CAT PRODUCTS I RECOMMEND - CatNewsHeadlines.com

(Cat) Products I Recommend

from Doug Hines, CatNewsHeadlines publisher

I’m not in it for the money…

Doug’s note: I make no money by promoting the products on this page.

I do so because I use the products daily, I believe they are worthwhile,

and I want to pass the information along to you – my fellow cat lovers.

The PUPTECK™ Soft Mesh Cat Vest Harness and Leash Set

Here’s the Amazon Review I wrote about this harness:

Harness Escapes in General…

I am revising my original review of this product. Given that my cat backed out of, and escaped this harness twice, I was justifiably concerned about my cat’s safety and gave this harness only 2 stars. I have learned ALOT about cat harnesses through this experience the most important of which is that there is NO SUCH THING as an ‘escape-proof’ cat harness. Product manufacturers who exclaim so are either more dedicated to profits than they are to telling the truth, or they know absolutely nothing about cats.

HAVING SAID THAT… Much of the blame for cat harness escapes goes under the category of ‘Operator Error.’ Harnesses work well when the cat is walking away from you or if they are on your side. If there is any strain or restriction on the leash, the harness is pulled aft (backwards) and restrains the cat. IF, HOWEVER, you wind up in a situation where the cat is facing you whilst pulling back in the opposite direction against the leash, the cat will undoubtedly pull himself or herself out of the harness guaranteed. You’ll then be left with both the leash AND the harness in your hand – with no cat. So the trick to successful cat harness walking lies with the leash holder and the leash holder’s position relative to the cat.

Here’s the Amazon Review I wrote about this harness:

Harness Escapes in General…

Once a cat escapes the harness it is bye bye, and the race and the risk is on. I highly recommend that – in addition to a harness – you also use a cat collar with an identification tag as well as a GPS. Yes, the collar and GPS will add additional bulk under the cat’s chin, but you will incur much less panic knowing that if your cat gets out of the harness, he/she will still have the added security of wearing a collar ID and GPS.

Review Revised: Now I give this cat harness 4 stars. It’s well made out of soft material, and it is available in many colors. and patterns. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is that, in my opinion, the front, velcro closure straps could be cut/sized a much better.

Stainless Steel Litter Boxes Are Better Than Plastic Litter Boxes

When viewed under a microscope, plastic is porous.

Plastic has minute spaces and/or holes which can trap liquid (pee), and lead to odor. As cats scratch, they tear even more microscopic openings in the surface creating a bigger problem for the future. Additionally, as cats scratch the box, they can accumulate plastic micro particles on their claws.

While you can scrub and wash these boxes out, plastic litter boxes eventually age and break.

The surface of stainless steel, however, is much more dense.

Metal doesn’t trap odors like plastic. The accumulated cat litter itself may cause odors, but the stainless box itself won’t be part of the problem. If you have concern regarding odor from your plastic litter box, consider switching to stainless.

It’s also a simple fact that stainless steel cat litter boxes will outlast plastic boxes.

When viewed under a microscope, plastic is porous.

While you can scrub and wash these boxes out, plastic litter boxes eventually age and break.

The surface of stainless steel, however, is much more dense.

It’s also a simple fact that stainless steel cat litter boxes will outlast plastic boxes.

Like Other Things in Life… Size Matters

Most people are using litter boxes that are way too small for their cats, and many litter box issues can be eliminated simply by switching to a larger size box.

Cats need room to maneuver within the box. If you’ve ever watched a cat in the wild search for an elimination spot, they usually circle and circle before they finally squat down to do their thing. Give them a big enough box in which they can move around.

The first thing I look for in a litter box is size (length x width). I want to give my cats plenty of room.

The next litter box dimension is probably even more important. How high are the walls? Obviously, if you are purchasing litter boxes for kittens, the height of the box walls isn’t as important, but height is very important when considering a box for adult cats. The boxes shown to the right are both about 8″ high. (If you ever find a stainless steel litter box with sides higher than 8″ please let me know. I want to buy it!)

Most people are using litter boxes that are way too small for their cats, and many litter box issues can be eliminated simply by switching to a larger size box.

The first thing I look for in a litter box is size (length x width). I want to give my cats plenty of room.

Here are a couple of good examples from Amazon

The first box pictured above is the ‘Yangbaga’ Stainless Steel Litter Box (roughly 20″ x 14″ x 8″). Here’s the link to find it on Amazon.

The second pic shows a two-box set (roughly 24″ x 16″ x 8″) which also includes two litter scoops. Find them here.

The Ultimate Flea Trap

It’s not enough to treat your kitty for fleas. You have to get them out of your living area as well. If you don’t address the flea problem in your place, the fleas will just hop back onto your cat.

I use a product which I think is excellent for ridding your home of fleas. The Ultimate Flea Trap by Victor is a non-poisonous, odorless flea trap that has a flea attracting light and a glue pad for encouraging fleas to stick around (on the pad). It attracts fleas from 30 feet away in every direction. And it really works!

I do, however, have one bit of advice about this flea trap. Place it in an upside down plastic milk crate (the kind with the holes all over it) so that your cats don’t get into it. I have a cat with a bushy tail, and she liked to sit beside the flea trap because of the warmth from the light bulb. You guessed it… twice she got her tail caught on the flea trap’s sticky paper. Putting the milk crate (or some other thing like a wire basket) over the flea trap keeps the cat out but allows the fleas in. Problem solved!

You can find it at Walmart, Amazon

Do-It-Yourself Vertical Scratching Door Mat

One thing is for sure… You are NEVER going to stop your cat(s) from scratching things. That’s the way they are. They stretch, and they scratch.

Want your cat to stop scratching your furniture? Provide an alternative scratching area in a major traffic area of your home. A scratching post is nice, but I have something my cats like far, far better than a post.

Go to your local hardware store and buy a tightly woven, sisal door mat that measures about 2-1/2×3 feet. Attach the mat vertically to a wall or the side of stairs or anything vertical. Attach to the vertical surface using heavy duty staples, and cover the staples with a heavy duty tape so that the critters don’t get their claws caught in the staples.

One thing is for sure… You are NEVER going to stop your cat(s) from scratching things. That’s the way they are. They stretch, and they scratch.

It is especially good to mount the mat vertically where you can wrap it around a corner. Cat’s really like scratching at the corner.

Anyway… my cats Bubby, Mindy and Grady LOVE IT! They scratch it many times a day, and sometimes they just run along and jump up onto it, hanging there in mid jump. The Vertical Door Mat works far, far better than any scratching post I have ever had.

Solve the problem of your cat(s) scratching your furniture. PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE scratching area.

It is especially good to mount the mat vertically where you can wrap it around a corner. Cat’s really like scratching at the corner.

Solve the problem of your cat(s) scratching your furniture. PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE scratching area.

Cozy Products Electric Foot Warming Mat

Well, now you’re going to find out that I am a genuine cat-father nut case.

I use a heated foot-warming mat for these things:

I have one under my cat’s favorite padded mats sitting on their window shelf. My cats sit there in warm comfort and look out the window at the falling snow.
I also have a mat adjacent to my cats’ food bowls so they don’t have to stand on the cold floor in the winter time. My cats aren’t spoiled very much are they?

THIS IS IMPORTANT… the low heating level on the mat is still too hot to do the job correctly. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy an in-line rheostat (a corded dimmer switch). It’s rated to handle the voltage/amps. It’s actual purpose is to plug in a table lamp. Anyway… with the rheostat you can LOWER the heat to a minimum and still keep the cat food warm.

Two Sizes: 36.5″L x 16″W at Amazon 21″L x 14″W at Amazon

Well, now you’re going to find out that I am a genuine cat-father nut case.

I use a heated foot-warming mat for these things:

I have one under my cat’s favorite padded mats sitting on their window shelf. My cats sit there in warm comfort and look out the window at the falling snow.
I also have a mat adjacent to my cats’ food bowls so they don’t have to stand on the cold floor in the winter time. My cats aren’t spoiled very much are they?

Two Sizes: 36.5″L x 16″W at Amazon 21″L x 14″W at Amazon

Tractive GPS For Cats and Dogs

I have the Tractive GPS with Real-Time LIVE Tracking.

This s a little bigger collar unit than I would like, but it’s the best I could find. I’ve been using it on my cat Bubby for three years.

One thing does annoy me however. There are a lot of false notifications that my cat has left the safe area. Sometimes I will get notified that Bubby is miles away when he is, in fact, sitting right beside me. The problem may be with my local area. I don’t know, and the Tractive people really haven’t given me a satisfactory answer. Now having said that, I will tell you that the Tractive gps has literally saved my cat several times.

I have the Tractive GPS with Real-Time LIVE Tracking.

This s a little bigger collar unit than I would like, but it’s the best I could find. I’ve been using it on my cat Bubby for three years.

Once I got a notification alert, and I checked my computer (you can get notifications on your phone also) and I found that Bubby was heading up a local highway at about 40 miles-per-hour. He had obviously either been taken by somebody, or he had hopped in the back of someone’s pickup and was heading northbound. I immediately got in my car and went after him. About 5 miles up the road he suddenly started wandering in nearby woods. Either they had let him out of their vehicle or Bub had jumped back out himself. I got him back home again thanks to the Tractive gps.

Another time Bub walked about a mile away into a farmer’s corn field, where the corn stalks were standing tall. The notification alert went off, and I went after him. I had lost a lot of weight at the time, and my pants and belt were loose. When I finally caught up to Bubby, I grabbed him to return home. On the walk back through the corn rows, while struggling to hold onto Bubby, my pants fell down! LOL LOL LOL True story.

Anyway… I think the Tractive gps is a valuable part of keeping my cat safe.

Go to the Tractive website.

Anyway… I think the Tractive gps is a valuable part of keeping my cat safe.

Go to the Tractive website.

The Perfect Cat Dishes

After searching the internet, and after purchasing several cat food dishes which turned out to be unacceptable, I have found the ideal cat food dishes at Target.

I was very definite in my specification requirements for a cat dish. My dish had to be what is commonly called, a ‘whisker relief’ dish. Shallow ‘whisker relief’ dishes eliminate the painful condition caused when a cat is forced to pull back his or her whiskers for an extended period of time while trying to keep them from contacting the bowl’s edges. So I was clear I didn’t want a dish with deep sides. That eliminated ‘bowls’ for the same reason. Bowls are usually too deep for ‘whisker relief.’

I also knew I didn’t want a dish, even if described as a ‘whisker relief’ dish, that was little more than a concave surface. In other words, I wanted a shallow dish which did have slight edges to it. Cats often push their food off the sides of a traditional ‘whisker relief’ dish which has no edges.

After searching the internet, and after purchasing several cat food dishes which turned out to be unacceptable, I have found the ideal cat food dishes at Target.

Sold in various sizes, a company called Threshold makes white, porcelain, rectangular and square ‘serving platters.’ These dishes have a slightly raised rim to keep the cat food in place. They are both dishwasher and microwave safe, and because they are porcelain, they don’t have the microscopic pores or tiny surface openings one might find in plastic. An additional benefit of porcelain is that it is heavy enough that a cat can’t easily move it about while dining.

There are different sizes available (depending on the size of your cat(s) – lol) online at the Target website:

The 15.2″ x 9.6″ platter is here.
The 8″ square salad plate is here.
The 6.5″ x 12″ here is good for two cats, side-by-side (product code: 92000 11045)
other sizes available

There are different sizes available (depending on the size of your cat(s) – lol) online at the Target website:

The 15.2″ x 9.6″ platter is here.
The 8″ square salad plate is here.
The 6.5″ x 12″ here is good for two cats, side-by-side (product code: 92000 11045)
other sizes available

Avid Armor Ultra Series USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer System

There are two types of vacuum sealers – channel (the FoodSaver type machines}, and chamber.

I spent an entire week comparing and reading reviews about the two types. So which, in my opinion, is best? Which one did I finally purchase? Read on.

Consider what I have to say here, but, before you buy, also do your own in-depth comparison of the various products on the market. If you only do occasional sealing of dinner leftovers, then you may settle for a less expensive, channel type vacuum sealer. If, however, you expect your vacuum sealer to perform well under almost continual, constant use, a chamber sealer is the way to go. I prep for feeding my cats raw meat, so my chamber machine is in use multiple times daily.

There are two types of vacuum sealers – channel (the FoodSaver type machines}, and chamber.

Do They Suck?

Many of the channel type vacuum sealers do not remove all of the air from the bags leaving the possibility of freezer burn. The chamber vacs remove all of the air. Enough said.

Do They Seal?

Most of the channel type sealers produce automatic seals, i.e. the user cannot adjust the seal time. Having the ability to adjust the seal time is important because a successful seal may vary proportionate to the plastic bag mil thickness. You can set the ‘seal time’ on a chamber machine.

Some of the less expensive channel type sealers only produce one seal line across the bag resulting in a greater possibility of seal failure. Other machines produce two seals, which are obviously more secure.

Reviews:

I found that most channel type vacuum sealers got horrible reviews. Channel sealers frequently broke down and needed replacing. They might be good for sealing leftovers from dinner, but they sure couldn’t handle the repetitive task of preparing cats’ meals over and over again.

The chamber machine I chose got ZERO negative reviews. That fact was loud and clear to me.

Cost:

You could buy 4 or 5 of the channel machines for what you would pay for a chamber sealer. It is not unheard of that commercial, industrial, chamber sealers can cost up to $7,500 US. You can get one for home use for far less money.

At first I said to myself, I’ll pay the lower price, buy a channel sealer, and just replace the machine as needed. Then I thought… who wants to go through the hassle of a poorly built machine breaking down right in the middle of processing cat food? Who wants to endure the hassle of the warranty/service repair process? Who wants to deal with replacing the machine multiple times?

I opted to pay more money now and (hopefully) get a machine that will last (almost) forever.

I chose the Avid Armor Ultra Series USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer System.

The Avid Armor is available from only two sources – both for the same price. You can either order it direct from the manufacturer, or you can order it through Amazon. You can find links below.

I’m not going to list or discuss the machine’s features here. You can find out about it on the linked websites. I especially urge you to read the product reviews on Amazon, and take a look at the video reviews on YouTube.

I am completely satisfied with the Avid Armor’s performance. While I do enough sealing that I would wear out a less expensive machine, I don’t need a sealer that would be under constant use such as in a restaurant or food manufacturing setting. Although a stretch for me financially, the Avid Armor is toward the lower end of the price continuum for chamber vacuum sealers. It’s best for me.

It has a small countertop footprint, and it’s even more quiet than the FoodSaver type sealers I’ve had in the past.

You can find video reviews of the Avid Armor Vacuum Sealer USV32 on YouTube.
You can find it on Amazon, and
you can find it on the manufacturer’s website.