My Pet Pledge for 2016! Make Yours and Enter To Win at Purina PureLoveForPets.com ! #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  Purina Pet Pledge Campaign 2016.   Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Here we are, a month into the New Year, and if you are like many people, the "resolutions" you made for yourself have fallen by the wayside. That is why I prefer to use the word "intentions" or even better, the word "pledge."  A "pledge" is a "solemn promise or undertaking". For me, promises are serious business, if I make a promise I will do my UTMOST to keep it, much more than a resolution or an intention.

This year our friends at  Purina want to keep all of our favorite four-legged family members in mind as we make our  pledges! With February being "The Month of Love" , it is the purrfect time to make a pledge to our furry family members! 

What is MY Pledge?

See this cute guy?

That's Cody, and Cody is NOT holding a cat toy. Cody is holding Dakota's BALL. A DOG BALL! Why a dog ball? Well, long story short, I had come into the living room because I felt sorry for Dakota, (I felt he wasn't being active enough), and I started throwing one of his balls to him. Dakota had NO interest in it...but....CODY DID!

I felt so guilty! Nearly every night after dinner Cody goes into the bedroom hoping that I will tear myself away from the computer, even for just 15 minutes and play his favorite game in the world. We call it "The Silly Game". What it boils down to is Cody likes to play with his favorite wand toy, (the one with the furry little mouse on the end, that you all know of quite well!). HE LOVES THAT GAME! For quite some time I would play EVERY NIGHT. Then, as many of us do, I started being "too busy." I would say "Not now Cody, Mama has work to do", or "maybe tomorrow Cody", but then tomorrow comes and it is the same thing again. I know, I am an AWFUL kitty Mama. I am sure you have all been there at some point yourselves so don't point a paw at me!  It got me to thinking,

If my baby can make the time for ME, as he always does, even when I am just resting on the couch, the LEAST I can do is to make the time for HIM....I can take 15 minutes as many days a week as he wants to play, and PLAY WITH HIM. He won't be here forever, we all know too well how fast the time passes. I must savor each and every moment that I am blessed to spend with him. My pledge is to take the time at LEAST once a day and play that "Silly Game" with Cody. If it is important to HIM, it should be important to ME.

 Our friends at Purina, Cody and I are  encouraging everyone to make a Pet Pledge for 2016 – it can be anything, from spending more time with your pets each day to pampering them with new toys or accessories, and anything in between. Once you’ve made your Pledge, visit PureLoveForPets.com and share it with Purina! While you’re on the site, play their instant-win game to win a prize box or their grand prize – all geared to help you keep that Pledge:

Cat Prize Box– Cat Furminator, Kitty Hammock, toys, other cat-related accessories! Visit PureLoveForPets.com to see ALL of the prizes!

Photo Courtesy of Purina

Cat Grand Prize – Deluxe Cat Tower

Photo Courtesy of Purina

Because this is a cat blog we are focusing on the prizes that CATS can win. There are DOG PRIZES AS WELL! They include a Dog Prize Box – Dog Furminator, Kong toys, other dog-related accessories!!!

Dog Grand Prize – the Deluxe Dog Crate---is AMAZING!!!

 Visit PureLoveForPets.com

to check it out

 and to check out

 ALL OF THE 

PAWESOME PRIZES!!!

The Instant Win game will  run through Wednesday, February 17. In addition, PureLoveForPets.com will also feature information and tips on different Pet Pledges you can make and how to help keep them throughout the year. There are coupons there too!

I made MY pledge AND played the Instant Win game as well, it couldn't be easier!!! Be sure to head over there yourself!!!!!

I shared my pledge with Purina and all of you, now tell me, in a comment below, what will YOUR PLEDGE to your pet(s) be?

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!!

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. NestléPurina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

Follow Purina!

·         Purina Facebook

·         Purina Twitter (@Purina)

·         Purina Instagram (@Purina)

Purina Pro Plan Extraordinary #MenandCats Calendar Give-Away Winner!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

the Purina Pro Plan
Extraordinary Men and Cats Calendar!!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS TO

THE LUCKY WINNER!!

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Purina #BetterWithPets Summit Recap Video Wordless Wednesday

Purina's #BetterWithPets Summit 2015: Emotional Wellness and the Bond Between Pets and their People #Sponsored Part I

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  2015 Better With Pets Summit.  Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

My challenge when writing this post about the Purina Better With Pets Summit 2015 is to try to convey to you just how incredible it was with about being overly verbose and without giving you photo overload! Warning! I don't think that is possible!

I had the honor of being one of a number of digital influencers (Purina's term for us, which I LOVED!), who were brought together with some of the brightest minds in pet science and culture to share how big, innovative ideas are improving the emotional wellness of pets and the people who love them.  This was my second Summit, and I could never have imagined it would surpass my first, but it did! Everything Purina does is done with perfectionism and class, and they exhibit caring and concern for all of us that is unsurpassed. I have been a digital influencer for Purina since 2012, and each event I have had the privilege of attending has outshone the one that came before.

I wanted to include this photo, because I found it fitting that when I arrived at the airport in Detroit, one of the first sights I saw was this:

It was only fitting that I would be greeted by a dog or a cat on my way to an event featuring pets. It was incredibly kind of the police woman to allow me to take this photograph.

I arrived in one of my all-time favorite cities, New York, Monday, November 2nd and entered The W Hotel where the first person I saw was Dr.Jessica Vogelsang, author of All Dogs Go To Kevin, and the blog Pawcurious. After shrieking with glee because I hadn't seen her in forever, the lobby quickly became a "mini-reunion" for my fellow digital influencers, as many arrived the same time as me.

Monday evening we were gifted with time to explore NYC and to reconnect with friends, and I took advantage of that by going to a scrumptious Greek dinner with Layla Morgan Wilde of Cat Wisdom 101. The restaurant was called Avra, and while the hostesses were less than friendly, the food was AMAZING!

After dinner,  since we had to be up super early to board the buses that would transport us to the Brooklyn Expo Center where the Summit was being held,  after I got my Jimmy Fallon fix, it was "La-La-Land" for me!!

Even in the early morning hours, in spite of not being thoroughly caffeinated,  there was electricity and excitement in the air as a bus load of communicators from all different specialties chattered away filling the bus with a jovial hum of conversation!

View from the bus window!!

 We waited in line to receive our badges and I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a number of Purina employees whom I hadn't seen in some time! We had time to mill about, grab a shot (or two or three) of espresso, and take some photos with our friends, (and I took one of the photographer who was photographing US!), before the sessions began.

Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat
and I with our heads cut off!!
Hadn't seen her in forever
and it was fantastic to connect again!

This photographer was a
super good sport and allowed me
to take photos of HIM!!

Then it was time for the summit to begin!

The third annual summit shined a spotlight on the emotional wellness of pets and the people who love them. How do pets help us be well? How do we help them in return?

There was a welcome by writer and comedian Josh Gondelman, who recently adopted an adorable senior Pug named Bizzy.

Next up was the Keynote from Dr.Arleigh Reynolds, Purina Senior Research Scientist. This was my third time listening to him speak and it was a complete honor!

Panel 1 was up next and that was "An Evolving Relationship with Cats?" which offered a close look at the dynamic, possibly evolving relationship between people and cats, and what it might suggest for a new generation of pet owners. It  was moderated by Hal Herzog, Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University. His research focuses on the psychology of human-animal interactions, including attitudes toward the use of animals and the impact of pets on human health.

Other panelists included Sandra Lyn, a behaviorist at Purina, where she leads the Nestle' Purina Global R&D Feeding Behavior research program,  Christina Ha, co-founder, Meow Parlour, NYC's first cat cafe'. Meow Parlour's goal is to create a calm environment for connecting adoptable cats with cat-loving humans. Last but not least,  Mikel Maria Delgado, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and co-owner of Feline Minds, offering consulting, training and support related to cat behavior for cat owners, animal shelters, rescue groups and other organizations.

Photo Courtesy of
http://www.multivu.com/

My "take-aways" from this panel:

• 1 out of 3 Americans have cats, there are more cats than dogs in American homes.
• Soon millenials will be the largest percentage of cat owners, used to be the "Boomers" but the Millenials will be taking over!
• Common stereotype is cat people are more introverted, but social media is changing that due to cat cafes etc. Cat people are becoming much more social!
• Older people are more secure and less anxious about whether or not their pets love them, younger people tend to question whether they are loved by their pets much more.
• Interaction with cats are better if the CAT initiates the interaction (this was one of my faves)
• Cats give back in proportion to what you give them
• No two cats are the same
• People who love both cats and dogs are more open to new experiences and more out-going
• More work needs to be done to educate people about cats.

Panel 2: Stress, Our Pets and Us was the next panel.  This panel featured a discussion of the sources and effects of stress on pets, and how to manage stressors to enhance your pet's well-being. The panel was led by moderator Marty Becker, D.V.M, Chief Veterinary Correspondent, American Humane Society, and it featured Ragen McGowan, Senior Scientist, Nestle' Purina, her research incorporates a holistic approach including behavior and physiology to assess emotions in pets. She aims to understand what is positive for pets and quantify the human-animal bond from the pet's perspective.  Also included was: Heather Lewis, Principal, Animal Arts an Architectural firm that has exclusively designed veterinary hospitals and animal care facilities since 1979.

Last but not least was Tony Buffington, D.V.M., Professor Ohio State University. His clinical interests include stress effects on disease, obesity, evidence-based medicine and effective medical communications.

My "take-aways" from this panel:

Environmental enrichment is main cure for bladder infections in cats.
Stressors in cats can be anything from changes in temp, change in perfume etc!
Did you know that dogs and cats prefer PASTEL colors?
Cats who are kept in cages at the Vet and in Shelters should be HIGH UP.....(horizontal bar vision)...they experience less stress if they are high up.
Good stress for cats and dogs can be found by playing and utilizing treat puzzles.
Cats and dogs prefer WORKING for their food, also known as "contrafreeloading" (the jury is still out with Cody in reference to this one, I don't think so!!)
Whenever cats and dogs live in a mixed environment it is important to have a SAFE HAVEN FOR THE CATS (I did that from day one with Cody, hence baby gates!)
The most important enrichment device at home for our pets is to have food puzzles, primarily for cats, but dogs benefit too!
Always think about things from the animal's perspective
Boredom can be just as bad for a pet's health as stress

The third panel was Raising Pets and Kids, and since I didn't have kids, I really didn't focus on my note-taking during this panel.

New to the Better With Pets Summit this year were five educational zones which featured interactive exhibits for attendees to engage, as well as see Purina’s vast expertise in the pet wellness space and connect with Purina experts. The exhibits featured educational touchscreen displays, a dedicated room showcasing healthy environments for cats,

 a play lab for agility dogs with wearable technology that monitored their activity as they played, and an area where attendees can see how nutrition impacts cognition and emotional wellness in pets.

Due to the length of this post, please join us THIS WEDNESDAY where we will be featuring Part II of this series which will showcase the CATS that were at the Better With Pets Summit (and some humans too!!!), as well as a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Then, please  join us on Monday, November 16 when we will feature our Purina "Call to Action" post. 

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. NestléPurina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

Follow Purina!

·         Purina Facebook

·         Purina Twitter (@Purina)

·         Purina Instagram (@Purina)

· 

You're Leaving Me Again?

The expression on Cody's face says it all. I took this photo yesterday afternoon and mostly took it because the sunlight was so pretty shining on him while he was in his tree.

Then...I saw his extra disgusted expression.

Yes Cody, I am leaving again. This time for the Purina Better With Pets Summit in New York. I am flying out today and will return later on Wednesday. No worries though, Daddy will be here and we all know you have him wrapped around your paw when it comes to treat/kibble dispensing.

Just don't forget who REALLY loves you, ok?

Love, Mom

Wednesday Winners!!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for the coupon for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Formulas...the lucky winners are listed below!
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#PurinaPartner: How to Detect Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, or FLUTD: Enter to win

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of Purina.   I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Formulas,  but Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

When I was first contacted by my friends at Purina asking if I would be interested in the opportunity to share important information about FLUTD with my readers, my first thought went to my Angel Bobo.  Bobo DID suffer from having SIX kidney stones (ALL AT ONE TIME! He takes after his Mama), when he was about sixteen years old. I found out he had them after he had been throwing up white foam numerous times during the day.  I asked my friends at Purina if the kidney stones that Bobo had were related to FLUTD.

I was provided with some interesting information from Purina Veterinarian Dr. Grace

Long, and learned that Urinary stones is a broader term and would encompass both kidney stones (stones actually in the kidneys)and bladder stones (stones in the urinary bladder).  

Per Dr.Grace Long, Purina Veterinarian, Stones are just one form of FLUTD. 

What is FLUTD?

 Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, or FLUTD, is a group of diseases that affect both the bladder and the urethra in cats. The disease is sometimes caused by urinary stones or crystals, and it’s more common than you might think. Thanks to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, you will learn : how to identify if your cat has the risk factors, as well as how to recognize the symptoms which are sometimes dismissed by owners as common litter box problems.

FLUTD Risk Factors

Age, gender and physical activity can help indicate whether or not your cat is at a higher risk for developing FLUTD.

·         Gender: Both male and female cats can experience urinary tract disorders, but since male cats have longer and narrower urethras, their urinary tracts are more likely to be obstructed by crystals and mucous.

·         Breed: Urinary problems are more common in certain breeds, such as Persians, where there is a lower incidence in Siamese.

·         Age: Young adult cats between the ages of 2 and 6 years are more likely to have lower urinary tract disorders, but cats of any age are susceptible.

·         Activity Level: indoor cats seem to be more susceptible to lower urinary tract disorders. This may be because confinement reduces physical activities, which in turn may reduce the amount of water consumed and frequency of urination, allowing crystals to form in the urine.

·         Diet: high levels of ash and magnesium in the diet were once through to cause crystals.

 However, more recent work indicates that urine pH and concentration are more important factors in the development of FLUTD. Increasing water intake is highly recommended to help reduce the risk of FLUTD.

How to Recognize the Symptoms

You will likely notice a change in your cat’s appearance or behavior if he or she is experiencing FLUTD. Look for common signs, such as:

·         Makes frequent trips to the litter box

·         Cries when urinating

·         Urinates outside the litter box

·         Licks genital area excessively

·         Strains to urinate, with little success

·         Displays signs of anxiety, such as pacing or hiding

   Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Formulas  are scientifically formulated to meet the special dietary needs of cats that are predisposed to lower urinary tract conditions. 

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Formulas promote increased water intake and encourages a urinary environment unfavorable to the development of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. The wet and dry formulas are commonly prescribed by veterinarians for the nutritional management of cats with, or are predisposed to, FLUTD.

Purina is offering readers of Cat Chat With Caren and Cody a rebate!  Click here for a $15 off mail-in rebate for the new UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Canned Formulas.

You can also enter to win one of two coupons for a free bag  Entering is easy! Just enter on  the Rafflecopter below. Our apologies but the give-away is open to  U.S. residents only. Two winners will each receive one coupon which must be redeemed at a veterinary clinic. The winners will be announced on or around October 21st. Good luck!!!

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TO LEARN MORE VISIT:

Proplan Veterinary Diet Website 

Purina Veterinary Exchange on Facebook

Purina Vet on Twitter