Wordless Wednesday

Going Wild with #InstinctRaw

Mom Paula was a little "old fashioned" about our cat food when we first came to live with her. Originally, she only fed us kibble because that's what she thought cats were supposed to eat.  We slowly transitioned to eating canned food from once a week to everyday and eventually moved to healthy, no-grain, high-protein canned food.  As part of the BlogPaws community and Cat Blogosphere, we began hearing about feeding raw food to cats.  Mom Paula always thought feeding raw food to us was dangerous, so she was very surprised to hear that human parents were recommending feeding raw to their pets.  She knew she didn't have the time to grind everything herself, so thought feeding us raw wasn't possible until she heard about Nature's Variety® Instinct® Raw bites.

Instinct® Raw bites can be found in the freezer at your local PetSmart®

PetSmart® is now carrying Instinct® Raw Bites in the freezer at their stores.  We called ahead to see if our local PetSmart was carrying the cat Raw Bites before sending Mom Paula to get us some to try. She found two (Rabbit and Chicken) of the four flavors (Rabbit, Chicken, Duck, and Tuna) and brought them home for us to try. 

 Truffle was instantly drawn to the Instinct Raw bites

We've eaten other Instinct Raw products (treats and mixers) in the past, so Mom Paula thought this would be an easy transition for us.  We've heard about the benefits of eating raw, such as, healthy skin and coat, optimal digestion, healthy teeth and gums, relief from food sensitivities, and ideal body weight.  Since the Instinct Raw bites come frozen and don't require any preparation time, Mom Paula thought this would be an easy way for us to incorporate more raw in our diets and possibly move to a totally raw diet.

Truffle wasn't too sure about her new food at first

Since we'd eaten some of the Instinct Raw treats and mixers, Mom Paula decided to let us try the Instinct Raw bites as a little snack.  She pulled out a small amount and allowed them to thaw for a few minutes, just enough to make them palatable .  She even put the Instinct Raw bites on the fine china!  At first, we just looked at it, sniffed it, and walked away.  Mom Paula put on her thinking cap and decided to break up one of the bites and put it in her hand to see if we'd try it.

Eating out of Mom Paula's hand enticed Truffle to try the Instinct Raw bites

Truffle took a couple of whiffs and then began eating the Instinct Raw bites from Mom Paula's hand. After a couple more bites, Mom Paula put the plate back in front of Truffle and she began eating. The texture was a little different and it took her a little longer to eat, but she appeared to really like it. Brulee wasn't really too interested in the Raw bites, but Mom Paula is going to try to mix some in with Brulee's favorite wet food. 

Truffle picking up the Instinct Raw bites with her tongue to eat

Instinct Raw bites for cats is a great answer for humans who want to give their cats a raw diet, but don't have the time or tools to make raw food from scratch.  If you'd like to try Instinct Raw bites, you can get a $3 off coupon at http://www.instinctpetfood.com/getraw.  

You can find out more about Instinct Raw bites by visiting their website.  If you need to locate a pet store near you that carries Instinct Raw bites, you can search here.  

If you'd like to get social with Instinct Raw, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Going Wild with #InstinctRaw bites. @NaturesVariety http://t.co/CVOPHZotBQ #sponsored pic.twitter.com/Yxon8JEXnX

— Sweet Purrfections (@Truffle_Brulee) September 29, 2015

A Convenient Way to Integrate Raw in Our Diet

We were contacted by Chewy.com to review Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost Mixers.  We are already fans of the Raw Boost treats, so were excited to see how we liked the food topper formula.

Truffle is guarding the Instinct Raw Boost Mixers

Instinct® Raw Boost Mixers are formuled to mirror our ancestral diet.  The Raw Boost Mixers make it easier to add protein-packed raw to to our regular kibble for health an vitality because they are in a convenient, safe, and delicious form.  These Mixers are all natural, grain-free, and freeze-dried.  They are available in two flavors:  chicken and rabbit. 

Brulee trying to get into the bag

The Instinct Raw Boost Mixers are really easy to integrate a raw diet into our mealtime.  All Mom Paula had to do was add the Mixers on top of our kibble.  The Mixers aren't required to stay frozen, which makes it easy to eat them without delay.  The Mixers were so much like the treats we eat all the time that we immediately at them with our kibble.  In fact, when Mom Paula came back to see if we'd eaten the Instinct Mixers, the only thing left in the bowl was the kibble.

Brulee and Truffle love the Instinct Raw Boost Mixers

The key benefits of enhancing our kibble with the Instinct Raw Boost Mixers are

• Great topper for kibble
• High quality, raw nutrition in a convenient and easy-to-serve form
• Pure protein for lean muscles and strong bones
• Natural ingredients for optimal nutrient absorption
• Nutritious oils for healthy skin and coat
• Freeze dried and all-natural for an irresistible taste
• Grain-free and gluten-free
• No artificial colors or preservatives

Brulee enjoying her Raw Boost Mixers

We were very pleased with the taste and convenience of the Instinct Raw Boost Mixers chicken flavor ($10.25).  We are looking forward to trying the rabbit formula ($11.96).  You can get both flavors at chewy.com. We'll add the Mixers to our orders from Chewy in the future.

The Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost Mixers were a huge hit with us.  We definitely give it four paws up!

We received Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost Mixers in exchange for our fair and honest review as part of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program.  All opinions are our own.

Sunday Selfie

Truffle is participating in the Sunday Selfie today.

Blog Hop

You can see more Sunday Selfies at The Cat on My Head.

Caturday Art

We played around with pho.to.com and PicMonkey for today's Caturday Art Blog Hop.  We messed with so many effects and forgot to write them down, so we can't help you duplicate our design today. This photo was of Truffle checking out her new PTU, so we thought the cat claws scratching the photo were purrfect.

Here is the original graphic from pho.to.com prior to messing around with PicMonkey.

Blog Hop

An InLinkz Link-up

It's Friday

It's Friday, so it's time to kick back and relax for the weekend.

Truffle playing with her kathy ireland® toy

Happy 20th Birthday at the Bridge

Sweet Praline would be 20 years old today.  We know she's having a blast at the bridge with all of our furriends who've left this Earth.  This photo is one of Mom Paula's favorites because it showed Sweet Praline's Persian "diva".  Happy Birthday to our special sister-before-us.

Note from Mom Paula:  It's hard to believe it's been 4 years since Praline left for the bridge.  There are times I still look for her walking down the hallway.  She sent me Truffle and Brulee, which I think is so special.  It took two kitties to replace her.  She'll always be in my heart.

Biting the Hand...

Mom Paula is having some problems with her paws!  Some of you may remember her fall on the rare ice storm we had in SC 1 1/2 years ago.  She landed on her left knee and hand.  Her knee was okay, but she messed up her wrist.  She went through PT for over 4 months and did great for a year.  About a month ago, she started getting extreme pain and some tingling in her fingers.  She's in a brace again and will have a nerve test next week.  Now, to add to this, she messed up her left knee bowling a couple of weeks ago.  There was an MRI last week and she sees the doctor today to see if she has a tear.  At least this brace doesn't interfere with scritches!

Truffle doesn't like this strange thing on Mom Paula's hand.

Wordless Wednesday

Blog Hop

Incoming!!!

Mom Paula recently purchased a replacement fly for our Neko Fly wand.  We go crazy when she pulls out our Neko Fly.  You should see two little short legged Persians jumping and leaping to catch the Fly.  Mom Paula keeps trying to get a photo of the fly in our mouth after we've captured it and are walking off to take it to our secret hiding place.  (Don't worry, we don't get far).

Impatiently waiting for Mom Paula to unwrap the string from around the wand

Here it comes!  Here it comes!  We think we're showing a lot of restraint here.

There it went...

Truffle is a little frustrated because a certain little sister grabbed the fly first.

Brulee captures the fly.

A very special thank you to Bonnie Koenig (Chey's mom) for taking these great photos when she came for a visit a few weeks ago.

#TruLoveIs is Wellness TruFood at PetSmart

#TruLoveIs feeding your special furchild a healthy and wholesome diet.  We're pleased to share that PetSmart® has added another line of healthy cat food to their shelves. Wellness® TruFood® is made with whole foods from farm, field, and sea.  It has 70% more raw protein than many pet foods and only uses whole-prey proteins full of natural vitamins and minerals that pets need to thrive.  

Wellness TruFood on the shelves of our local PetSmart

We've eaten Wellness® products since we were kittens and were really excited to check out what the new line, TruFood® had to offer for us kitties.  TruFood is available in dry kibble, wet food, and treats.

Baked Blends Dry Cat Recipes

The Baked Blends Dry Cat Recipes are slow baked in small batches and uses grain free fiber such as chickpeas, flaxseed and lentils that make it easier for our delicate digestive system.  Powerful superfoods, such as beets, blueberries, and cranberries are included to help maintain a healthy weight and support the immune system.  TruFood recipes also contain pumpkin, ginger, and turmeric and live yogurt cultures to help support a healthy digestive system.  There are four flavors of the dry cat recipes.

Truffle is very interested in this new dry kibble in her bowl

TruFood Tasty Pairings Wet Cat Recipes

The wet cat recipes contain pure protein and natural superfoods.  There is no wheat, corn, or soy fillers.  The wet recipes come in an easy-open cup and when you turn it upside down on our plate, it's like a gourmet meal and the presentation is beautiful. There are six different flavors of the TruFood Tasty Pairings.

Brulee and Truffle prepare to dine on their gourmet meal

Cocochia Baked Cat Treats

The CocoChia treats are unique because they contain coconut oil and chia seeds that can support skin and luxurious cats and probiotics to promote our digestive health.  They are grain-free and wheat-free and are 100% natural.  The treats are available in two different flavors.

Brulee claimed the treats for herself

It's so nice to have three PetSmart stores within 12 miles from where we live, so we can send Mom Paula to purchase Wellness TruFood products.  You can find your local PetSmart by using the PetSmart Store Locator on its website.

Don't forget to follow PetSmart on social media.

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

YouTube

#TruLoveIs

What is true love to you and your kitty?  Please complete the phrase "True Love is..." in our comments and post photos of your cat(s) on social media using the hashtag #TruLoveIs.

True Love is sharing a delicious and healthy plate of Wellness TruLove cat food.

#TruLoveIs sharing a dish of @wellnesspetfood TruFood from our local @PetSmart. http://t.co/oc8ocZVvKN #ad pic.twitter.com/I2rsNkxU1v

— Sweet Purrfections (@Truffle_Brulee) September 21, 2015

Sunday Selfie

Truffle pauses a moment from scratching to pose for a Sunday Selfie.

You can see more Sunday Selfies by visiting The Cat on My Head.

Meow Like a Pirate Day

"It's Meow Like a Pirate Day and we're celebratin' by wearin' our pirate garb. Mom Paula says we're too cute t' be pirates, but we'll show a little hiss here and thar."

 Truffle Green Eyes

Patch Brulee

Flashback Friday

Since Mom Paula has been woofie sitting the past two days, we thought we'd give her a break from taking photos and share a flashback photo of Truffle from September 2011 right after she came to live with Mom Paula.

Truffle - September 2011

Truffle loves the office window because it comes almost all the way to the floor and she can sit there and look out at all the birds and squirrels.

Have a great weekend!

Woofie Sitting

We can't believe there is a woofie on our blog today!!!  What is Mom Paula thinking?!?!

Our woofie cousin, Bandit

Why, you ask, is a woofie on our blog?  Bandit belongs to Grandma Faye.  Bandit used to go to the woofie hotels when Grandma Faye and Grandpa Paul went out of town.  However a couple of years ago, Bandit started getting really stressed when he went to the woofie hotel and would get sick afterwards.  He got so sick a couple of years ago that we thought we'd lost him.  Mom Paula has always been close to Bandit since he came to live with the grandparents 7.5 years ago and Bandit is very comfortable with Mom Paula.  Can you believe Bandit was the first woofie Grandma Faye had ever owned?

Baby Bandit - 2007

Bandit is a Shih Tzu mix and loves living the retirement life with our human grandparents.  Anyway, back to our story.  Since Bandit and Mom Paula get along so well and we only live about 5 miles away, Grandma Faye asked Mom Paula if she would start staying overnight with Bandit when they had to go out of town to avoid him getting stressed so much.  Of course, Mom Paula said yes.  Mom Paula makes sure we are okay and then drives the few miles to stay with Bandit.  Bandit never got to sleep on the bed until Mom Paula started woofie sitting.  Now, he gets to sleep with Mom Paula all the time (even though Grandma Faye isn't too happy about this arrangement).  We'll miss sleeping with Mom Paula, but we're glad she can help out so he won't get so stressed and get sick. We have to admit that he is a cute little woofie!

We'll be back tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday

Brulee with bed fur and dirty eyes!  She can't believe Mom Paula posted this photo!

Vet Visit

Mom Paula surprised us by coming home early yesterday afternoon.  We eagerly rushed to the front door to greet her, thinking we were going to have a long afternoon nap together.  To our shock and horror, she stuffed both of us in our PTUs and off to Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital we went.

Truffle wants to know why Brulee gets the sleepypod®.

You can relax.  There is nothing wrong with us.  It was time for Brulee's annual checkup.  Mom Paula is now taking both of us for any vet appointments so we don't have so many problems with the strange smells on one of us after a visit.  Next year, she's moving both of our appointments to the same time.  Brulee was the lucky (?) one and was able to have the sleepypod® since she was the one actually visiting the vet.  Truffle was able to travel in a new carrier, but she said it wasn't as nice as her sleepypod®.  One of these first days, we'll get a second one, so both us can travel in comfort, familiarity, and style.

Brulee prefers the cold scale to the warm blanket.

As soon as Mom Paula put Brulee on the table, she settled on the warm blanket.  That is, until Mom Paula put Truffle on the table and Brulee immediately went to the cold scales and settled in.  Truffle has been a little of a bully lately and Brulee chose to move away from her.  Mom Paula felt sorry for Brulee, so she took Truffle off the table (Truffle was also a little nervous on the table).

Brulee getting examined by Dr. Keisler

Brulee is usually very comfortable and relaxed at the vet.  Not yesterday!  She hissed when she had to get her temperature taken.  She hissed when Dr. Keisler had to give her a shot of Benadryl to pre-treat her prior to her rabies shot.  This was a first for Brulee.  She's never hissed at the vet and especially with Dr. Keisler.  Dr. Keisler quickly deduced that Brulee didn't like being bothered in her "comfort zone" in the scales.  They took her out of the scales and placed her on the warm blanket and tried to calm her down by talking to her and giving her all kinds of kitty love.  Brulee didn't believe them for one minute and when Dr. Keisler went to give her the rabies shot (required in SC), Brulee not only hissed, she growled!  Truffle quickly took cover for the smaller carrier.

Truffle:  "I'm out of here!"

Truffle watched safely from the smaller carrier while Brulee was examined.  Brulee weighed 8.25 pounds and checked out wonderfully.  Mom Paula and Dr. Keisler talked in detail about possible bloodwork and dental cleaning next year since they'd be 5 years old.  They also had some nice, informative discussions about the pros and cons of microchipping and feeding raw food.

Truffle listening to the discussions from the safety of her smaller carrier.

The vet said both girls looked great and that she thought it would be a good idea to have our examinations at the same time in the future.  Mom Paula paid the bill and put us safely in the car, where we both serenaded her all the way home.  Mom Paula stayed home the rest of the day with us so she could watch Brulee to make sure she didn't have any side effects from the shot.  She did feed us and you should have seen Brulee inhaling her food.  Mom Paula wonders if the Benadryl caused the intense hunger.  Everyone is okay and it's back to the pampered life at Casa de Sweet Purrfections.

Brulee:  "Can we go home now?"

We really do like Dr. Keisler and the other vets at Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital.  At least, as much as you can like a vet after getting stuck with a needle.  Dr. Keisler even commented that the kitties were always comfortable and loving until they had to get shots and that eventually turned cats off to visiting them.  She felt bad that Brulee was stressed yesterday.  Dr. Keisler used to work in an all cats clinic and she's working on getting Cherokee Trail more cat friendly.  Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital is also AAHA accredited, which is very important to Mom Paula.