Has Glogirly Gone Noseblind? #Petiquette

This post is sponsored by Febreze ™ and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about #Petiquette but GLOGIRLY.com only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Febreze is not responsible for the content of this article.

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss! Did you know that Glogirly's gone Noseblind? Can you believe it? She can't see out her nose anymore.

KATIE:  Waffles, Glogirly never could see out her nose.

WAFFLES:  That's not what Gloman said!

KATIE:  Waffles, Noseblind means you've become so accustomed to smells in the Townhouse you can't smell them anymore.

WAFFLES:  But I like smelling stuff. Maybe my nose needs glasses.

KATIE:  *sigh*

The Etiquette of Petiquette 
Cats may not go Noseblind, but our humans often do. And though there are plenty of smells we'd be perfectly happy to keep around, occasionally our humans think otherwise.

Glogirly keeps a very clean house. On any given day she's just a cheese plate away from an impromptu party. And when it comes to bad smells, she's definitely a believer in cleaning up, not covering up, the source. But sometimes that's not quite enough. So in those instances, she likes to call for backup. Before Katie and Waffles, she loved burning candles that would spread a light and fresh fragrance through house. Nothing too sweet or heavy, nothing overpowering, but something pretty and subtle.

She misses the scent of those candles, so she was eager to try out the linen & sky scented Febreze™ products.

KATIE:  Wasn't me! Waffles???

Our Febreze Tryout 
We had a chance to try out three different linen & sky scented Febreze products:
1. Fabric Refresher
2. Air Effects
3. Febreze Car Vent Clips

Mmmm.... Velvet 
Though Katie & Waffles are *greatly discouraged* from frolicking on the kitchen counters and dining room table, they have free reign over the rest of the Townhouse, including all of the comfy furniture. This is Waffles' chair. He sleeps in it, bathes in it and plays in it. We vacuum it regularly, but that's really about it.

We gave it a gentle spritz of Febreze (while Waffles was away of course) after a fresh vacuuming. The scent was very subtle and didn't leave any visible residue on the velvet fabric. This probably isn't something we'd use very often on this chair. But a mishap with a little taco sauce and we'd be pretty grateful to have this on hand.

The Litter Box Blues
Our friends and readers are often singing the litter box blues. Of course daily scooping goes a long way toward keeping any unwanted smells to a minimum. We've also noticed a dramatic decrease in our #2 fragrance ever since Katie and Waffles switched to a whole food diet. Even so, Glogirly likes to keep our boxes happy and clean. Our litter room is very close to our front door, so she's extra careful to keep that area clean smelling too.

Her favorite of the Febreze products is Air Effects. She was really happy with how subtle the scent was and how it eliminated any questionable smells in the area. The linen & sky is just the kind of scent she likes.

She's also used this in our main living area which since it's open to the kitchen, will sometimes smell a little too much like breakfast or dinner.

That New Car Smell 

Nothing says stinky like a car in need of a good interior detailing. And sometimes on long road trips, after a stop for a little Mexican food... well, you get the message. It's nice to have a little extra something to keep the car smelling fresh.

Glogirly really wanted to love this one, but the scent was just a little too concentrated. Maybe it was because she had the a/c blasting, but even when she turned it off the scent was too strong for her. She did think though that it would be great for a rental car, many of which can smell like a boys high school locker room. Not that she really knows what a boys high school locker room smells like.

Pet Friendly and ASPCA Approved 

Many of our fellow pet lovers have asked about the safety of Febreze products when it comes to pets. We were very pleased to learn that Febreze products are not tested on animals and have been extensively evaluated for safety using alternative testing methods. In fact, Febreze works closely with leading animal protection groups, such as the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States, to promote alternative research methods.

A Little Common Scents Reminder
Please note... despite what Waffles may think,  Febreze is not intended to be used ON your pet. And in our opinion, those with sensitivities to fragrance (including cats!) should use with care. Did you know that a cat's sense of smell is 14 times greater than a human's? That means what may seem subtle to a human nose, could be overpowering to a cat.

Chivalry and the Orange Mancat

WAFFLES:  Gee your fur smells terrific. What do you use on it, Boss?

KATIE:  Uh... my TONGUE?

WAFFLES:  And it's really soft. You must condition too.

KATIE:  Waffles, I'm kind of busy. What do you want?

WAFFLES:  I heard that girls like it when you say their fur smells. 

KATIE:  You mean smells good. Not smells. There's a big difference.

WAFFLES:  And don't girls like to share their lunch with handsome orange mancats that tell them their fur smells?

KATIE:  I knew this had something to do with my food.

WAFFLES:  You look like you need help with that, Boss. Can I help you with that?

KATIE:  Mitts off, Waffles. Chivalry will get you nowhere. 

WAFFLES:  Maybe he needs to stop and ask for directions.

About Today's Photos
Today's pictures are outtakes from one of our recent product review photo shoots. That's the only time Glogirly lets Katie eat her food 'unprotected' from Waffles, a known food thief.

One thing's for sure though. Katie does not let Waffles break her stride. She approaches mealtime with determination, focus and a perfectly poised tongue.

Smell My Paw

WAFFLES:  Smell my paw, Boss. Smell it.

KATIE:  I'm not smelling your paw, Waffles. I know where that thing's been.

WAFFLES:  No seriously, smell my paw.

KATIE:  No. Seriously.

WAFFLES:  Glogirly and Gloman went to a hot house today and they came back smelling like this.

KATIE:  Hot house? They went to a housewarming party. 

WAFFLES:  Why? Was the house really cold or something?

KATIE:  No, it's something people do to celebrate moving into a new house.

WAFFLES:  Yeah but why did they come home smelling like THIS? 

KATIE:  Hmmm... I detect notes of cat sitter, grey tabby and tacos.

WAFFLES:  Tacos???

Grey Tabbies & Tacos

Shocking but true. Glogirly and Gloman came home from the housewarming party smelling of cats and tacos. Word on the street is they were fraternizing with someone else's cats. And to add insult to injury, the house that was getting warmed belongs to the CAT SITTER.

Oh, this is so many shades of wrong. 

About the Kitties

The sweet cat Gloman was cheating on Katie and Waffles with today is Goat. Yes, Goat. He's adorably friendly and seems to have made a love connection of sorts with Gloman. Truth be told he was making love connections with everyone. We didn't get any photos of his brother, Memo. Memo was little busy making sure things were okay under the master bed. 

Goat and Memo are just one year old. Our cat sitters adopted them from a local shelter shortly after they moved into their new house. Now THAT's the way to warm a house. 

Who Rocked the Shopping Cart Better? #SundaySelfies

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss! What'll you give me if I win the bet?

KATIE:  What bet?

WAFFLES:  The shopping cart bet!

KATIE:  You mean the shopping cart survey. A survey is not a bet. 

WAFFLES:  Uh-uuh. I bet you I'm going to win the shopping cart survey. There. See? That's a bet.

KATIE:  That would imply I'm willing to enter an agreement with you. And fyi... that's not happening. 

WAFFLES:  Why not, Boss?

KATIE:  I know how much you have in your bank account. 

WAFFLES:  Huh?

KATIE:  And you're goin' DOWN!

Who do YOU think rocked the shopping cart better?
Select as many answers as you like. 

#SundaySelfies

Today's blog post is part of the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop 

hosted by our dear friends at The Cat On My Head.

An AmeriCAT in Paris #CaturdayMovies

WAFFLES:  Bone Jour, ladies. I'm practicing my French stuff today. 

KATIE:  Waffles, you're touching me. No touching, remember?

WAFFLES:  But Boss, I'm practicing my French stuff. You know, romantic stuff. For the ladies. 

KATIE:  Waffles, I never said you could practice on me. Besides, you do know you're not French, right? 

WAFFLES:  But what about my hat? 

KATIE:  A hat doesn't make you French, Waffles.

WAFFLES:  What about the wine? And the Cheetos?

KATIE:  You mean cheese?

WAFFLES: See? Cheese is romantic, right? 

KATIE:  Waffles, you need to go practice this romantic stuff on someone else. Now say goodbye and leave. 

WAFFLES:  We'll always have Paris, Boss.

KATIE:  Wrong movie, Waffles.

PARIS the Cat: Of all the cat joints in the world, I have to walk into THIS one.  What? Still the wrong movie???

Welcome to Caturday at the Movies with the Shelter Cats!
If you're a regular visitor here on Saturdays, you're probably familiar with our #TVTripCaturday blog series featuring classic TV spoofs and adoptable cats from our friends at PAWS Pet Animal Welfare Society in Norwalk, CT.

Well we're stepping out and going to the movies!

Through the magic of Photoshop, an adoptable cat from PAWS will join Waffles and Katie for some cinema-fun as we "catify" our favorite movies.

We'll also introduce you to the 'Cameo Cats' and share a little bit about them. Maybe, just maybe... our crazy antics will help our shelter friends find forever homes.

Special thanks to Maggie Swanson, the talented photographer behind our cameo cats and a devoted volunteer at PAWS. Maggie is the author of the blog, Sundays at the Shelter, where she features adoptable cats from PAWS each and every week. Her beautiful photos have helped countless cats find loving homes.

Today's Cameo Cat
Paris is such a beautiful girl! She's two years old and very playful and athletic. Paris has been spayed, current on all her vaccinations, micro-chipped and negative for FIV and FeLV. She's ready and waiting for you at PAWS. Hearts are going to melt!

Paris' photos by Maggie Swanson


Pssst! Trivia Question
Extra credit if you can name the movie that Waffles and Paris are mixed up over. We're not sure what kind of credit you'll get. But it will be extra! ; )

The Kitchen is Closed?

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss! What are you having?

KATIE:  I'm having a hard time waiting for breakfast is what I'm having.

WAFFLES:  Where is everybody? The kitchen's supposed to be open, right? I mean it's daylight and all.

KATIE:  Well considering you and your self-service approach to mealtime, it probably doesn't much matter whether the kitchen is open or not.

WAFFLES:  Yeah, but Glogirly started keeping all the good food an treats in the refrigerator. She says it's the only place in the Townhouse that's safe. I think she's even got toys in there. If it's so safe, how come I can't go in there?  

KATIE:  Do you SEE what I have to put up with? Every morning of every day of every week of ...

About Today's Photos

Though Katie and Waffles can usually be found circling the kitchen on the floor and engaging in a very physical round of patty cake when the sun rises over the kitchen, occasionally one of them will hop up onto the counter stool to check out how the meal preparations are coming. It's rare that both of them sidle up to the bar together, but when they do Glogirly runs for her camera.

Oh the conversations they must have....

"What are you having?" 

"I don't know. What are you having?

Cats and people are more alike than anyone realizes.

There's still time to enter our GIVEAWAY!

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That's five t-shirts every month for a whole year!

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Giveaway is open through October 9. Good luck, everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Scratcher Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law #ThrowbackThursday

KATIE:  Pssst... I'm about to give Waffles his first lesson in the laws of cat scratcher ownership. I don't have much faith that he'll understand, let alone remember today's class. But in an effort to make my world a better place, I must try. 

KATIE:  Waffles at 2 o'clock. 

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss. Whatcha doing?

KATIE:  Lounging on my scratcher.

WAFFLES:  Can I lounge on the scratcher?

KATIE:  You mean on my scratcher?

WAFFLES:  How do you know it's your scratcher and not my scratcher?

KATIE:  Well nevermind I was here first –

WAFFLES:  Ok, I don't mind. 

KATIE:  That's not what I meant, Waffles. When it comes to stuff like scratchers, possession is nine-tenths of the law. That means this scratcher is mine. 

WAFFLES:  So you have to do math to get stuff??? Like 1 + 1 = 11???

KATIE:  Yeah, good luck with that Waffles.

WAFFLES:   Glogirly says all I have to do is look cute and I can have whatever I want. Cute is WAY better than math. 

About Today's Photos

Waffles was still learning the ropes when these photos were taken back in January of 2013. He was barely 4 months old. Katie had her paws full trying keep him off of her stuff. That first scratcher lesson didn't go too well. What Waffles lacked in etiquette, he made up for in confidence. 

Both he and Katie have come a long way. Waffles shows Katie selective respect. And Katie shows Waffles selective tolerance. Selective though, is the operative word. 

Immortal, Beloved and Just a Little Bit Crazy #WafflesWednesday

Waffles, by Thomas Clausen ©2015

A few months ago, the very talented Thomas Clausen, of One Drawing Daily, created this beautiful pen, ink and watercolor portrait of you-know-who. 

Glogirly takes a LOT of photos here. A lot a LOT of photos. But there's something very special about an artist's rendering that just can't be captured in a photograph. It's that magical line between what the eye sees and the artist interprets. Perfectly imperfect, it's that magic line that she can't help but fall in love with. And of course there's Waffles too.

Left: Original photo of Waffles by Glogirly

Right: Original pen, ink & watercolor portrait by Thomas Clausen

One Drawing Daily

Thomas' story is fascinating and one that really resonates with Glogirly. He's long admired people who've mastered the art of drawing. Glogirly studied drawing in college and shares that same admiration, (though she doesn't share his talent!). Drawing isn't easy. It's not just about putting pen to paper, it's about really seeing your subject. And it's not one of those things like riding a bike either. It takes years of practice and consistent nurturing. 

That's what is so impressive about Thomas' goal. 

On September 9, 2014, he started drawing every day in an effort to reach a place where he was confident and satisfied with his skills. His idea was that even on a lousy, lazy, hard, stressed or hopeless day, he would draw. Even if it was nothing more than a stick figure, he would draw. As he writes, "the continuity would be my motivator." In fact, he tells us it's been rare that he's done only one drawing a day. Waffles was his 454th drawing.

Thomas Clauson ©2015

The Inspiration of Commitment

Thomas' commitment to his art and to himself is something we admire so much and can absolutely relate with. It's in fact one of the reasons we blog. Although we began blogging off and on in 2008, on July 2, 2012 Glogirly made a pact with herself. She decided to publish daily. Like Thomas, some days were simple. Just a photo, maybe a caption. But more often than not, the words and ideas would somehow come. She believes it's this commitment that has helped her to become a better writer, photographer and blogger. It's what helped her out of a career slump when she found herself among the thousands laid off from from what she thought would be her forever career.

It's also strengthened her bond with Katie & Waffles. She's believes she's a smarter, more informed and compassionate cat parent.

So although the intent of today's blog post is introducing you to the beautiful and thoughtful artwork of Thomas Clauson, we also think there's an important message in his process. You need look no further than his amazing work to see that great things can happen when you commit. 

Thank you, Thomas. Thank you for your beautifully generous work. Thank you for inspiring us.

Thomas Clausen ©2015

Where to Find Thomas Clausen & His Art

Thomas is currently doing commissioned and custom work and has recently launched a new site featuring some beautiful examples: Portfolio of Thomas Clausen. In addition, he still takes free drawing requests through his One Drawing Daily site. Though he is based in Denmark, Thomas works with clients and animal lovers all over the world. Even right here in Minneapolis.

What's Next for One Drawing Daily?
On September 9, 2016 the doors will open to his first art exposition. He's doesn't yet know where it will be, or even what all he will share with the world. But we'll be sure to let you know when he does.

A Gift of Love

There are few greater gifts you can give a loved one or yourself than a portrait of your furry family member. It's something that helps to keep your memories alive and close to your heart. Immortal, beloved and in the case of Waffles... a little bit crazy.

WAFFLES:  Crazy???

Girl Shopping #TuxieTuesday

KATIE:  I'd heard stories about places like this. Tales of tall shelves lined with delicious treats. 

KATIE:  Wand toys and feathers and catnip mice aplenty. 

KATIE:  And WILD animals. Uncaged, small people with sticky fingers throwing something Glogirly calls a tantrum. I sure hope we're not bringing any of those home!

About Today's Photos
Since Katie has done so well on the recent trips and vacations we've taken, Glogirly decided it was high time to introduce her to the big box store with the bright blue shopping carts. Waffles has been many times, but this was Katie's virgin voyage.

She did great. She was calm, curious, interested and even let a few people talk to her and pet her. She was the feline star of the food aisle. We're always very careful though because this is new territory for Katie. Glogirly is very protective and takes time to show people the right way to approach and pet Katie. Very slow, from below her head and allowing her to first sniff their fingers.

It was Saturday so there was a lot of barking going on what with the adoption events and training. But that didn't even seem to phase Katie.

The toddler tantrums in the checkout lane...now that was a different story. Glogirly and Katie retreated to the back of the store until it was deemed safe to complete their purchases and exit. Sometimes the biggest sounds can come out of the smallest packages!

Based on how great Katie did, we're seeing more shopping excursions in her future.

The Why's and How's of Transitioning Your Cat to a Raw Diet #InstinctRaw

This post is sponsored by Instinct® and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about Instinct Raw but GLOGIRLY only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Instinct is not responsible for the content of this article.

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss, check out the new food! Glogirly says it's good for me on account of I'm a species-appropriate mancat. 

KATIE:  Waffles, the food is species-appropriate.  Not you. There's really nothing terribly appropriate about you –

KATIE:  – OR your table manners for that matter. But that's a whole different blog post.

Instinct Raw Bites from Nature's Variety®
We're beyond thrilled to introduce you to Instinct Raw today. We may spend our days coming up with silly ways to make you laugh, but sound feline nutrition is not a laughing matter and one we take very seriously. If you've been curious about feeding raw, Instinct Raw Bites are a fantastic way to begin introducing a raw diet to your cats.



It's easier now than ever to find them too. Our local PetSmart recently started carrying Instinct Raw in their own freezer case.

How We Got Started with Raw
If you've been following us for awhile now, you probably know that Katie & Waffles have been eating a raw and cooked whole food diet for some time. We originally made the switch over to whole foods last year when we started treating Katie for IBD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

We're not experts. We're not medical professionals. We're just a couple of cats and a girl who've worked hard to understand the commercial pet food landscape and navigate our way through it.

Cats are Obligate Carnivores
Obligate means "by necessity" and according to the dictionary, "biologically essential for survival." Combine obligate with carnivore and it's all pretty clear. Cats must eat meat. It's a biological necessity critical for survival. Glogirly may try and convince us that jelly beans are critical for her survival, but we're not buying it.

So What Does Mean in Simple Terms?
Cats thrive on a diet that's as close to what they would eat in the wild if they could. That means fresh, raw, whole prey. Meat, organs bones... the whole enchilada, so to speak.
Cats cannot properly digest many of the plant-based proteins and other ingredients often found in dry and even canned foods.

It's pretty simple really. Like any animal, cats will do best on the diet nature intended for them.



Read more at http://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-qobligate-carnivoreq 
Follow us on Twitter: @FelineNutrition

Read more at http://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-qobligate-carnivoreq 
Follow us on Twitter: @FelineNutrition
What is Instinct Raw?
Instinct Raw mirrors a cat's natural diet - all natural, never cooked, complete and balanced nutrition packed with animal protein. It's made of 95% meat, organs and bones, 5% fruits and vegetables and 0% grain. We'd love it even more if the 5% fruits and vegetables were eliminated from the cat food, since we believe that cats don't need any fruits and vegetables, but 5% is definitely an amount we can live with. The fact that Instinct Raw contains the meat, organs and bones is far more important and something we can really get behind.

So Why are Meat, Organs & Bones So Important? 
These whole food ingredients lead to optimal nutrient absorption. In other words, all of the food is easily digested. Some commercial foods have to add ingredients to make food palatable, hold it's shape, stay fresh, etc... And often those ingredients can't be properly digested and just pass right through. For us, this has never been more readily apparent than in the litter box.

Wait... did you say litter box?
One of the most dramatic changes we noticed when switching to a raw and whole food diet was with Katie and Waffles' poop. (did we just say poop??) That's right. What used to be dark and terribly stinky little tootsie rolls are now virtually odorless, weightless, light cardboard-colored tootsies. That's because there's none of that garbage waste from ingredients in their food that they're unable to digest.

If this litter box dream-come-true isn't enough to make you seriously consider switching your cat's diet, the health and wellness benefits most certainly will.

The BIG Health Benefits
This isn't just a list grabbed from Instinct Raw's website. These are all real benefits we've actually seen and experienced as a result of switching to a raw and whole food diet. In fact despite Katie's IBD, Katie and Waffles have never been healthier.
• Healthy skin and luxuriously silky coat 
• Optimal digestion 
• Healthy teeth and gums 
• Relief from food sensitivities 
• Ideal body weight

How to Make the Switch
1.  Don't be intimidated. 
We were at first. It probably took us almost a couple of years to take the raw plunge. But are we ever glad we did!

2.  Introduce new food gradually.
Mix just the smallest amount of new food with your cat's original food. With Instinct Raw Bites, we'd suggest only one or even 1/2 of a single 'bite.' Gradually increase the amount of raw bites as you decrease the amount of original food.

3.  Take it slow. VERY slow. 
Patience is key when switching food. Cats are creatures of habit. If they've been eating the same kind of food for 1, 2 or 10 years, they may not even recognize a new type of food as food. That's how it was with us. Younger cats often have an easier time transitioning. Some cats take to a new food in just a week or two. Waffles, who was 2 at the time, completely transitioned in about 5 weeks. Katie, who is 10, took about 4 months. Don't give up though! It's totally worth it.

Four Protein Choices 
Instinct Raw Bites for Cats is available in 4 varieties - Rabbit, Chicken, Duck and Tuna. Many cats have sensitivities to fish, so we choose not to use tuna or other fish products as a daily diet choice. Katie is definitely a rabbit girl. Rabbit can be a good choice for cats with GI sensitivities. And despite Waffles' reputation as a chicken devotee, he an equal opportunity meat eater and loves all the Instinct Raw proteins.

How to Serve
Keep the resealable bag in the freezer and just take out what you need a few minutes before serving. The bites thaw very quickly. You can also put a little hot water over them if you're in a hurry. Serve as a meal enhancer or a full meal. We even use individual bites as treats.

Want to Try Instinct Raw? 
Sign up for a $3 off coupon on the Instinct Raw website. You can use it on any of the Instinct Raw products, including their $3.99 trial size. Follow them on Facebook too to keep up with their latest news and offers.