As a pet parent, I always wonder what I would do if there was ever an emergency and I had to leave home in a hurry. I have emergency packs for myself and my husband, with a few basic supplies in it, but what about Kitty? I have a rough idea of what I would do if I have to leave home but do I have supplies to make sure she is safe on the road with me? The more I thought about this, I realized how important it is to have some pet supplies ready for her.

The picture above shows you everything I have for Kitty. All these are packed into my own emergency pack so when it comes time to evacuate, all I need to do is put Kitty in her carrier and grab my own bag.

I wanted to keep it simple so I put together this list for easy reference.

Here are some of the essentials you may want to pack for your own pet.

• First Aid Kit – This is a must have. You never know when you might need it and this particular kit is designed especially for pets. It comes with all the basic supplies as well as an instruction manual. You can find them online or in pet stores.

• Freeze dried food and Serving dishes – I like to carry freeze dried food because it is lightweight and you can use it as a treat or just add water to make it into a meal. The silicone dishes are collapsible and easy to carry. I have one each for food and water.

• Plastic bags, Gloves, Litter Scoop – Since I am not carrying litter, I wanted to carry a scoop and some plastic bags so I can dispose of any waste easily. Gloves are always handy to have for any cleaning situation. (PS: You can always carry a collapsible litter box!)

• A lightweight blanket or throw – As you can imagine, being evacuated due to any reason is a stressful time for yourself and your pet therefore it is nice to have a small piece of home with you. Find a blanket or throw that they really like and take it with you. It could also be used as a makeshift pet bed. This minky blanket is really soft and light and it will provide some comfort for Kitty.

• Harness & leash, Pet wipes, Grooming brush and Doggy bag dispenser – It is important to make sure your pet is clean and groomed while you are away from home. I use the wipes to get any dust or dander off her after using the grooming brush.

• Important Information and Toys – It is SO important that you have information related to your pet written down in a separate book. Not only will this come in handy when you are on the road and you need access to this information, but you can also provide them to a friend or family member if you end up having to leave your pet with them. Details such as vet information, microchip, insurance, medication, allergies, emergency contacts etc should all be included here.
  You can also carry a few of their favourite toys. I have added some pipe cleaners here as they are one of Kitty’s favourite things to play with!

  

• Life jacket, Rain jacket, Sweater – Many people are surprised by the addition of a life jacket to the emergency kit. But I think it is an excellent idea! What would you do if you had to evacuate by boat or had to spend time by the water? The life jacket could save your pet’s life! The sweater and rain jacket are good to have so you are prepared for any kind of weather. Note: make sure your pet fits into these clothes first and that they are comfortable wearing them!

Don’t forget to add any medications, supplements, prescription food etc that your pet is currently taking to your emergency pack.

I hope this helps you get started on your own emergency kits and make sure that yourself and your family (pets included!) stay safe!

Check out my YouTube Video on how to put together an emergency pack and don’t forget to subscribe! Click Here For Video.

Bringing in a new furry friend into the family is a very exciting time for us all. Along with this excitement comes unexpected surprises and stress, especially if you already have a resident pet.

In this post, we are going to explore a few tips and tricks to make this transition less stressful for yourself as well as all cats involved.

You will also hear from a few pet parents who have successfully introduced their cats to new siblings.

First, check out these slides which gives you some great insight on transitioning a cat into your home. To download the ebook, click here Figo eBook (New Cat) 2.0

(credit: https://figopetinsurance.com)

• Setting Realistic Expectations

Just like people, you cannot force pets to like each other. Although there is no way to predict whether or not your pets will learn to like each other, it is important to set them up for success by choosing a cat(s) with a similar personality and activity level to your current pet.

Take your time and don’t throw your pets together hoping they will just work it out. That is a recipe for disaster. Understanding that this will take time and patience will keep you from pulling out your own hair! It could take days, weeks or sometimes even months so be prepared.

• Good First Impressions

Cats are territorial and most often do not like to share. Your resident cat may show annoyance and displeasure about the newbie by acting out, like fighting with the other pet or by marking the territory like peeing on the floor etc.

Cats are generally not too fond of change so give your new pet time to adjust to you and the new surrounding. Keeping them separate in a room with their litter, food, water and toys for several days will help them feel a bit more at ease.

Here are some handy tips to help make the introductions go a bit smoother for everyone.

• Once you have the new pet set up in a separate room, feed the resident pet and the new pet on each side of the closed door so that they get used to each other’s smell.
• Don’t put the food so close to the door that the animals are too upset by each other’s presence to eat.
• Gradually move the dishes closer to the door until your pets can eat calmly while standing directly on either side of the door.
• Getting some toys involved is a great idea! Tie a toy to each end of a string, then place it so there’s a toy on either side of the door. Hopefully, they’ll start batting the toys around and maybe even batting paws.
• Make sure you spend plenty of time with your new kitty in their room as well as your resident cat.
• Get your pets used to each other’s scent before they meet face to face. Swap blankets or any other individual items so the scents will be familiar.
• Once your new kitty is eating regularly and using the litter box, let them free roam around your space while the resident pet stays in the new kitty’s room. It is recommended that you introduce the new cat to a room or two at a time.
• One of the most important things to remember is that you are home to supervise! If you have to leave, put the new kitty back in their room.
• Next, after you’ve returned the cats to their designated parts of the house, use two doorstops to prop open the dividing door just enough to allow the animals to see each other.
• Repeat the whole process over a period of days (or weeks!)—supervised, of course.
• Have your cats examined by your vet before introductions to make sure they are all healthy.
• Have one litter box per cat plus an extra one.
• Try to keep your resident pets’ routine as close to what it was before the newcomer’s arrival.
• Make sure all cats have a “safe” place to escape to.What do pet parents have to say?

Cassie (cat mom of 3)

One of the most important parts of introducing cats together is knowing their personalities. I knew when I saw Sofia that she had the same personality as Earl. So it’s more important to match the cats than go out and choose a cat just because you like the breed.

Diana (cat mom of 4)

Slow and gradual! Baby gates are a must. Try introductions around mealtime, the food is a good distraction. And make it special treats!

Jess (cat mom of 2)

Use a soft washcloth, blanket, towel or sock to help them acquaint their scents. Let one use it and then give it to the other. This will help reduce anxiety and make introductions smoother.

Elizabeth (cat mom of 2)

Use scent as the first form on introduction. If possible, swap rooms for an hour or two so that they can roam each other’s space without fear of attack! Feeding them on opposite sides of a closed door, then an open door with a gate and eventually removing all barriers only once the cats are calm enough to be around one another. Patience is key and calmness is mandatory. Some negative behaviour may be exhibited like hissing but if a full on fight presents itself, start the steps again.

As with everything, time will make things better. So don’t be alarmed or disheartened if your cats don’t seem to like each other. They will learn to like (or tolerate!) each other. It will happen, sometimes sooner than later. Just don’t lose hope or take out your frustrations on the pets. Remember that this is a huge change for all pets involved so your reactions will help set the tone in your home.

Today we are chatting with an adventurous 3 year old from Nelsonia, VA.

Please say hello to Rory!

This is Katdid Konversations and I am your host, Kitty Mojito! 

KM: Welcome to the show Rory! Shall we start by talking about how you came to find your human?

There is nothing more frustrating that trying to clean hot water and calcium buildup off any stainless steel products. It is even more annoying when that item is something your pet uses every and you try your best to keep it in drink-worthy condition!

Fear not pet lovers! I have found a safe and effective solution that is guaranteed to clean all stainless steel pet dishes safely and effectively. Not only does this ‘magic solution’ get rid of the hot water buildup, it also makes it shiny and beautiful 🙂

What is this magic solution you may ask?

……………………………….. IT

……………………………. IS

……………………….

…………………..

………….VINEGAR!!!

Yes! Good ol’ white vinegar is all you need to keep those pesky buildups away for good.

As a pet blogger, I get asked numerous times about the best type of materials to use as pet food and water dishes. My first choice is always ceramic however if you can find a good quality stainless steel product and can commit to keeping it clean, it is also a good option. Plastic is a BIG NO NO!

You don’t necessarily have to go to the pet store to buy food bowls. I have found wonderful dishes at stores like Home Sense and Marshalls.

I would like to use those post to share with readers that it is not hard to keep your pet’s food dishes clean and safe. One of the first things you should do before you open that can of cat food is to give the dish a good scrub with hot water. You will be surprised as to how quickly bacteria can build up on dishes with old, leftover food sitting on it. Would you eat out of a plate that had yesterday’s food still stuck on it?

It is not just enough to feed your pet good quality food but it is even more important to pay attention to how you store that food and what you use to feed it on.

Ok, back to the stainless steel water bowl…… This particular bowl is the Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz. You can purchase it on Amazon (links below).

Here you can see the buildup that has already formed on top of this water fountain (the white stuff!!) One time, I had really crusty white buildup which required a lot of soaking in vinegar!

First you remove the filter and take apart the fountain (minus the wall plug in! – DO NOT PUT THAT IN WATER!). Next, fill the sink with hot water, add about 2 cups on plain white vinegar and soak all the pieces in it, including the plastic insert which holds the motor).

Ideally, you would let this soak for a few hours. The more you let is soak, the easier it is to scrub away the buildup. Once the soaking is done, take a scrubbie or washcloth and give it all the good scrub down. Use an old toothbrush and a Q-Tip to get into those hard to reach corners!

Once you have gotten all the gunk out and rinsed everything, drain out the vinegar water and fill up the sink again with cold water. Add everything back in and let it soak again. This is to ensure there is no left over vinegar lurking around. While household vinegar is not harmful to animals, they are not overly fond of the taste of it in their water!

Voila! Now you have a extra clean water fountain with no buildup, ready to be used! (extra bonus is that your sink gets a good clean too!)

PS: We are big fans of this water fountain as it circulates the water really well and Kitty Mojito drinks so much water now than before when she just had a water bowl.

How to you keep your pet’s food bowls clean? Share your thoughts in the comments!

To purchase in Canada, click below:

Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz

To purchase in the US, click below:

Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz

(This is a personal review and is in no way sponsored by the above mentioned company)