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Blog reader Carol sent me an e-mail on Saturday recommending a product that should make living with kitties a little more pleasant. Carol writes:

"I have used a product that I'd like to recommend.  I have a cat who has peed on every bed and davenport we have, some multiple times.  Only a real pet lover could fathom why he's still here.  The only thing that took the odor out, and I mean completely out , is called NATURE'S MIRACLE.  It says "Stain and Odor Remover", but the stains on the matresses are still there.  I can live with that.  We use sheets.  The smell is totally gone, and I have a sensitive nose.  I bought it at Nature's Emporium on Brambleton.  Actually, just now reviewing the directions, I did not scrub the spot like they recommend, so that's probably why it is still there.  I don't see a Web site, but the number of the company (Eight in One Pet Products) is 877-880-8855."

Click here for a link to what I believe is the right Web site.

Thanks for the recommendation, Carol. I may pick up this product and use it on the carpet under the litter box at our house.

I once worked with someone who told me she had a perfectly healthy cat euthanized because he would not stop urinating on a futon.  

Personally, I would have found another home for the cat or ditched the futon.

Cindy from Rockbridge Baths give four-paws-up to two pet products. Cindy writes:

"The first is a new kitty litter by Arm and Hammer called "Essentials." This litter is a clumping litter but does not produce the dust that the others do. That dust is not only a nuisance as it gets everywhere (as with most dust it seems to get blown through the air and travels farther), but I believe that the small particles can be inhaled by the cats and cannot be good for small animals' lungs, nor ours for that matter.

The Essentials litter does not produce dust even though the particles are small (so they can clump) and will get tracked around by the cats, I find it much preferable and my cats took to it right away. It smells wonderfully and so keeps down odors while giving off a light pleasant fragrance continually.

It is a little bit expensive but goes a long way and lasts a really long time. It does not seem to need changing very often but you just need to add more to it as it gets used up in daily scooping.

The second product that I love is "Pill Pockets." These are small, soft treats for made in both cat and dog varieties (the dog ones are larger). They are cup shaped and you insert a pill in them and then pinch the top closed. Both my cats and dogs love them and it is an easy and great way to medicate your pets.

They are also a little expensive, around $8 to $9 for 35 treats in a package but well worth it. I keep them handy as you cannot find them everywhere, some veterinarian offices carry them, some pet shops and I have also found them at our Rockbridge Farmers' Coop."

I agree with you about the Greenies Pill Pockets, Cindy. They make it much easier to give our dogs pills and I agree they are worth the extra expense, especially when measured against the cost of losing a pricey pill.

If other readers are thinking about switching cat litter, I offer one helpful hint: Mix it in slowly with your current litter. Cats typically resist change, and whenever we have put a new brand litter in the box, Thai expresses his displeasure by making his deposits near the box instead of inside it.

Not all cats are so picky. My daughter's cat, India, is not at all finicky about the litter.

But if your kitty is like Thai, mix a little of the new litter with the old, then add a little more with each change of the box until you have kitty accustomed to the new stuff.

In my last column I wrote how we were not pleased when the LitterMaid self-cleaning litter box we purchased a few of years ago quit working after only about six weeks of use by our two kitties.

We cleaned the rake and it never worked again, despite our relative certainty that all the moving parts were put back where they belonged.

Blog reader Peggy sent me this e-mail:

"Concerning the LitterMaid, I have had 2 of them in the past four or five years. The first one just quit one day. At the time it was serving three cats. I loved it so much that even though it had stopped working and [was] no longer covered by any warranty, when I called the company since I had bought one before they offered a new one for $115.00.  That one stopped working on auto. So we hooked it up to a timer. Also it has as laser beam that that detects when an animal has been in it, if the laser spot gets covered with the dust from the litter it may not work trying wiping it off. I do know that if you don't snap it back together it will not work properly."

Sounds like Peggy had a good experience reaching out to the company, which I admit we did not do. Perhaps the product has improved since we tried it in the summer of 2005. We were very pleased with it until it went kaput.

Anyone else have any experience with LitterMaid or other self-cleaning litter boxes?

Is there anything more fun than watching cats play?

I get pet-related product information in my e-mail several times a week. Some of it is interesting and some of it, well, not so much. This one from Fucini Productions caught my eye because I really wish my kitties liked to play with toys.  If they did, this looks like a pretty good one.

Called the ElastoMouse, the toy hangs from the door knob and features a "[p]lay-n-Squeak sound module that emits realistic mouse sounds as cats play with it, encouraging them to use their hunting instincts. In place of a streamlined mouse design, the ElastoMouse has stretchy arms that hook together, letting it hang easily. Stretchy legs are perfect for cats to pounce and bat."

According to the Web site, the toys are available at PetCo. I think if I were feline, this little toy would be a blast.

My cats, however, prefer to play with empty sacks, abandoned boxes, throw rugs, and, oddly enough, ice chips. Thai will come running to the kitchen if he hears us use the ice maker in the 'fridge.  If we have it on flaked ice, invariably some will miss the glass and hit the linoleum. Then he will have a grand old time batting it all over the floor until it melts.

Lately Thai also likes playing dog trainer.

The training sessions go something like this: Stormy will do his little play bow and "woof" at the kitty, and Thai will rumble like the engine of a stock car. Then Stormy will make a little move forward, and Thai will haul off and smack him on the snout.

Puppy retreats, and the cat looks smug in his schooling of the dog. The lessons go on throughout the day. Every now and then Stormy will catch Thai off guard and chase him up the stairs. Score one for the pup.

But if I spend money on tiny, herb-filled mice, feathers on sticks or balls that tinkle, Thai and India could not care less. Maybe they are just weird, maybe they find our zoo-like house to be stimulating enough. I don't know.

What are your kitty's play habits?

I got an e-mail from Laurie, a co-worker who was looking for a Roanoke-area cat groomer who would shave her long-haired kitty. Another blog reader recommended a local vet that specializes in felines and also offers grooming services.

Laurie wrote:

When I called the vet, they recommended I try the FURminator first, as some cats need to go under because they stress out too much when they're professionally groomed. I went out and bought one (only after I asked around the office and a co-worker said he had one for his dog and it was worth every penny) at PetSmart for $40 and it's AMAZING. I've never found a brush before that worked so well on my long-haired kitty. It also works on my short-hairs. I'll be recommending it to all the cat and dog owners I know who are tired of the shedding!

Anyone else had luck with this product? I think I may invest in these for our pets. Even though we only have short-haired dogs and cats, we see enough evidence of their shedding every time we empty the vacuum, which pretty much has to be done on a room-by-room basis.

Here are a couple of WikiHow articles on leash training your cat and making a jungle gym for your favorite feline.

And apparently just like Robert DeNiro's character did for Mr. Jinx in the movie "Meet the Fockers," you too can toliet train your tabby.

The warnings on these cat lessons are most amusing:

Warning: Never leave the cat on the leash in the backyard alone. The cat may try and hop over the fence and get stuck, resulting in an imminent cat funeral.

Warning: Do not teach your cat to flush. Although it is possible, once they learn they seem to enjoy it and will do it all the time.

Disclaimer: I would never dream of putting my cat on a leash (I bought a stroller, remember) nor would I ever entertain the idea of teaching him to use the bathroom.

Do these things at your own risk. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

In honor of the cat show coming to Roanoke this weekend, I will dedicate some blog space to all-things feline this week. Don't run away, dog-lovers. While we shine a spotlight on kitties, we will not ignore pooches, I promise.

Here's a list of ten tips for caring for your cat, courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States and with a little editorial comment from me:

1. Outfit your cat with a collar and ID tag: No matter how you try to body block the door, a determined kitty can get around you and disappear. Only about 5 percent of all lost cats are reunited with their families, so do all you can to make sure Fluffy can find home. And when choosing a collar for a cat, especially a female cat, think bling. She is a diva, after all.

2. Follow local cat registration laws: Roanoke County requires you to register cats just like dogs, meaning you pay a fee after you prove your pet has been properly vaccinated.

3. Keep your cat indoors: Keeping Fluffy confined to the house may seem like a violation of her personal freedom, but it's really the only way to protect your feline from the dangers of life on the outside.

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I promised to let you know about the cat stroller I ordered as part of my New Year’s resolution. The Double Decker Pet Stroller by Kittywalk Systems Inc. arrived last week, and so far, this is my best purchase of 2008.

There are actually three pieces to this contraption. There are two pet carriers, or Cat Caves, as we have come to call them. These were obviously designed by people who understand cats. Half of the carrier is covered in a mesh net and the other half is covered in a nylon fabric that creates a purr-fect little sanctuary when kitty wants to see be not be seen.

The carriers easily lift on and off the body of the stroller, which is a very sturdy vehicle with nice double wheels that swivel on the front, two foot brakes on the back wheels, and a plush, comfortable handle grip. There are pockets on the back of the carriers for keys, a wallet, cell phone, whatever you would need while out for a stroll. And when you are done, it folds up nicely, too.

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Tonight, I and several million of my closest friends will resolve to stop eating so much, get more exercise and end 2008 in better shape than we ended 2007.

To keep this vow, I could plan on walking my neighborhood with my dogs. Many people stroll through my suburb with pooch in tow.

The problem is my dogs bore easily on walks and would much prefer to play in the park or run hot laps in our backyard and then snooze on the couch. Besides, they are in great shape and don’t need a new exercise regime.

So why not walk the cat?

My cat Thai is about as agreeable as any kitty I have ever met but he would not tolerate a leash. He may, however, enjoy the scenic view from a stroller.

The Kittywalk Double Decker Pet Stoller SUV will allow me to keep my feline under control as I cruise up and down the hilly streets of my neighborhood. The stylish stroller has two “privacy parlors” that hold up to 25 lbs. each, so more than one pet can ride without having to share a seat.

It looks like a carrier on wheels, so if you travel with your pets, this may be a good option.

I ordered one today. I will let you know how it works out.

If you have plans to workout with your four-leggers this year, post a comment

Ah, what a wonderful distraction the Sky Mall magazine is when you are crammed into the middle seat on a long, turbulent flight, as I was last Sunday.

Sure, I was losing feeling in my feet and legs, but I am always happy perusing Sky Mall, chock full of hundreds of cool things that I never knew I needed but I am pretty sure I can’t live without, including fashion-forward litter boxes.

I hate the unsightly litter box we have now, so I am thinking about investing in one of these attractive alternatives. I like the cabinet, but I think the planter would be more versatile.

My daughter’s cat, India, will be fine with either choice. My concern is my cat Thai, who is very picky about his toilet facilities. He insists on Tidy Cat litter, and if the pan is not in pristine condition, well, let’s just say he does more than think outside the box. I would hate to drop serious cash on one of these decorator kitty restrooms just to find Thai expresses his displeasure all over my floor.

This laser thingy, however, is a must. I may not be able to wait until Christmas to give my kitties this toy.

I am glad I only fly a few times a year. I really can’t afford airfare and the Sky Mall.