The problem: thousands of sweet, cuddly, adoptable adult cats languishing in shelters. People gravitate toward tiny kittens, which are plentiful in the summer months, leaving adult shelter cats without humans to own. A possible clever solution: Clever marketing ploys. Which is the origin of the Michigan Humane Society‘s Certified Pre-Owned Cats campaign.
cats
New Jersey Man Sues Allerca For Non-Delivery Of Amazing Hypoallergenic Cat
By 8.16.09
Allerca’s elusive hypoallergenic kittens remain elusive. A few months ago, we posted about Allerca and their amazing genetically engineered allergy-safe felines. “Lifestyle Pets” charged thousands of dollars for the kittens, but failed to actually deliver any. We featured one scammed reader’s story, and now another kittenless customer is suing the company.
"I Make My Own Bathroom Gag Gifts"
By 8.14.09
Twice this week, our Morning Deals post has featured a link to Tinkles the Toilet Cat, which surprisingly has still not sold out. (“It’s the lowest price we’ve seen for a toilet cat by $4,” writes dealnews.) We underestimated the ingenuity of shoppers, it looks like: Todd sent us this picture from his girlfriend’s incredibly frugal brother, who makes his own Tinkles. Or, uh, something like that.
Help, There Are Bugs In My Kitty Litter!
By 7.27.09
Dawn is freaked out because when she got up this morning, she found bugs in her cat’s litter box. She called the company that makes the litter to ask them what to do, and they offered coupons but no real explanation. “Maybe some of your readers have had the same experience and could help me figure out what to do,” she writes. “Thanks!”
Treat Your Pet's Arthritis With Lead
By 7.10.09
People love their pets and want the best for them. That includes medical treatment, and loving, well-meaning pet owners buy over-the-counter supplements for their critters’ aching joints. Unfortunately, nutritional supplements for humans don’t get a lot of scrutiny, and those intended for pets get even less. A study by ConsumerLab.com discovered that arthritis supplements for dogs, cats, and horses not only didn’t contain the quantity of active ingredients promised, but also contained…other things.
Which Airlines Are The Most Pet Friendly?
By 7.9.09
Petfinder.com compared airlines to see which ones are the best choices if you’re traveling with pets. You may remember our post a while back on Pet Airways, about which Petfinder says, “While Pet Airways didn’t make the rankings because they haven’t ‘hit the air’ yet, [we are] excited to see the promising airline take off.”
Gross: Your Pet Could Give You A MRSA Infection
By 6.22.09
We know you love little Fluffy, but according to an article from ABCNews — he could give you methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In case you are not aware — that’s bad news.
Is Nutro Ignoring Owners Of Cats Made Sick By Recalled Food?
By 6.20.09
ConsumerAffairs.com reports that independent tests of the cat food recently recalled by Nutro does indeed contain more zinc than recommended, which was why Nutro recalled the product in the first place. However, Nutro says it’s received no complaints from pet owners, while pet owners have told ConsumerAffairs.com otherwise. They say that Nutro either won’t respond to them or says it’s not responsible for their pets’ illnesses or deaths.
Nutro Cat Food Recall
By 6.6.09
Certain varieties of Nutro dry cat food have been voluntarily recalled because of incorrect mineral levels that could make kitties sick. Return Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max foods with expiration dates between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010 were affected.
You Had A Cat. Here Are Some Cat Ashes. Problem Solved!
By 5.20.09
How do you verify the identity of your cat after he’s been cremated? Matthew has no idea if the box he received really contains Spike’s cremains or the cremains of someone else’s pet. His vet offered to print out a new certificate with the correct name on it, but that seems less like a “solution” than a “waste of printer ink” designed to placate without providing answers.
Bizarre Pet Products: Feces-Eating Prevention Pills
By 5.15.09
One of the problems with dog ownership* is having to reconcile the concepts of “best friend” and “eats her own poop.” My late cocker spaniel, Lady, treated the front lawn as her personal snack bar, and was particularly fond of the gifts the local rabbits left there for her. I never realized that there were products designed specifically to stop this behavior.
Consumer Reports Offers Tips For Saving On Pet Food
By 4.24.09
The Consumer Reports Health Blog has some good suggestions for pet owners who might not have quite as much money to spend on their animals as they used to.
Welcome To The New Improved Consumerist
By 4.1.09
Extensive market research that we paid out the @#$ for has determined that this blog doesn’t contain nearly enough pictures of cakes and cute animals. Today, at the beginning of a new fiscal blogging year, we’re pleased to bring you additional photographs of things you’d like to pet or eat.
Cat Arrives Frozen After Plane Ride
By 3.4.09
Breeder ships rare pregnant cat via airline. It arrives frozen and dead. According to the airline’s vet, the cat died from uterine toxicity from multiple dead kittens. Because the baggage handlers thawed, froze, and thawed the cat again, there’s no way for the breeder to prove that the cat died from being frozen. The airline has offered to refund the breeder’s ticket, but admits no culpability in the cat’s death.
14 Brands Of Pet Food Recalled
By 9.15.08
Mars Petcare US is recalling 14 brands of dry dog and cat food made between February and July of this year, after two people who may have had contact with some of the food became infected with Salmonella. If you feed your dog or cat any of the brands listed below, here’s how to check the package code.
Hartz Flea & Tick Remover Harms Some Cats And Dogs
By 9.9.08
If you plan on treating your dog or cat for fleas, talk to your vet and read these stories before applying Hartz. There are multiple instances where pets have responded adversely to the products, in some cases dying. Hartz agreed to remove a flea product for cats and kittens in 2006 based on similar adverse reactions, but according to the stories from angry pet owners (warning, they will make you want to hug your pet), there are still plenty of problems with current Hartz products.
Starbucks New Healthy Breakfast Tasted, Opinions Formed
By 9.5.08
Starbucks bravely asked us to try their new…
U.S. Marshals Raid Rat-Infested PETCO Distribution Center
By 6.20.08
The FDA sent U.S. Marshals to seize “various animal food products” stored at a PETCO distribution center in Joliet, Illinois yesterday, because the storage conditions had been deemed unsanitary twice in a row:
