Wednesday, March 25, 2015

On the Road with Waffles & Katie - Vacationing with #CrateHappyPets, Plus 6 Tips to Loving Your Carrier

This post is sponsored by PetSmart, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about Containment Products and Education for your cat, but GLOGIRLY only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.
WAFFLES:  Check it out, Boss! I'm OUTSIDE! ...by the OCEAN!!! 



KATIE:  That's not the ocean, Waffles. It's Lake Superior. But it's big enough to sound like the ocean.

WAFFLES:  Then where's the surfers? 

KATIE:  It's a LAKE, Waffles. Not the Pacific. 



WAFFLES:  Mmmm, is this what the ocean tastes like?

KATIE:  Waffles, that's just some leftover breakfast. 

WAFFLES:  No wonder, it tastes like chicken.



KATIE:  INCOMING! Seagull at 12 o'clock.







KATIE:  I could really get used to this view. Who knew this vacation stuff would be so fun!


Katie Talks *Containment*
When we heard we'd be writing about containment and carriers for PetSmart®, we had no idea we'd be reporting live from the shores of Lake Superior while on our family vacation! Although we use our indoor/outdoor kitty walk back home on our deck, the seagulls and crashing waves here sure beat out the sounds of the city.

Unfortunately when most cats hear the word *containment*, visions of doom and gloom and vets come into view. But not for us. Whether it's this fancy kitty walk or even our travel carriers, we've found a way to make friends with them by incorporating them into our daily life. Now when we do have to travel for pleasure or even the vet, it's a much more comfortable, and even fun, experience.

Discovering the Great Outdoors
A simple, contained kitty-walk is just the right thing to enable cats to experience some of the exciting sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors in a safe and controlled environment. Most will fold up nicely for easy travel. We brought ours on the road with us so we could enjoy beautiful Lake Superior from the comfort and safety of our own vacation villa's deck.

Most are large enough to add in a comfy blanket and toys... though we had more fun just watching the waves and seagulls!






It's All About Making it FUN
If the only time we had to go in our carriers was for visits to the vet, well... you know how THAT would go. The trick is making carriers FUN by incorporating them into our daily routines so they're associated with good times, not bad. We have one in each of our main living areas, as well as a couple upstairs by where we sleep. We use them for napping, snacking, playing, hiding and hunting. And sometimes, just for hanging out.

If Glogirly is in the fireplace room, one of us is usually hanging out in the carrier on the ottoman by her chair. If she's in the living room, there's a carrier on the rug next to one of the loungers.

It didn't happen overnight... but over the course of just a few months, we've been able to turn what used to be a prison of certain doom into a party!




LOVE YOUR CARRIER:  6 Tips & Tricks 
1.  Never Out of Sight
Leave carriers out and open in the main living areas where they'll become just as natural as a piece of furniture.

2.  Cushy Comfort
Place a soft pad, bed or blanket inside the carrier. It's much more inviting to spend time inside when it's cozy enough for a nap.

3.  Play Therapy
Incorporate the carrier into playtime. Waffles loves to play fetch and retrieve his toy from inside the carrier. Dangle a want toy inside and let the hunting begin. Make it fun!

4.  Catnip Dreams
Sprinkle a little catnip inside on a blanket or towel. Irresistible!

5.  Tasty Rewards
Treats are a great way of providing positive reinforcement for going inside a carrier. We're not above bribery either.

6.  Calming Aids
Even though we love our carriers and hang out in them everyday, the vet is never our first choice of destinations. A spritz of Feliway or other calming aid inside the carrier a few minutes before entry can make a big difference in times of stress, especially when the smells of other animals come into play.




Throughout the month of March, PetSmart will have a variety of carriers, crates and containment accessories on sale. If you're thinking about a feline-friendly vacation of your own, PetSmart has some great tips in their Traveling Safely With Your Cat article.







We're Coming Home!
We're on our way home today... safely strapped into our carriers. There's much more to share so please join us tomorrow for our official vacation round-up! 

Will Katie beg to stay?
Will Waffles sing in the car? 
Will Glogirly wake up in time for check out?


Need to Catch Up?
If you've missed our previous On the Road with Waffles & Katie posts, we've DVR'd them for you:

35 comments:

  1. You guys have it made - you have a crate collection! I love the view of the lake. Gorgeous!

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  2. Ah Katie, vacationing is doing wonders for you. You are even sharing the cat crate with Waffles! Glogirly and Gloman sure do know how to pack for cats! All the comforts of home. Thank you for sharing your lovely vacation with us and sharing all the wonderful products! Have a safe journey back home Sweeties! X

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  3. We had thought all this 'crate' stuff was, as you say, imprisosnment!! We had no idea is was THIS sort of stuff! Man, talk about misapprehension - safe in a crate just didn't mean a thing to us but you make it SO MUCH more understandable!! We know Rumblepurr has a KritterKondo and he loves it for some fresh air - I know other cats will love them, just like Katie :-)

    We are glad to see Katie looking so interested and positive, and * giggle * enjoying scaring Waffles with a seagull :-)

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  4. Are you SURE that isn't an ocean - it does look awfully BIG!!

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  5. P.S. Thanks for all the pet tips too!

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  6. That netted tunnel is awesome, and looks like Waffles and Katie are loving the ocean air!

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  7. It looks like an ocean! We think Katie wants to stay.

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  8. Wow, you all had such a great time on your vacation - and you even got to enjoy the fresh breeze and the shoreline!

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  9. Excellent tips...just excellent. Wish they would have had all this nice stiff whenwe had our first cat as he went to Kansas, on to Florida, back to Wisconsin, back to Kansas, and finally acute Wisconsin. We were always worried that he would sl,ehow escape.

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  10. Excellent tips from the experts, Katie and Waffles.

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  11. That looks amazing and what fun. That pic of Katie watching the seagull is fab! You two are such jetsetters.

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  12. I love the little beach house- you are lucky kitties.

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  13. As much as I hate the big carrier (the one that we moved in that holds all three of us) I would be the first one in when the humans started packing up. There was no way I was going to be left behind!

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  14. That's a great way to enjoy the great outdoors without the danger!

    The Florida Furkids

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  15. We love your kitty walk, but we don't have any place to set one up here. It looks like a wonderfully safe way to enjoy some outdoor time. And we hear those Sleepypods are quite comfortable!

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  16. What a great vacation! Chicken! The ocean! Seagulls! We were dazzled by the synchronized loafing. It was like we were there with you. :)

    Where did you get the kitty walk? Enquiring minds want to know!

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  17. You guys are having a great time, so glad you were able to get those lake whiffs and seagulls!! Oh wow seagulls.

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  18. Being able to enjoy the condo deck in your kitty walk tunnel sounds wonderful. I have a tent like thing made of mesh that the humans have tried putting me in out on our deck, but I feel trapped. I much prefer to be on the loose out on the deck.

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  19. Great tips ! Travelling seems so easy with you ! We're glad you enjoyed your mini-catio ! Purrs

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  20. That kitty walk is a great idea so you can enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of your vacation.

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  21. We love that outdoor enclosure. Every time we see it, we think you're inside a goalie net!

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  22. The mom leaves one of our carriers out all the time. Occasionally one of us will nap in it. But don't close that door!

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  23. What a brilliant idea!! That does look like a goalie net though MOL

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  24. Katie is a surfer dude at heart! Who knew it was the city that stressed her out. You may have to move here for her sake. TW has left my PTU out for months and we play rockets and peacock feather in it. Lately, though, I prefer a basic paper bag that has a huge hole in it.

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  25. What a great time that must have been...listening to the lake and watching seagulls. Mom keeps one of our carriers in the dining room. Astrid likes to nap in it. But sometimes Lisbeth or mauricio can be found there. Mom hadn't thought about using it during playtime. Good suggestion. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth ad Calista Jo

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  26. Surfer dudes probably wait until it is a bit warmer and no ice. But they do surf on the Grate Lakes, at least they do on Loch Mich sometimes.

    But being OUTSIDE with all the fresh air, I am envyous!

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  27. Holly crap, watch so you don't float away in the ocean
    Lily & Edward

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  28. Best vacation ever! You even got to check out that ocean -- err, um lake thingy!

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  29. WOW , what a view you have from your outdoor enclosure !

    XOXO

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  30. See vacations are just so much fun aren't they?xx Speedy

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  31. Great review. We hadn't thought of spraying Feliway into the carrier prior to traveling in it to the vet. We wonder if that would help Truffle calm down...

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  32. I'm sorry I missed the trip..I will be catching up on things..Love the pics...

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  33. We sure do love our Sleepypod too! And that Kritter Kondo is pretty swank!

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