My Personalized Pet

Can you imagine if you had to lick yourself clean? A mildly disturbing thought, I know, but we’d all be a little dirtier – and maybe kiss a little less. But my point is that it baffles me to ponder over the fact that God made cats to hate getting wet. Not only will your cat claw the heck out of your arms if you try to put it in a tub of water, but because they’re sassy creatures to begin with, I doubt you’ll be seeing much of them in the next few days that follow.

So if cats are self-cleaning animals, what functions do cat towels serve? Is it really just a blanket that poses as a towel because the masterminds behind this invention know that it will never get wet?  I would encourage cat owner to use a cat towel as a cape. Think about it, cats are always climbing to the very top of the refrigerator or on top of the kitchen cabinets. Wouldn’t it make your day a little sunnier to see Mittens leap from a high platform and appear to be soaring through the sky momentarily?

It’s easy to spot someone who’s obsessed with pampering their pet. For starters, if upon meeting a person they have recited the names and birthdays of all of their animals, they’re probably a little kooky like the bird from the cereal commercial. Has anyone ever showed you wallet photos of their pets? Again, they probably squeeze their pets a little too tight when they come home. The worst, however, is when they fill their entire wardrobe with hand-sewn animal print sweaters or make T-shirts that have screen prints of their cats and dogs.

Although these people are a little strange in my book, there’s nothing wrong with loving animals and showing affection – in the right amount – to your animals. Plus, if you do know any of these people they’re always easy to shop for, because they usually have only one thing on their minds. Personalized pet gifts are a great way to show these slightly wacky people how much you care. A to-go coffee cup with a picture of their pooch printed on the front is a winner. Now, only if you could get past contributing to the cause.

Sadly, I am one of those unfortunate animal-lovers who is allergic to cats. As a kid, my best friend had two cats, and I remember having to flee her house after my severe allergic reactions. Her cats were so nice, cute and cuddly, but I really couldn’t tolerate them. It made me very sad because my parents were about to buy me a kitten for my birthday when they realized that I was severely allergic!

Instead, my parents bought me some personalized cat gifts to ease the blow of not getting an actual cat. They gave me a cat tote bag with my name embroidered on it, as well as a t-shirt with my name and cute cats all over it. I was so happy! The gifts didn’t completely make up for not getting a cat, but they did make for a good birthday, and I received a puppy the very next year!

My friend has a black lab that sheds horribly every summer. I watched her comb him for half an hour one day, and she still couldn’t get all the fur loose! Big tufts of black fur were everywhere. The fur on the floor was easy enough to clean up, but my friend got really sick of vacuuming her couch and washing her sheets because her dog liked to snuggle on them so much.

She finally got her lab a bed of his very own, and now most of his shedding stays contained to that easy-to-clean area. She even personalized it with his name – Buck – so that he has something to be proud of. No matter where she goes, Buck recognizes his own scent on the bed and always sleeps in it, minimizing the furry trail he leaves behind. As you can see, personalized dog beds make great solutions for problem pets who really shouldn’t be on your furniture!

Some cats are fiercely independent, but still like to snuggle with you from time to time. If you’re not around when they get that urge, what’s a cat to do? Pick up a cat snuggle bed that they can turn to for that warm, cozy feeling when they need it most. Some snuggle beds are lined in fleece for ultimate comfort, even during the coldest months of the year, so your cat will always have a snuggly place to go in your home.

A snuggle bed is like a pocket, enveloping your cat on all sides except for the entrance. This replicates the warm, enclosed feeling your cat had when she was just a kitten, sleeping with all her littermates. That sense of security is invaluable, especially for cats who get jumpy during thunderstorms or fireworks on the 4th of July. A snuggle bed may help contain any hair your cat sheds while sleeping, too!

If you really love your dog but don’t like him sleeping in bed with you – doggie dreams can lead to kicking and sleep-barking, after all – you can still have your beloved pet with you while you sleep with a dog photo pillow. Most pet pillows have vinyl sleeve that can hold a horizontal or vertical 4” x 6” photo, making it easy to insert a standard-sized photo that you already have. Or maybe you have a collection of favorite photos of your dog – you can easily switch photos every week or even every day if you can’t decide on just one!

Grab a second pillow or third pillow if you have more than one dog – you wouldn’t want to play favorites and hurt one’s feelings, would you? Or you can keep all your canines close with just one pillow by inserting a photo that features the whole gang. Either way, a dog photo pillow is an easy solution if you miss looking at your faithful friend while you lounge in bed.

Whether a dog owner, cat owner, or both, pet lovers often think of their pets as extensions of themselves. It’s important to express our love for pets in our homes and even in our apparel. Make sure to have a proud collection of pet accessories and memorabilia at home to ensure guests know a proud pet enthusiast when visiting. Our apparel too should reflect our love of pets. Wear a T-shirt featuring a favorite breed or pet, or even carry a cat or dog tote instead of a traditional purse or bag. These bold expressions let the whole world know that we’re pet lovers and we’re proud of it!

Pet lovers also love to take their pets with them at all times, so having the right pet travel accessories is important. Whether it’s a dog stroller, cat carrier, or pet tote, we need to have the meats to keep our pets close with us at all times. Even though some pets might protest being put in a stroller or carrier, all pets love to spend time with their owners.

The average housecat spends more than 18 hours a day sleeping, thus, it’s important for owners to provide their cat with a comfortable cat bed for rest and relaxation. Cat beds are for more than just aesthetic purposes, as a cat that sleeps in their bed will also not be shedding fur on the furniture. In addition, most cat beds are convenient for cleaning and cats also love to spend time there. There are several variations of cat beds. The raised cat bed, for example, is on a higher level for cats that like to have a view of all that is happening in the periphery. Raised cat beds are also great for owners who have cats and dogs, as the cats can use their elevated position to get away from pesky canines. There is also the catnip bed, which will fast become a favorite resting place for even the most rambunctious of cats. The cat snuggle bed is another great option for felines who have the tendency to want to get under bed covers.

The cat chooses the bed, not the owner, so make sure to purchase a cat bed only if it has a return policy! It’s common for cats to not like a bed because of its smell, and thus, pre-owned beds are a no-no as well.

Dog’s like to have a place to sleep that makes them feel comfortable, and often, is also near their owners.  But dogs that aren’t trained to sleep in a specific location will feel inclined to jump on the furniture, another bed, or get into trouble around the house while their owner is asleep.  The first step is purchasing a nice fleece dog bed.  It’s not well known how why a dog chooses to sleep in the same location night after night, or how it’s possible for them to identify a dog bed as “their place”, but most dogs will move right into a dog bed and mark it as their own.  The best place to have a dog bed is somewhere near the owner’s bed, as the dog won’t want to sleep in a location that isn’t near their master.  Place a fleece dog bed at the bedside, and the dog is sure to find a home there. 

Make sure the dog knows when it’s time to go to sleep as well, as this will ensure the dog isn’t getting into trouble somewhere else in the home while the owner is asleep.  Be sure to let the dog outside one last time before going to sleep as well! 

In the spring and first month of summer, most dogs will shed their winter coats, which translates into a whole lot of hair around the home.  In order to keep tufts of hair off furniture, carpet, and clothing, it’s important to take a few steps to protect the home.  First, make sure to brush the dog at least once a week during the prime shedding months.  This will cut down the hair that appears in the home, and also cause them to shed their winter coat at a faster rate.  It’s also a good idea to put down a dog blanket at the location where the dog sleeps at night, as this will catch all the hair, and then can be put in the washer or shaken out to remove it.  It’s a good idea to keep a fabric roller in the car, and at the door of the home just in case hair or fur gets on clothing… it might also be wise to avoid black clothes!

Once the dog has shed their winter coat, their summer coat will start to fill out and the dog will look much more presentable for the coming months.  Brushing often can also ensure that the dog’s hair doesn’t mat and that the dog’s summer coat of fur looks much nicer.