In Canada, summer is precious. We wait all year for the few weeks of summer to come around and when it does, we cherish every minute of it.

Although my husband and I don’t go on any long trips during summer time, we take the time to enjoy many things that our city has to offer.

Edmonton is famous for festivals. The Taste of Edmonton and Heritage Days are two of our favourites. We love to eat so these two food festivals are our go-to every summer.

There is also the Folk Festival, Jazz Festival, Blues Festival and many, many more music festivals and outdoor activities.

We also love to include Kitty Mojito in our activities. This summer, we took her canoeing for the first time. She was a bit nervous at first but quickly got curious enough to leave her backpack.

We spent many hours on the lake, having lunch and enjoying the surroundings out on the water. Kitty explored the canoe, watched the ducks swim about and let the gentle waves rock her to sleep. We are very proud of our little girl as she was brave, curious and open to new experiences.

I think it is important to give your pet enrichment and excitement in a supervised manner. Many cat owners think that since cats are so independent, they can be left alone. But on the contrary, cats are social animals that require regular
attention and quality interaction. Take time to play with you cat daily and give them opportunities to use their natural hunting skills. We like to hide toys and treats around the house and Kitty Mojito will stalk and hunt them. We also take her out on the leash to many places cat safe places. This adventure taught us that Kitty is more open to trying new things than we thought!

If you follow Kitty on Instagram (@kittymojito), you will see all the places that she visits. She is still getting used to travelling by car however she has become more comfortable than before which is a step in the right direction.

Do you take your pets on adventures? Let us know in the comments below!

If you follow my blog, you know how much I love cats!

Therefore, The Edmonton International Cat Festival is one of my favourite events to attend every year. It brings all cat lovers together and each year, they donate 100% of the proceeds to rescues. This year, they raised $31,000!!

I was very excited to take Kitty Mojito with me this year. We took an Uber to the Robbins Health Learning Centre. Although we got there early, the line up was already down the street! Can you spot us?

Can you spot us?

Kitty attracted a lot of attention in her Fat Cat backpack. We were photographed constantly and everyone wanted to pet her! She loved the attention. We also got many questions about the backpack and how to introduce a cat to it.

There were many amazing vendors! Check out some of the items they had for sale!

Tinker Trading Co

Majesty and Friends

Majesty and Friends

Heart Felt

Hop N Flop

Majesty and Friends

Cat Cafe on Whyte

Paws the Cat Cafe

We were also lucky enough to meet Suki the Adventure Cat and Gary. Both are amazing, adventurous Albertan kitties who travel to wonderful places.

Please head over to check out www.instagram.com/greatgramsofgary and follow his fabulous adventures.

Suki is a world travelling Bengal kitty. Head over to www.instagram.com/sukiicat and marvel at the amazing photos on her feed.

We were also lucky to be featured on the CBC Edmonton Instagram stories as they were fascinated by Kitty in her Fat Cat Backpack!

Kitty and I spent over 5 hours at the YEG Cat Fest. We took a short lunch break while taking in all the sights and sounds. After a quick selfie, Kitty stretched out for a snooze while waiting for Daddy to pick her up.

I am extremely proud of how well Kitty handled the crowds and the bustling atmosphere. An important thing to keep in mind when taking your cats out to crowded events is to make sure your cat is microchipped or tattooed. Safety of your pet should be your number one priority.

Invest in a good carrier and a sturdy leash that will keep your pet safe and secure. Take a few snacks and fresh water for your pet. Find a quiet place to take a break and make sure you let your pet know that you are there to protect them. New places and sounds will scare them so give them lots of pets and love so they know you are there for them.

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.