Buckley's Story: Book Review

I've been reading Ingrid King's cat blog, The Conscious Cat, for some time now, and Ingrid has inspired me both as a cat mom and as a writer.  I was thrilled when Ingrid offered me the opportunity to read and review her book, Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher.  

Photo courtesy of Ingrid King.

About the Book: Ingrid first meets Buckley when the tortoiseshell cat comes into the animal hospital Ingrid manages.  Buckley had a deformed left back leg, but she never let that stop her or slow her down.  Buckley initially becomes Ingrid's office cat at the animal hospital.  When Ingrid decides to transition careers, she adopts Buckley and brings her home to live with her and her long-time resident cat, Amber.

Buckley is diagnosed with heart disease after living with Ingrid and Amber for only two years.  Ingrid details the joys and struggles of caring for a chronically ill cat.  She also shows us how the human-animal bond can become stronger when caring for an ill kitty.  Finally, Ingrid shares her grief with us when it's time to help Buckley transition from the physical to the spiritual world.

My Thoughts: Buckley's Story is such a touching and beautiful memoir of Ingrid, Buckley, and Amber's lives together.  The honesty and vulnerability Ingrid shows throughout this book is refreshing as it is so rare that people show vulnerability these days.  You can really feel how much Ingrid loved Buckley in her book.  The bond the two of them shared was incredibly close, and it's evident that Buckley brought many positive changes to the author's life.

I love that Ingrid drops educational tidbits throughout her book.  For instance, when she talks about Buckley's heart disease diagnosis, she explains what congestive heart failure is and how it is typically treated.

I could relate to Ingrid's struggle in medicating Buckley after her heart disease diagnosis.  I, too, had great difficulty getting pills down Jewel throughout the time she suffered with chronic renal failure.  I was fortunate to have a friend who was able to help me pill her, but had I not, I would have had to make some really difficult decisions regarding Jewel's quality of life versus trying to medicate her with six pills a day.

I also related to Ingrid's struggle to let Buckley go.  It is so incredibly difficult for us, as loving cat parents, to hear and accept our beloved cat's message that it's time to transition to the spiritual world when all we want is more time with them in their physical bodies.

Even though Buckley's Story did make me cry, I feel reading this awesome story of love was worth the tears.  I highly recommend it to any cat lover.  Yes, you may cry, too, but I do believe that this beautiful memoir will touch your heart in a positive way.

You can buy Buckley's Story at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and at other online book retailers.

Photo courtesy of Ingrid King.

About the Author: Ingrid King is a former animal hospital manager.  She writes the award-winning blog, The Conscious Cat, with the mission of providing readers with well-researched and accurate cat health information.  She is the author of the books Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living Feline Style, and Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love, and Myself.  Her articles have appeared in Cat Fancy Magazine, NOVADog Magazine, and Urban Animal.  She is also a professional member of the Cat Writers' Association and a certified veterinary journalist.  You can learn more about Ingrid King by visiting her About page on The Conscious Cat.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher for an honest review.  Receiving the free book did not influence my opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my own.  

Opt to Adopt Skywalker

Skywalker

Angels with Paws

Lakewood, CO

Photo from Skywalker's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Skywalker is a handsome black and white domestic shorthair seeking his forever home.  He loves attention and to be pet.  He also loves to play.  However, it is difficult for him to show his true, sweet personality at the shelter because he doesn't like other cats, and he shares a room with a few other felines.  

Skywalker's previous owner passed away, and he ended up on the "kill list" at another shelter.  Angels with Paws rescued him from the other shelter, and he will remain with Angels with Paws until he finds a new home.  Skywalker has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), which weakens his immune system.  Most cats with FIV live long, healthy lives.  FIV can only be transmitted to other cats through penetrating bite wounds; it cannot be transmitted to humans or dogs.

Skywalker needs to be the only cat in his new forever home.  He should be okay with cat-friendly older children.  He is already neutered, up-to-date with vaccinations, and litter box trained.

You can visit this handsome boy at Angels with Paws, located at 2540 Youngfield St. in Lakewood, CO.  You can learn more about Skywalker by calling the shelter at 303-274-2264.

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita this week.  Did you miss me last week?

I have been doing okay.  I am a little congested these days, but the Mom is keeping a close eye on me to make sure I am not wheezing or coughing or having any trouble breathing.  Dr. Stabby said that I probably have chronic sinusitis, and that's what she thinks causes me to become a little congested sometimes.

Carmine has been eating like a COW lately.  The Mom says his Prednisolone probably kicked in finally, and it's making him hungry.  Really hungry.  This is good news for me because usually when Carmine gets a canned food snack during the day, the Mom's friend will feed me a tiny bit of canned noms, too!  I hope Dr. Stabby decides to keep Carmine at this dose for a while longer because all the wet food snacks sure make me happy!

The Mom went to the shelter over the weekend to participate in the Purr Prints of the Heart discussion.  While she was there, she saw our favorite vet tech taking care of the shelter kitties.  She told the vet tech that she was bringing Carmine in on Tuesday, and do you know what the vet tech said?  She said, "I'm just glad it's Carmine - he's the good one!"  Can you believe that?!  I'm a good cat - I just make sure Dr. Stabby and her assistants know that I don't like being there when I'm there, MOL!

Carmine will be going in on Tuesday for a weight check.  The Mom's friend says he has to have gained weight with all the food he's been eating, but the Mom isn't so sure.

That's all the news I have for now.  I think I'll have a little nap and wait for Carmine to wake up and bug the Mom for more noms.

Jewel's Journey

Hi everyone!

It has been an incredibly busy week here, and it's not over yet!

Last night, I had the great pleasure of seeing Jewel, the singer/songwriter/author talk about her book, sing, and sign her new book.

Before going, I knew a little about Jewel's life, but during her talk, I learned so much more about her.  Her book sounds amazing, and I can't wait to start reading it!

So you're probably wondering what Jewel the singer has to do with Jewel the cat.

You might remember this post where I told you about how Jewel liked to run on top of her former owner's couch and sing while he played Rock Band.  Well, Jewel's former owner had an mp3 player that we always listened to in the car when we were going somewhere.  Whenever Jewel (the singer) came on, I would say, "Doesn't Jewel (referring to the cat) sing nice?"

Last night, I told Jewel (the singer) that I had a cat named Jewel.  Her response was, "I love that!"

Jewel performed this song for us last night.  I really like it.  If you cannot hear the song in the video, you can click here to hear it.

Opt to Adopt Bandit

Bandit

Angels with Paws

Lakewood, CO

Photo from Bandit's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Bandit is a handsome and affectionate brown and white mancat seeking a second chance at love.  He is friendly and affectionate and loves attention and to be pet.  Bandit also enjoys playing.  

Bandit had a home once.  But when his owners got a new dog and Bandit didn't get along with him, they tossed Bandit out on the street (poor baby!).  This is where he likely contracted the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.  Bandit was rescued from the street and made his way to the shelter where he is waiting for his real forever home.

Please do not let Bandit's FIV+ status deter you from meeting or adopting him.  FIV is only transmittable to other cats through penetrating bite wounds, and most cats with FIV live long and healthy lives with proper care.  

Bandit gets along with his other FIV+ roommates.  He should not live with dogs, but he should be fine with older cat-friendly children.  

To meet this sweet mancat, please visit Angels with Paws, located at 2540 Youngfield St. in Lakewood, CO.  You can call the shelter at 303-274-2264 for more information.  

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Last week, the Mom made me go see Dr. Stabby!  Mes was not expecting that, and mes was not so happy about it, either.

And you know what the mean Mom did?!  Hers took my litter box AWAY from mes HOURS before my trip.  Don't you think that's mean?  Hers said hers felt bad about it and that Dr. Stabby told hers to, but mes still thinks it was mean.

Dr. Stabby told hers to take my litter box away from mes hours before so mes would have a bladder to get urine from so mes wouldn't have to come back a *third* time to get a urine sample drawn.

Theys did get a urine sample this time.  And it was fine.  So the foods the Mom is feeding mes aren't causing any crystals or anything.  The Mom and mes are happy about that!  The Mom was worried about switching my wet noms when theys took mes urinary tract Friskies off the market.  But the prescription kibbles and the wet noms hers is feeding mes are just fine. :)

Dr. Stabby weighed mes and told the Mom mes lost 4 more ounces.  Everyone was not so happy about that.  So the Mom and Dr. Stabby talked about what to do.  Theys both think mes is having an Irritable Bowel Disease flare-up.

The Mom and Dr. Stabby decided to raise my Prednisolone dose back up to 5mg a day - something neither of thems wanted to do.  So far, it does not seem to be helping mes.  Mes is still refusing to eat much of my wet noms.  Sometimes, there will be four or five cans of wet noms in the fridge because mes refuses to eat thems!

The Mom wants to give mes an appetite stimulant, but Dr. Stabby said not yet.  The Mom says that makes sense because wes wouldn't know if the higher dose of medicine was working if mes was eating from the appetite stimulant, but the Mom worries about mes losing even more weight.

Dr. Stabby also recommended wes start the B12 injections again if the higher dose of Prednisolone doesn't work.  Since mes is still refusing to eat so much, the Mom says wes will probably have to start the shots again.  Mrrr....that does not please mes at all.  To start, mes has to go in EVERY WEEK for a month!

That is my update.  The Mom says mes has to go see Dr. Stabby and get weighed again next week.

By the way, wes might not be around as much as usual this week.  The Mom says a friend of hers is in town for a training for the week, and hers wants to hang out with hims.  Hers has been talking to this friend for 10 years online, but theys has never met yet!  The Mom says hims will come and meet us, too.  Hims has kitties, so wes bet hims is nice to us.

Wes will visit as much as wes can this week.  Have a great week, everyone!

Purr*Packs Cat Subscription Box Review

When Purr*Packs contacted us and asked if we'd like to review one of their boxes, we were thrilled!  What kitty wouldn't love a box of treats and toys just for them?

When I received the Purr*Packs box in the mail, I thought it was absolutely adorable!  I love the kitty on the box and that it came addressed to my babies.

Carmine: Okay, okay, mom.  We get it.  You think the box is cute.  We want to know what's inside the box.  Open it for us!

Okay, Carmine, but first I want to tell everyone what Purr*Packs is.  Purr*Packs is a monthly subscription box for cats.  Purr*Packs come in three sizes.  The Teaser Pack ($24.99) includes 5-7 items, the Fun & Love Pack ($29.99) includes 7-9 items, and the Multi-Cat Mega-Pack ($39.99) contains 9 or more cat items.  The Fun & Love and Multi-Cat Mega-Packs are customizable; you can specify color preferences, dietary restrictions, and more.  Purr*Packs also helps homeless animals by donating at least 10% of their profits to local and national rescue groups or shelters.

Carmine: Mooooooom, is it time to open the box yet?

Yes, Carmine, let's see what came in your Purr*Packs!

Carmine and Milita were both excited to check out the box when I opened it for them.

What Came in Our Purr*Packs?

Our Purr*Packs box was filled with a lot of great cat toys and treats.

• Kitty Kaviar: Kitty Kaviar is an all-natural fish treat for cats that can be used as a reward for good behavior, a treat, or topped on food for picky eaters.
• Hedgehog Toy: We also received an adorable, soft hedgehog toy made by Favorite Pet Products.  
• Zuke's Natural Purrz Cat Treats in Salmon: These treats are made in the USA and contain no wheat, corn, or soy.  Salmon is the first ingredient, and the treats have omega-rich fish oil and real cranberries, which are good for urinary tract health.

Carmine enjoys his new Yeowww! catnip cigar.

• Yeowww! Catnip Cigar: Carmine and Milita absolutely love Yeowww catnip toys, and they were thrilled to find that their box contained a catnip cigar.  Yeowww toys are made in the US and are stuffed with organically-grown catnip.  
• Buddy Biscuits Grain-Free Tender Chicken Cat Treats: Buddy Biscuits Grain-Free treats are gluten-free and contain no soy, wheat, or corn.  They are made with premium meats and vegetables and are low in fat as well.
  
  Carmine and Milita tried these treats.  Carmine enjoyed them, but the real test was whether Milita would like them or not.  And she does!  A Milita-approved treat is pretty rare, so I was really glad to see that both of the kitties enjoy these.

Carmine with all of his Purr*Packs goodies.

• An Assortment of Small Cat Toys: A small, fuzzy catnip mouse, two kitty discs, and a springy door-hanging toy also came in our box.  Milita loves small catnip mice, and she was excited to find one in the Purr*Packs box.  
• Cardboard Scratcher: A horizontal cardboard scratcher also came in our box.  I haven't opened it up yet because Carmine has a few scratchers he's using around here right now.  However, when one of them wears out, I know he will absolutely love the new one we received!  The scratcher is stylish with kitty heads on two of the sides as well.  I think it's really cute.

Milita with her new scratcher and Yeowww! catnip cigar.

We received the Fun & Love Pack to review, and as you can see, there were quite a few great kitty items in there!  We give Purr*Packs two thumbs and eight paws up!

FTC Disclosure: We received a Fun & Love Pack from Purr*Packs free of charge for an honest review.  Receiving the Fun & Love Pack did not influence our opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are our own.  Purr*Packs is not responsible for the content of this post.

Jewel's Journey: Jewel Came for a Visit

I am convinced that Jewel came for a visit on the one-year anniversary of her passing.  I believe she stepped into Carmine's body to let us know that she is still around - not that I doubted she was.

On the morning of her anniversary, Carmine went and laid in the pink bed by the couch.  Even though he never uses it anymore, I have chosen to keep it there just in case he wants to start using it again.  He hadn't been in the pink bed for months.

Later, at dinnertime, Carmine ate where he usually does by my office chair.  I always watch over him at dinnertime because Lita likes to finish her dinner and then try and steal Carmine's, too.  When Carmine walked away from his bowl, I went to check how much he had eaten.

When I bent over to get his bowl, I noticed something in there.....he had taken a pair of my socks and buried his food!!  In the 10 years Carmine has owned me, he has never once buried his food.  I just about fell over when I saw that!  I said, "Hello Jewel!  Nice of you to visit."

It's been a few weeks since Jewel has visited me.  I am hoping she'll come to visit again soon.  She always makes my day when she appears. :)

Smokey: Opt to Adopt

Smokey Biersdorf

Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue

Denver, CO

Photo from Smokey's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Last week, I visited Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue to see our friend David (who is still up for adoption) and met Smokey.  Smokey is a very sweet mancat who loves being pet and getting attention.  He laid in my lap in his outside enclosure for a while before he got interested in playing with the fishing pole toy D had.  He gets along fine with his feline roommates in John's room at the shelter as well.

This handsome boy hasn't had the easiest life.  He used to be an outdoor kitty and was regularly fed by a kind family.  The family wanted to bring him indoors, but when they took him to the vet and found out that Smokey has FIV, they decided they could not keep him.  He was scheduled to be euthanized when a Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue volunteer found out about him and saved his life.  The volunteer fostered him until space opened up in John's Room at the shelter for him.  

As I mentioned, Smokey has tested positive for FIV, and he is also missing one ear.  Cats with FIV often live long and healthy lives, and FIV cannot be transmitted to humans or dogs, so please do not let Smokey's FIV+ status deter you from getting to know him.  

Smokey is neutered, litter box trained, and up-to-date with vaccinations.  You can find him hanging out in John's Room at Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue, located at 2390 S. Delaware St. in Denver, CO.  You can also call the shelter at 303-744-6076 for more information about him.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today!

I will tell you what I have been up to, but first I want announce the lucky winners of our Lindy & Company treat giveaway.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway.  We appreciate it!

The lucky winners are...

Stephanie C.

Ping, Jinx, Boo, and Annabelle from Manx Mnews.

Cinco and Manna from Playful Kitty.

Congratulations!  We hope you all enjoy the delicious treats!

You may remember that Carmine told you about our trip to Dr. Stabby last week and how I had to go unexpectedly.  I was NOT happy about that!

Anyway, after the Mom found out that I had gained more weight, she and Dr. Stabby decided on a plan to cut my kibble down to (hopefully) help me lose a little weight or at the very least to keep me from gaining any more.  The Mom has been slowly starving me cutting my kibble down.  I LOVE kibble, and I am not at all pleased by this.

I have not had any coughing fits or wheezing for a couple of weeks now.  The Mom thinks maybe breaking the Prednisolone dose up into two doses (one in the morning and one at night) has helped.

Do you see me hanging out on the comfy fleece blankie the Mom won me at Festival of Felines?  I like it a lot!  Earlier, Carmine was laying on MY blankie, though, so you know what I did?  I jumped up onto my blankie and sat on him!  MOL.  That'll teach him to steal my blankie.

I heard that Carmine is going to see Dr. Stabby tomorrow.  I also heard the Mom say, "Maybe we should take Lita and get her weighed again."  Please tell the Mom that I do NOT need to go get weighed!

I hope you have a great week, everyone!

Jewel's Journey

I don't believe I ever told you how Jewel got her name.

The first couple Jewel lived with (yes, she had two homes before she came to live here) saw a movie with a character named Jules in it.  I can't remember which movie it was, though.  So they named her Jules.

When Jewel went to live with her former owner, he dropped the "s" and made her name Jewel instead of Jules.  I'm glad he did that because I like Jewel better, and it definitely fit her.

How did you choose your cat's name?

Benefits of Pumpkin for Cats

It's the time of year when pumpkin-flavored foods and beverages are making an appearance.  I love pumpkin pie, bread, ice cream, and lattes.  Not only is pumpkin delicious, though, it also has a lot of health benefits for pets.  Carmine and Milita eat canned pumpkin everyday with their wet food dinner, and it has been very helpful for Carmine's Irritable Bowel Disease and Milita's hairballs.  

Please note that if you choose to give your cat pumpkin, it's important to use plain canned pumpkin with no spices in it.  The spices put into pumpkin pie filling are not good for kitties.  

Potential Benefits of Pumpkin for Cats

Digestive Health: Pumpkin is high in fiber, which can help alleviate both constipation and diarrhea.  The soluble fiber in pumpkin absorbs excess water and helps bulk up a cat's stool, reducing or eliminating diarrhea.  Fiber can also act as a laxative for cats suffering from constipation.  The fiber in pumpkin adds bulk to a cat's stool and can soften it, making it easier to pass.  

Carmine suffers from Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) and eats canned pumpkin everyday as part of his diet.  Carmine used to suffer from bouts of constipation, but since he's been eating pumpkin everyday, he no longer gets constipated.  

Weight Loss: Fiber also promotes a feeling of fullness, which may help your cat eat eat less and lose weight.  Ask your veterinarian about replacing a small portion of your cat's food with pumpkin as part of her weight-loss plan.

Hairballs: Pumpkin can help kitties digest the fur they swallow while grooming.  Regularly feeding pumpkin can help reduce the number of or eliminate hairballs for your cat.  

Moisture: Pumpkin is 90% water.  Adding pumpkin to your kitty's meals increases his water intake, which aids in the prevention of dehydration.  Increasing water intake is especially important for cats with any type of urinary tract condition.  

Feeding and Storing

Most cats like the taste of plain pumpkin, so you can feed it as a snack.  Alternatively, you could put a little pumpkin in your cat's wet food.  Carmine and Milita eat their pumpkin mixed into their canned food dinner each day.  

Some companies also make canned cat food with pumpkin in it.  I've seen pumpkin in Natural Balance, Weruva, Against the Grain, Wellness, and Soulistic canned cat foods.

You can store pumpkin in the refrigerator for a few days.  If you don't go through pumpkin quickly, divide it into ziploc bags and store it in your freezer, thawing as needed.  You could also fill an ice cube tray with pumpkin and thaw as needed.  

Do you feed your cat pumpkin?  What benefits have you seen from doing so?

Sources:

PetMD: The Health Benefits Pumpkin Provides to Our Pets.

Pet Place: 9 Benefits of Pumpkin for Pets - Pumpkin for Dogs and Cats.

Cat Health: Is Pumpkin Good for Cats?

Queens Wants to Rule Your Home: Opt to Adopt

Queens

Community Cats of Colorado

Denver, CO

Photo from Queens' Adopt a Pet profile page.

Queens is a beautiful orange and white ladycat waiting for her forever home with Community Cats of Colorado.  Queens is approximately one year old and was rescued from a barn where she was born.  She has big expressive eyes and loves to receive attention and be pet.  She also loves to play and gets along really well with other cats.  

Queens is a special needs kitty.  She has neurological damage and cannot use a litter box as a result.  She also has a difficult time jumping up to places.  However, she can walk and play fine.  She needs a loving, caring, and patient human companion.

Queens is already spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, housetrained (I assume she uses puppy pads or something similar since she can't use a litter box, but the rescue didn't mention any specifics regarding her bathroom habits), and microchipped.  She tested negative for FeLV.  She gets along well with other kitties and children.  Community Cats of Colorado is willing to waive Queens' adoption fee for the right human.  

If you'd like to meet beautiful Queens, please fill out an application on the Community Cats of Colorado website here.  

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Last week, the Mom made me see Dr. Stabby, and I was not amused.  Mes will tell you all about that in a minute, but first mes wants to announce the winners of our "Women Who Still Love Cats Too Much" book giveaway!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered out giveaway!  We appreciate it a lot.

And the lucky winners are....

Val S.

and

Tami G.

Congratulations!  Wes hopes you love the book as much as wes do!

Now mes will tell you about my trip to Dr. Stabby.

Mes had to go see Dr. Stabby for a few reasons.  First, mes get my anal glands expressed every three months.  Can yous see my face turning red from embarrassment?  That is not a pleasant process, but the Mom and Dr. Stabby say it is important because my anal glands don't work quite right.  

The second reason I had to see Dr. Stabby was because she and the Mom wanted to make sure mes has not developed any crystals in my urine.  See, the people at Friskies took my yummy Special Diet Urinary Tract canned foods off the market due to "a lack of sales."  So the Mom has been feeding me different wet food - mostly Natural Balance and Friskies.  Hers also feeds mes Pro Plan Urinary Tract wet and Royal Canin prescription SO canned as part of my rotation.  Mes gets really bored with one kind of food, so the Mom has to rotate the flavors and brands.  Mes still eats my prescription Royal Canin SO kibbles, too.  

The Mom has been keeping a very close eye on mes to make sure mes has no urine troubles, and mes hasn't.  When Dr. Stabby tried to get a sample of urine to test, though, mes had none.  Dr. Stabby said mes has to go back in two weeks so hers can get a urine sample from mes and told the Mom to pull my litter box several hours before my appointment so mes would have something in my bladder to get next time.  

Finally, the Mom said hers thought mes was losing weight, and hers was right.  Mes lost four ounces.  Now mes weighs 10 pounds, 12 ounces.  Dr. Stabby and the Mom agree that this is not a bad weight for mes, but theys do not want this to become a trend like befores.  The Mom thinks my IBD is acting up again.  If my urine comes back fine, Dr. Stabby will likely raise my Prednisolone dose back to 5mg. again (mes is on 2.5mg. right nows).  

Wes also brought Lita with us to Dr. Stabby.  Hers came because the management was doing inspections on random apartments with the VOA people.  The management likes to stand with the door open to the apartment, and Lita would be the most likely to sneak out, so the Mom decided it was best to just take hers with us instead of risking hers escaping by accident.  

Dr. Stabby weighed Lita, and hers gained weight.  Hers is now 14 pounds.  Dr. Stabby and the Mom discussed how to get Lita to stop gaining so much weight.  Wes know the Prednisolone makes her hungrier than usual, so hers eats more.  Dr. Stabby suggested feeding Lita more wet noms and fewer kibbles.  So the Mom is now measuring out our kibbles and will ask Dr. Stabby when it is appropriate to reduce the number of kibbles wes gets.  

The Mom says it is a hard balance because Lita eats too much and mes doesn't eat enough.  Wes hope the plan Dr. Stabby and the Mom came up with will help Lita stop gaining weight.  Ideally, wes want Lita to lose a little weight.  

Wes hopes you all have a wonderful week!

Lindy & Company Gourmet Dog and Cat Treat Giveaway

When Lindy & Company reached out to me, I was thrilled for the opportunity to work with them because they are not just another cat and dog gourmet treat bakery - they are so much more.

About Lindy & Company

Lindy & Company was created by Daybreak, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and housing for homeless youth, in 2012.  Lindy & Company employs homeless youth so that they can develop job-readiness skills.  Specifically, homeless youth in the program produce the homemade gourmet dog and cat treats Lindy & Company sells.  

Gourmet Dog and Cat Treats

Lindy & Company offers several flavors of cat and dog treats.  

Dog treat flavors include:

• Peanut Butter and Bacon.
• Better Butter Honey.
• Peanut Butter But Better.
• Cheddar Chompers.
• Apples & Cheese Please!
• Yogurt Peanutty Puppers (Glutten free).

You can also purchase dog training treats in Apples & Cheese Please, Peanut Butter But Better, and Better Butter Honey.  Additionally, you can purchase individually wrapped Gourmet on the Go dog treats and join the dog treat of the month club where your dog will receive two different flavors of dog treats each month.  

Cat treats are available in:

• Tuna & Cheese Please!
• Chicken Delight.
• Tuna Purr-fect.
• Liver & Cheese Please!

All of the gourmet treats are made in the USA and contain natural ingredients, including natural preservatives.  A handwritten note from a Daybreak youth is also included in each bag of treats.  How awesome is that?  

Carmine had the opportunity to try Lindy & Company's treats.  He did not go for them, and Milita is even pickier about treats than he is.  I was disappointed that Carmine didn't go for the treats.  They certainly smelled good to me.  

Giveaway

Lindy & Company is generously offering THREE of our readers the opportunity to try their gourmet dog or cat treats!  Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.

Rules: This giveaway is open to residents of the United States age 18+.  Winners will be contacted by email.  Each winner must respond within 48 hours with an address where their prize can be shipped.  If no response is received, an alternative winner will be randomly selected.  

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Disclosure: I received samples of Lindy & Company's gourmet cat treats in exchange for an honest review.  Receiving the treats did not influence my (or my cats') opinions in any way.  All opinions expressed are my (or my cats') own.  Fur Everywhere only shares products we believe will interest our readers.  

The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret Book Review

I had never read anything by Leann Sweeney before I picked up The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret, but after reading this book, I plan to read the rest of the books in the "Cats in Trouble Mystery" series!

About the Book: The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret is the 7th book in the "Cats in Trouble Mystery" series.  In this book, Jillian Hart is preparing for her wedding to Tom.  Tom's stepson, Finn, is visiting from college and falls in love with a tortoiseshell cat from the Mercy Animal Shelter.  Jillian and Tom agree to make room for the new cat even though she is known to be a kleptomaniac.  

The cat, Magpie, sneaks out of the shelter regularly and brings back trinkets, shoelaces, and socks.  When she turns up with a locket, Jillian wants to return it to its rightful owner.  However, her quest is sidetracked when a dead body shows up.  While Jillian and Tom try to figure out what happened, the town's police chief also turns up dead.  Tom, a former police officer, is then appointed to be Mercy's interim police chief, and the investigation takes unexpected turns.  

My Thoughts: I really loved this book.  Jillian has three cats - Syrah, Chablis, and Merlot - when Magpie joins their household.  All of the cats play a major role in the story line, which I absolutely love!  I got a real sense of the cats' personalities.  The book is also written in such a way that I felt like I really got to know Jillian, Tom, Finn, Candice, and the rest of the main characters as well.  Sweeney's writing style is engaging.

I enjoyed all the twists and turns in the mystery; I could hardly put the book down each night to sleep.  It kept me guessing until the very end.  Even though The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret is part of a series, you can definitely read this book as a stand-alone.  

I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries where cats play a major role in the story line.  I look forward to reading all of the other books in the "Cats in Trouble Mystery" series.

You can purchase The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret on Amazon or wherever books are sold.  You can learn about Leann Sweeney and the rest of the books in the "Cats in Trouble Mystery" series by visiting her website.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of "The Cat, the Sneak, and the Secret," by Leann Sweeney from the publisher for review.  Receiving the free book did not influence my opinion in any way.  All opinions expressed on Fur Everywhere are my own.  

Jake Wants Your Affection: Opt to Adopt

Jake

Angels with Paws

Lakewood, CO

Photo from Jake's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Jake is a handsome two-year-old orange tabby with white markings waiting for his forever home.  According to his profile, Jake is very sweet and loving and loves being pet and getting attention.  He is also playful.  Though Jake was never feral himself, he was rescued from a feral colony, which is why he ear is tipped.  

Angels with Paws isn't sure if Jake gets along with dogs, but they say a cat-friendly dog may be okay.  He should get along fine with older children, and he gets along well with his feline roommates.  

Jake has tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus).  This means that his immune system is a little weaker than average, but most cats with FIV live long and healthy lives.  FIV cannot be transmitted to humans or dogs.  

He is neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, and litter box trained.  

Please visit Angels with Paws, located at 2540 Youngfield St., in Lakewood, CO to meet Jake or call the shelter at 303-274-2264 to learn more about him.