First Fashion Post

I really like shopping and buying new clothes. Even better? If the clothes have cats on them! So naturally, when I saw this shirt in American Eagle Outfitters tonight, I had to buy it!

This shirt retails for $19.99.

I just had to share this awesome graphic cat tee with you! I can't wait to wear this out and show my cat pride.

And if you like foxes...check out this shirt (I also like foxes - and they're definitely related to cats, right?!)

This shirt retails for $19.99. There is a current promotion for buy one tee, get the other 50% off.

Nature's Variety Instict Raw Boost Kibble Review & Giveaway!

Today I have a cool giveaway for FOUR lucky winners! Nature's Variety let me review their new Instinct Raw Boost kibble in their chicken meal formula. According to their website, the food is grain and gluten free, helps with maintaining cat weight, has freeze dried raw coating for great taste and nutrition, formulated for rotation feeding and is perfectly acceptable for all life stages and all breeds!

"Proving “a little boost can make a big difference,” Instinct Raw Boost is a revolutionary pet food that integrates Instinct’s unique freeze-dried raw formulas with its premium, grain-free kibble. This first-ever combination allows pet owners to provide their pet the nutrition and taste of raw food  in the convenient and familiar dry kibble form.  The kibble is low-carb, and the freeze-dried raw pieces contain natural enzymes for digestive health.  Instinct Raw Boost diets are available in three protein formulas for dogs – chicken, duck, and venison. For cats, two protein formulas are available – chicken and duck. Instinct Raw Boost can be found at independent pet food retailers nationwide as well as select PETCO locations." -Nature's Variety

For my review testers, I fed the kibble to the feral cats at our local university. My mom and I help feed them, and we thought that this kibble would be a delicious treat for them.

Annie (front) and Catnan (behind) chowing down.

Catnan

Nom nom nom. Slurp!

Annie enjoying the sun!

The kibble in Annie and Catnan's bowl.

Verdict? Annie and Catnan think this food is very nommy and they can't wait to get another taste again!

Thank you all for entering! The four bags have been claimed. Thank you to my readers for helping make this giveaway be successful!
For the giveaway, the first FOUR people who comment will get a FREE bag of the Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost kibble! GO! 
Please leave your email, or your entry will not be counted.
I will post when the giveaway is closed.

National Feral Cat Day October 16, 2012

Today is the second blog post of the day, and the second year I have celebrated National Feral Cat Day! I wrote a short post last year, about NFCD on October 16, 2011.

Alley Cat Allies.  is a great organization that, according to their website, is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. 

NFCD was created ten years ago by Alley Cat Allies, to promote care for feral cats.

Vickie on 10/12/12 in my closet.

I know exactly how I will be celebrated NFCD! By cuddling with my former feral cat, Vickie. Vickie is special because she came to our rescue after having five kittens. For seven years, we had her daughter May with us (May recently went to the rainbow bridge, and we miss her very much). We adopted Vickie -- after fostering her for three months and barely being able to coax her out of the basement. She was so feral and so scared! Now she will hang out with us, sleep with us, sit on our laps, open bathroom doors and even sleep in my closet!

Vickie on 10/11/12 in my closet.

She came so far from being loved my family. And even though she needed to have her teeth removed because of her bad gum disease, she is still able to eat dry food and treats! Though her favorite treat of all is being brushed by my mom.

So you know how I am celebrating National Feral Cat Day? How are you? Leave me a comment and tell me!

Blog The Change: October 15 (oops 16)

This post is coming to you about fifteen minutes late - it has just been one of those days. I could make up lots of excuses (trust me, I do have some) but I'll just get on with my post, because Piper would not approve me elaborating  >^..^< silly cat!

Like in my past April and July posts for Blog the Change, animal rescue is something I hold near and dear to my heart. If I hear someone having a discussion with with a person, and they are talking about their cats having kittens, incorrect facts about cats, not having a spayed/neutered cat, declawing, etc, I feel obligated to interrupt and give them my opinion.

Getting a headbutt from a spayed kitty, looking for a home - (this is either Chrissie or Norbie)

Why? It's because I'm hardwired that way. My passion for animals goes above and beyond saving lives -- I want people to be educated about HOW the shelters are overflowing with cats because people can't seem to get the simple idea of spaying/neutering. Today's post is to share that I want people to understand why it is necessary to spay and neuter their pets.

"In addition to the many health benefits, spaying or neutering your cat ensures that he or she won’t contribute to the feline overpopulation problem. Even a cat who lives indoors may escape and produce kittens if not sterilized. Each year, millions of homeless cats are euthanized or end up in shelters due to a lack of good homes." -ASPCA

"Millions of beautiful cats and kittens are exterminated each year by animal shelters who can't find enough homes for them. The famous artist Leonardo da Vinci once said "even the smallest feline is a masterpiece." Cat owners can help make sure that each precious fur covered work of art has a happy home. The best way to accomplish this goal is through responsible spaying and neutering." -Catster

Anytime you educate someone about spaying and neutering, YOU send the message on. YOU are making a difference is saving animals. YOU are the change that is needed.

Emmy Red Carpet Cat Tour - Tiny Tiger Tote GIVEAWAY!

As puuurfect as it was to watch the Emmy's last night (and really, the fashion), I have something even more fabulous to giveaway!

Sophia Vergara - left, had my favorite dress of the night.

Coming to you from the Emmy Red Carpet Cat Blog Tour 2012, a fully stuffed, Tiniest Tiger Tote full over swag from a whole bunch of sponsors! This bag of swag was given away to celebrities in Beverly Hills, on the real red carpet. And I have one to giveaway to YOU, my readers!

Lauren Potter, Becky on Glee, with Flat Gracey on the Red Carpet.

 It includes a Sandpiper Cat business card & postcard from me, as well as a bottle of Stress Stopper Spirit Essences (I highly recommend!), an adorable Iams hat, lots of coupons, a Bissell Stomp 'n Go pad, a Gracie Shaker, a Tipsy Nip Tickle Pickle, are just some among many really cool swag in the bag!

The bag itself is really fun! Triple T Studios products (click to check out products) are wonderful.

"This one of a kind tote features the Tiniest Tiger's feline finesse quilted into the fabric creating a subtle yet cool cat appearance. The sleek black color is sure to complement all of your favorite fashions. The Tote is perfect for transporting your laptop and all your other essentials. There is an inside zipper pouch to keep your small items ready for easy access. The tote features a magnetic snap closure for security. The interior features a sturdy base, removable for washing. The bag is machine washable and can be tumbled dry. The bag is made in the USA."

To enter the giveaway:

Please leave a comment telling me you would like a chance to win. Please leave your email - so I have a way to contact you. If you do not leave your email, you will not be entered to win. Please enter by Monday October 1st at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be announced ASAP.

*If you have trouble leaving a comment, please email me to be entered: rachel.shubin@gmail.com. 

Please note, Gracey will ship the full loaded tote bag to the USA, but tote bag ONLY to Canada, Europe and Australia. This event is open to everyone!

Special thanks to Joanne and Gracey for a wonderful giveaway! Stop by The Tiniest Tiger's Conservation Cub Club to thank them!

Less Adoptable Pet Week Sept. 17-23, 2012

What is the same about all of these things:

Black cats. Blind cats. Feral cats. FIV+ cats. Senior cats. Deaf cats. 

If you answered that the commonality is that these cats are harder to adopt out, you are correct! Less adoptable, means that these cats take longer to find forever homes than a spunky little kitten.

Petfinder's Less Adoptable Pet Week is a wonderful week that celebrates those pets that are harder to adopt.

One of my cats, Victoria, was a less adoptable cat. She was the mother of one of our kittens, so we took her in as a foster - hoping we could find her a good home. She hid in behind a cabinet, in the dry wall in our basement for three days. We slid food in and out of the small hole in between the wall and the cabinet, like she was a prisoner in solitary confinement. It took months for her to come out of the basement, and even peer her head around the basement door. If she got sppoked, she ran back downstairs. It was her zone of comfort. Seven years later, today, our little Vickie is as friendly as can be. She keeps us company while we watch TV, read the newspaper, sleep on the bed next to my parents and even come to the bathroom with us (shh, don't tell my mom I told you!). It took a long time for her to be comfortable around us, and had we not kept her, she would've been next to impossible to adopt out. Here are two shots of Vickie today, enjoying a patch of sun on our screened in porch.

"Please don't pet me while I'm vulnerable, or I'll swat you!" says Vickie.

Trust me, I'm not asking for a belly rub - I will swat you if you try!

Petfinder asks you to look for rescues and shelters that may have a less adoptable pet, waiting for you! For example, take a look at two cats in Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation's care. Daffy and Dancer, who both are having a harder time getting adopted.

The Black Ones:

Daffy, who is sweet and a little daffy, even if she's dark and hard to photograph.
Photo/quote courtesy of Cat Volunteer Coordinator Email.

The Ones with "Issues" 

Dancer...I love to be petted, but if you don't stop when I tell you I've had enough, I'll swat you!
Photo/quote courtesy of Cat Volunteer Coordinator Email. 

So please, the next time you decide to bring a new furry friend into your home, adopt a less adoptable pet! They need you more than you know.

Book Review: Moo Kitty Finds A Home

I couldn’t stop. Everything I was reading was so touching, so moving, that I felt like I was experiencing it too. Books don’t always make you feel like you’re the main character, and few do when it is a children’s book. Moo Kitty Finds a Home by Valerie Lee Veltre, is a perfect example of a children’s book that puts you in the shoes of the main character, in this case is a cat named Moo!

The story of Moo Kitty is true, and it certainly will resonate with readers, children and parents alike. Moo Kitty enjoys his life with his human, until she goes to heaven. Then Moo is all alone. Dazed and confused at being left outside, three Angel kitties visit him and tell them they will help him.

When I read Moo Kitty Finds a Home for the first time, I had just lost my cat May. Reading that one of the angel cats was named Maybelle made me smile.

While Moo is in the shelter, he is often overlooked by people because he is older and not as cute as the rambunctious kittens. Moo feels sad as all the other cats and animals leave the shelter before him.  Kittens are often picked before the adult cats, meaning the older cats spend a longer time at the shelter. They too, become sad like Moo. But every cat has their day…read Moo Kitty Finds a Home to find out what happens to Moo!

Moo Kitty hit home for me, because I volunteer at a cat rescue, and often wonder where the cats came from before they were in the rescue. Were they once loved and left behind? Did they get out and get lost?

Veltre was inspired to write Moo Kitty, based on a personal experience.

In the back of the book, there are many wonderful pages with tips about the Benefits of Adopting an Adult Pet, Tips for Adopting an Adult Pet and information for selection and settling the new pet in. More information can be found online, as well as purchasing Moo Kitty at www.MooKittyFindsAHome.com.