$13.99 [Ware Scratch-N-Television]

Have you ever bought a gift for someone and knew that you nailed it?

It happened to me twice this past holiday season:  first, with my boyfriend's mom, who I bought a Temp-tations Old World Figural Chicken 5-piece Measuring Set (nailed it), and second, with my nine-year-old cat Lola, who I bought a Ware Scratch-N-Television ($13.99).

The Ware Scratch-N-Television is a corrugated cardboard scratch pad inside of a cardboard box "television."  The "television" has an open square on the front (the screen) and a hole on the side (which I assume is another entry point for the cat).  It also comes with catnip to sprinkle onto the scratch pad.  And, as if all that wasn't enough fun for $13.99, the antenna features a dangling poof.

Below is the promotional image for the Ware Scratch-N-Television -- you can see the hole on the side and the antenna in this image.  I like that Ware used a bigger cat instead of a tiny kitten for advertising.  I'd love to know his back story.  He has a face made for TV.

Lola just loves the Ware Scratch-N-Television -- she scratches it, sleeps in it (with part of her head hanging out of the hole on the side), rubs her face and body all over it.  And of course I'm getting a kick out of seeing her on TV.  We've previously discussed Lola's love of cardboard boxes, but who knew I could love them too if they were just made to look like something cute.  This isn't trash that needs to be taken out to the recycling bin -- this is a toy television, and my cat is inside of it!

There is a whole range of products in this cardboard-boxes-made-to-look-like-something-cute category.  For example, the Suck UK Cardboard Classics Cat Playhouses in Firetruck, Airplane, Tank or Cadillac (approx. $34.95 each).  These do not come with a scratch pad inside, but you can buy a scratch pad for less than $10.00 to use as a base inside the box for added cat appeal.

Also, the Loyal Luxe Native American Cat Teepee ($24.00).  All this cat needs is a feather headdress, and this image would be perfect.  Same note as above that there is no scratch pad inside.

Not a box, but, whatever, this is a cardboard scratch pad that turns your cat into a DJ(!!!):  the Suck UK Cat Scratch Cat Playhouse ($23.00).

There's also the Cat Above SnoozePal Cat Hammock ($34.95).  This is a twist on the cardboard cat furniture -- rather than being a cardboard box masquerading as something cute, it's a hammock masquerading as a cardboard bankers box.  Kyler saw the SnoozePal Cat Hammock in PS9 Pet Supplies and really liked it for Lola.  He even pushed hard on the hammock to make sure it could support her (it supports up to 20 lbs., so it's actually sort of close).  I like it in "calm camel."  I'm a broken record, but I would definitely put a scratch pad on the bottom and make it do double duty -- we have precious little floor space in our apartment.

Alternatively, if you're crafty and/or really really bored and/or insane, Martha Stewart shows you how to make your cat playhouse out of cardboard boxes ($0.00).  [If your cat is a chewer, I would recommend against using a hot glue gun to construct your cat house.]

Of all of these products, I think the most bang for your buck is the Ware Scratch-N-Television.  You can buy it for your cat at Wag.com for $13.99 and tune into the kitty channel 24-7.  Yep.  Nailed it.

$16.62 [FroliCat BOLT]

My brother's feline companion Future Cat spent his holidays at my apartment in Brooklyn.  I love me some Future Cat.  He's just one of those cats.

As an aside, did you know that Kyler and I rescued Future Cat in 2003 from a grocery store parking lot in Norfolk, Virginia, right after Hurricane Isabel passed through?  He and Lola lived together as young cats in Virginia Beach (although during his stay in Brooklyn, Lola was terrible to him, but she's terrible to everyone except for me).

Oh, Future.  He was so tiny.

Not anymore.

You wouldn't know it by looking at his 22 lb. throw pillow-esc frame, but Future Cat is quite playful.  He loves catnip toys, scratch pads, feather toys, and, most of all, laser pointers.  

So I knew exactly what to get him for Christmas:  The FroliCat BOLT ($19.95).  The FroliCat Bolt is an interactive laser toy -- you can either use it manually or put it on a flat surface, in which case the BOLT generates a fifteen-minute perfect-for-cats bolting laser pointer sequence.  You should have seen the joy on Future Cat's face as he unwrapped this gift under the tree (although he would have been happier if he also unwrapped 4 AA batteries, which don't come with the BOLT).  You can currently buy the FroliCat BOLT on sale at Amazon for $16.62.

Note:  I thought Future Cat would be fine with the BOLT, but if you're in the market for an automated laser pointer toy (and who isn't?), you should also know about the FroliCat DART ($34.95).  The DART is marketed for cats and dogs.  It generates 360 degree laser patterns, has variable speed settings, and features an adjustable timer (so, unlike the BOLT, it's not limited to fifteen minutes).  The DART, however, has no manual setting.  The FroliCat DART is currently on sale at Amazon for $27.99.  [I love how stressed out the kitten looks in the promotional image.]

My own pets don't have any interest in laser pointers, but if your pets do, these FroliCat products keep 'em occupied while you take a break.  $16.62 to keep this little devil happy and busy -- well worth it!

$183.59 [Lola's Holiday Wish List]

It is our ninth Christmas together, I can't believe it.  Yes, it's time for Lola's Wish List!

*          *          *

Dear Santa,

I like you.  We're both on the big side and look good in red.  Give me some or all of my wish list, and I'll probably like you even more.

Clockwise from top left:  Sojos Premium Organic Catnip ($3.99) | Armakat Classic Cat Tree, yes we already had this, and no, I was not consulted in the decision to donate it to a cat rescue organization ($132) | Set of Three Shrimp Catnip Cat Toys if the humans are going to keep being grossed out when I kill real mice ($5.39) | Weruva Best Feline Friend Cat Food in Tuna & Bonito Be Mine, 5.5 oz. can, 8-pack, seriously, no more diet food, Santa I know you're with me on this ($10.89).

Clockwise from top left:  Feliway Behavior Modifier Natural Spray, I mean do they want me to pee on the couch or don't they? ($17.82) | Modern Cat Holiday Lynks Felted Wool Cat Toys, set of 3 candy cane red and white ($8) | Pounce Crunchy Tartar Control Cat Treats in Tuna & Salmon Flavor ($3).

[Note from the author:  Lola does not pee in the apartment anymore, not at all, not even in the litter boxes, but she still really enjoys hanging out in places where I've sprayed Feliway.  On the Pounce Crunchy treats:  these are Lola's junk food.  She loves them.  She also really likes Whiskas Temptations treats for cats in Creamy Dairy or Savory Salmon flavor ($2.50).]

Oh, and Santa, please ship all above items in cardboard boxes, which are the best gift of all ($0).

Also, throw away the vacuum.

Sincerely yours,
Lola

P.S. I don't know if this was you or God, but thanks again for "taking care" of Kitty this past year because I really like being an only cat.

$0.02 [omne trium perfectum]

Lola killed a three-legged mouse in the backyard by puncturing its throat with her teeth. She brought it inside through the broken screen door and batted its corpse around the kitchen playfully, spilling it's blood everywhere.

[Warning: Graphic image behind the jump.]

$62.95 [Automatic Pet Feeder]

At some point during my morning routine, it is 7:30 am. At 7:30 am, depending on the day of the week, I may still be asleep. Or I may be awake in bed, playing with the animals. (We're so happy to see each other when we wake up.) I may be letting the dogs out. Or I may be in the shower. I may be kissing Kyler. I may be headed out the door.

But no matter what else is happening at that moment, at 7:30 am every day, the Petmate LeBistro Portion Control Automatic Pet Feeder deposits 1/4 cup of Wellness Healthy Weight Adult Cat Food into Lola's bowl. And at the sound of the very first few pieces of cat food dropping into the bowl, Lola is off. Jumps from wherever she is, runs full sprint, belly swaying, all the way to the automatic pet feeder. Sometimes she meows during the sprint.

How can we not make fat jokes?

Not amused.

$3.99 [SPOT Skinneeez for cats]

SPOT Skinneeez for cats, Exotic Series, Ostrich

Impulse buy from the drugstore for my overweight tabby, Lola, who loves to play. It is filled with catnip and reminds me of an almost-dead mouse, which is exactly how Lola likes her mice.

Also, the toy (pictured above on the right) is a miniature replica of one of Betelgeuse's favorite toys (pictured below): SPOT Mini Skinneeez stuffing-free dog toy, Exotic Series, 12.5" Ostrich. And I have a deep love for anything out-of-scale, whether miniature or disproportionately large.

The new cat toy is a big hit, with both Lola (who was batting it around under the kitchen table) and Betelgeuse (who I caught carrying it out to the backyard just now). $3.99 for loads of animal clan fun!

I highly recommend any and all of the Skinneeez dog toys, by the way. They squeak, which is a prerequisite for any plush dog toy I buy, but the best part (and the primary selling point) is that they are stuffing free. This is perfect for dogs who, like Betel, methodically destroy plush toys and eat the stuffing. (After she dismembered her triceratops and ingested its insides, she had an all-stuffing bowel movement on the sidewalk. It resembled a cloud more than a poop.) The Skinneeez toys really can't be destroyed. They're nice and floppy -- good for shaking or tug o' war -- and they come in a range of sizes to suit all dogs' jaws, from mini to large, and in lots of different "animals." My favorites are the fox, the hen, and the jungle cats!

$0.00 [Cardboard Box]

Free with any online purchase: A Cardboard Box, which just so happens to be one of Lola's favorite things in the whole world.

Jump in and out. Scratch the bottom. Sleep in it. Stalk Kitty from it. Scare Betelgeuse just by having it around. Pee in it when you're done.  

$0.00 for a happy cat, which is priceless.