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TREATS FOR MY PET HOW DO I CHOOSE?

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Greetings and Happy New Year from Clean Litter Club, we hope you and all of your furry friends are starting the new year off right, and in good health.

Today we want to talk about treats for our pets, all of us want to treat our cats /and/or dogs to special goodies; many of us to train them, to reward them for good behavior, or just because we love them soooooo much. What a wonderful way to interact with your pet; however; there have been many articles about what is healthy and safe for your pet; whatever you give them; we have done your homework for you. We have researched online about what is safe for your feline friend or your perky pooch.
The best cat treats fit into a healthy feline diet, are heavy on protein, and skip unnecessary fillers like corn, wheat, sugar, or extra sodium. After the writers on Reviews.com talked to vets, scrutinized ingredient labels, and offered the finalists to their own cats,they landed on their top picks; treats based on whole proteins, avoiding formulas that relied on corn, wheat, or soy as fillers. Cats and carbs simply don’t mix. Dr. Gary Richter of Oakland’s Montclair Veterinary Hospital and Holistic Veterinary Care explains, “Diets with high levels of carbohydrates can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes.”
Their top pick: Orijen Tundra Cat Treats, a healthy and “biologically appropriate” treat made of nothing but protein. The treats come in a variety of flavors so that you can experiment to find the ones your cat likes best, from boar and goat livers, to venison and arctic char. Experimentation is healthy, since organ meats like liver provide different types of nutrients than muscle meats (like chicken breast). One has higher levels of some vitamins and iron, the other is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, each and every formula boasts regionally sourced ingredients.

The runner-up for best cat treat, Vital Essentials Minnows Freeze-Dried Cat Treats, have just one ingredient: minnows. These tiny, freeze-dried fish — about an inch long from eyeballs to tails — might be unappealing to the faint-hearted human, but their cats gobbled them, meowing eagerly once these bags were opened. Their cats were vocal about these fishy treats, and the researchers appreciated that they are less stinky, easier to hand out, and more affordable than pouches of wet fish. Containing nothing but whole, dried minnows, they’re easy to portion out individually and we could barely smell them when we opened the bag. If you would like to read this article for yourselves you can just google Healthiest cat treats recommended by veterinarians.

Ok, lets not forget about our other 4 legged friends our dog’s. Again you can google from Reviews.com as well which we did for you . The best dog treats should pack plenty of protein. They should also be free of unnecessary additives like artificial flavors, sodium, and extra sugar. To find the best, the writers of the article consulted vets and dog trainers, scrutinized ingredient labels, and had their own pups taste the finalists. Because dogs have individual tastes (just like humans),their top picks offer a variety of textures and flavors to appeal to even the pickiest pooch. The first finalist is: Stella & Chewy’s are a freeze-dried treat, which is as close as you can get to feeding your dog fresh cuts of meat without actually cooking up a ribeye. This category tends to be less processed than biscuits and jerkies, helping you avoid unnecessary salts, sweeteners, and carbs. And compared to brands like Merrick Backcountry, which include more processed foods like potatoes, gelatin, and salt, Stella & Chewy’s is a healthier freeze-dried option.It’s a tiny quibble, but freeze-dried treats tend to crumble more easily than other varieties. If you carry treats in your pockets while walking (or if your dog isn’t a living vacuum), you may find yourself cleaning up crumbs. Try a moist dog treat like Zuke’s Mini Naturals if you’d rather avoid the pickup.

Zuke’s treats are sturdy enough to carry with you during training sessions or long walks, and their uniform shape and size make them easy to grab and dole out quickly. Also, because they’re semi-moist, you don’t have to worry about crumbs on the floor or pulverized treat dust at the bottom of the package (a minor annoyance we had with freeze-dried treats).

Zuke’s Mini Naturals also come in at just three calories per morsel. Since it’s easy to hit that 10% daily calorie limit for treats, this makes Zukes preferable to brands like Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Jerky Strips, which have a whopping 75 calories per treat. It also makes them a safe choice for older dogs, or other pets for whom weight gain is a concern.

We want to thank reviews.com for their in depth research and hope you and your pet have a healthy, happy New Year. As a disclaimer Clean Litter Club does not endorse these products, but want to share information so you, as the pet owner, have choices that could be in the best interest of your pet.

Creative ways to conceal your Litter box in plain site.

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Cat Lovers Dilemma

As a cat lover what is one of the biggest problems you have besides, cleaning your litter box?  That’s right where to put it so it’s not an eye sore.  Well we have a solution to both problems.  First cleaning your litter box;  we have a brand new product launching this month called SiftEase, and it will make cleaning your litter box easier, and will save you time and money as you won’t be contaminating your litter anymore so you’re using less and it will take only a little over a minute per box.  Check out our website for details.

Ok;  now that we’ve solved the nasty, lets talk about hiding this little gem in plain site.  There are many clever ways to hide your litter box, Pinterest has some fun examples and I’ve included a picture of one here.

When you live in a small space it is often necessary to keep your litter box in a common area so how can you do that, and not have your guests and families running for the exits?

One idea is this cabinet, you can pick one up at the Habitat Restore and with paint and a few tools turn it into a cute cabinet that will hide your box and your SiftEase cleaner.  There are other clever ways as well;  you can take lattice panels and create your own box to hide the kitty’s potty in; or you can take an old chest, or storage bench and create a nice seating arrangement and a hidy-hole for the litter box.  Check out our photos and get creative; or share your own ideas with us.

2_bbenchlattice box

 

Which Pet is Right for you?

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As we go through life as either a single, a couple or a family inevitably we will ask ourselves this age-old question; should I or we get a pet?  Before we jump right in we have to look at the many factors that go into this decision:

  • Do I have time and energy that having a pet takes?
  • Do I have space to house a pet, and if so, what size and type of pet should I choose?
  • Am I away from home for long periods of time?
  • Do any members of my family have allergies that could be effected?

Add any other points here that could effect your decision, now lets look at each of these points in more detail.

Do I have time and energy that having a pet takes?  So lets say you’re in your twilight years, perhaps a horse, or a St. Bernard might not be the right choice for you.  But lets say you’re a stay-at-home mom, living on a farm or a huge property then these might be a good choice.  St. Bernard’s are gentle giants, great with kids, but they need room to roam.  A horse needs, feeding, grooming, exercise, but could be a great choice to teach children responsibility, new skills, etc.  I think you see where I’m going with the right choice.

Do I have space to house a pet?  Let’s say you live in a studio apartment; then a cat or small dog may be your preference, if you live in a house, a larger dog could be accommodated; always consider all the options; and make sure if you have children you look for a pet that is the recommended temperament for a child.

Am I away from home for long periods of time?  So you are in a job or profession where you travel a lot; then maybe a dog is not for you.  A dog needs companionship, exercise, trips outside to use the bathroom etc.   A cat can be left for a longer period of time, with today’s auto watering systems, and feeding systems, this makes life easier.  Or you could hire a pet sitter, but what’s the point in having man’s best friend if you’re not there enough to bond and enjoy your pet.

Do family members have allergies that could effect this decision?  Hair allergy, pet dander allergy, the list goes on and on.  If this is the case perhaps a fish, turtle,  or bird is more in the realm of possibilities.

So in conclusion, take your time to consider if and what pet would be best for you; remember those cute kittens and puppies do grow up; the biggest mistake people make is falling in love with this cute little critter only to discover months later that they made a mistake, and no longer want this animal.  Think long and hard before making a decission you could love or hate for a very long time.

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