Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Get Out Your Camera! Win a Trip to Denver!

Over at BlogPaws, we're gearing up for our next conference - in Denver! W00t!!! We hope you'll be there.

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I'm a co-founder of BlogPaws, the only online resource for pet bloggers, created to help you be a better blogger, whatever "being a better blogger" means to YOU. So whether you are blogging for fun, to raise money or on behalf of a company or organization, BlogPaws is your go-to place.

We held a successful conference in April and we're doing it again! It may seem a bit soon, but we got such wonderful feedback and lots of applause for BlogPaws East (in Columbus), that we thought it only fair to do it again in the West. We chose Denver because Tom and I live here. And, for the most part, Denver is pet-friendly.

Bissell Gets Pet Friendly

That title should say "more" pet friendly. Ever since becoming a member of their Pack of Pet Lovers, I've been really impressed by the way Bissell embraces pet parents and their four-legged (or two-clawed, whatever!) kids! We use Bissell products on The Grumpy Old Lady's hairballs and they're great!

Well, I just read on Inside the Pack, the Bissell pet blog, that "The BISSELL Pet Spot is officially open!"

The Pet Spot is a place at Bissell for employees to bring pets. Can I hear a big cheer for that? Of course, Purina allows pets at their offices, but isn't it interesting when a company that is not traditionally pet-friendly, becomes pet friendly? I know Bissell has recognized the power of pets, how they uplift us and encourage us and just make us feel better.

Be the Change for Pets at BlogPaws

Regular readers know that I'm a co-founder of BlogPaws, along with Tom, my business partner and husband, and Caroline, the founder of Romeo the Cat. BlogPaws exists to bring pet bloggers together - for learning, community and fun.

As we all learn more about ourselves and each other, we discover the true value of friendship. Many BlogPaws' friendships began online, via blogs and twitter and facebook, and continued IRL (in real life) at the first ever pet blogger conference, back in April.

Now, we are connecting to each other even more - all to help make a change in the world.

Banning Pet Stores

I posted on this over at BlogPaws but thought I'd add some thoughts here, also.

Some cities in America are banning pet stores to save puppys and kittens from the ordeal of being bred just to go to a pet store. The idea is that by banning pet stores outright, the puppy mills and kitten factories will go out of business. They will have no where to market their "wares".

Who believes this? Apparently, lots of people. People in Florida, New Mexico, Missouri and other states, are working to put pet stores out of business, on the theory that no more pet stores, no more puppy mills and no more kitten factories.

The Grumpy Old Lady Has a Fit

And rightly so! Honestly, how often do I have to tell Tom and Mom that I am not happy about Snotface (that's the ferret - I finally figured out his name). He's such a busy-body!

Just the other day I was minding my own business - I routinely mind my own business, as it's the only business in the house worth minding, and...out of nowhere, that ferret shoved his nose in my belly!

OMC! (oh my cat!) What's up with that? I gave him the loudest hiss I could and even batted at his head a few times. HISS-HJISS-HISS---- BATBATBAT -- HISS-HISS-HISS... But, he KEPT nosing around from my belly to my whiskers!

Wow, This is Cool

You've got to see this video on Oscar the cat and his amazing surgery. My Facebook pal, Patrick, sent it to me and it totally made my day.

Oscar had an unfortunate run in with a farm implement and lost both his hind feet in the process. His owner took him in to his Veterinarian who referred him to Dr Noel Fitzpatrick; star of a British TV show called the Bionic Vet.

Little Meow Needs A Fur-Ever Home! Can YOU Adopt Her?

This just in...Breaking Mews! Straight from Your Daily Cute and BlogPaws:

Find a Forever Home for Little Meow! The sweetest little parking lot kitty needs to find a warm, welcoming, loving home. Can you help?

To quote from the BlogPaws blog:

Do Pets Dream?

I can tell you that my pets dream. Carmie definitely chased rabbits or squirrels in her dreams. And, Wabby, well, she probably chases the ferret. Or, spends her dreaming time wondering when her next meal is. Or, maybe she's thinking about being FURminated! She loves her FURMinator!

I came across a great article in Bloomberg Businessweek titled, "Where Do Pets Go When They Dream?" and I couldn't resist sharing. The conclusion of the article is, "Pets do dream while sleeping." Which isn't news to any pet parents, of course. But, the way this was uncovered is interesting.

The Grumpy Old Lady Climbs the Stairs

Just to make it clear - I don't do the stair thing very often. Over on Romeo the Cat's blog I shared my so effective wake-up tactic which involves getting my Mom and Tom to come down the stairs to me! (and I look just like this picture when they finally appear)

However, as you'll see when you visit Romeo's blog, I had to get creative yesterday - with his female staff member, who was visiting my Mom and Tom for some business meeting. BlogPaws stuff, they said. For three days it was, "BlogPaws this," and, "BlogPaws that," and, "Are we bringing Wabby to BlogPaws West?" (I said no but I'm not sure they were listening...I'm only going if Romeo goes.)

Meanwhile, I want to know how loud a cat has to be to get attention around here?

Do visit Romeo's blog and tell us how loud you have to be to get your staff up in the morning. Meow!

Real Life Environmental Enrichment for Cats

In case you missed it there is a fantastic article on the subject of feline environmental enrichment on the NY Times web site. So fantastic that it is the number one most e-mailed piece as of last Friday.

I find that very interesting indeed since you have to dig a bit in the Home and Garden section to find it. Seems like cat owners are very interested in this topic.

We're interested in this subject here, too, and I've written at least three posts on the topic.