NestEgg for Cats

We talked about "catifying" our home recently and one way to meet the needs of both felines and humans is to find furniture that is functional for cats and pleasing to the eye for humans.

Dealing with Tear Stains in Persian Cats

Silver Shaded Persians are not only known for their beautiful, silvery-white fur, but for their engaging green eyes. 

According to the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA), the standard is for the eyes to be green or blue-green. What you may not know is that they are born with blue eyes and slowly change over the first two years of life to their beautiful green color that enhances their wide-eyed and sweet expressions. A problem one may encounter with the Persian breed is tear staining.

Catifying Your Home

When I was growing up, everyone I knew who had cats, allowed them to roam outside. Some people would allow the cats to come indoors, but rarely did anyone I know her cats stay inside 24/7. 

The Human Society of the United States (2019) says that "Cats are the most popular companion animal in the U.S., with more than 86 million of them living in nearly 39 million American households." With this many cats living inside, it's important to make sure your home is set up to meet the physical, emotional, and health needs of your cats. 

Green-Eyed Sunday Selfie

It's time to share some photos of ourselves, featuring our beautiful green eyes.

Truffle - December 15, 2019

Brulee - December 15, 2019

Real Goodness For Life™ - Hound & Gatos®

Cats are obligate carnivores and need to eat protein! There are so many types and brands of cat food on the market and it's difficult for the person who shares a life with cats to know what is best. 

I'm always searching for high-quality, high-protein food for my Persian Cats. 

Green-Eyed Selfie

I love it when I'm able to capture Truffle and Brulee with natural sunlight coming through the window (which is rare). I thought I'd share a couple of photos today that focus on their beautiful green eyes, which is one of the characteristics of Silver Shaded Persians.

Brulee - December 8, 2019

Truffle - December 8, 2019

A Scratcher Fit for Royalty

This post may contain affiliate links. Sweet Purrfections is a member of the Amazon Associates program and as such we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Cats need to scratch! People who choose to live with cats must accept this simple fact and provide appropriate articles for scratching to avoid inappropriate scratching. 

What Pet Sitters Want You To Know

It's getting that time of the year when families begin to travel for the holidays. If they have a furry companion living with them, they have three basic options: take their pet with them on the trip, leave their pet in a boarding facility, or hire a pet sitter.

Many people who live with dogs tend to take them along on trips. There are a small number of people who are traveling with their cats now, but most tend to keep them at home. What do you do if your cat doesn't travel with you?

Caturday Art

Brulee is a beautiful Silver Shaded Persian Cat with luxurious white/silver fur. Her mother, Mikayla, is a Golden Shaded Persian Cat. I've always wondered what Brulee would look like as a golden instead of a silver...

Brulee using the Fairy Art Effect in LunaPic

Purrfect Bistro® - For Cats Who Demand the Finer Things

I'm continuously searching for appropriate cat food for my two Persian Cats. There's so much to choose: dry kibble, wet canned, wet pouches, homemade, and raw. I try to vary the type of protein and texture of the food I give my cats. I find the easiest (and most accepted) food to give my cats is wet food; either in a can or a pouch.

This post may contain affiliate links. Sweet Purrfections is a member of the Amazon Associates program and as such we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

One brand of food I've always depended on and that my cats love is Merrick®. 

Wellness Checkup for Cats - Understanding the Blood Chemistry Panels

November is recognized as National Senior Pet Month. My two cats, Truffle and Brulee, turned eight years old this past summer, and it's hard for me to accept they may be considered senior cats. I've stressed the importance of taking your cats to the vet for wellness checkups at least once a year in previous posts, but it's even more important they visit the veterinarian on a regular basis since they are becoming older for routine health screenings. Veterinarians recommend bi-annual checkups for senior cats that include blood work, urine analysis, and a full body examination. 

Caturday Art

It's time to be creative again. I love to take a photo that's not quite purrfect and use various themes, art effects, and filters to make the photograph interesting. It's not often I can get a photo where both Truffle and Brulee are looking at me at the same time and I did, but it wasn't clear and the coloring was terrible. It's time for LunaPic!

The Joy of Living with Cats - Bringing Home Brulee

Contrary to what some people may think - cats are independent, fluffy, affectionate animals who can have numerous health benefits for the humans who share their lives with them. Samir Becic (2017) states that cats can reduce stress and anxiety; decrease risks of a stroke, boost immunity, lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of heart disease and heart attacks, lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels, increase sociability, provide companionship, reduce the carbon footprint, and have therapeutic benefits. 

Brulee, Mom Paula, and Truffle on November 5, 2011

National Cat Day

National Pumpkin Day

Today is National Pumpkin Day where everyone celebrates that orange piece of fruit that is associated with Halloween and Fall. We're celebrating National Pumpkin Day with an adorable little silver shaded Persian kitten, Brulee.

Brulee - 7 weeks old - October 2011
Photo credit - Terri Rogers

Save Your Social Life with Litter Genie

Have you ever had someone to visit and walk in your door and say, "Do you have a cat?" We'd like to think they love cats, but sometimes they are responding to the litter box odor in your home. Many of us scoop on a regular basis, but sometimes we may get delayed taking the trash outside and odors can accumulate. What can you do to save your social life when you live with a cat?

This post may contain affiliate links. Sweet Purrfections is a member of the Amazon Associates program and as such we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

A possible solution to litter box odors is the use of the Litter Genie®. The Litter Genie is a cat litter disposal system that is made from the makers of the Diaper Genie® that people use with human babies.

Understanding and Caring for the Eyes of a Persian Cat

Persians are known for their flat, pansy-like faces with large, round, wide-set eyes. Persian Cats tend to communicate delightfully with these huge and expressive eyes (CFA, 2019). 

When one lives with a Persian Cat, there is pure love and enjoyment from the companionship with these beauties, but there is also the necessity of daily care for optimal health and beauty. We're focusing on those huge, round eyes in this post.

Caturday Art

Truffle - using the "beauty" effect in LunaPic

Feed Protein, Not Plants: Dr. Elsey's® cleanprotein™

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely on nutrients found only in animal products (Cornell, 2017). There are so many products on the market now that try to entice people to buy "grain-free," "high-protein," "limited ingredient," and other key phrases. It's difficult to know what to choose that is best for your feline.

National Pet Memorial Day

Today is National Pet Memorial Day. National Pet Memorial Day was established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAPC) more than 40 years ago and is celebrated on the second Sunday in September. This day allows pet lovers a moment to remember their lost furry companions and show their appreciation for the love, memories, and joys they gave them while still on Earth. Memories can help replace the empty space in your heart from the loss of a beloved pet.

It's Just a Cat! NOT!

How many of you have heard someone say to you, "it's just a cat" when you're upset about an illness or death of your furry companion? I clearly remember a colleague (who I respected) saying these exact words to me when I returned to work after losing my heart-kitty, Sweet Praline, to cancer.

Graphic of Sweet Praline (April 2011)

I don't know why people think it's okay to tell someone this, especially after the death of a beloved pet. I quickly told this person that Praline was part of my family and I didn't appreciate his words. I wanted to say, "how would you feel if I said that about one of your children," but I didn't want to be as insensitive as he was.

Happy 8th Birthday Brulee

It's so hard to believe 8 years have passed since my beautiful and quirky little Silver Shaded Persian Cat, Brulee was born!

Brulee Now (2019) and Then (2011)

A Trip to the Vet Doesn't Have to Be Stressful

August 22 is Take Your Cat to the Vet Day. One would think people wouldn't need to be reminded to take their cats to the vet but the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) state that 83% of cats visit the veterinarian before their 1st birthday, but over 50% never return unless they are sick or in pain. 

Black Cat Appreciation Day

August 17 is Black Cat Appreciation Day. Wayne H. Morris created this day in honor of his late sister, June, who had a black cat, Sinbad. The purpose of this day is to help dispel the myths, folklore, and superstitions surrounding black cats. 

Misty - the newest house panther in our family
Photo credit: Dorenda Gregg Truesdale

The myth of black cats being evil began in the Middle Ages.

Satisfy Your Cat's Wild Cravings with Merrick Backcountry

One of the hardest decisions a person must make when bringing felines into their home is what type of food to feed in order to maintain health, happiness, and proper nutrition for a cat's dietary needs. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Cats evolved as hunters that consume prey that contains high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates. The modern house cat still requires these general proportions today. Cats also require more than a dozen additional nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids (Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 2017).

Brulee enjoying her Merrick® Backcountry™ Rabbit Recipe

Thankful Thursday

Truffle and Brulee keeping a watchful eye over Mom Paula

We want to say we're thankful for so many things! We're grateful to have a comfortable home with plenty of love from Mom Paula. She will sacrifice her own health and well-being to make sure we're okay. Would you believe the animal communicator, Linda Roberts, told Mom Paula at Meow MeetUp that we switched roles as caregivers in our little family and that we were now taking care of Mom Paula because she hasn't been taking care of herself. Mom Paula literally began crying during the session when Linda told her this.

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Brulee surveying her domain from the top of the tree

CBD Oil for Cats

Do you have a cat (or dog) who needs additional assistance with pain, inflammation, or anxiety? Have you tried prescription medication from the veterinarians, but still need further help? Have you considered trying CBD oil?

International Cat Day

Brulee and Truffle waiting for Mom Paula to celebrate International Cat Day

Sunday Selfie

Brulee - August 2019

Benefits of Wet Cat Food

Do you have a cat who needs more water in her diet? Are you having difficulty getting her to drink water? How can you help your cat stay hydrated?

We've talked about the importance of hydration in your cat's life several times in the past. We live in the Deep South where it is hot and humid for several months out of the year. Truffle also had bladder stones which required surgery, so she needs to get a lot of water in her diet. 

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Brulee administering calming purrs for Mom Paula

Brulee has provided healing purrs for Mom Paula...

Maintaining Hydration and Health

July is the month we recognize Pet Hydration Month. It's important to keep your cats (and other pets) hydrated during the hot summer months to keep them healthy, happy, and cool. We've share numerous photos over the years of Truffle and Brulee drinking from one of the pet fountains throughout our home. Since Truffle had surgery to remove bladder stones last year, keeping her hydrated with plenty of water is of the utmost importance!