Yet another way to amuse yourself whilst online - Kittenwar! a new pet website, places two reader submitted kittens head-to-head and asks you to vote for the cutest kitten! Results are recorded and you can check who is the current kitten at the top of the leader board. Enjoy!
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Recently I was put in touch with the very friendly people of diggiddydoggydaycare, an indoor dog day care centre based here in Melbourne, Australia. After an initial discussion with the centre around the services that they offered, a day of doggy care was arranged with the idea to review some of the services being offered. The following is my review of diggiddydoggydaycare.
The centre caters for up to 60 dogs a day and manages dog activities, exercise programs, grooming, and of course, plenty of love and attention. Additional services offered by diggiddydoggydaycare include pick up and drop off in the diggiddydoggytaxi, doggy birthday parties with a diggiddydoggyfunction and grooming in the diggiddydoggydayspa. The centre features an air conditioned/heated doggy lounge and puppy nursery areas and a large 500sqm indoor diggiddydoggyplayground.
The centreThe centre’s floor has been covered by a hard wearing 6mm rubber finish to minimise stress on the dogs’ joints and is ideal for play activity. Unlike other centres, diggiddydoggydaycare has designed 8 separate play areas for our clients to be managed in both smaller groups and interchangeable fencing so as larger areas can be created depending on the energy levels and social activity of the groups on the day.
diggiddydoggydaycare is a positive and happy environment for many dogs to spend their day whilst their parents are at work. Our exceptional level of care and customer service for both our two legged and four legged clients is a reputation we are extremely proud of.
“I took Kaila, our 2 1/2 year old Labradoodle girl, along to diggiddydoggydaycare on Tuesday for the day. We found the whole experience from dropping her off to picking her up later in the afternoon was easy and professional. The staff obviously have a real passion for looking after dogs and from what we experienced had a great system for ensuring the dogs are carefully assessed throughout the day to ensure they are safe and having fun.
I also got a call that morning to let me know that Kaila had settled into the Centre and was enjoying being pampered.
When we returned to pick Kaila up later in the day we were greeted at the door. We were given a brief verbal report about Kaila’s day, which included some really handy advice about her health and behaviours. They really seemed to have taken the time to get to know her. We were then given a glimpse at the dog play areas. We got to look through a window into the area so that we did not distract the dogs while they were playing. They all seemed to be having a ball.
Overall, it seemed like a great alternative to leaving your dog at home alone. If we ever need somewhere to leave Kaila for the day then we will certainly keep diggiddydoggydaycare in mind.”
From my initial introduction to the people at diggiddydoggydaycare and Warren’s subsequent experience of using their day care service for his dog Kaila, diggiddydoggydaycare have been nothing but professional, easy to work with and clearly have a love for dogs. Their facilities are well located within inner-city Melbourne, modern, clean and have been designed in a manner to ensure that their “guests” are well cared for. With the addition of other related services such as pickup/drop-off (in the diggiddydoggytaxi nonetheless!) and diggiddydoggydayspa, I do not hesitate to recommend diggiddydoggydaycare for you and your dog next time the need arrives. Oh and with such a great name, how could you resist?
A special mention and thanks to Warren (and his dog Kaila) for reviewing the dog day care service offered by diggiddydoggydaycare. In addition, many thanks to Jeanette, Nicole & the crew at diggiddydoggydaycare.
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An introduction to the Cat Protection Society of NSW and the great work that is being done for cats in our community.
Recently I have been chatting to the folks at the Cat Protection Society (CPS) of NSW, here in Australia. They are a charity run organisation that was formed in 1958 by a small group of cat lovers concerned about the plight of homeless cats. Since then the CPS have focused on a wide range of cat protection related campaigns including the promotion of desexing and helping find homes for stray cats.
The CPS continues to advocate desexing as the key to preventing the cruelty of abandonment and euthanasia, and provides a discount desexing service, as well as running a shelter for surrendered and abandoned cats in Newtown, NSW. Their mission is quite simple:
“To work with the community at all levels for the mutual benefit of cats, people and the natural environment.”
They do this by:
Bottom of the line is this readers - the CPS literally help thousands of cats each year, all from funds obtained via the volunteer run CPS Op Shop, donations, bequests and sponsorship.
Well I am glad you asked! Buzz Pet readers can help the CPS by joining as a member, becoming a volunteer, making a tax-deductible donation, remembering the CPS in your Will or even just buying your cat food and other cat products from their cattery (if you are in NSW), and shopping at their Op Shop. And remember that the CPS can also help you by providing cat care advice and information, discount cat desexing, and of course, beautiful cats and kittens for adoption.
If you would like further information, you can contact the CPS via their website or call them on 02 9519 7201.
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Welcome to another Buzz Pet product review. Today we look at the previously previewed and very chic Sleepypod mobile pet carrier and bed from meowme.
The Sleepypod is made by meowme, a USA based company that make a range of innovative pet products including the Sleepypod, Sleepypod Mini and the Cloudpuff.
The Sleepypod is the company’s flagship product that has effectively redesigned the humble pet carrier and brought it into the 21st century (my words not theirs!). Seriously folks, this is one beautiful pet product that not only looks the part but is also extremely functional. So let’s get started with the review.
Before evening opening the packaging of the Sleepypod I was impressed by the level of detail; if you are at all familiar with any of Apple’s products (such as the MacBook laptops) you will instantly relate to the experience. The Sleepypod is beautifully packaged with such attention to detail as a colour swatch and sample of the plush interior embedded into the top of the box (so you can see / feel the product without opening).
After hastily opening the box and removing the Sleepypod I began to examine the product itself (note Charlie at this point was inspecting the cardboard box - see below).
The Sleepypod appears to be extremely well made and cleverly designed, with perfect stitching and a genuine solid feel to it. The product itself boasts many features including:
In addition to the above the Sleepypod can also be purchased with a bed warmer (an optional extra - not reviewed) which is inserted within the Sleepypod base and can be powered by both 240v and 12v power (very handy for longer car trips in winter).
Charlie the Tonkinese (aka official Buzz Pet reviewer) was immediately intrigued with the Sleepypod but in all honesty was initially more interested in the packaging than the Sleepypod itself! Charlie’s love for cardboard boxes was however short-lived and he soon became interested.
The first step of introducing the Sleepypod into Charlie’s routine was to replace his regular cat bed with the Sleepypod (which incidentally I was happy to do). Charlie at first was hesitant to jump into the Sleepypod but preferred rather to sniff his way around as to inspect (and presumably give his nod of approval). I left to him to his own devices only to return later in the afternoon to find him curled up fast asleep in his new bed. One point to meowme!
Lets get mobileAfter a few days of Charlie enjoying the Sleepypod as a bed, our first trip in the Sleepypod was achieved - albeit around the house! Charlie was again hesitant at first but soon settled down and enjoyed the short journey enclosed within the Sleepypod; in fact after returning to the kitchen and removing the dome mesh top, Charlie continued to sleep in the Sleepypod until the late afternoon - and they say it is a dog’s lfe! As for carrying the Sleepypod, it is a doddle. Very comfortable and easy to “wear”, it was similar to carrying the Australian made Crumpler courier bags.
Car trippingAfter waiting for our car to return from the repair shop, I eventually got around to jumping in the car with Charlie and the Sleepypod and giving the pod a test-drive (excuse the pun). The Sleepypod fitted perfectly on the front seat of my Subaru and with the security of being able to buckle-in the Sleepypod using the seat belt (no more reaching across to the passenger seat to stop the carrier falling off!) we were good to go. A quick trip to the shops and back and not a noise was heard from Charlie; on closer inspection he was yet again fast asleep and secure in his Sleepypod. Second point to meowme.
I have to say the Sleepypod is very hard to fault; it is genuinely a great product and like none other I have reviewed previously. My only slight criticism would be the fact that the pet carrier is not airline approved for Australian airlines (in Australia all pets must travel within the cargo hold of the aircraft and as such all carriers must be hard cased). This I feel however is a very minor complaint and realistically will only affect the few pet owners that travel by air often with their pets.
The Sleepypod really is a great product; the design and quality of manufacture is something that I typically do not see in pet-related products. Meome have essentially reinvented the pet carrier - not only is the Sleepypod a hugely functional product, it is beautifully designed and looks great in the home. For those familiar with the typical pet carrier, having the Sleepypod as an alternative is almost a no-brainer. Let’s hope we in Australia start to see the product in good pet stores very shortly!
Note: Currently the Sleepypod is only available through Amazon, selected distributers and the meowme website. If you are interested in purchasing the Sleepypod you can do so directly by using the Amazon links on the Buzz Pet homepage.
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Welcome to the third and final post of a 3 part series on the wonderful pet, the Hermit Crab. In this series we will cover all you need to about keeping Hermit Crabs as pets including:
In this final post we will discuss the correct diet for Hermit Crabs, shells and moulting, and some useful tips on what to look out for (including potential dangers) when keeping Hermit Crabs as pets.
Hermit Crabs have specific dietary needs like all animals. Suitable food can include specially formulated Hermit Crab pellets (available from your pet store) which will effectively ensure your crabs are provided with all the necessary minerals and vitamins for healthy living. In addition to specific crab food, Hermit Crabs can also be fed regular “human-food”; being omnivorous means they will eat practically anything (meat, fish, vegetables etc.) so shopping at your local supermarket should allow you to buy suitable food for your crab (remember to stay away of course from high-fat / sugar junk food; this is not good for you or your crab!).
Other than having a warm humid (and hence moist) habitat to live in, your Hermit Crab’s shell is his/her worldly possession. This being the case, it is critical that you provide spare shells for your crabs to use when they leave their old shells (E.g. to find a larger one). As for what type of shell is suitable, a sea shell that is slightly larger that his/her current shell is your best bet. Provide a few shells for your crabs to use and let them decide which the best fit is.
Moulting is the process of when a crab sheds his skin; this is perfectly normal for your Hermit Crab but there are a few basic rules to adhere to during this process.
Moulting will typically occur twice a year for your Hermit Crab and it is important to remember that the process is very stressful for your crab. The basic approach is to essentially create an environment that will assist with the moulting process; this will include:
At the risk of sounding a little alarmist, there are a few things to watch out when keeping Hermit Crabs as pets to ensure that your crabs are healthy and happy.
Fighting is often caused by an overcrowded tank. So if you observe your Hermit Crabs fighting then provide additional trees etc. so that your crabs can spread out a little more or simply replace your tank with a larger tank. Fighting for shells is also common, so make sure your tank has plenty of spare shells for all of your crabs.
Hermit Crabs are of course very small creatures and as such even the smallest of amounts of poison can be fatal for your crab. This being the case it is extremely important that you keep all potential poisons away from your crab; this will include:
That brings us to the end of our three part series on keeping Hermit Crabs as pets. I hope you have enjoyed the series and as always I encourage reader feedback and comments - just leave a reply using the text box below.
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Well you might find it strange that I am writing a post about other pet-related blogs, but the below list is truly some of the best pet blogs going around and hence a must-read (as well as Buzz Pet of course!) for any pet owner.
Happy reading!
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Welcome to the second post of a 3 part series on the wonderful pet, the Hermit Crab. In this series we will cover all you need to know about keeping Hermit Crabs as pets including:
In this second post we will continue to discuss how to create the suitable habitat and environment for your new found friends.
As mentioned in the first post of this series, Hermit Crabs are tropical creatures that enjoy warm and humid conditions. It is hence vital that your aquarium is correctly set-up to simulate ideal conditions. The first thing is to ensure you purchase an aquarium with a glass top; this will help to create a humid environment essential for your crab’s well being. As a general rule, a small aquarium (say 30 - 40cm in length) will comfortably house three Hermit Crabs (and remember these guys are very social so having friends is important!).
The floor of your tank should be kept dry and covered by clean gravel (fine), sand or coconut fibre (forest bedding). The trick here is to ensure whatever material you use is clean - that means if you use sand/gravel to make sure you wash the sand/gravel with salty water (not soaps or detergents) and dry it thoroughly before putting it in the base of the tank. Once the tank base is covered by the base material, make sure you also place a piece of driftwood / mangrove root inside the tank as Hermit Crabs love to climb! Appropriate base material and wood is available from most good pet stores.
Heating the tank is best achieved by using a heat mat that sticks to the base of the tank (having heat rising from the surface stimulates crab activity) The ideal temperature range for Hermit Crabs is between 26C - 32C, making sure that the temperature never drops below 20C as this can be fatal for crabs. Monitoring the temperature should be done by the inclusion of a tank thermometer (digital or mercury) and the inclusion of another low-voltage lamp is also acceptable. Another consideration is the correct placement of your tank within your home; try to find a location that has a constant ambient temperature (and hence not near a door way or window). You may also find my post on The Easy Way to Keep Your Aquarium Cool in Summer useful.
Creating a humid environment requires not only heat but also water. Hermit Crabs depend on this humidity - an environment with high humidity keeps their gills moist and allows them to breathe properly. A large water bowl (used for drinking as well) that always has water in it will ensure the aquarium stays humid. A good tip is to place a sponge inside the water bowl to encourage the flow of humidity through the tank. Humidity within the tank should be between 70% - 80% so it is a good idea to purchase a humidity gauge to monitor humidity on a daily basis.
A second water bowl is also required for bathing. This second bowl should contain salt water, easily made by mixing freshwater with Hermit Crab Salt (again available from most good pet stores).
That is it for post #2 of the series. Stay tuned for my third and final post on keeping Hermit Crabs as pets where we will discuss diet and shells, and things to look out for when looking after Hermit Crabs.
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Welcome to the first post of a 3 part series on a wonderful pet, the Hermit Crab. In this series we will cover all you need to know in relation to:
In the first post we will cover the basics - what you will need to successfully keep Hermit Crabs and details on the crabs habitat and life expectancy.
Hermit Crabs (or more correctly termed Land Hermit Crabs) make great pets as they are typically friendly and intelligent, odour free (and hence very clean) and easy to keep as pets.
To successfully keep Hermit Crabs as pets, you will need the following items:
Once you have purchased the above items (any good pet store should stock all that you require) you will need to correctly set up your tank so that it simulates the Hermit Crabs natural environment.
Hermit Crabs for the most part are nocturnal in nature and being tropical, like humid, warm environments. They are also rather social creatures (the name “hermit” is rather misplaced when referring to these little guys!) so it is highly recommended that you keep at least three crabs living together. Like many pets, life expectancy is hard to predict when in captivity (in the wild there have been reports of Hermit Crabs living for 50 years), however many people have success keeping Hermit Crabs as pets for years. The basic rules apply - if you look after your crabs, provide them with the appropriate habitat, food and care, you should enjoy your little pets for many years.
Stay tuned for post 2 where I will discuss housing and heating, and the correct humidity and water for Hermit Crabs.
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Siliga gelCrystal cat litter is typically made of silica gel, a porous granular form of sodium silicate. The litter beads come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the most common being pieces similar to that of a fine gravel.
The main claim to fame of crystal litter is that it has far better absorption qualities than conventional or clumping litter; the more liquid that is absorbed the better the odour is retained. This being the case, the litter lasts longer (up to a month) than conventional or clumping litter and does not seem to be affected by changes in temperature (E.g. house heats up but the litter does not increase in odour).
Crystal litter like most products is not perfect. Some cats are particular about litter and will not take easily to crystals. In addition, crystal litter can be up to double the price of conventional / clumping litter meaning that although it lasts longer, the increased cost of the litter eliminates any potential savings.
Many cat owners swear by this product particularly where odour retention is an important requirement (E.g. within a small apartment). For me however, the increased cost of the litter does not outweigh the additional benefits. I would agree that the odour retention is improved with crystal litter (and typically Charlie’s litter will last a week longer as well) however this I believe tends to lead to owners not cleaning / changing the litter as regularly (ideally your cat’s litter should be cleaned daily and replaced every few days). Put simply, I would rather buy recycled conventional litter and spend the savings on better quality pet food for my cat (and if odour is a problem, then maybe try some of the odour reducing pet food that is now available).
Verdict: 7/10
Addendum: Modernpet have just posted a great cat litter comparison; although the products are all American based, the review is a great read when considering what litter is the most appropriate for you and your cat(s).
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My partner kindly picked me up this pen from the Swedish stationary shop Kikki-k the other day; not exactly the most masculine of pens to be using at the office, but I am a sucker for stationary let alone stationary that is cat related. Check it out the next time you are stationary shopping.
Verdict: 9/10
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