The Things We Do For Our Pets

[SheilaTheTank]

MH and I bought a bird feeder this weekend. Not for our bird watching enjoyment but to entertain our cats. This will be the third thing we maintain in our house solely for the cats' entertainment/enjoyment. We can't be the only one's who go out of their way to keep their pets entertained. Who else out there does crazy things for their pets? What do you do and why?

[mishy2010]

My smaller dog is my bird feeder protector. She stands guard while the birdies eat and chased away squirrels. It's pretty funny watching her wait for them to get close enough.
We have mini steps up to our bed for the dogs convenience, treat toys all over, and we keep one ugly couch in the basement bc my bigger dog looooves rubbing all over it. I'm sure we do other crazy things for the dogs that just seem normal to us now haha.

[Ray]

We go to the beach frequently in the summer. Not to swim or sunbathe but so our two dogs can play in the water. We snow low a path to the woods for our dos to do their business in the winter. I buy aquarium items solely based on how my fish could swim in/through/around them so they dont get bored.
I go for runs so my dogs can get exercise. I honestly don't think I'd ever go if not for my dogs.

[mainewifey]

I used to have a 7 foot tall multi level cat condo that took up a ridiculous amount of space. The only cat we have left doesn't like it though, so we ended up giving it away. I was not sad to see it go.

We leave the water trickleing in the bathroom sink for him to drink from.

I felt bad because the basement stairs of our new house are really steep so I added an extra litter box on the main floor of the house for him, eventhough I hate having it up there. He also has two other boxes to pick from in the basement.

I do all the things for my dog. Anything he wants, he gets. Daycare twice a week, car rides, sleeping under the covers in bed with us. I give him more massages then I give H.

[virginiaorjohn]

My dog gets one expensive peanut-butter-flavored rawhide a week. They are $7 a piece. They are his favorite and he gets so excited. It's a line item on our budget.

Oh, and a timely example - yesterday we got tacos for lunch, and we didn't want to leave the dog at home. We drove to the restaurant, DH went in to order takeout and wait for food while I let dog out of car to sniff and pee on all the things, he comes back with food and we eat tacos in parking lot. We are weird and we know it.

mainewifey DH told me the other day that our dog essentially gets "30min massages seventeen times a day" on the weekends from me. He laughed while he said it but yes, it's pretty true.

[Deleted]

Last summer, we had to board our cat for the very first time. I felt so guilty for doing it that I booked her the most expensive room. She pretty much had a studio apartment. I rationalized the high cost because it was still cheaper than having to board a dog.
The place was great and they sent her home with an adorable report card.

[SheilaTheTank]

Mar 22, 2015 10:31:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Last summer, we had to board our cat for the very first time. I felt so guilty for doing it that I booked her the most expensive room. She pretty much had a studio apartment. I rationalized the high cost because it was still cheaper than having to board a dog.
The place was great and they sent her home with an adorable report card.

I would do the exact same thing. Our cats also eat better food then we do. lol 

[13liza]

We buy really expensive food for our cats and buy them a new toy almost weekly, it seems. Our cats are spoiled, but I'm okay with it.

[virginiaorjohn]

Mar 22, 2015 10:31:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Last summer, we had to board our cat for the very first time. I felt so guilty for doing it that I booked her the most expensive room. She pretty much had a studio apartment. I rationalized the high cost because it was still cheaper than having to board a dog.
The place was great and they sent her home with an adorable report card.

The report cards always kill me ded. We used to send DD (dear dog) to a daycare that did report cards, and I still have probably 30 of them saved because I'm nuts/they're amusing. Then we switched to a cheaper daycare, that doesn't do report cards but they post pictures on FB! So DH is guaranteed a new background picture for his desktop at least once a week.

[Deleted]

SheilaTheTank, 13liza, My cat definitely eats way better. She even has organic litter (H's idea, not mine). She eats Fromm dry and Earthborn wet. She's a super healthy, almost four year old cat.
We are trying to find a female kitten to be her friend, but have not had any luck.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 10:39:15 GMT -5 virginiaorjohn said:

Mar 22, 2015 10:31:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Last summer, we had to board our cat for the very first time. I felt so guilty for doing it that I booked her the most expensive room. She pretty much had a studio apartment. I rationalized the high cost because it was still cheaper than having to board a dog.
The place was great and they sent her home with an adorable report card.

The report cards always kill me ded. We used to send DD (dear dog) to a daycare that did report cards, and I still have probably 30 of them saved because I'm nuts/they're amusing. Then we switched to a cheaper daycare, that doesn't do report cards but they post pictures on FB! So DH is guaranteed a new background picture for his desktop at least once a week.

[SheilaTheTank]

Mar 22, 2015 10:39:15 GMT -5 virginiaorjohn said:

Mar 22, 2015 10:31:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Last summer, we had to board our cat for the very first time. I felt so guilty for doing it that I booked her the most expensive room. She pretty much had a studio apartment. I rationalized the high cost because it was still cheaper than having to board a dog.
The place was great and they sent her home with an adorable report card.

The report cards always kill me ded. We used to send DD (dear dog) to a daycare that did report cards, and I still have probably 30 of them saved because I'm nuts/they're amusing. Then we switched to a cheaper daycare, that doesn't do report cards but they post pictures on FB! So DH is guaranteed a new background picture for his desktop at least once a week.

Can either one of you post a pic of the report card? I'm interested to see what they include. I'm picturing things like "didn't pee on the staff" "barked 1 million times in 5 minutes" "Ate all his kibble"

ETA: @wallflwr926, you are too fast. lol 

[SheilaTheTank]

Mar 22, 2015 10:40:59 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

SheilaTheTank, 13liza, My cat definitely eats way better. She even has organic litter (H's idea, not mine). She eats Fromm dry and Earthborn wet. She's a super healthy, almost four year old cat.
We are trying to find a female kitten to be her friend, but have not had any luck.

I've found that if they are not too keen on other cats that they will usually get along with other pets. The bunny has been a great addition to our house for this reason. Even though he is a dick and likes to eat my chair. 

[Ray]

I thought of another one - my mom only uses bottled water in her little beta tank and changes it out weekly. Lol

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 10:46:57 GMT -5 SheilaTheTank said:

Mar 22, 2015 10:40:59 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

SheilaTheTank, 13liza, My cat definitely eats way better. She even has organic litter (H's idea, not mine). She eats Fromm dry and Earthborn wet. She's a super healthy, almost four year old cat.
We are trying to find a female kitten to be her friend, but have not had any luck.

I've found that if they are not too keen on other cats that they will usually get along with other pets. The bunny has been a great addition to our house for this reason. Even though he is a dick and likes to eat my chair. 

We are having trouble finding a female kitten to adopt. She likes most other animals. My neighbor often catches her outside on their windowsill where she hangs out with their indoor cat. It's quite cute to see the nose prints on both sides of the window.

[virginiaorjohn]

Sorry I can't get that second one to rotate!

[SheilaTheTank]

The report cards are freaking adorable!

[mainewifey]

My dog got kicked out of one daycare because he's "the humper" and "didn't fit in well with the others" I cried, an embarrassing amount.

My dog is at a new daycare where he gets lots of one on one people attention, which is really what he likes the most. Each person takes him with them on their lunch breaks. I know someone there feeds him at the table while they're eating lunch because he begs now, but I don't care. As long as he's happy.

I love the report cards!

[rooskie]

We spent $50 on bird seed for the 6 feeders we have for our cats.

Last weekend was our meatballs birthday and we did his favorite things all weekend.

They all eat better than we do. DH bought a vaporizer when one of them sneezed once.

[13liza]

Mar 22, 2015 10:40:59 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

SheilaTheTank, 13liza, My cat definitely eats way better. She even has organic litter (H's idea, not mine). She eats Fromm dry and Earthborn wet. She's a super healthy, almost four year old cat.
We are trying to find a female kitten to be her friend, but have not had any luck.

I hadn't thought about organic litter...hmmm. We feed our kitties Fromm, too! When we just had one cat it was so much cheaper. These two eat a lot.

Good luck finding your new friend!

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 11:14:43 GMT -5 13liza said:

Mar 22, 2015 10:40:59 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

SheilaTheTank, 13liza, My cat definitely eats way better. She even has organic litter (H's idea, not mine). She eats Fromm dry and Earthborn wet. She's a super healthy, almost four year old cat.
We are trying to find a female kitten to be her friend, but have not had any luck.

I hadn't thought about organic litter...hmmm. We feed our kitties Fromm, too! When we just had one cat it was so much cheaper. These two eat a lot.

Good luck finding your new friend!

We use Swheat Scoop.It's decently priced. Unfortunately, it isn't allergen friendly since it's wheat based.

[13liza]

Mar 22, 2015 11:00:37 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

My dog got kicked out of one daycare because he's "the humper" and "didn't fit in well with the others" I cried, an embarrassing amount.

My dog is at a new daycare where he gets lots of one on one people attention, which is really what he likes the most. Each person takes him with them on their lunch breaks. I know someone there feeds him at the table while they're eating lunch because he begs now, but I don't care. As long as he's happy.

I love the report cards!

I can imagine how hard this was for you, but I'm laughing thinking about how that conversation went. Glad you found a new daycare!

[SheilaTheTank]

Mar 22, 2015 11:06:20 GMT -5 rooskie said:

We spent $50 on bird seed for the 6 feeders we have for our cats.

Last weekend was our meatballs birthday and we did his favorite things all weekend.

They all eat better than we do. DH bought a vaporizer when one of them sneezed once.

ILY.

Meatball is the best name ever!

[SheilaTheTank]

Mar 22, 2015 11:18:41 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Mar 22, 2015 11:14:43 GMT -5 13liza said:

I hadn't thought about organic litter...hmmm. We feed our kitties Fromm, too! When we just had one cat it was so much cheaper. These two eat a lot.

Good luck finding your new friend!

We use Swheat Scoop.It's decently priced. Unfortunately, it isn't allergen friendly since it's wheat based.

I tried that brand a few times and it always attracted moths. It was disgusting and the litter turned into a glutinous mass that stuck to the bottom of the box. Never again!

[mainewifey]

Mar 22, 2015 11:21:06 GMT -5 SheilaTheTank said:

Mar 22, 2015 11:18:41 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

We use Swheat Scoop.It's decently priced. Unfortunately, it isn't allergen friendly since it's wheat based.

I tried that brand a few times and it always attracted moths. It was disgusting and the litter turned into a glutinous mass that stuck to the bottom of the box. Never again!

I use corn kitty litter and the only problem is that my dog thinks it's super tasty. It controls odor really well, clumps really well, and most important, my cat likes it.

[heatherj9603]

I often open the blinds just so my dogs can sit on the back of the couch and watch outside. I'll also open the front door so that my bigger dog can sit and watch out the screen door. 

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 11:21:06 GMT -5 SheilaTheTank said:

Mar 22, 2015 11:18:41 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

We use Swheat Scoop.It's decently priced. Unfortunately, it isn't allergen friendly since it's wheat based.

I tried that brand a few times and it always attracted moths. It was disgusting and the litter turned into a glutinous mass that stuck to the bottom of the box. Never again!

Yes, the way it cakes on the bottom can be annoying. Moths, though? I've never encountered that, and we have lived in both the city and country since we started using it.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 11:25:51 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

Mar 22, 2015 11:21:06 GMT -5 SheilaTheTank said:

I tried that brand a few times and it always attracted moths. It was disgusting and the litter turned into a glutinous mass that stuck to the bottom of the box. Never again!

I use corn kitty litter and the only problem is that my dog thinks it's super tasty. It controls odor really well, clumps really well, and most important, my cat likes it.

I've never seen corn based litter. Where did you find it?
We had to use feline pine while traveling once. She refused to go to the bathroom. I felt terrible.

[mainewifey]

Mar 22, 2015 11:32:21 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Mar 22, 2015 11:25:51 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

I use corn kitty litter and the only problem is that my dog thinks it's super tasty. It controls odor really well, clumps really well, and most important, my cat likes it.

I've never seen corn based litter. Where did you find it?
We had to use feline pine while traveling once. She refused to go to the bathroom. I felt terrible.

Arm & Hammer and Worlds Best Cat Litter are both corn. Arm & Hammer is available almost anywhere, Walmart, grocery stores etc. Worlds Best I can find at my local grocery store and Petco. I don't find that Worlds Best is any better than Arm & Hammer, other than that my dog doesn't like to eat it as much.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 11:45:27 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

Mar 22, 2015 11:32:21 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

I've never seen corn based litter. Where did you find it?
We had to use feline pine while traveling once. She refused to go to the bathroom. I felt terrible.

Arm & Hammer and Worlds Best Cat Litter are both corn. Arm & Hammer is available almost anywhere, Walmart, grocery stores etc. Worlds Best I can find at my local grocery store and Petco. I don't find that Worlds Best is any better than Arm & Hammer, other than that my dog doesn't like to eat it as much.

Oh, I had no idea they were corn based. Good to know.