2016 Cat Oscars: Meow Mix Announces the Year's Best Internet Cat Moments

Award show season is here and while there are certainly some human actors worthy of purr-aise, I think it's about time we acknowledge those creatures who know the best way to work a red carpet... is to shed on it!

Sandpiper Cat Blog has partnered with Meow Mix cat food to recognize the year's top four-legged performances in The 2016 Cat's Meow Awards.

That's right – this year's most anticipated awards show honors a flurry of furry faces. 

Meow Mix brand received more than 25,000 submissions from all over the country for the Cat's Meow Awards, which was established to celebrate the best cat moments of the year and the one-of-a-kind bond that only cats and humans share.

View clips from The 2016 Cat's Meow Awards show below:

Best Cat Napper

Best Kitty Hijinks

Wild Cat Card

Con-cat-ulations to the all of the 2016 Cat's Meow Awards finalists and winners! 

But let's face it, cats couldn't care less about glory or fame... that's why Meow Mix brand created a new line of Irresistibles treats so that you can give them the award they're really looking for. With real meat, a wide variety of flavors, and both soft and crunchy textures, your cat will be sure to thank you in his acceptance speech.

Go to https://irresistiblemoments.com/ and share your cat's irresistible moment to get a FREE bag and see tons of other cool cat content.

This post is sponsored by MeowMix The Acatemy. Text and videos used with permission of MeowMix. We were not monetarily compensated for this post, but may have received free promotion items for our consideration.

Review: Sleepypod mobile pet bed & carrier with PPRS handilock

Welcome to the first product review of 2016!

It just takes one car accident to change the way you drive forever. One car accident and you will always think about what could've happened. One car accident that left both physical and emotional or mental scars. You might wonder why I'm writing about car accidents on Sandpiper Cat...but there is a good explanation.

Today's review is about a cat carrier that is car crash tested, the Sleepypod mobile pet bed and carrier. As a survivor of a terrible car accident, in which our car flipped over and rolled onto the roof, my family takes safety for both humans and animals very seriously. That day, December 2, 1995 is ingrained on our minds and forever will be a reminder to wear our seatbelts.

I always felt it was important that the cats traveled in the car to the vet as safely as possible. This notion has led me to try to buckle cat carriers into the car. It has never been an ideal set up and it does not keep them as safe as I would like them to be in the car. Enter the Sleepypod carrier, which is a two in one deal - because you're getting both a stylish cat bed and a durable carrier.

Sleepypod is a brand that understands that safety is a huge priority for pet lovers like my family. Sleepypod has crash-tested its entire line of pet carriers, for their safety test program.

Image used with permission of Sleeypod.

New to the Sleepypodcompany is the addition of their PPRS Handilock, which is the Pet Passenger Restraint System. The PPRS Handilock evolved due to tests done with Sleepypod and the Center for Pet Safety (CPS). The PPRS Handilock has been crash tested - all the crash tests are done with realistic crash test pet dummies.

"Sleepypod mobile pet bed with the PPRS Handilock was named a Top Performing Pet Carrier in a Subaru of America, Inc. and Center for Pet Safety collaborative study to test the effectiveness of pet carriers and crates in crash situations." My family drives Subaru cars, so we are thrilled that Subaru has been working with Sleepypod.

Image courtesy of Sleepypod.

Adding the PPRS Handilock to the Sleepypod mobile pet bed has truly increased the safety of your pets in the car. When using the Sleepypod with the PPRS Handilock, it was clear that our cat(s) were in the safest carrier they have ever traveled in before.

Image courtesy of Teri Thorsteinson.

Having traveled from New Jersey to Virginia with a cat on three separate occasions, I relish the idea of having a crash tested carrier in the car. Knowing that my cat is nestled safely into the comfort of their bed turned carrier, is bound to make for a more relaxing drive for both cat and owner.

Back in October 2015, we had to take our cat Brooke to the dental vet for surgery. It is about an hour long drive, which is much longer than her usual 10 minute drive to the vet. A few weeks before we went, we left out the Sleepypod carrier with the top detached, so Brooke and the other cats could use it as a bed.

Knowing that the carrier would smell like home, we zipped on the top portion of the carrier on the morning Brooke had her surgery. She fit very nicely into the Sleepypod, which was easy to get her into and place securely in the car.


We buckled in the carrier with the PPRS Handilock and off to the vet we went. Brooke subsequently had check ups after her surgery, and all of her rides to the vet were done with style and safety, in her Sleepypod!

At the vet, Brooke waits in her Sleepypod.

I cannot recommend the Sleepypods highly enough! We are all extremely impressed with the quality and durability of the Sleepypod carrier. The Sleepypod Mini, Sleepypod Air and Sleepypod Atom models are also approved for airline travel as well (the medium one pictured does not fit under most airline seats).

In addition to the wonderful work done by the people at Sleepypod, they have an "crash replacement program," in which they will replace your Sleepypod carrier if it has been in a car accident at no charge.

MeowMix Acatemy & Cat's Meow Awards

Sandpiper Cat Blog is thrilled to announce that we are part of the MeowMix Acatemy. The Acatemy is a one of a kind community where cat lovers can come together and share knowledge, cat related news, and get special perks.

The Acatemy is made up of both everyday cat lovers AND cat influencers.

The Acatemy hosted their first Cat's Meow Awards this past month and there are three great videos that we would love for you to watch!

The first video is for the Best Cat Cuddle Cat-egory!

The second video is the Best Cat-hlete Cat-egory!

Last is the Wild Cat Card Cat-egory!

MeowMix has also created a line of Irresistible treats to make all of your cat's treat worthy moments even more delicious. To get a FREE bag and learn more about the Cat's Meow Awards go to https://irresistiblemoments.com/share. Your cat will be sure to thank you with an acceptance speech.

Stay tuned for the next edition of the Cat's Meow Awards. What cat-egory would you like to see added next?

This post is sponsored by MeowMix The Acatemy. Text and videos used with permission of MeowMix. We were not monetarily compensated for this post, but may have received free promotional items. 

4th Annual Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Welcome back to the 4th annual Sandpiper Cat Bog Valentine's Day Gift Guide! It is a little late, but always so fun to pick out the latest and greatest cat themed items out there currently.

Visit our  Valentine 2016 Gift Guide Pinboard for all the details!

Read our previous years here: 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Truffle toys from Whimsily Ever After on Etsy.

Cat's Meow Watch from Triple T Studios.

Plush conversation hearts cat toys from Target.

Subscribe to Cat Lady Box!

Luxurious Sleepypod carriers...review coming soon!

Valentine's Day Cat House Scratcher from Target.

How to sleep like a kitty this new year with 9Lives' Morris the Cat & giveaway

If you ask me, there's one thing in the world that there's just too little of, and it's not love. I'm talking about S-L-E-E-P. I'm always trying to get more of it and make the most out of what little time I do get. 

So I had a thought... why not ask someone who's truly an expert on the subject; someone who spends more time snoozing than most of us spend at work? I'm talking, of course, about Morris the Cat. 

For those of you who don't know him – or who've let sleep deprivation cloud your memory – Morris is the iconic spokescat for 9Lives cat food and has starred in over 50 commercials. When he's not in front of the camera or chowing down on 9Lives, you can bet he's napping in his trailer, ahem carrying case.

He's taken time out of his busy schedule to answer some reader questions about the very im-purr-tant issue of sleep. What's more, he's offering fans the chance to win a Morris-shaped, human-sized plush bed AND a year's supply of 9Lives cat food. Just go to his Live Well & Prospurr website to enter.

Dear Morris,

I've been experiencing difficulties with falling asleep, tossing and turning once my head hits the pillow. I don't get it because I feel tired all day at work; then I come home, brush my teeth, flip on the TV, and just... lie there. I'm hoping I can learn from the expert. Morris, what am I doing wrong?

Sincerely,

Sleepless in San Fur-nando

Dear Sleepless in San Fur-nando,

Your case, unfortunately, is not at all uncommon. When you're going all day long at the speed of a cheetah, it's no wonder your mind darts around like a red laser dot at bedtime. Luckily, as a cat, I spend up to 140 hours per week sleeping and I can tell you there is hope! For starters, I notice you mentioned turning on the TV before bed. Cats don't watch TV – this is partly because the majority of us can't speak English that well, but mostly because it interferes with our snooze time. Scientifically speaking, the 'glow' emitted by an electronic screen enters the brain and slows the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep. So next time you want to turn on the tube before bed, try counting sheep instead – or better yet, mice!

Kitty hugs,

Morris

Dear Morris,

I'm a cat but as you know, even animals have 'spirit animals.' Mine is an owl – a night owl to be exact. I love to play "catch the speck of dust" or "chase your tail in the middle of the bed" into the wee hours of the morning. My humans have no idea what they're missing out on. They just lay there snoring and swat at me when I come too close. How can I make them see that daytime is lame, and the real party happens under stars (the stick-on, glow-in-the-dark kind)?

Yours truly,

Hyper Harry

Dear Hyper Harry,

Sadly, this is a case you may not win. Humans need their sleep at night. You get to spend all day snoozing and they only get a few precious hours when the sun goes down. Your humans can, however, make sure that they understand why it is you're pouncing about and provide things to make nighttime more fun. For instance, your humans could consider getting a kitty condo or put out bags or boxes for you to explore. For extra credit, they can hide treats around the house so you can go on a midnight scavenger hunt. Or, if you're really lucky, they'll bring home a kitty best friend for you to play with whenever you please. Other cats might be up at night because they get hungry, in which case their humans could try an automatic food dispenser to provide small meals throughout the night. Remember, the more you let your humans sleep at night, the more energy they'll have to play with you during the day!

Kitty hugs,

Morris

Dear Morris,

My cat and I are BFFs. We do everything together – play, eat, snuggle – we make a purrfect team. But in the bedroom, I prefer to have my space. My cat, on the other hand, thinks there's no better place to sleep than right on my head! Why does she do this? I'm not all that fun when I'm sleeping.

Warmly, 

Tired Tails

Dear Tired Tails,

You have been bestowed a great honor. As cats, we don't always wear our hearts on our paws, but one tell-tail sign we love and trust you is when we choose to make YOU our bed. Plus, you're warm. And getting our warmth from you helps us to conserve our own energy for more important things like eating. The rhythm of your breath also creates a calming effect and the curve of your face, stomach, or legs perfectly forms to our bodies. Basically, you're like a waterbed, heated blanket, and memory foam all in one! So the next time your cat goes to curl up on you, think of it as a compliment and drift off to sleep knowing you are loved... and you're very comfortable.

Sandpiper Cat Blog would like to thank Morris the Cat, for his wonderful nighttime tips! For more info on Morris' mission to help cats and humans live well – including his initiative to donate one million 9Lives meals to rescue kitties – check out his Live Well & Prospurr website. And while you're there, enter to win the limited-edition, human-sized Morris the Cat plush bed along with a year's supply of 9Lives!

Enter the giveaway below via the Rafflecopter widget, to win a happy kitty kit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Email sandpipercatblog@gmail.com with any questions or problems.

This post is sponsored by 9Lives. Text and pictures used with permission from 9Lives. We were not monetarily compensated for this post, but may have received free promotional items. Giveaway void where prohibited. Open to US residents only. Winner's response needed within 48 hours, or prize is forfeited.