube Goldberg machine my husband expected it to be), they each took a turn drinking. And I don't just mean a quick sip...I mean a drink that lasted well over 30 seconds. It was astounding how much they drank! After seeing that and subsequent visits to the fountain, I am positive that my cats are drinking enough water to keep their kidneys and organs in check. I've also been able to keep the fountain spic and span, which cannot be said for my previous fountains. The water is still running clean and clear and the basin is pearly white. No more slime. No more limescale. No more half-hearted trickling of water. How cool is that?

In a nutshell, here's the scoop: the Sierra BioScience line of Perfect Pet Fountains are the best you're going to find on the market today. They solve the issues that commercially available fountains create. They provide fresh, clean water that is good for your pet. They are not pretty, but they are so functional that the appearance can easily be forgiven. They are made of the highest quality parts you'll find, right here in the USA. If you have any problems at all, you can contact the INVENTOR of the fountain for tips and solutions (and he's friendly, too!) The final verdict?

I RECOMMEND SIERRA BIOSCIENCE'S PERFECT PET FOUNTAINS WHOLEHEARTEDLY! :)

I recently finished reading Wagging Tales: Every Animal Has a Tale by Tim Link. Mr. Link is a self-professed animal communicator who uses his special skill to help owners understand their animals better, and to help animals be understood. According to the author, he is able to communicate telepathically with animals to interpret their innermost thoughts fears, and anxieties.

Personally, I don't believe Wagging Tales is going to pique the interest of serious pet enthusiasts; instead, many would be frustrated (as I was) with the amount of human ignorance described within. This is the kind of book that would be entertaining to those with mild interest in animal communication, psychic phenomena or with a short attention span. It would make a great book for the waiting room of a veterinarian's office, or a coffee table book. By no means is it "must have" reading material for avid readers. A portion of proceeds from sales of the book do go to animal rescue organizations, however, so given as a gift it would truly be "a gift that keeps on giving".

During the day, I work in a small office in county government. My coworkers and I like to talk sometimes about how much more fun the workday would be if we had a resident cat or dog. We're all animal people here in the office, and we enjoy daydreaming about the fun and companionship a resident pet would bring to our office. Though we're likely never to get our wish (unfortunately!), the Spencer Public Library certainly did in the chilly winter of 1988. A small bundle arrived in their metal book-drop...a tiny kitten. This kitten was christened "Dewey", and became the official companion, mascot, and inspiration to patrons of Spencer Public Library. Dewey's Nine Lives is the amazing story of how a tiny kitten brought love and magic to a community that needed him as much as he needed them.



Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions is the follow-up to the 2008 #1 bestseller Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. The book sold over 1 million copies in hardcover, spawned three children’s books, and became the basis for a film adaptation that is currently in development, with Meryl Streep in the lead role.

Dewey's Nine Lives, by Vicki Myron and co-writer Bret Witter, contains two new stories about the beloved Dewey, as well as seven other tales of amazing true-life cats of fans who were inspired to share their experiences with Vicki.

Want to win a free copy?

Mad About Pets is giving away to my lucky readers THREE copies of Dewey's Nine Lives. Here's how to snag a copy for yourself:

To enter the giveaway:


All you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling me about how your pet or another special animal has changed your life for the better.

Want some extra entries? Here's how:

5 extra entries:

*Blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave me a comment with a link)

1 extra entry:

*Tweet a link to this giveaway @MadAboutPets
*Follow me on Twitter
*Join my Facebook fan page
*Subscribe to my feed
*Post a link to Mad About Pets on your blog or site
Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry to state you have completed the requirement. I highly suggest that you leave your email address in your comment(s) so that I am able to contact you ASAP if you're a winner. If I cannot contact the winners within 3 days, I will have to draw a new winner.

The giveaway begins today and ends at 11:59 Central Time on October 22, 2010. I'll then be drawing 3 random winners from all the entries. This contest open to residents of the USA and Canada, only.

I must say I wasn’t totally sure how The Perch from DKCat was going to go over with the Mad About Pets cats. As you may know from my earlier review of the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post, vertical scratchers don’t seem to be “their thing.” Nonetheless, The Perch sports a perch on top (hence the name) so I figured if anything it would at least be a place for the cats to hang out and survey the goings-on in the living room.

The cats love The Perch so much they actually argue with each other over who gets to be near it. Sometimes if Andromeda is using it, Rory will come over to chase her away and claim it for himself. Rory has sort of designated it as his own special possession, and you can often find him laying at the base of The Perch lazily, daring the other cats to try to take it away. (photo: left)

In short, The Perch has been a smash hit with the Mad About Pets cats!

Here’s a little info about The Perch itself. The 26” post is wrapped in thick sisal rope, a favorite texture for scratching with many cats. The post is off-center on the thick plywood base, and the base is covered with coarse carpet. This allows loads of room for kitties to scratch vertically and horizontally. Many cat owners believe that carpet should not be used on a scratching post as it encourages cats to use the stairs or other carpeted surfaces for scratching. However, the carpet by Interface Flor used on The Perch is unlike “regular” carpet used in homes; it is very thin and coarse, so there is very little chance your cat will confuse it with any carpet in your house. In fact, The Perch has stopped Andromeda from scratching on our stairs (which used to be a favorite pastime of hers.) She now uses The Perch instead.

Atop the scratching post is an 11” x 11” perch for cats to sit and watch the world go by. It’s common knowledge that cats love heights, so having another place for kitty to sit up high and observe is a definite bonus.

The Perch is available in 4 color schemes, all of which are very neutral and unobtrusive. The modern aesthetic is much appreciated in our household, as The Perch does not stand out terribly and become an eyesore as many cat scratchers and trees do.

In conclusion, go buy a Perch from DKCat NOW! It rocks!

It's no secret to readers of Mad About Pets that I am crazy about the FURminator. I love it, I swear by it...I make my friends and family each buy one. If you're new to the world of the Furminator or didn't get a chance to read my original review, check it out here.

When I wrote my intial review of the FURminator, I was writing about the classic deShedding tool for cats. As it turns out, there is a whole new "deLuxe" line of products available since I wrote my review, with upgraded features from the original brush. Imagine my surprise when the fine folks at FURminator sent me a FURminator deLuxe deShedding tool for cats to try out! Yippy!!

The first thing I noticed about the deLuxe FURminator is it is significantly less heavy than the previous version. The head of the brush weighs much less, so there isn't as much of a possibility of knocking your unsuspecting pet unconcious while grooming him as with the classic version. The deShedding blade is the same size in the new version, so the reduction in mass doesn't sacrifice the quality of the blade.

The handle has been totally redesigned to make it an ergonomic fit for your hand. This is a major improvement over the classic model, as maneuvering the deLuxe FURminator is positively a breeze. The classic model did leave a bit to be desired as far as ease of use, so the new handle is a welcome change.

Rounding out the new design features is a quick-release button to release all the hair you collect with the touch of a button. This is nice when you really get into a good grooming rhythm, so you can release the hair into the inevitable pile 'o hair with one hand rather than stopping what you're doing and collecting it in your hand.

The changes to the new FURminator are very nice, and both new and old users of the FURminator deShedding tools will enjoy the deLuxe line. Just as with the classic model, I just don't have enough good things to say about the FURminator! It's an awesome product!!

BONUS GIVEAWAY

In addition to sending me one to try out, the FURminator folks also sent me a FURminator deLuxe deShedding tool for cats to giveaway!

To enter the giveaway:

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling me why you'd like to win the FURminator.

Want some extra entries? Here's how:

5 extra entries:

*Blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave me a comment with a link)

1 extra entry:

*Tweet a link to this giveaway @MadAboutPets
*Follow me on Twitter
*Join my Facebook fan page
*Subscribe to my feed
*Post a link to Mad About Pets on your blog or site

Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry to state you have completed the requirement. I highly suggest that you leave your email address in your comment(s) so that I am able to contact you ASAP if you're the winner. If I cannot contact the winner within 3 days, I will have to draw a new winner.

The giveaway begins today and ends at 11:59 Central Time on July 18, 2010. I'll then be drawing a random winner from all the entries.

Good luck!!

I’ve realized that the Birman tends to have a horizontal scratching preference, so the tall vertical shape did nothing to appeal to her scratching sensibility. I will note that many users have successfully laid the post down to create a horizontal scratching surface (photo right), but my husband is incredibly aesthetically-inclined and would not prefer a 32” scratching post lying sideways in our already-cluttered living room. It should be noted, however, that SmartCat does offer a horizontal scratching pad in their line of products, so they have your cat covered...regardless of their horizontal v. vertical scratching inclination!

Since our cats were not enthralled with the upright stature of the Ultimate Scratching Post, I sent it home with my mother who owns two fully-clawed cats. These cats have effectively destroyed the computer chair in her office, as they absolutely love to sink their claws into the burlap-like material from which it’s made. Based on the appearance of her office chair, her cats clearly prefer vertical scratching! As you might have guessed, they loved the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post. My mom has told me that they can really sink their claws into the sisal and go to town on it, much to the delight of her office chair. She claims she may actually be able to get new furniture soon, thanks to this post!

In conclusion, if your cat is a vertical scratcher (or you have the room to lay the post horizontally), the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post is one of the most well-designed and intuitive scratching posts on the market today. It is far more durable than cardboard or carpet posts, and therefore is an excellent investment at a price of $55 (this low price available at CSN stores.) In addition, its ties to Cats International ensure that you will always have assistance available in helping to post-train your cat and get the most out of your scratching post. And the cherry on top? You’re supporting a Wisconsin business when you choose SmartCat and Pioneer Industries.

Those of us with pets are all-too-familiar with the stains, smells, and messes our animal friends love to leave us. Many of us also struggle with finding a cleaner that actually works. Well, here it is...Clean + Green by SeaYu! I was fortunate enough to try out a few of these awesome cleaners, and all I can say is WOW--not only do these products work, they're also totally eco-friendly.

I first tried the Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner on a cat vomit stain. I was a little skeptical about the instructions not to scrub the stain, but amazingly the spot disappeared without me having to touch it! I decided to give the cleaner a try on the "mystery spot" in our living room; this is a spot that has been there for a few months and has no apparent source. Other cleaners have failed to remove it, despite repeated attempts. I sprayed Clean + Green, crossed my fingers, and let it dry. The stain is gone! I'm astounded. I cannot wait to use the rest of my samples all over the house. :)

Clean + Green is unique because you just spray it on the stain or smelly spot and leave it. There is no rubbing, blotting or rinsing. You literally just spray it and leave it. There is a full line of products for every cleaning issue from carpet stains to skunk odors, and for every pet in your home. You can also use these cleaners for other purposes like getting rid of cigarette smoke smells, de-stinking nasty athletic gear, or even freshening up your HVAC system. The formula actually gets to the root of the stain or smell; it doesn't just mask it. In fact these products are totally unscented!

Unlike many cleaners that claim to be environmentally friendly, Clean + Green actually delivers on this promise. Their products are made of cane sugar derivatives, a proprietary blend of botanical extracts, hydrated cellulose (cleaning agents), and purified water. The cleaners are aerosol propelled, but their innovative use of nitrogen makes them free of CFC's and safe for the ozone. They're also water soluable, non-toxic and non-flammable. This makes Clean + Green totally safe to use around your family, and even animals with sensitive respiratory systems like birds and small rodents.

Ready to win some free Clean + Green products?

SeaYu is giving away 6 (that's right, 6!) full-size products to a lucky Mad About Pets reader! (Retail value over $50)

To enter the giveaway:
All you need to do is visit the Clean + Green website,  then leave a comment on this post telling me a little about your pets and which 6 products you'd love to win the most.

Want some extra entries? Here's how:

5 extra entries:
*Blog about this contest with a link to this post (leave me a comment with a link)

1 extra entry:
*Tweet a link to this giveaway @MadAboutPets
*Follow me on Twitter
*Join my Facebook fan page
*Subscribe to my feed
*Post a link to Mad About Pets on your blog or site

Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry to state you have completed the requirement. I highly suggest that you leave your email address in your comment(s) so that I am able to contact you ASAP if you're the winner. If I cannot contact the winner within 3 days, I will have to draw a new winner.

The giveaway begins today and ends at 11:59 Central Time on January 31, 2010. I'll then be drawing a random winner from all the entries.

Good luck!!