Ok, this isn’t a comfortable discussion for any pet owner, but occasionally older pets no longer have the stamina or bladder control to hold it in until its time to go out. This can be especially hard at night or if you are at work. My kitties don’t have this problem yet, but lots of folks live with cats who do.
There’s some confusion when this comes to cat diapers. Most pet diapers are sold as “dog diapers”, but they will work for cats as well. What matters is getting the sizing right. Almost all cats are going to be an extra small. Cats are pretty good at wiggling out of anything, so you may want to consider using suspenders as well.
There are plenty of older cats out there who need this kind of help, as well as disabled kitties cared for by kind and patient folks. This blog posting about a man in Malaysia who cares for disabled dogs and cats, making his own diapers for them by hand, is incredibly moving. Just because our pets can no longer always care for their own bodily functions doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on them. My cats have an innate sense of dignity. When the day comes that they need help like this, I’d like to think that I’ll be there for them.

Kelli

It’s officially into freezing winter weather here in Santa Fe, with a predicted low of 22 tomorrow night and snow in the forecast for this weekend. Luke has a nice thick coat that handles the cold just fine, but he has two problems. First, his paws get frostbit while out walking on the ice. For that, I bought him a pair of Ultra Paws Snow and Go Boots, just like dogs use on the Iditarod race. Second, I keep the thermostat pretty low at night, and Luke doesn’t much care for sleeping alone in the cold. That’s when my trouble starts! Inevitably some time in middle of the night, he’ll get chilly and come to climb into bed with me. There may be nothing sadder then a basset hound whining at three AM, and I usually relent and let him up, waking to a mouth full of dog hair in the morning.
This year we’re gonna do things differently. For not much more then the cost of a regular bed, I’m buying Luke a heated version, a Thermo Snuggly Sleeper. Plus there is a special 15% discount available in the month of November, just enter the code NOV11 on check out. Here’s hoping that I end up with less hair in my bed and Luke ends up with a nice warm winter home. I’ll let you know how it works.

Jack

Is it just me or does it seem that there are more hairballs when its warm? Maybe it has to do with shedding. There’s been a fall heat wave in California and Bo has been coughing and coughing, especially after eating. The inevitable conclusion is a big, stinky, nasty hairball. That’s when I break out the Petromalt. Once or twice a week Bo gets a little bit of Petromalt Remedy placed on his paw, which he gobbles right up. His hairball frequency goes down and I don’t get woken up in middle of the night by a kvetching cat.

Grace is too gracious to get hairballs. It would be beneath her!
Remember, you can get a 15% discount on the site until the end of October. Just use the code “CANDY” at check out!

Kelli

The weather is finally starting to change up here in Santa Fe. It’s getting into the low 40s at night and the leaves are turning. I gave Luke a bath with his oatmeal and wheat grass shampoo and then we went out to the dog park. You can smell roasting pinon nuts all over the city, and the first dusting of snow is on the mountains. The wind and dust has died down and winter is coming. I think it’s time to order some outdoor winter boots for Luke. Last winter he really didn’t like some of the ice, and I’d like to take him for some late season hikes over the next month before the trails get too snowed in. It’s one of those perfect late afternoons with just him and me. I hope there’s plenty more.

Jack

I used to live in an upstairs apartment with a steep stairway right at the entrance. When he heard the lock in the key Luke would stand at the top of the stairs panting with excitement. Halfway up the stairway his breath would make me want to go back outside. Basset hounds are pretty legendary for their stinky breath, and Luke is no exception. Like most dogs, he hates having his teeth brushed, so I’ve had to figure out ways to deal with the bad breath without having to wrestle him. The perfect solution is to use his favorite toy, his Kong.
The Stuf’n Breath Paste goes right inside the Kong. Usually he gets peanut butter in the Kong, but he doesn’t seem to care when it’s breath paste, he still gets every bit out. I also stuff a treat in with the paste to make sure he gets it all. His breath isn’t going to inspire any perfume scents, but it’s a huge improvement.
Also, Gabe tells me that there’s a special discount code this week. Just use the code “CANDY” at check-out to get 15% off your purchase. Try not to pass out from your doggie’s breath before you get the chance to use it.

Jack