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You are here: Home / Archives for Feral Cats

Gorgeous Two-Story Cat House with a Roof… This One’s Too Darn Cute!

January 30, 2021 By Joi

In addition to our much loved inside cats, we have a healthy number of much loved outside cats (good thing we live in a rural area!). There are several feral cat families in our area I feed and look after (I even name every single one of them and know when I haven’t seen one in a day or two).

Since we live in the “country,” we also get occasional “drop off” cats (I could ring people’s necks that drop off animals to fend for themselves). Some of the drop offs and some of the ferals that I’m able to win over, actually move onto our carport and patio.

One of my sons-in-law has built three different large houses for them – they use them year-round but are especially thankful for them in the winter… probably because we heat them during the cold months.

If you don’t have someone in your family who is both an animal lover and happens to be gifted with woodworking, this gorgeous Two Story Cat House with a Roof (Amazon link to the house) is just what you’re outside cat(s) need!

The last time I looked at this gorgeous house, there was even a coupon for $10 off!

 

Product Details:

  • MULTI-TIER DESIGN: Your cats will love this covered elevated cat house with a roof that brings exciting new options for sleep, play, and protection. This cat condo includes a lounging patio, enclosed house area, and stairs.
  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Made of high-quality fir wood coated with a water-resistant roof finish, this indoor or outdoor cat shelter provides long lasting durability.
  • RAISED PLATFORM HOUSE: The raised floor of this house helps keep out some insects, other animals, and helps avoid trapped moisture under the structure. The space under the outdoor cat shelter can also be used for storage if needed.
  • MULTIPLE LOUNGER OPTIONS: This backyard cat tree-house gives your pet the option to choose between several cat lounge areas including a balcony with railings.
  • PROMOTES PLAY: Premium design multi-level tree house promotes your cat’s natural desire to hunt and play while saving your furniture and flower beds from abuse.

See Two Story Cat House with a Roof (Amazon link) for more information and, if you decide to buy one for your cat(s), don’t forget to click the $10 off coupon.

Filed Under: Cat Furniture, Cat Houses, Feral Cats, The Pampered Pet Tagged With: cat house, cat house for outdoor cats

Gorgeous Red and White Outdoor Cat Condo

May 25, 2017 By Joi

The beautiful red outdoor cat condo pictured above is probably the next thing I order from Amazon. I just absolutely love it! It’s so cute I think I’d want it in my yard even if I didn’t have outside cats.

Heck, if I could find the right spot, I’d want one for our inside cats as well.

  • Weatherproof cat/small dog house for outdoor use.
  • Fit large cats or small dogs. Inner dimension of the house:27.5″Lx17.5″Wx20″H
  • Easy to assemble with pre-drilled holes.
  • Bottom floor can be removed for easier cleaning,top roof cannot be opened.
  • Ideal shelter for outdoor cats or small dogs.

One of our outdoor cats (a beautiful orange cat named “Rita Hayworth”) loves to hang out on our back deck – in a different spot from the other outside cats. I’m thinking she’d love this crib!

This adorable little home would be ideal for feral cats, too. They’d greatly appreciate the wonderful place to stay dry and safe.

Take a closer look: red outdoor cat condo

Filed Under: Cat Houses, Feral Cats, The Pampered Pet Tagged With: cat house, outdoor cat house

Thermal Warming Pad for Outside (or Inside!) Cats Couldn’t Be Safer…

November 16, 2016 By Joi

Cat Thermal Bed

Thermal Warming Mat

If you’ve read my cat blog for long you know that we have an ever-changing number of outside cats (who we love to distraction) and a diva inside cat (also loved to distraction). Alexa, the Diva, doesn’t see any reason to welcome any of her siblings indoors with her (and traumatizing an aging cat isn’t something I’m looking to do), so our “outdoor babies” remain our “outdoor babies.”

A “colony” of feral cats has joined our family and they are as much a part of our family as the rest of our whiskered cuties.  This would actually be the perfect type of blanket or cat bed to provide to feral cats – one they’d appreciate a lot! It could be placed inside a huge crate or box out of the wind and rain/snow.

Fortunately, contrary to what many humans believe, cats love the outdoors! So much to see, do, and explore – they never get bored. We live out in the “boondocks,” so to speak, so they’re perfectly safe from dogs and traffic.

They’re actually as spoiled as any  indoor cat.

  • We buy new blankets for them when their’s get worn.
  • They have two “cat houses” one of my sons-in-law built for them.
  • We call our carport “Kitty City” and this is their domain. There are chairs with throws, blankets, and even a few “tents” they LOVE getting inside. Naturally there’s an ever-rotating colony of Amazon boxes for them to explore as well.
  • They have a huge old shed they can get into when it’s raining – IF, that is, they consent to leave “Kitty City” and their wooden houses.

The only time I get concerned for them is when it’s really cold outside.  One of their smaller houses is “heated” as in it has a great heating pad that’s plugged in and activated from inside. We’ve used it for three winters in a row and the cats love it.  This particular house sits up off the ground – on top of a much larger house.

I told you they were spoiled.

The larger house is really big, so we’ve been trying to decide how to provide warmth to it. It’s actually so big that if all the cats simply got in there and huddled, they’d keep each other pretty warm! I was looking on Amazon earlier for “thermal warming pads” – the safest heating pads imaginable, since they are “heated” by the cat’s own body heat.

I found the Thermal Warming Mat pictured here (available in Brown Suede and Giraffe Print).

I love the size of this mat – I think three would be ideal for the larger house. I also love how pretty they are because I’d also like to get one for inside for Alexa. Inside cats would love these mats year-round because, very often, our idea of a reasonable “summer thermostat” setting is like a blistery winter day to a cat.

Speaking of summer, there’s even a cool gel insert for the mat (sold separately) that you can buy when the weather warms up.

See Thermal Warming Mat  for more information. At just a little over $15, this is a really great deal.

Cat Thermal Bed

Filed Under: Cat Beds, Cat Health, Cat Safety, Feral Cats, The Pampered Pet Tagged With: cat thermal mat, keeping outdoor cats warm, warm cat beds

Review: Call of the Cats (What I Learned About Life and Love From a Feral Colony)

October 25, 2016 By Joi

Call of the Cats: What I Learned About Life and Love From a Feral Colony by Andrew Bloomfield Call of the Cats: What I Learned about Life and Love from a Feral Colony
Before I tell you more about a book all cat lovers will want in their life asahp (as soon as humanly possible), let me give you a glimpse into my everyday life (it’ll help you understand just how fast I jumped at the opportunity to review this book):

First thing each morning, I feed my inside furry baby, Alexa (the stereotypical long-haired, chubby, spoiled-rotten cat who rules her domain) and provide her with fresh water (yes, from a bottle in the refrigerator). Then I turn my attention immediately to my outside children: Feral cats and “reformed ferals” who are now fat, spoiled housecats who happen to live outdoors. They’re fed and watered, while obscene amounts of attention and love are poured upon them. Those that allow it are held and told how precious they are while those who don’t allow me to even touch them are told the same words from a distance.  This love fest is repeated throughout the day.

I keep both eyes peeled for arrivals throughout the day and, naturally, greet them with treats and salutations. Oh, and photos… so many photos are taken!

Call of the Cats: What I Learned about Life and Love from a Feral Colony has inspired me to write more about my own beloved feral cats (who are, at this point, simply known as family). I’ll be adding more pictures of these special little family members regularly to Cat-Pause, as well as stories from here on out and I have this incredibly beautiful and fun to read book to thank for the inspiration.

{Book review continued below….}

Call of the Cats: What I Learned About Life and Love From a Feral Colony by Andrew Bloomfield

From the Back Cover:
When aspiring screenwriter Andrew Bloomfield moved into a bungalow in Southern California he soon discovered that he shared the property with a large colony of feral cats — untamed, uninterested in human touch, not purring pets in waiting. But after a midnight attack by predators that decimated yet another litter of kittens, Bloomfield decided to intervene. He began to name and nurse, feed and house, rescue and neuter. Drawing on his time living in Asia among spiritual teachers, he takes us on the contemplative, humorous, and poignant journey of saving these cats, only to find it was they who saved him by revealing a world of meaning beyond his unrealized Hollywood dreams.

While Call of the Cats is an especially riveting and heart-touching book for those of us who care for (and love unconditionally) feral cats, the book is a must read for all cat lovers. Even if the only cats in your life are the ones now lying on your bed, you will be touched by, amused by, and affected by this beautiful book and the author, Andrew Bloomfield’s Texas-size heart.

Editorial Reviews

“With humor and wit, Call of the Cats illustrates the perils and rewards of rescuing animals that live at the margins of human society. If you have ever cared for an animal, this book will resonate with you.”
— Marty Becker, DVM, America’s Veterinarian and author of Your Cat: The Owner’s Manual

“Andrew Bloomfield’s heartfelt memoir is not just about his unconditional love for the feral-cat colony that he came to know and adopt. It’s also a much larger portrait of how we can live with, and gently support, animals, who are all at our mercy.”
— Patrick McDonnell, creator of MUTTS and illustrator of Guardians of Being

“Great writing is great storytelling, and Andrew Bloomfield is a great storyteller. This book is, in a word, stunning!… Buy it for every cat lover you know, as well as every ‘not yet’ cat lover. If this book doesn’t win them over, I don’t know what will.”
— Amelia Kinkade, author of Straight from the Horse’s Mouth

“Call of the Cats is like Born Free in an urban backyard, full of remarkable detail about the wild life around us and the extraordinary emotional attachments that can exist between human beings and the untamed animals that occasionally share our lives.”
— Bruce Joel Rubin, Academy Award–winning screenwriter of Ghost

About the Author

Andrew lived the better part of two years in Nepal where he followed a 17th century pilgrim’s guidebook to research spiritual sites around the lower Himalayas. He has worked as assistant manager and book buyer for East West Books in Manhattan, and for Snow Lion Publications in Ithaca, NY. He wrote Learning Practical Tibetan (with MP3s) for Snow Lion. In Seattle, he opened his own bookstore, Infinity Books, in Pioneer Square, where he hosted many public events, including appearances by renowned Tibetan lamas, Hindu saints, and Zen masters. He moved to Los Angeles and wrote How to Practice Vedic Astrology (with CD-ROM) for Harper Collins, subsequently published by Inner Traditions.

When writing book reviews on any of my websites – whether it’s a cookbook review on my food blog or an inspirational book review on my self help blog, I always like to tell why I loved the book, what my first and last reactions were, and (most importantly) what my readers will get from reading the book.  I try to accomplish all of this without giving away anything within the book that I want future readers to discover for themselves. A book reviewer should, in my opinion, set the tone for the book without giving anything away.
When I enjoy a book as much as I did Call of the Cats: What I Learned about Life and Love from a Feral Colony, it’s especially hard. My words get so worked up and excited that they trip all over themselves – like a litter of kittens all trying to get to “milk time” first.
My reactions to this book were the same at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end: I realized that I was in the presence of a kindred spirit. The author’s compassion for cats, love of each one, and overwhelming drive to help make each one safe and protected speaks to every inch of my being. When I saw that he, also, named feral cats, I even said out loud, “My kind of  human.”
Below are a few questions and answers with this Andrew Bloomfield (“My kind of human”)
 Why did you begin feeding these cats when you knew they would become dependent on you?  
Initially the impulse to feed the cats was in response to watching on of the cats die from choking on a bone it had scavenged from a neighbor’s trash. That was the impetus for making sure the cats were well nourished. Imbedded in that was the tacit understanding that we were making a commitment, to always be there for them. Or if not, to find someone to take our place – which is what happened. The thought of their dependence on us was a secondary consideration, and for us not as important as making sure they were getting safe, nourishing food. Dependence has somewhat of a negative connotation, and perhaps having wild cats depend on us was wrong. I have no way of knowing. But from our point of view it would only have been wrong if we were inconsistent with our care-giving.
Why did you spend money on these cats when you could barely support yourself?
None of this was very well thought out ahead of time! But I’ve come to learn that truly helping really has no self-reference. As I mentioned in the book, I once heard a spiritual teacher comment that the mantra of stupidity is “what about me?” It’s been my experience in life that whenever I’ve tried to self-protect or wonder “what’s in it for me,” I end up with less. What I tried to  hold onto for myself slipped through  my fingers like sand. Also, whether I fed the cats or myself with my last dollar didn’t much matter.  Either way I was going to be broke.
How do you know that Trap Neuter Release Really Works?

In my case I can only share my experience from one colony of cats in my back yard. As a result of TNR we went from 50 cats to 6 over time. The colony naturally and organically grew smaller as older cats died off and weren’t replaced by others, as no other litters were possible. So in our case the results were textbook, just as described.

Obviously most won’t be called to care for cats. Can you shed any insight into how others might find their life’s purpose?

I do believe one key in discerning one’s true purpose is simply by doing the thing right in front of your face. The thing closest at hand.

Our civilization is skewed toward unease. An unease born of not looking like, having, or accomplishing whatever an advertiser deems to be indispensable at the time – or what the idol-of-the-day embodies. Thus many strive to look like, or be like, or have the things we’re told will bring us satisfaction. But what is lost in that search is authenticity. Authenticity is being true to oneself – being comfortable in our bodies and content with our skill sets. I’ve met parking garage attendants who take great pride in their work and are more fulfilled in their lives as a result, than some Fortune 500 CEOs.

{Book review concluded below….}

Beautiful Call of the Cats Cover Model!

Beautiful Cover Model of Call of the Cats!

I believe he really nailed it when he used the word fulfillment. The happiness that comes from being fulfilled with what you are doing is unlike happiness that springs from any other source. Caring for cats gives cat lovers a great sense of fulfillment. When the happiness that comes as a result meets the love that flows from cat to human – it’s simply a breathtakingly beautiful thing.

I chose to end this article with the precious picture above – the one that graces the cover.  I don’t think a more apt or perfect picture could have been chosen for this book because this is, quite frankly, the face of the feral cat. You can see pride in the eyes – because no animal is more proud than a cat! – but you can also see a need to be cared for. There’s a hint of vulnerability in every cat, whether she admits it or not.  There are so many things (some with fur, some with not) that have the potential to harm cats and when we take it upon ourselves to help them dodge harm, we do a great, fulfilling, and even beautiful service.

It’s the cat’s pride that is always at the front of my mind when caring for all of my cats (inside, outside, tame, wild, feral… they’re all family!).  My family and I always seek ways to help the cats help themselves by providing food, water, and shelter.  One of my sons-in-law builds “cabins” for them and my husband buys heating pads for the cold months to place inside the cabins.

My youngest daughter and I find blankets, sleeping bags (so thick and comfortable!), and even pillows to make their lives more comfortable.
Caring for cats is an honor and one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever known.
If you love cats, trust me, Call of the Cats is the next book you want to read. It’s inspiring, uplifting, heart-touching, and often downright hilarious.
Cats are such characters!
It’s a highly entertaining read and one I highly recommend.  It would also make an EXCELLENT gift idea for the cat lovers in your life… a gift they won’t soon forget.


Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feral Cats, Gifts for Cat Lovers Tagged With: books about cats, cat books, feral cats, gift ideas for cat lovers

Christmas Gift Guide 2022!

Christmas Gift Guide for Cats and Cat Lovers 2022

Christmas 2022 Gift Ideas for Cats and Cat Lovers

Welcome to Your Cat’s Favorite Blog!

My name is Joi (“Joy”) and, simply put, cats make my world go round! Please e-mail me with any questions regarding the cat blog.

Disclaimer: As someone who works full-time from home, I use affiliate links when posting about cat furniture, toys, litter boxes, etc. I make a small amount of money each time someone clicks through and purchases a product they see on my blog. This costs you absolutely no extra money whatsoever. It simply allows me to provide my cats with the lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to!

You NEED This Book!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Cats

Chicken Soup for the Soul’s wonderfully entertaining and inspirational The Magic of Cats. My oldest daughter, Emily, has a story about one of my grandcats (“Eddie”) in this collection!

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Gorgeous Cat Tree!

Cat Tree

New on the Cat Blog

  • Adorable (and FUN!) Flapping and Chirping Duck Catnip Toy for Cats.
  • Automatic Cat Toy: Cats Lose Their Minds for These!
  • Rocket Cat Tunnel Tower (How Cute is This?!?!)
  • Cat Measuring Spoons: Great Gift Idea for Cat Lovers who Love to Cook
  • Christmas Gift Guide for Cats and Cat Lovers 2022: A Round-Up of Gift Ideas for Cats AND Their Humans!
  • Gorgeous, Deliciously Unique Cat Tree With “Nest Beds”
  • Machine Washable Donut-Shaped Cat Bed, Inexpensive and Gorgeous!
  • Adorable Japanese Style Tea Kettle for Cat Lovers

MinJee

Beautiful “MinJee”
We have inside and outside cats and we love them all like family. The beauty, above, is MinJee and she is as sweet as she is gorgeous.

If the spoiled inside crew would allow it, needless to say they’d ALL be inside. As it is, our outside cats have their own custom-built wooden homes and penthouses and, yes, they are all equipped with heating pads for the cold months.

We also feed and care for feral cats. Some honor us by following us home and allowing us to give them a forever home and to, more importantly, be their forever family.

#1 Best-Seller on Amazon


The Curious Cat Cube, Cat House / Cat Condo is currently the #1 Best-Seller on Amazon in Cat Houses & Condos.

An Ingenious Litter Box…


The Open Top Cat Litter Box Kit with Shield and Scoop is a number 1 best-seller on Amazon and has excellent reviews.

Christmas EVERYDAY!


If you're like me, you love nothing more than seeing your cat(s) with new toys. This collection of cat toys will make everyday feel like Christmas!

Cat Tunnel..


The adorable cat tunnel will give your cat(s) endless fun as they explore every nook and cranny!

Photographs on the Blog

I do not claim to have taken all of the photographs on this website. I did not take any of the “product” or “affiliate” merchandise photos  (unless I am reviewing a product, in which case it will be marked “Review”), nor do I claim to own them. If you are a photographer that sees something you want removed, simply e-mail me.

Keep Your Indoor Cat Active and Entertained

Alexa

Tips for Keeping Your Indoor Cat Entertained!

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