What is the Best Automated Cat Litter System?

It is no surprise the automatic litter boxes have become hugely popular in the past decade. Cleaning out a cat litter box is always unpleasant, and knowing that there are now solutions to minimize the owner's need to to do this is a huge relief. However, most of these automated solutions don't come cheap - it isn't uncommon to spend $200 to $300 to get started with a system.

That's why I was eager to checkout the Pet Zone smart scoop automatic litter box. Priced just over $100 it is one of the cheapest automated litter systems available. I recently purchased one of these from Amazon.com and within a few days I was able to try out the system myself - and loved it!

Here is a picture of the Pet Zone litter box:

As you can see from the photo, the Pet Zone system comes with several accessories and is nice a compact. However, the standard unit is not covered, so if that is a concern you may want to purchase a more expensive covered system instead.

I found the set up to be super easy: plug it in, add litter and that is pretty much it!

After having this unit in my home for over a month, I can say there are some things I really love about the Pet Zone. To start, it is a very quite machine. My cats are not afraid to use it (a concern I had before purchasing the unit), and I haven't had a significant problem with the litter landing outside the box during use.

Although some reviewers claim they only need to change the litter every 7-10 days, I have found the four to five days is really the maximum for my (one cat) household. I imagine if you have two or more cats, you would need to change it much more frequently - perhaps every other day. At that point, it may not be worth paying $100+ for an automated litter box. But for one cat households, the Pet Zone is worth its weight in gold (or at least kitty litter)!

Designer Cat Trees

If you own a cat, you likely already know what a nuisance it can be to have your cats scratching at your carpet or furniture. This is why a lot of cat owners eventually purchase a cat tree for their cats to enjoy.

However, unfortunately most of the cat trees currently on the market are not very good looking and need to be hidden away because of this. Although I love to have a tree for my cat to scratch on, I wanted it to match the decorations in my pink themed living room. For this reason, I was pretty excited when I found a pink cat tree for my cat. What is more, it cost under $40! Here is a picture of the exact cat tree I bought:

The tree was made by a company called "BestPet" which I had never heard about before, but they seem to be a reliable company. I purchased this online through Amazon as well, and had to pay and additional $15 for shipping.

The Best Waterproof Cat Shelters

Now that winter months are here, it is time to think about how to help our kitty friends stay warm and dry. Particularly if you have a feral cat in your neighborhood that you care for, you might want to consider purchasing a waterproof outdoor cat house like the kitty tube for these cats to enjoy.

Here is an image of what one of these cat houses look like:

What I love about this model in particular (the Kitty Tube) is that it is made from recycled plastic bottles (milk and detergent bottles primarily). It is fully insulated, so it help keeps cat warm during the winter. But it will also stay cool during the hotter summer months, so it is really a year round solution.

The nicest option costs only about $100 and will help keep your cat friends cozy during the coldest winter months. To help feral cats stay comfortable, you might want to choose their feral option however, which you can add straw too and is a bit cheaper than the nicest model.

Unsurprisingly, these tubes also come with a great lifetime guarantee.

Another great option for an outdoor cat house is this one: http://weheartcats.com/product/cat-barn-outdoor-cat-house/

You can see a picture of it here:

It is called "The Cat Barn" and retails for about $130. It comes in cute red and green version.

Both of these great outdoor cat shelters can also be purchased from online retailers like Amazon.com.

The Lucky Hummingbird (A True Story!)

One day when I was in college I came home and found my very crafty black cat (named "lucky") sitting outside our front door with a mouth full of something. He was eager to get inside the house, but knowing his tendencies to bring me all sorts of "gifts" (dead rodents, a favorite) I wasn't about to let him in without checking to see what he was hiding from me.

I picked him up and could see two things sticking out from each side of an otherwise closed and very stuffed mouth. "Open up" I said, and literally pried his mouth open with my fingers to see what he was hiding (he struggled quite a bit during this process).

Low and behold, as I opened his mouth, a hummingbird flew out! Alive, and apparently unharmed.

Lucky, my cat, was not happy. I decided to purchase him one of the best cat toys I could find to make up for the loss, but the memory of that lucky hummingbird has stayed with me every since!

Frequently Asked Questions About Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are fascinating and many people know very little about these beautiful flying creatures that visit their yards yards. Here are some answers and tips about how to deal with these amazing bird:

Q: What Do Hummingbirds Eat?

Hummingbirds usually feed off flower nectar and sugar water that is left out for them in bird feeders. They also feed off of small insects like ants, slugs and spiders. If you really want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, make sure your bird feeder is always filled with nectar and sugar water.

Q: What Should My Hummingbird Feeder or House Look Like?

It is a well-known fact that hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. That being said, if the feeder you already have isn’t red get out your paint brush or stick a large red bow on it to get their attention. The best hummingbird feeders have perches for the birds to stand on while they feed. The holes in hummingbird feeders are just big enough for the little guys to fit their heads in, but they’re too small for squirrels and other larger animals so they can’t steal the food.

Refrain from painting your hummingbird feeder or house yellow because bees and wasps are attracted to these colors and also enjoy the taste of sweet nectar. You’ll want to keep insects as far away from your hummingbird feeders and houses as possible.

Q: What Materials Should Hummingbird Houses or Feeders be made of?

Hummingbird feeders and houses are usually made of acrylic or glass. They are also available in wood and plastic; however these do not work as effectively and may cause harm to the birds (slivers and cuts). Hummingbird houses and feeders come in a variety of sizes and shapes and usually contain numerous feeding areas throughout the feeder.

Q: Where Should I my Hummingbird Feeder?

Ideally, a hummingbird feeder should be hung near a garden with bright flowers and plants. A flowery location is most likely to attract the attention of hummingbirds. For your viewing pleasure, you may want to hang your feeder in a place that can be easily seen from your home. For example a hummingbird feeder hung in front of a window can be admired all day.

Q: How Much Do Hummingbird Feeders Cost?

The styles and designs differ so much that it’s difficult to determine a specific price. Hummingbird feeders and houses can cost anywhere from $10 to $50 – depending on the style, design and features.

Horse Boarding and Vacations

Recently I learned there is a whole new industry in tourism that I had never heard of before. This is basically bed and breakfast for both horse owners and horses. One place that once offered this kind of service was the White Pine Inn in Washington state. I don't think it is in business anymore, but when it was, it would board both a couple and their horses in a beautiful setting surrounded by many horse trails. This sounds like a real fun vacation idea if you own a horse, which I don't currently. However, I did when I was a child, and I can certainly see the attraction of such places!

Organic Soaps

I love the scent and feel of homemade soaps. If you have never tried a bar of handmade, organic soap, well, you are missing out - that's all you can say. Handmade soaps are much better for your skin and organic handmade soaps are even better all around. There are some great handmade soaps out there try, including such exotic scents as sage citrus and bay laurel.

If you are going to purchase some beautiful organic hand made soap, you should also consider getting a wooden soap dish to go with it, as there is nothing more beautiful than hand made soap sitting in a handmade wooden soap dish! I was pretty surprised to learn that you can actually get some great handcrafted soaps from places like Amazon.com, although I prefer to purchase mine at craft fairs and specialty shops. Anyway, if you haven't ever tried handmade soap, consider getting some today. You won't be sorry!

Gardening Again

Well, a few days ago I finally pulled the black tarp off of my community garden plot, shoveled in a couple wheelbarrows of organic manure, and started seeds and seedlings in my community plot. My rhubarb plant from last year was going crazy, so I harvested a bunch of stalks from it as well which my husband used to make yummy rhubarb crumble.

Can't wait until the lettuce and radishes are ready - I'm craving some GOOD quality salads again, plus collards, chard, broccoli and tons of other goodness. I love to garden!