2022 CatCon: Everything You Need To Know, Highlights, & Haul
If you’re the type of cat parent who ain’t afraid to represent (i.e. has more than one cat t-shirt in your wardrobe), or better yet loves all things cat (cat tote, cat kitchen towels, cat mug …), Life will likely lead you to CatCon. What is CatCon, you ask? Or, if you are a CatCon veteran of yesteryear, how is the 2022 CatCon? Allow me to give you an insider view.
Foster Friday 3: The Most Precious Moments
The countdown to Butch & Cassidy’s graduation from foster care is booming in my ear like a grandfather clock, but I’m reminding myself to be present and savor this precious time with them. Alas, the most precious moments are often unwitnessed. And almost certainly un-photographed. Such as when Butch and Cassidy shimmy like kangaroo babies to tuck in close as the three of you sprawl on a fleece blanket on the floor. Or when Butch asks to be your little spoon and purrs so loudly when you oblige that he drowns out the AC. Or when Cassidy gingerly licks your face and you wonder — who needs La Mer when you’ve got this kind of glam squad?
Foster Friday 2: How Fostering Kittens Made Me Take Up Swimming
You know how many experiences have a honeymoon period? Well, it’s Day 15 of my first kitten fostering journey, and … the honeymoon is going strong! In fact, I am somehow even more in love with Butch & Cassidy. I mean, just look at these two perfect beings. Of course, there have been learning moments and aching backs (all that sitting on the restroom floor!), and my definition of honeymoon has expanded to include “studying poop while wearing a headlamp.” Plus, fostering kittens made me take up swimming. But first — an update on Butch & Cassidy:
Foster Friday 1: Introducing Butch & Cassidy
Happy Friday, friends! What are you and your furbabies up to this weekend? If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may know that Junipurr, Favorite Parent, and I have been hosting two very special guests: Butch (orange & white boy) and Cassidy (calico girl), two six-week-old siblings who were found in a car engine. Since coming to our home, they have learned how to eat, use the litter box, climb (everything), purr, enjoy lap naps, and play exuberantly with new friends. For today’s Tell Junipurr It’s Friday (TJIF), instead of the a link pack, I thought we’d do something a little different. Let’s call it… Foster Friday!
New Cat Parent Guide
So you adopted a cat … HOORAY! GET OUT THE BALLOONS AND GOOD CHINA, FOLKS! Congratulations on one of the most heart-opening and joy-activating decisions of your life. Here is a resource kit for first time cat parents to walk you through all you need to know about care.
Cats & Money
Recently a dear friend of mine inherited a cat, and she asked me: How much should I budget for cat care? This got me thinking: Despite the tidal wave of awesome financial education and the many wonderful people talking about cat care, we don’t often discuss topics like how much is cat care, whether or not to get pet insurance, etc. So, I polled a number of cat parents across North America and we are spilling the beans!
The Nerdiest Corner Of The Internet … On Cat Litter
I admit: I am one of those cat parents to whom litter box cleaning is almost a meditative practice. To be clear, it's not that I enjoy it -- after all, how many people besides the Dalai Lama and Deepak Chopra actually enjoy the act of meditation? Nay, as a confirmed germaphobe, I'd gown up in PPE for a cleaning sess even before the pandemic hit us. But good litter box hygiene is essential for our furbabies, and cat litter history and science is so fascinating.
7 Free Ways To Entertain Your Cat
I am not a big shopper, but there is one category of products that I can’t seem to say no to. You guessed it - Cat toys! Despite my minimal waste intentions, I have yet to meet a cat toy that does not spark joy. For me. Junipurr, on the other hand, has been a muse and champion of free entertainment via her habit of ignoring most toys I buy for her and opting instead to be enthralled by the door stopper or a particularly bountiful gathering of dust bunnies. So, following her cue, we have been enjoying toys and games created with everyday objects. As Jenny from the Block taught us so long ago, love don’t (need to) cost a thing. Here are 7 free cat enrichments we have come up with:
How To Buy A Cat Tree
Before I began my zero waste journey, I used to buy cat gear like Christmas came everyday for cats … which is why I ended up with seven cat trees in an one-bedroom apartment. I’ve since learned that sourcing well-made, durable cat gear is not only good for the wallet but also vital for the environment. I’ve also learned that not all cat trees are made equal. To help you avoid the chemical-laden and the wobbly, I’d like to share with you, friend, some do’s and don’ts of buying cat trees.
Minimal Waste Living with Cat: The Journey Begins!
It’s Earth Day, friends! I am very much a beginner on this journey of minimal waste living with a cat, but I’ll share the four life habits I’ve implemented thus far. As with all other subjects we explore here at Junipurr Studio, let’s learn in community!
Going to the Vet: A Cat’s Perspective
Recently Junipurr went to see her veterinarian twice - once for her annual wellness exam, and a second time for an allergy-induced skin condition. Though both visits were relatively short, and her parents did all they could to make the process as low-stress as possible (packing a suitcase full of her favorite scent soakers and toys, cooing to her on the way to and fro, preparing her favorite treats immediately upon homecoming etc.), Junipurr is not without tribulations. Today, she breaks down going to the vet from a cat’s perspective. Behold, Junipurr speaks!
Cats: Sleeping Their Way to The Top
Remember that Arianna Huffington TED talk “How to succeed? Get more sleep”? Pretty sure Arianna, wise as she is, got her knowledge from an even wiser oracle: Cats, the true subject matter experts on sleep. Today, we deep dive into clinical and veterinarian literature to explore how much sleep is too much AND how to build a good sleep ritual for the entire household.
5 Best Podcasts for Cat Parents | Pt 2
From podcasts with a mission statement of creating a humane environment for all cats to podcasts that give us cat parents an unfiltered peek into the life and mind of our furbabies’ veterinarian team, Part Two of 5 Best Podcasts for Cat Parents unveils more unmissable audio gems!
5 Best Podcasts for Cat Parents
Are you a podcast junkie and cat parenting nerd? Rejoice, friend, because I’m about to tell you the 5 BEST podcasts about pet care and animal rescue! Get ready for a firehose of engaging and enlightening podcasts.
6 irrefutable signs that your cat loves you
Tis been rumored that some cats are total hams. These mythical individuals run to the door to greet you, nestle in your lap during Netflix hour, and serenade you with songs of purring. But most of our furbabies are a bit more precious about their street cred. Voilà some indescribably special moments that let you know your cat does, in fact, love you.
Crepuscular
It is my humble mission to prepare you, dear friend, for any and all feline related questions that may come up in your quest for Trivia world domination. Today’s trivia: Are cats really nocturnal?
Cats, Bath, & Beyond
Cats are fastidious cleaning machines who have been equipped by nature with both the anatomy (lingual papillae) and the will to be permanently #onfleek. To quote Jackson Galaxy: “Cats make self-grooming their major in college, their occupation, AND their hobby.” If you are in the camp of If Jackson Galaxy said so then [mic drop], you’re in good company! However, if you are a Type A cat parent who feels compelled to consult multiple sources – your vet, clinical literature, shelter and rescue blogs etc. – well, that makes two of us. Let’s dive into Cats, Bath, & Beyond, shall we?
On Pet Care Services During the Pandemic: An Interview with Pet Porter Pals
Carmel Mims is walking sunshine, beaming light into the world wherever she goes. She founded Pet Porter Pals to help senior citizens and their beloved pets stay connected by taking care of the grunt work of pet care, from cleaning the litter box for a client with arthritis to ensuring a consistent pet feeding schedule for a client with dementia. During the pandemic, her pet care service has been more essential than ever for the mental and physical well-being of her human and animal clients. She is here to chat with us about her entrepreneurship journey, daily work and pandemic pivot, and vision for a pet haven.
Litter Box Manifesto
When I first became a cat parent, cleaning the litter box struck me as an act of immense love and self-sacrifice. Especially as it became apparent that Junipurr was a high productivity poop machine. But, I leaned into the task of litter box cleaning and even developed a Litter Box Manifesto. Think of it as a mantra on steroids.