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If you’re familiar with me at all, you know that I have 5 cats. One (Alexa) is an indoor diva and the other four (Hannah, Bullet, Jelly Bean, and Queen Fatima) are outside cats.  Alexa – who was “here first” as she likes to remind the others – will not even consider allowing the others to get so much as one paw through the door.  Fortunately, these outside babies don’t seem to mind the arrangement.  No doubt if they did show interest in coming in out of the weather, I’d have to have a long, hard talk with little Miss Alexa.

We live outside the city limits, on a large piece of land.  There is actually an old barn, as well as a garage (my husband keeps the door cracked for them to come and go, then cleans it out when spring hits…. sigh, I love him).  When Bo and Svenn were alive, they absolutely loved the garage.  They could be found sleeping up in the loft even in the summer!  Bullet is also big on the garage and when the weather is particularly cold or stormy, off he goes.  Jelly Bean likes to go back and forth between the garage and the barn.

Odd that he’s the only one (of the many, many, many cats we’ve had over the years) to seek warmth and refuge in the barn.

HOWEVER, my little outside girls (Hannah and Fatima) will not head for the garage unless it’s storming or snow is on the ground.  No matter how cold it gets, they see no need to leave the carport.  I always make them a little tent in the corner – with many thick covers and blankets draped over a few lawn chairs.  When it isn’t too cold, all 4 cats can be found in their tent!  Yet I always wanted something more – another warm option for them….

…something like a little house.

Ironically enough, I had been thinking about this situation when I got an e-mail asking if I’d like a KatKabin to review for Cat-Pause.com.  I was thrilled to accept and watched for its delivery daily.

When the KatKabin arrived, Alexa and I anxiously opened the box.  The KatKabin was bigger and even prettier than I had hoped for!  They sent me a beautiful hot pink version and Alexa couldn’ t take her eyes off of it.  I put it on the ground – without the little removable door on the front – to see if she’d go in.  She’s kind of an odd duck about things like that, so I was skeptical.  However, she marched right in, turned around and laid down on the soft little pad it comes with!

Unfortunately for her, I had the KatKabin in mind for the outside kids – after all, she has a heated home with warm couches and warm beds!  I hauled the beautiful little KatKabin outside for the fearless foursome to inspect.  It was a chilly day but not cold enough to send the boys off to the barn or garage.  Jelly Bean was the first one to try out the KatKabin.  He actually took up residence for about an hour before the others got a shot at it!  Bullet’s snide, mocking looks (imagine, a tough guy cat lounging in a hot pink cabin) didn’t faze him. He just went to sleep in his comfortable surroundings.

The minute Jelly Bean left the KatKabin (nature called), Queen Fatima (a very small, adorable, fragile gray cat – she’s the spitting image of her feral cat mom, Ming Li) went in. Since we lost Ming Li (I loved that little eccentric cat!), Queen Fatima looks at Hannah as her mother – something that Hannah endures with great humor.  The fact that she separated from Hannah long enough to try out the KatKabin kind of caught us all off guard.

Over the course of the day, all of the cats took turns with the KatKabin. At one point, Fatima and Hannah were in there at once. Fatima looked blissfully happy but Hannah looked like she could use a big old helping of “ME time.”

Even on the coldest days, when I stick my hand into the KatKabin, I’m amazed at how much warmer it is in there.  The cat’s body heat sort of creates a little sauna. When the weather isn’t overly cold (we’ve actually enjoyed some really nice weather for over a week), I take off the little removable clear door.  My cats love to sit in their KatKabin and watch birds, one another, me…..  Bullet actually tends to lie in it toward the front with his little arms sort of sticking out – it reminds me of a dog in a dog house.  A comparison he doesn’t appreciate.

Product Description

Product Description

KKZBL Doors: Single Door (as shown) The KatKabin DezRez is the new outdoor stylish house for cats. It is a light yet sturdy house with unique, feline-shaped ends that will appeal to cats of every type. The KatKabin will stand securely on any type of ground and comes with a KatKushion and a KatFlap door to keep wind and rain out. Please Note: Double-door KatKabins are special orders, and thus NOT returnable. Please allow an extra 24 – 48 hours for processing on double-door orders. Features: -Royal blue is the ideal choice for that cool, confident cat about town. -Includes KatKushion and a KatFlap door to keep the rain out. -Optional double door setup has door on each end (special order, not returnable). -Outdoor stylish house for cats. -Light yet sturdy with unique feline-shaped ends. -Great shelter for abandoned, wild or feral cats. -Specifically developed as an outside cat house which withstand extremes of temperature. -Made from the strongest materials and will not fade in sunlight. -Will stand securely on any type of ground and comes with a KatKushion and a KatFlap door to keep wind and rain out. -Dimensions: 13” H x 16” W x 22” D.

Whether your cat is an inside cat, an outside cat, or enjoys the best of both worlds – he or she will LOVE this KatKabin. You’ll love how beautiful it looks and love the fact that it keeps your baby warmer even more. Read more about the KatKabin by clicking the link or order your’s today on Amazon.

Order the Blue KatKabin.

Order the

Order the KatKabin DezRez Standard in Hot Pink.

Remember, the KatKabin is available in many colors. Just click through one of the links above and find the color you want! Those of us who love our cats like family (which is exactly what they are) do everything in our power to make them healthy, safe, and happy. This is just another way to show our babies how much we love them.

As a cat lover, book lover, and home-schooling mother of three daughters (I home-schooled my daughters all the way from Kindergarten through High School), I have fallen in love with a couple of children’s books.  They’re  The Secret Adventures of Louie V children’s books and they are beyond excellent.  WAY beyond.  I was sent two beautiful books to review on Cat Pause and it is my supreme pleasure to do so!

When I taught our daughters to read (when they were between 4 and 5), I relied on beautiful, colorful children’s books filled with fun stories and colorful pictures. I chose books that didn’t talk “down” to the reader – as in keeping the vocabulary ridiculously simple.  As they got older, I always sought books that would expand their vocabulary.  If my daughters were in grade school today, the Louie V books would be right up my alley… and their little alleys as well.

These books are fun, beautiful, colorful, and ideal for young readers.  Best of all, they feature a main character (Louie V, a precocious Siamese cat…. then again, is there any other kind of Siamese cat?  I’ve had 3 and each was delightfully unpredictable!) that the reader will love.

Something else occurred to me while reading through these books, the illustrations are IDEAL for teaching children their colors – there are so many bright beautiful illustrations to choose from. There are also “counting opportunities” with many of the pictures.  They are outstanding and it’s obvious the author has had many, many, many dealings with precious children – she truly “gets” them and knows exactly what a young reader wants and needs.

Book Description:

When ‘SHE’ is away, Louie V will play! The Secret Adventures of Louie V series details the escapades of a mischievous Siamese cat when his doting—and unknowing—owner leaves the house. The colorful caper is meant to inspire the imagination in new readers and consists of two volumes, with a third (and more) on the way.

The debut volume introduces us to Louie V’s world unseen as he explores the closet belonging to ‘SHE.’ In the second, “Louie V Takes the Cake,” the sneaky feline is on a mission to figure out why his owner has been so busy. The answer, of course, is just for readers.

The books are available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, and a variety of “Louie V” merchandise is available for purchase on www.LouieVAdventures.com. The website also features Louie’s blog, quizzes, and activities perfect for young Internet explorers.

About the Author:

Author Tracey Delio, M.A.CCC/SLP has been providing speech and language services to toddlers, preschoolers and school age children on Long Island for the last 15 years, and she was recently inducted into the Hicksville High School Hall of Fame for her work. Her areas of special interest include motor speech disorders, sensory integration disorders, early language development and PDD/ Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has worked side by side with ABA teams to facilitate speech and language development in the Autistic population. Tracey is a Certified PROMPT Instructor and teaches workshops in various locations throughout the United States.

Tracey is deeply involved in a number of charitable organizations including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Autism Speaks and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of The Secret Adventures of Louie V will be donated to the aforementioned charities. Each of the charities Tracey is involved with support children and strive to make their future bright and prosperous.

If you are a parent or grandparent of small children, I know you’ll want to order both of these beautiful books for the precious little ones in your life – the one’s without fur, that is.  The one’s with fur are probably too busy to read.   I’m sure you’ll also want to order a Louie V stuffed animal as well.  He’s absolutely adorable and children LOVE to hold a toy that appears in a book they’re reading.  It seems to make everything extra special for them.  Visit Louie V’s Website to order your books and adorable stuffed animal today!

If you love cats – and given the fact that you’re currently on a cat website, I’m thinking it’s a logical conclusion! – an organization you should become intimately familiar with is Big Cat Rescue. This outstanding organization protects some of the most spectacular and gorgeous animals in the world – the cats our house-cats fancy themselves to be… the big guys!

Their website (www.bigcatrescue.org), along with their videos, pictures, and information seek to show the world just how special these cats are. They also do an outstanding job when it comes to fighting for the cats that are in danger. The gloves come off and they go toe to toe with anyone who means harm to any of these beauties.

I’m absolutely addicted to their videos. Not only are cats my favorite animals – whatever the size – I’m also completely floored by the similarities between a big cat playing and my own babies playing. Just watch the wonderful video below as the much bigger babies play with Christmas presents, boxes, and cardboard paper rolls. The maneuvers and the complete and utter delight in what’s at hand is just like the cats we have in our lives.

I also would ask that you consider giving to Big Cat Rescue. Those of us who love animals so dearly can’t just expect others to protect and care for them. We have to take the love and concern that we feel in our hearts and put it into action. Let’s face it, if it stays in our hearts, it won’t do these wonderful animals any good whatsoever.

Enjoy the video and visit Big Cat Rescue for more.

What beautiful faces!!!

Now tell me your cat isn’t going to love this! Cats love, love, love laser toys and this iPad Cat Game takes full advantage of the fun. All cat parents know that it’s very important to keep your cat or kitten mentally and physically active. Mentally and physically active cats are the healthiest and happiest cats, after all.

Check out the video!

You can actually download this adorable game for free by clicking HERE. Hopefully there’ll be a lot more iPad games like this for cats and the people who love them like family (and for good reason, that’s exactly what they are!).

I was recently sent a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book to review for my websites titled Lessons from Stanley the Cat: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom.

This warm, funny, and very thought-provoking book was written by Jennifer Freed as a tribute to her beloved cat (a real character if there ever was one!) Stanley. Not only is the book a beautiful account of a very special little cat and the love he had for his human… and vice-versa… Lessons from Stanley the Cat: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom also serves as a self help and self improvement book, offering countless tips and lessons.

Lessons courtesy of Stanley!

The little book will become one of your favorites instantly – you’ll fall in love with the illustrations, the author, and most certainly Stanley.

Product Description

Seduction is just the practice of artful stretching.
Never let people know how fast you are. Appear slow in all things, and less is expected of you. When someone is on the computer too long, help them by distracting them, or walk lightly on their keyboard.

So advises Stanley, a remarkably astute cat with a keen eye for the important things in life. Perhaps you don’t have time for yoga, can’t afford therapy, or wouldn’t dare cry to mother. If so, let Stanley be your guide. Lessons from Stanley the Cat offers wise and witty maxims from Stanley himself, translated by his doting psychotherapist (human) parent, Jennifer Freed. Whether you’re a cat lover or prefer companions of the canine variety, Stanley’s warmth and insight are sure to brighten even the grayest days.

About the Author

Dr. Jennifer Freed is a psychotherapist, a radio show host, and a professor. She lives with her family in Santa Barbara, California. You can learn more about Jennifer at www.jenniferfreed.com. Tone Gellerstedt is a journalist and a graphic designer. She lives with her fiancé, Jonas, and their daughter, Lo, in Uppsala, Sweden. She works at her local paper and publishes books and artwork for her company, Artelligens.

I’d strongly urge you to buy several copies – one for yourself and one or more for the cat lovers on your gift list. This little book (costing just a little over $10) is the ideal book for a cat lover to have in their book collection. After all, we cat lovers love few things as much as fellow cat lovers – other humans who revere and love their cats as much as we do our’s.

The author of Lessons from Stanley the Cat: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom? Make no mistake about it, she’s our kind of people… cat people.

Click HERE right away and order your copies today. Act now and you’ll have Stanley’s lessons in time for Christmas!

I could honestly watch funny cat videos all day long. As long as the cats are in absolutely zero danger or distress, I’m completely on board.

The funny cat video below is one of the cutest I’ve seen in a while. It showcases just what little characters cats can be!

I also love that other people out there get as much enjoyment and entertainment from their precious cats as we do ours.

Enjoy these hilarious cats as they play pat-a-cake, complete with voice-overs of what they’re surely thinking.

See more Lolcats and funny pictures

Brrrrrr… it has already cooled off considerably and thoughts have turned to keeping our outside cats warm.  As you know, we have one inside diva extraordinaire (Alexa).  She claims “squatting rights” and insists that our other cats remain outdoors.  Truth be told, outdoors is all 3 of them know and they’re just wild enough to flip if we ever did try to bring them indoors.

I remember one year we were having a HORRIBLE storm and I was scared for our outdoor cat (Svenn).  He was also what you’d consider pretty “wild,” but I brought him in anyway.  After all, he was my wild baby and I wasn’t going to let anything happen to him.

He went nuts.

He ran into the sliding doors – he screamed and meowed like he were being tortured and no amount of coddling or baby talk would calm him down.  I honestly thought he was going to have a heart attack!

Needless to say, I haven’t made that mistake sense.

My husband keeps our garage door opened just enough for our cats to get inside (and short possums, but they seldom go in for long).  Fortunately we don’t use our garage for anything except storing Christmas decorations, yard work supplies, and other seasonal knick knacks – so the cats consider it a large, wonderful winter home.

Pretty soon, my husband will grab a bale or two of straw and put it up in the loft of the garage.  I’ve climbed up there before and am amazed at how warm it stays with the straw and old blankets.  Of course, when spring rolls around, I have a ton of sweeping and cleaning to do but…. are you kidding me, it’s SO worth it to keep my babies warm and comfortable!

I’ve been looking on Amazon this morning at some items Hannah, Jelly Bean, Queen Fatima, and Bullet would like in their winter home and have found some GREAT stuff.

First up, the K&H 3093 Outdoor Heated Kitty Pad with Fleece Cover.

Product Features

  • Thermostatically controlled to warm to your cat?s normal temperature
  • Made of rugged ABS plastic
  • Ideal for sheds, garages, barns, or anywhere else your outdoor cats hang out
  • Includes 5.5-foot steel wrapped cord and fleece cover
  • 1-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description

If your cat spends a lot of time outside, she needs the K&H Outdoor Heated Kitty Pad to rest in complete comfort. Just plug in the 5.5-foot steel wrapped cord to generate comfortable heat. The pad is thermostatically controlled to warm to your pet’s normal body temperature. Great for cathouses, porches, balconies, garages, barns, sheds, or even in your home. Made of rugged ABS plastic with fleece cover included. UL listed. 1-year limited warranty.

Second of all, the Allied Heated Pet Bowl – Plastic would keep them and ME happy. I can’t even tell you how many trips I make in the frigid cold to give them fresh, unfrozen ice!

Product Features

Size: 5-Quart
  • Thermostatically controlled.
  • Capacity of 1.25 gallons
  • Enables the consumer to remove the heating element after the winter season, which allows year-round use
  • Nonheated Bowl Replacements are available at a fraction of the cost of the entire Heated Bowl
  • Bowl is nestable, and the cord is coiled and secured to the bottom of the Bowl for a neat shelf appearance

Product Description

Allied, Plastic Heated Pet Bowl, 5 Quart. Low-wattage Heated Pet Bowl has a capacity of 1.25 gallons, and is thermostatically controlled. Available in either plastic or stainless steel. The plastic Bowl is dishwasher safe. Both enable the consumer to remove the heating element after the winter season, which allows year-round use. Nonheated Bowl Replacements are available at a fraction of the cost of the entire Heated Bowl. This means economical replacement of a worn bowl or convenient rotation of dirty bowls. Both bowls are nestable, and the cord is coiled and secured to the bottom of the Bowl for a neat shelf appearance. Patented. 50 watts, 120 volts. All of our products are fully warranted against defects in workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase, unless otherwise noted. U.L. Listed

Last of all, I’m wild about this K&H Outdoor Heated Kitty Camper, Measures 14 by 20 Inches! Knowing Alexa like I know Alexa – I KNOW she’d love this kitty camper even though she’s an inside cat. She gets chilly sometimes, even when we have the heat on. I remember Prissy always burrowed in between pillows or the girl’s stuffed animals on days she was convinced she was freezing! Even inside babies love heated beds and heated kitty campers!

Product Features

  • Outdoor or indoor heated cat shelter with roof and 40-watt heated pad
  • Great for outdoor cats that sleep in garages, sheds, porches and barns
  • Thermostatically controlled for cat?s normal body temperature
  • 2 doors for quick exit; 5-1/2-foot steel wrapped cord for chew resistance
  • Measures 11 by 14 by 20 inches; one-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description

Great for keeping your favorite outdoor kitty warm through blustery nights, the Heated Kitty Camper sets up in any unheated outdoor structure, wood shed, garage, porch, or barn, offering your feline friend healthier joints and happier slumber. The Heated Kitty Camper not only offers protection from the cold, its cushiony comfort makes Fifi feel like she’s living in then lap of luxury. Kitty may make a quick exit, if necessary, by one of the two doors built into the design. Internal dual thermostats keep the temperature at a comfortable 102 degrees F when in use. When not in use, the surface of the bed stays between 10 and 15 degrees above room temperature so it’s always inviting.Built tough enough for outdoor use, the camper can also be used indoors with the same, safe heating functionality. The heater removes for quick machine washing for easy maintenance. And the 5-1/2 foot extension cord is steel wrapped for chew resistance and optimal safety for all. The 40-watt heater plugs into standard household electrical outlet for advanced heat dispersion. UL listed for safety, the camper measures 14 by 20 by 11 inches and carries a limited one-year warranty.

We cat parents want the whole world to know how we feel about our babies, so we surround ourselves with anything and everything C-A-T.  There simply aren’t any more loyal people on earth than animal lovers, are there?

These beautiful Cat Breed Throws are ideal for snuggling with your cat for an evening of tv watching. The weather’s turning cooler now so it’s the perfect time for a new throw.

These beautiful throws are from Blair and are on sale even as I type these words. They’re regularly $39.99 but they’re on sale now for $19.99.

Something else cat parents love is saving money!


From the Website:
Though they don’t always show it, cats love to be loved. Show your love with a soft 100% cotton tapestry throw, adorned with your favorite kitty. Finished with fringed edges. Machine wash. 47 x 60″. USA. Express delivery not available.

Click here now to read more about these beautiful cat throws and take a closer look. You’re going to love these!

This coffee mug isn’t just calling my name – it’s screaming it.  Two of my favorite things in all the world are cats and coffee (it seems like most cat people love their coffee, doesn’t it?!), so this cat coffee mug is one I absolutely must, must have.

You can find this cat lover’s mug on Fishs Eddy.  While on the site, you’ll want to have a look around at all of the outrageously original and cool things.  I guarantee you that you’ll see at least a dozen things you’ll want.

Two  Level Cat House -Cradle & Perch - Cream

This morning, as I was admiring our beautiful purple morning glories (planted specifically beneath one of Alexa’s favorite windows – so she can admire butterflies and hummingbirds up close and personal), I realized that IF there were such a thing as reincarnation, you could do a lot worse than coming back as a pampered house cat! They don’t have to fight for anything – food, water, shelter, a bed, attention, safety, head scratches, 8:00 am hummingbird shows….

I read not long ago that one of the things we Americans DIDN’T cut back on during the slumping economy was pet food and pet supplies. We love our babies! They bring us so much love, happiness, joy, companionship, and laughter – how could we NOT want to give them everything their little cat hearts desire?

Admittedly, I just returned from the store with cat food, fresh cat litter, and even a bag of Whiska’s Cat Treats. All of our cats absolutely adore these cat treats, especially the Salmon variety.

Now, Alexa’s curled up in her favorite cat bed – belly full and more content than anyone or anything has a right to be!

Three of our outside babies (outside simply because Princess Alexa wouldn’t accept just being “one” of the cats inside… she has to be “the” diva who lives inside with her people) Hannah, Fatima, and Jelly Bean are sprawled out in the shade, enjoying their full bellies and the August breeze.

Our fourth outside cat, Bullet, is apparently off catting around or sacked out in a loft. Hannah ate enough treats for her and him both, though.

The Two Level Cat House -Cradle & Perch – Cream appears to be something Alexa would be very much interested in and, personally, I’m crazy about the beautiful Cream color – though they’re available in 9 great other colors as well. The hunter green is also gorgeous – it might even make the pampered cat feel like she’s out in the jungle!

Product Description:
Whether you have multiple kitties, or just one who is the queen or king of the castle, this Two Level cat house is a great piece of cat furniture. This cat house features two rest areas – a round bed and a curved cradle. Not only is this a terrific cat lounger, it also is a scratching post. A solid pine pole is wrapped in all-natural sisal rope, which provides an outlet for busy paws. Available in nine colors – Cream, Tan, Brown, Red, Navy Blue, Country Blue, Green, Gray, and Hunter Green. With such a range of colors, you’re sure to find one for even your most finicky of felines. And remember – not only do cats love having their own area, but a good scratching post will deter your cat from scratching your furniture! This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Product usually arrives in 4-10 business days, depending on destination, including order processing and shipping.

See Two Level Cat House -Cradle & Perch – Cream for a closer look. I just looked at the different colors again and now I’m torn – I love them all. The country blue couldn’t be any prettier. But the cream….