#Ad: Play the Purina Pure Love for Pets Instant Win Game! You could win a Purina Prize Package!

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of Purina.   I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Purina Pure Love for Pets Prize Package Instant Win Game, but Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

It is  no secret that as pet parents, we have a love for our pets that is PURE and unconditional. It is also  no secret that cats LOVE boxes of all shapes and sizes! Most boxes that cats love are empty, but cats love boxes that are full of SURPRISES even more! When these surprise boxes are delivered directly to our door, that's even better!!  DING-DONG!! It's a Special Delivery from Purina!!!

Our friends at Purina know how much we love our pets, and how much our PETS and WE love surprises!!  That is why Purina is unleashing the love this summer  by giving away $45,000 in prizes through the Pure Love for Pets – Purina Prize Package Instant Win Game!

HOW CAN YOU WIN???


YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN INSTANTLY: By visiting www.PureLoveForPets.com to play for your chance to win a Purina Prize Package for your dog or cat (check out the contents of the package here - the approximate retail value of the package is $20.).

 If you have questions or if you want to check and see which Purina brands are participating, you can click here!

 The site also features several money saving coupons on Purina products. But act fast - the Instant Win game and coupons are only available through August 12, 2015!


BUT WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!!!
If YOU DID NOT WIN INSTANTLY
YOU CAN  ENTER OUR GIVE-AWAY!

 (since this is a Cat blog, we will only be giving away ONE Purina Prize Package for CATS!! Give-away is open to residents of the U.S. ONLY). 

Entering is easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!! Complete one mandatory entry and then you can unlock more options for even MORE chances to win! GOOD LUCK!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can a Cat Get a Little Help Here? PLEASE?! Wordless Wednesday

My Gotcha Day Revenge On Mom and a Kitty Kush Catnip Give-Away for YOU!!!

In full disclosure:This post is NOT sponsored monetarily by Kitty Kush Catnip, but they DID allow me to hold a give-away. Truth be told, only an obedient dog would compensate someone for a post in which a certain cat, (I wonder who THAT could be?), REFUSED to appear on video with a product they were featuring.

 If you were looking for a hearts and flowers kind of Gotcha Day post from my Mom, well, turn around and pussyfoot right outta here,  cause that is NOT gonna happen today. NO WAY!

Today is my 8th Gotcha Day and rather than read all of that sentimental gushing that Mom usually posts, it's time for ME to take over MY blog and tell you all the TRUTH!

Yeah, I am grateful to have a roof over my head, tons of beds, a really rocking cat tree that is the Rolls Royce of cat trees, (more on that in a few weeks), tons of tasty food and treats for my ample belleh and of course a woofie brother who loves me. I also have ONE PAWRENT  who loves, me, (that would be my DAD!!), the  other, namely my MOM, is a FRAUD!!!

Yes, you read that correctly, my Mom is a FRAUD!!

Want to know what she had the NERVE to do?

Remember last week when I blogged about my Vet trip? Well, Mom had scheduled (HAD being the operative word), an appointment to see "Dr.Smiley" and his Evil Assistant to get my rabies vaccine, for YESTERDAY....just ONE DAY BEFORE MY GOTCHA DAY!

I ask you kitties, who schedules a trip to the Vet for a vaccine or ANYTHING one day before a Gotcha Day? MY TRAITOR MOM, THAT'S WHO!

No worries, furiends, I showed HER!

You know what I did? 

Mom pulled THIS OUT:

courtesy of Kitty Kush Catnip

Let me tell you, it took EVERY ounce of self-control for me NOT to go nuts over this catnip. Why didn't I?  Well, I have had it kitties! For six of my eight years I have endured countless intrusions by my Mom when I am trying to get some rest. All I hear is "Oh Cody!! Come here! You will LOVE this!" and then the clicking, prodding, and sweet-talking starts. Just to USE ME for product reviews! 

Sorry, Mom, but that Vet trip that ALMOST took place one day before my Gotcha Day was the game changer.

I don't care that the makers of Kitty Kush Catnip were:

I don't care that all you have to do is:

courtesy of Kitty Kush Catnip

I don't care that Kitty Kush Catnip is:

courtesy of Kitty Kush Catnip

Oh normally I would care about all that makes Kitty Kush Catnip catabulous,  but after Mom's little planned trip to the Vet that I TOTALLY ended up sabotaging, there was going to be not one whisker's worth of cooperation from me! NO WAY! You see, I REFUSED to look at the camera, I REFUSED to roll around in the midst of catnip bliss, tossing my ample belleh this way and that. I am  NO LONGER YOUR TRAINED SEAL MOM!! I'm a CAT! I have a MIND OF MY OWN and this is MY blog!! You are NOT the BOSS OF ME!!! (Well, at least til my next meal).

If you want to see super cute videos of cats that cooperated with their Moms (because they have NICE, LOVING MOMS who wouldn't dream of scheduling a trip to the Vet ONE DAY BEFORE THEIR GOTCHA DAYS).....you can click HERE and HERE!! But you are NOT going to see some cutesy, cutesy video from this guy! NO WAY!! I'm done! Finished! KAPUT!

Oh yes this scared my Mom! She quickly realized the error of her ways and postponed the soiree with Dr.Smiley til next week, but that was too little too late Mom. The damage was done!!!! You won't get ANY further cooperation from me for quite a while!

But...for the REST OF YOU my furiend at Kitty Kush Catnip felt really bad for me. So bad in fact, that he agreed to have a give-away!!!

YES!! He said that in honor of my EIGHTH GOTCHA DAY, EIGHT OF MY PALS could win their own Kitty Kush Catnip Grinder, (an approx. $11 value!) !!! (My apologies to my International readers, but this give-away is open to those residing in the U.S. and Canada only). 

Entering is super easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!! Good luck!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OCSD=Obsessive Cat Sticker Disorder

A few weeks ago my husband and I visited our Uncle at his home in a local Assisted Living facility and I nearly died laughing, when I saw this vehicle:

To those who live in Michigan, if this is your car, please don't tell me............LOL

If you don't talk to your family members about OCSD (Obsessive Cat Sticker Disorder), who will?

What is YOUR Definition of the "Modern Cat Lady?"

I was honored to be asked to share my opinion about who I think the "Modern Cat Lady" is. Read what I had to say and what five other fabulous cat bloggers had to say on  Cat Lady Confidential:

If you missed yesterday's post, 

you can read what everyone had to say, right here

then, leave a comment telling me 

what qualities YOU 

think that the "Modern Cat Lady" possesses....

DISCUSS!!!

Are YOU on Flipagram?

Yep, I know, I know, yet ANOTHER social media platform!!!

I first learned about Flipagram from my niece who just returned from Hawaii  where she and her husband celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.

Instead of posting 50 photos on Facebook, she created a Flipagram!

Of course, once I saw it, I had to check out the site.

How to use Flipagram:

I have to tell you, I just made my first video and I was amazed that it wasn't difficult at all! I am not the most technologically savvy person in the world, but if I could make a video, you can too!

I tried copying the embed code for my first Flipagram and it didn't work but click here and you will see it! Not bad for a first time effort, once I play around with it more, I think it will be fun! I just wish they had embed codes that actually WORK on blogs, I tried numerous times and couldn't get it to post here, but it's all good!

If you are on Instagram, Flipagram is just a natural progression! Have fun!!!

Already on Flipagram? Follow us here!!

Winners of the Book: No Better Medicine by Kelly Meister-Yetter

Thank you to all who entered our give-away for:

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO OUR LUCKY WINNERS

AND...THERE IS A

SPECIAL SURPRISE

FOR ONE LUCKY READER!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The surprise is that I have decided to send MY COPY

of No Better Medicine to Marg from 

CLICK TO VISIT!!

Because if ANYONE deserves this book and will love this book it is Marg!  Marg has cared for cats, dogs, donkeys and loves ALL "critters" so much that I could no way NOT have her receive this book! (Her name was not chosen by Rafflecopter but I dearly want her to have this book).

Also, Emily has a blog too:

CLICK TO VISIT!

#Cat Behavior Finally Explained: Vote Now!!!

Our furiends at

click here to visit!

 are GOLDEN!!!

They were nominated for a

 2015 GOLDEN KITTY AWARD!!!

Here is the video that was nominated:

 YOU CAN VOTE

 NUMEROUS TIMES,

 RIGHT HERE!!

Meet Writer, Healer, Spiritual Life Coach, Astrologer and Tarot Reader:Julianne Victoria

Since as far back as my High School days, I have been a fan of Astrology. Why? My Mother had my chart done when I was around 17 in an attempt to find out why I was so "impractical."The reason? All of my planets are Air, Fire and Water, not one planet resides in an Earth sign, but I digress. I became interested in Astrology, Tarot etc., not necessarily for "daily" predictions, but to learn about personality traits of my sign and to get general predictions, such as monthly predictions.

Back in June I had the pleasure of winning a Tarot reading from Julianne Victoria, who is a writer, healer, a spiritual life coach, astrologer and tarot reader who resides in San Francisco, CA.  Her mission is that she "hopes to help heal, teach, and inspire others on their journeys and in this life."

Julianne has a number of blogs/websites that pertain to all of the services (and books) that she offers, and you will find those linked throughout this blog post and at the end. I HIGHLY recommend her!

I follow all of Julianne's blogs, but the one I won the Tarot reading on is:

THROUGH THE PEACOCK'S EYES

I have been following Julianne  on all of her blogs for a few years now, but my favorite remains, Through The Peacock's Eyes.


I am not going to post the reading that I won that was sent to me as a video, but suffice it to say it was FABULOUS and SPOT ON, and gave me the encouragement and the impetus I needed for something I hope to be doing mid to late 2016 that is NOT blogging related! (gasp!!!)

As a thank you to Julianne for my amazing reading, I offered to feature her on both of my blogs since she is, along with being everything listed above,  a doggie Mama and a kitty Mama!

One of my favorite things about Through The Peacock's Eyes are the monthly videos that Julianne unselfishly and painstakingly creates for each and every sign! (They aren't short either, they are approx 7 minutes per sign and are packed full of info!)  Since Julianne makes such interesting videos, I asked her if she would make a video introducing herself to those of you who may not know her, and she agreed!

Enjoy!





Julianne is truly gifted, and I am  in awe of all that she has accomplished and continues to accomplish.

I have provided links below to all the places where you may find and follow Julianne:

Her kitty's Yoga book (which I also reviewed)

Click to visit

Her dog, Kuruk's book about his puppy mill rescue & healing journey

Click to visit

 Animal Reiki & Healing website

For Tarot, Astrology, or Life Coaching

YouTube

Her Photo Blog
Facebook

#Cat and #Dog Adopt-A-Thon! #Michigan July 18 and 19th at Almost Home!

Imperial Cat Scratch 'n Shapes Sofa Winner!!!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

Imperial Cat Scratch 'n Shapes Sofa!!!!

We cannot wait to announce the lucky winner!!!!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS TO:

ANNABELLE!!!!!!

Miss Annabelle happens to have a blog called:

CLICK TO VISIT HER BLOG

And I gotta tell ya, if she gets the same scratcher as me, she is gonna look GORGEOUS on it!!!! Enjoy and thanks to Imperial Cat for this great give-away!

Love, Cody

A Fun Visit With A Special Friend!

It isn't often that Cody, Dakota and I are lucky enough to meet a brand (and friend!) in person, but a few weeks ago we had that honor!

I had featured a brand called Crunchkins on Dakota's blog in 2014   when Christine, (one of the owners) was kind enough to allow us to do a give-away for Dakota's 7th birthday in 2014.

What are Crunchkins?

Learn more about Crunchkins here

Crunchkins are a line of edible greeting cards,  primarily for dogs, but they soon are going to be adding cat items as well!

Dakota's edible card
 from his 7th birthday

After being featured on Dakota's blog,  Christine and I struck up an online friendship. Through our conversations, I had discovered that Christine was originally from Michigan and occasionally comes back to visit. We had agreed that on one of her next trips we would FINALLY meet, and this past June we did!

Christine came into town for a special family event, and I was honored that with her crazy busy schedule she was able to set a few hours aside to have lunch.

When we FINALLY greeted each other in person, it was like getting together with a friend that I had known my entire life, we chatted and laughed for hours!

Our plan included having Christine come over to our condo to primarily meet, Dakota, (since he was the recipient of the delicious greeting cards). Well, Dakota was happy to meet Christine, (but became rather shy and was adept at making sure he wasn't in ANY photos, I think he was overwhelmed by meeting the creator of those delicious greeting cards in person!!!).

Never one to miss a "Meet-And-Greet"...
Cody sauntered into the room and  was smitten the second he gazed at Christine. He pulled out all of the stops and began working his magic:

He was SMITTEN!!!

YEP IT WAS TRUE LOVE!!

Guess Christine needs to work on those

Kitty Crunchkins cards....

and FAST!!!

A HUGE thank you to Christine for her incredible kindness and for setting time aside to FINALLY meet in person! I had an incredible time and from the looks of things, Cody did too!!!!

Back in the the winter when Cody was ill, Christine was one of a number of people who were a huge comfort. She answered my relentless questions (her husband, the founder of Crunchkins, is a former Veterinarian), and was always checking in to see how everything was going.  The online friendship that we have cultivated is one that I will cherish forever!

I think the above photos were Cody's way of  THANKING her in person!!!!!

To keep informed as to when Crunchkins will have kitty products on their website, and to keep abreast with the dog items and some changes that are coming,  you can sign up for their newsletter,   follow on Twitter and also on Facebook!


No...I was not compensated for featuring Christine and Crunchkins, I wanted to do so, and to show how Cody completely fell in love!

Oh What a Tease!!! (A few words on Wednesday)

Ok, I feel super bad that it totally slipped my mind that today is Blog The Change, a day, (and suffice it to say that Cody is BEYOND upset with me!),  that we have participated in numerous times. I totally dropped the ball on this one and completely forgot. (Cody forgot to remind me!!)  Be sure to read the blog posts of those who DID remember!!!

But, Cody and I DID have a nice surprise yesterday from our friends Sammy and Pam over at their blog:

ONE SPOILED CAT

 The week before last Cody and I were the first correct guessers of their famous Tuesday Teaser:

Click here to see what the answer was!!

Then, this week Sammy posted THIS hilarious photo and asked us to tell him WHERE the photo was taken.

Photo Courtesy of One Spoiled Cat

Well, guess who answered CORRECTLY and was the FIRST to do so????????????????? Yeah Baby!!!!!! It was none other than Cody and I!!!! (Click here to see our guess in the comments area),   now because we were the FIRST CORRECT GUESSERS (take THAT Easy!! lol!!), We are the FIRST recipients  of Sammy's brand spankin' new Teaser Badge!!!

Now, you must understand that we think in the zillion years we have been guessing, we might have been right maybe one other time, if that? Now, we are on a ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cody and I were so happy when we received this email from Pam and Sammy Tuesday morning:

"Good Morning Cody and Miss Caren!   GUESS WHAT..............you are the first winners of the newly designed FIRST RIGHT GUESSER badge!!!     My Mom's crazy niece Barbara was at Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab, Utah for this insane photograph."



Thanks Pam and Sammy for all of the FUN that you bring to us!!! Cody and I LOVE being  "TEASES!!!" WE LOVE YOU and we LOVE that crazy photo!!!!!

Book: No Better Medicine: How Caring for Critters Helped Heal The Wounds Of The Past by Kelly Meister-Yetter -Enter to Win!

It is my pleasure to present to you today another book by Kelly Meister (now Kelly Meister-Yetter): No Better Medicine: How Caring For Critters Helped Heal The Wounds Of The Past. 

The first time we featured Kelly was on February 18, 2013 when we reviewed her book, Crazy Critter Lady.   Kelly's journey of recovery continues in No Better Medicine and we the lucky readers are permitted to accompany her on this amazing, heartfelt and raw journey.

Author Kelly Meister-Yetter, spent years in therapy as a result of childhood sexual abuse. Her life, for many years, was spent in "darkness and chaos." Lesser people might have shattered to bits, never breaking free of the depression that ensued as a result of having endured such horrific experiences.

From The Crazy Critter Lady:

Animal lover Kelly Meister-Yetter returns with No Better Medicine, another volume of charming critter tales guaranteed to warm your heart. Join Kelly as she tries to avoid being thrown by her new equine buddy, Bit - a horse who is literally afraid of his own shadow - and learn what happens when a local do-gooder decides to rescue her rogue gang of flightless ducks off that city pond. 

The most haunted of houses is the human mind.

-Patrick McGrath

No Better Medicine is a compilation of what I would like to call stories or essays that make the reader feel as if they  they are reading pages from Kelly's private journal.They are soul-baring thoughts and experiences made public in a tasteful, honest and REAL voice. Kelly takes the reader on a journey through her life of recovery after enduring years of sexual abuse.

Key to Kelly's on-going recovery are the 4-legged creatures who "colored her world, put a smile on her face and brought her immeasurable joy."

THOSE CREATURES INCLUDE:

DUCKS:

Pretty Boy Duck and his fondness for George Harrison songs

The gang at McKinnon's Pone who spent years cheering whenever they say her coming.

CATS:

Miss Muffin and her clandestine ability to catch the odd mouse.

CRAYFISH:

Yes, Kelly even rescued a crayfish!

HORSES

Her buddy Ruckus who taught her so much about horsemanship.

Her newest pal Bit, who continues Kelly's equine education.

DONKEYS

Cranky donkey Cricket, who was loved by everyone, in spite of her many moods.

No Better Medicine is 266 pages that are written from the heart, and interspersed with quotes that are raw and stem from a place of pain deep within. Many of the stories will make you laugh, cheer and sometimes cry. 

From Kelly:If there is one thing I would have you take away from my story-apart from the universal message that ALL species of animals are deserving of our kindess, compassion, and consideration-it is this; that while the CONSERVATIVE estimate is that one in four girls will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday, and one in six boys, the current belief is that it's one in THREE girls, and one in FIVE boys. The average pedophile molests over 120 children before he's caught.

ON LOSING A BELOVED PET:

As I've observed before, it IS necessary to move forward, to form new relationships with other critters, to let yourself love again, even though you KNOW that one day, your heart will be broken by yet another critter death. These wonderful relationships are vital to the well-being of our souls, and quite possibly theirs, too. They're what make life worth living.

They are what help ALL of us recover,

just by their very existence.

To order your copy at Amazon.com, click here!

To order your copy at Barnes & Noble, click here! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelly Meister-Yetter is a writer, photographer, blogger, and author of Crazy Critter Lady and No Better Medicine. She shares her life with three ducks, four cats and a barn full of ornery horses. Based on her years of experience rescuing animals in need, Kelly also acts as an advocate for their care and humane treatment, donating her time and resources to numerous animal welfare organizations. When she's not volunteering at a horse rescue facility, Kelly enjoys training her horse, and waiting on her cats hand and foot. Kelly, the critters, and her husband live in Northwest, Ohio. You can find Kelly at www.crazycritterlady.com

GIVE-AWAY!!

Kelly has generously offered TWO of our readers (U.S. AND CANADA), the chance to win a copy of No Better Medicine. Entering is easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Full Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of No Better Medicine in exchange for my honest review.

Well...I don't miss YOU!!!!! and Vet #Selfie

Hi my furiends!!! I stole the password to Mom's email account and THIS is what I found! WE MISS YOU! (A lot!!!) It's time for a visit. Please call us today to schedule an appointment for Cody 248-646-1669 Dear Caren, Cody is due for some important medical care in July: • 1-Year Rabies Vac. Feline due Saturday July 25, 2015 Please disregard this message if you have already scheduled your appointment. See you soon! DePorre Veterinary Hospital KITTIES!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never showed you outtakes from my last appointment with "Dr.Smiley" and his "Evil" Assistant!!! Mom had taken me on a surprise journey to see him a couple of months ago when I was having another allergy flare-up, and here are some gruesome shots from my visit!!! Be sure to note the JOY in their faces and the LACK OF JOY on mine! "I sure don't recall ANYONE having made an appointment for a PAWDICURE!!!!!! Get your paws off of me!!!" Then kitties, the HORROR continued!!! "Dr.Smiley", his "Evil" assistant, and my equally "Evil" Mom, wanted to record this violation for posterity by taking a: VET GROUP SELFIE!!!!!! Contrary to popular opinion, the positioning of my tail between my legs does NOT mean that I was "Happy to see them!!" Head on over and see what are hopefully MUCH LESS humiliating photos of other kitties at: CLICK HERE TO VISIT! In full disclosure: I was just kidding!! I TRULY LOVE "Dr.Smiley" AND his "Evil Assistant", well, at least MOST of the time!!!!! Now if you will excuse me, I gotta go and destroy that email before Mom sees it!  Love,  Cody