Litter Number Four Is Here: Spring Edition!
Adorable charms on their tags! Bad iPhone photo!
UPDATE: We are sold out, thanks for your support! New campaign to come in May!
The new litter is here, and they’re all dressed up for Spring! This time, the kitties are wearing a colorful heart or butterfly on their tags, so they will make an extra special gift (for Mother’s Day, maybe?) or just an adorable addition to your decor.
And speaking of butterflies and flowers, this campaign is directing funds to one of the most beautiful places on earth…Oregon! Money raised will go to Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, an amazing organization that does so much for the kitties of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to their TNR campaigns, they host free spay and neuter clinics and do plenty of outreach and fundraising through their fun events like Cinco De Meow. We are so pleased to support them!
In case you’re new here, a little info for ya’. You can choose what size you’d kitty you’d like, the choices are Trinket $25 (around 2 inches), Mantle $32 (3 to 7 inches) or Centerpiece $40 (8 to 12 inches.) Read more about Teal Cats here. We do combine shipping so don’t hold back on ordering more than one. Throw in a T-shirt, too! Shipping may take a few weeks but the kitties will definitely arrive before Mother’s day.
All Teal Cats come with a little card (think of it as an adoption certificate) that explains the Teal Cat Project mission, so if these are gifts your recipient will not be left in the dark. We’d be happy to write a short, personalized note if you ask for it in the comments when you purchase your Teal Cat.
Cats sell out FAST so hurry up and get yours. Thank mew for the support and we hope you’re enjoying your Spring so far!
Cat FAQ: Introducing Your Cat To New Food
Did these guys eat too much, maybe?
Let’s face it. Cats are picky, finicky little eaters. Well, they’re picky and finicky about everything, really. Don’t get me started on litter boxes.
When it comes to food, however, there are lots of hits and misses (and hisses, too). There will come a time(s) when your cat simply does not want to eat the same food you’ve been giving them for five years anymore. I know, right? WTF?
There are a few major reasons this might be happening:
(a) There is something wrong. Take him/her to the vet first before you decide to switch up their food.
(b) They are being bratty.
(c) They don’t like where their food bowl is anymore.
(d) They don’t like their food bowl.
(e) They don’t like you.
If option number B seems to be the case, then this post is for you!
If you decide that it’s time to change their food, do it carefully. Start by leaving the bag open and hope that they “accidentally” get into it and gorge themselves so you never have to worry about it again.
I’m kidding.
But really, your cat has a very sensitive digestive tract. One foreign object (including new food) and WHAMMO! Diarrhea and vomiting galore. So, take things slowly.
Start by giving your cat 3/4 of their old, boring food, and 1/4 of their new, exciting food. Watch to see if they like their new food. Keep an eye on what you’re finding in the litter box, too. Is their stool solid or relatively close to solid? Give it a couple of days and see what you find. Exciting, I know.
Chances are, they’ll be so excited about their new food that they’ll eat that instead of their old food. After a few days, increase their new food / old food ration to 50/50. If they eat that, you’re on the home stretch. One more time – increase their new food / old food ration to 75/25.
At this point you should be making serious note of what you’re finding in the litter box. All of their neatly covered poo should be solid. If not, there might be a problem with the food you’ve selected. It could be an ingredient issue (grain, anyone?) or it could be that their body is simply rejecting it. Try feeding them 100% of their new food, and if there is still an issue, it may be time to consult your vet and try something new, or simply go back to their old food. The higher quality the food, however, the better your chances of making things work. Food like Atta-Cat, for example – probably not going to work.
My cats have had their food switched up several times over the last few years. They are always so excited about their new food, and I am always so excited to be looking at poo samples in the litter box. It’s win-win!
Tabby Toffees By Lagusta’s Luscious
Ever enjoyed a box of chocolates and wondered why, if they taste so good, the entire world isn’t becoming a better place with each bite? Well now it is, thanks to Lagusta’s Luscious, an amazing chocolate shop in New Paltz, New York. Proprietress Lagusta Umami runs her shop with a passionate commitment to food justice: all of the ingredients she uses are fair-trade, organic and vegan. Oh, and I should mention that they’re also deeply and lusciously deliciously.
Lagusta is dedicating her Chocolate of the Month to the Teal Cat Project. Introducing Tabby Toffees! I’ll let the chocolatier herself describe them.
“A smooth and creamy milk chocolate ganache studded with crunchy toffee pieces, finished with a swirl of butterscotch and encased in a thin dark chocolate shell. 100% vegan, organic, fair-trade, and handmade in our little New Paltz, NY shop. Each box also includes three solid dark chocolate Blue Birds of Happiness, with wings painted with all-natural organic food coloring derived from blueberries. ”
For each box of chocolates purchased, $10 will be going to The Teal Cat Project so that we can continue to raise money for feral cats across the country.
So let’s recap: eat delicious chocolate, support an amazing small business and an amazing cause. Need I say more? Purchase your Tabby Toffees today! They’re available for a limited time only, so pick up a couple for Easter gifts or, you know, whenever gifts. Thanks for your support!
Your Teal Cat Dollars At Work
I received the best email from the San Francisco SPCA yesterday and I wanted to share it with everyone so that you can see how much your support is helping. I hope it gives you as many warm fuzzies as it did me. Laura Gretch is the Community Cares manager at the SFSCPA, and she wrote:
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for the Community Cats Program and for the SF SPCA. We’re so thankful, and humbled that you picked us for the latest Teal Cat Campaign. Thrilled is the word for how much was raised in such a short period of time. It truly is a testament to how dedicated to your cause you are, and how your fans respond with such gusto!
…
With your generous gift, we were able to purchase some new traps – desperately needed to meet the growing demand. Now that we’ve been able to add to our inventory, our volunteers can take on more trapping projects simultaneously, which means more feral cats spaneutered, more lives saved, and more goodwill spread. Onward to ending animal abandonment!”
Onward indeed! We have many wonderful things coming up, including a new campaign in March. Our last campaign raised $3200, and then, when I used my birthday as an excuse for even more donations, we raised an additional $1800, bringing the grand total to a cool $5000 for the SFSPCA. Amazing! There aren’t enough exclamation marks in the world to express my excitement and gratitude. xo
DIY Ideas For Spoiled Kitties (& You!)
Bust out those glue guns, drills and puffy paints cause I’ve got some more DIY projects for you, clockwise from the left…
My boyfriend thinks this cat rocket ship is damn cute, but if he knew it was a Tintin cat rocket ship(!!), I don’t think he’d let me go without making it. (via Apartment Therapy)
Kitty loafers!… nuff said. Project by P.S I Made This
I’ve always wanted a cat tree for my cat Bug, who loves climbing, but I’m not crazy about the carpet or color options. This DIY cat tree is made is made from a set of old drawers- love that it’s recycled, stylish, and still perfect for the kitties. (via Shak in Style)
Let us know if you give these a try. We wanna see pics!
Happy crafting!
