ResQWalk Makes It Easy to Help Shelter Animals While You Walk

Now that the weather is nice here in Minnesota, I enjoy walking most of the days during the week. I just learned about a way I can help shelter animals while I walk. What a deal, right? Heck, it will probably even encourage me to get out and walk more often!

ResQWalk is a brand new iPhone application (Android not available just yet) that tracks your walking distance and then pays your chosen shelter/s. Here's how it works:

1. Download the FREE app.

2. When you're ready to go for a walk, log in with either your Facebook or Twitter sign-on.

3. See weekly donation pool, and choose the shelter/s you'd like to support.

4. Begin walk.

5. GPS tracks your route.

6. Pause walk as needed, and then indicate when your walk is completed.

7. At the end of the walk, you get to see your results, and receive an award.

8. At the end of the week, donations are paid out to the various rescues proportionally to the total distance walked. ResQWalk tracks both miles and kilometers.

Here's a short overview of the app:




At this time there are 450 shelters available to support via the app, although any shelter is welcome to sign up on the site to participate at no cost.

Currently the donation pool is comprised of the donations from ResQWalk's Indiegogo campaign. There are several companies interested in supporting the app, but want to see that there's interest in users accessing and utilizing it. This is where you come in! In addition to downloading the app, please visit the campaign page to learn more about ResQWalk. Donations are accepted through the end of the day on July 2.

On top of to the walking-to-support-a-shelter part (which is cool all by itself!), the app will also offer shopping for pet and pet-related products, as well as the opportunity to read select content from popular pet blogs.

So, to sum everything up, here are the ways you can help:

• Download and use the app.
• Visit ResQWalk's site to learn more about the program.
• Visit ResQWalk's Indiegogo campaign page, and donate by July 2, if you can.
• Like ResQWalk on Facebook.
• Follow ResQWalk on Twitter.
• If your favorite shelter isn't part of the app, encourage them to sign up at no cost.
• Shop and visit the pet-blog content on the app.
• Share this post or any (or all) of the ResQWalk-related sites and pages.

What an easy way to get some exercise and help shelter animals -- grab your walking shoes!


This is a sponsored post. Although ResQWalk paid us to feature this content, Catladyland only shares topics we feel are relevant to our readers.

My Cats Are Micromanagers

Yesterday I was cleaning and organizing my office area. It'd been a while, and it took about three hours and two garbage bags to get through all of it.

You know how it is when you're engaged in any kind of project ... all the kitties gather to observe and "supervise." Mine are real taskmasters -- I'm thinking of starting a union to protect myself from their overly micromanaging ways.

Watching Glorious Tails and Birds

Recently I noticed Saffy rarely wraps her tail around her body, while Cosmo and Phoebe do it all the time. I don't mind at all because Saffy's tail is glorious. Just sharing an observation.

Also, birdwatching is very important business.

Ethel the Cat Finds Her #PerfectWeight

What we choose to feed our cats is a personal preference. We all want the best for our fuzz-butts and make cat-food decisions based on many factors, including budget, research, convenience or special needs. Catladyland is not here to tell you what or how to feed your cats; however, from time to time, we're happy to present options we feel good about, knowing you will make the best decision for you and your cat.

We know pet obesity is a real problem, but did you know an extra two pounds on a cat is the same as nearly an extra 20 pounds on a human? I know -- it's staggering! If we look at it that way (you can figure your own pet-to-human weight comparison on Hill's handy online comparison tool), perhaps we'd help our pets shed that extra weight more immediately.

Saffy wants a second breakfast.

I'd mentioned my Saffy when I wrote about this important topic a couple of weeks ago. Her weight has always fluctuated, and there've been a few times over the years when our vet has told us she needed to drop two or three pounds, which I didn't think was that big of a deal. Of course we walked away knowing we needed to change her food and activity levels, but had I known the old girl was carrying around the equivalent of 20-25 human pounds, I would have acted more urgently.

Cat weight-loss can be challenging, so I wanted to tell you about a cat named Ethel, and how her human helped her turn her weight around and gain more energy and playfulness.

Ethel's activity level was low prior to the challenge.

Shawn Teets lost her beloved cat in 2008, and was found herself lonely. She worked at home, which exacerbated the feeling of solitude. I work at home, too, and can tell you my cats are my constant companions. I even call them my "assistants." Sure, they're lazy and take loads of breaks, but they love to nap on my lap and keep me entertained.

Shawn saw there was going to be a pair of sister-kittens available for adoption at the local Humane Society, and she was at their front door waiting to see the kitties as soon as they opened the following day. She wound up falling in love with -- and adopting -- both, naming them Lucy and Ethel (LOVE those names!). Now she'd have twice the company during the workday, although with kittens, I'm not exactly sure how much work she was getting done.

Fast-forward 8.5 years and Lucy and Ethel are still Shawn's steadfast companions. During vet checkup last October, she found that Ethel needed to lose three pounds. Sure, Ethel was a voracious and enthusiastic eater, but she hadn't realized if Ethel continued on this track, she'd be at risk for Diabetes. Plus, Ethel was more sedentary than Lucy, and Shawn wanted to see her more active.

Shawn decided to try the 10-Week Turnaround Challenge, which meant Ethel would eat the Hill's® Science Diet® Adult Perfect Weight cat food for ten weeks, and Shawn would see results. Ethel's starting weight was 13.4 pounds. She eagerly took to the new food, and within two weeks, Shawn noticed

Ethel, looking svelte and feeling more energetic!

Ethel's increased activity level. She was even chasing Lucy and engaging in more frequent play. By the end of the ten weeks, Ethel had become more active, playful ... and had lost 1.4 pounds! Go, Ethel!

Ethel's not alone in her 10-Week-Turnaround success story, and if you have an overweight cat and would like to try the Turnaround, now's the perfect time to do it! You can share your progress and success in the 10-Week-Turnaround sweepstakes and qualify for gift cards, or even a year's supply of FREE pet food! How cool is that?

Do you have a weight-loss story about your cat? What's been your experience? Please share in the comments below, and Hill's would love you to hear from you on their Facebook page!

This post is sponsored by Hill's and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for spreading the word about Hill's® Science Diet® Perfect Weight Food, but Catladyland only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Chipmunk-Watcher Wants Me to Go Away

Saffy loves to sit at the front screen-door and watch chipmunks race around the yard. She doesn't love being interrupted.

A Tale of Shenanigans and Hidden Treasures

I recently ran across this post I wrote several years ago. It made me laugh, so I thought it was worthy of sharing again!

I admit to be a mediocre housekeeper.  My home isn't dirty, but I'm not one who does this "furniture moving" business every time I vacuum.  A few times a year when we do move the big comfy chair to clean the layers of cat hair and lost pieces of popcorn (in addition to being a mediocre housekeeper, I am also a messy popcorn-eater), we always giggle with anticipation of the trove of cat toys and treasures we'll surely find.

Friends, we were not disappointed in the haul.  Not only did we celebrate the return of a few favorite mice and balls, we also discovered an open, chew-marked bag of treats!  I can only imagine the shenanigans that led up to the display of the attempted pilferage gone terribly wrong.

Certainly Phoebe was involved ... in fact she was most likely the brains behind the operation.  Saffy is a counter-crawler, so she probably knocked the bag on the floor.  I'm guessing about that time Cosmo made a move toward the contraband, setting off Phoebe, who lunged forward, digging her teeth into the bag.  At that time, Saffy, a known conflict-avoider fled the scene.  Thus began a little paw-to-paw combat between large, yet awkward Cosmo and small, but shrewd Phoebe.  I'm sure the treat bag made its way up and down the stairs, was slid across the bathroom linoleum, and was tossed in and out of boxes and cat hidey-holes until it finally met its final (and unreachable) resting place under the comfy chair.

Yes, I'm certain that's exactly how it happened.

Worried or Annoyed? Either Way, I'm Not Going Anywhere

Phoebe looks worried in this photo. Or maybe she's just annoyed and figures avoiding my gaze will make me go away. Not so much, Pheebs ... have you only just met me? When you look adorable (which is pretty much all the time), I'm going to snap a photo.

The Haves and the Have Nots

Nothing good can come of one box and two cats. Fortunately, we have plenty of boxes, but of course Cosmo wanted the one Phoebe had claimed.

And Phoebe's response? Pretending not to see him. You know how it goes ... if I can't see you, you can't see me.

Cosmo McJackerson Does It Again

From time to time, I post about Cosmo stealing my pillow. He's a total pillow-jacker, and he's super stealthy about it. This morning might have been his jackiest move ever.

I woke up with part of my head on the lower left corner of the pillow, while Cosmo leisurely lounged on the rest of it.

Cosmo McJackerson:

How to Steal a Catnip Banana

There's a real method for stealing a catnip banana. I'm totally serious.

Admire banana from afar

When banana-holder is looking away....

Make a stealthy reach with that paw...

Snag that banana!

When confronted, act like you have no idea what he is talking about.

Equal Opportunity Chow-Boy

He wants it all.

Like to Lick Wrought Iron? Let's Be Friends!

Originally posted July 23, 2010.

It's 5:00 in the morning and my mind goes strange places when I've only had a few sips of coffee. I was just thinking about how bizarre it would be if I had a human friend that possessed some of the interesting and sometimes odd habits my cats do. Picture this: You meet a new friend and he or she...

• drools.
• incessantly licks wrought iron.
• stands beside your bed and shouts at you to get up at 3:00 AM.
• races around the kitchen table, skidding around corners at meal time.
• makes chirpy sounds at birds and other tiny animals.
• tries to hijack your pillow.
• licks their own behind.
• likes to sleep in small boxes and paper bags.

Would you befriend this person? I definitely would -- in fact, I have some friends with far stranger habits. Like this guy ...

This guy.

Reasons Why Cats Call in Late For Work

I'm on vacation the rest of the week, so please enjoy this little funny from earlier this year!

I Think He's Listening. Maybe.

Cosmo loves to chat with me. Sometimes he acts annoyed and like he's not listening, but he really is. Really. I think.

Cosmo's Worries About Drug Tests

For your Monday, I give you an oldie, but a goodie of our Cosmo fretting before a big job interview. When you play, you just might pay ...

I Just Want a Cute Pic of My Sleeping Cat

Sometimes I just want to take a cute photo of my sleeping cat, but then she suddenly stops sleeping. Thankfully, she's still cute, so the pic's not a total wash.

My Cat is So Judgmental

I slept in a bit this morning (I managed to climb out of bed to feed the crew, and then go back to sleep). When I did roll over to officially get up, Cosmo was staring at me like, "Hey there, Lazy -- finally decide to join the rest of us?" He's so judgmental.

Blurry Coffee-Bean Toes in My Face

Yesterday morning I opened my eyes to see Cosmo's back foot inches from my face. It startled me at first, but them I had to laugh. He was completely stretched out with his coffee-bean toes shoved in my nose's direction. I know it's a blurry pic, but I'm posting it anyway because it was blurry when I first saw it, too.

Bonus: You can see a little of his white "panties" in the background!

#WeruvaPets: It's Dinner Time for your BFF!

Dinner time! Those are words everyone in my family likes to hear -- humans and cats alike! Like with my human kids, my kitties have very specific foods they love and some they'd rather stash away in their napkins ... if kitties had napkins, that is. Wouldn't that be cute? Anyway, my three cats have very different eating habits: Saffy will eat anything and everything, Cosmo can usually be swayed, and Phoebe is a total picky eater.

When Weruva asked my cats to review their food lines, I was interested in what would happen at mealtime. We tried all their lines, and I can say the one they ALL went nuts over was the BFF line, especially the pouches. I mean LOOK at them going to town!



Here's what's even better about the BFF line: It not only comes from Weruva, which is high-quality food made in a human food facility, it's affordable. I know we all want to feed our obligate carnivores the best food we can, while staying within our budget, and BFF hits the nail on the head. These formulas have red-meat tuna as a base ingredient -- with a couple of exceptions -- are hand-topped with one other meat-based ingredient such as boneless, skinless white chicken breast or duck breast, flaked salmon, or shrimp. Seriously -- you can see what's in the food.

Phoebe: "Where's he going?"

You know what else is cool about Weruva foods? They're 80% water, so kitty stays nice and hydrated. Now I just need to work on getting enough water for myself during the day. Maybe I should start eating BFF for breakfast. What?? It looks good!

Phoebe: "Bwahaha! It's all mine!"

And if you're not taken by the consistency and realness of the food, you'll certainly fall in love with some of the names in the BFF line -- a few of my favorites are: Tuna & Beef Baby Cakes, Tuna and Turkey Tickles, Tuna & Salmon Sweet Cheeks, and Tuna & Duck Devour Me. Adorable, no?

Rare is it that I find an affordable, high-grade food that all my cats love; BFF by Weruva is that food --with high protein, limited carbohydrates and not a grain to be found, you can be comfortable that your cats are getting nutritious, delicious meals.

OK, kitties -- it's dinner time!


Like Weruva on Facebook.
Follow Weruva on Twitter.


This post is sponsored by Weruva. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Weruva as part of the BlogPaws blogger network, but Catladyland only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Weruva is not responsible for the content of this article.

My Cat Should Get a Job as a Secret Service Agent

Usually when Cosmo stares at me -- like he does several kajillion times a day -- it means he wants me to invite him onto my lap. Yesterday he seemed quite happy with simply staring. Trying to work with his googly gaze upon me was slightly unnerving, but I got used to it.

I think he should get a job as a Secret Service agent or something.

No Free Rides

All aboard the Cranky Cosmo Monorail Express! Do you have your ticket? No free rides, no exceptions!

Undercover Cat

Phoebe loves to nestle herself between blankets and cover herself up all cozy-like. It's adorable and hysterical. The other day I found her like this, and she was all, "What? Yeah, I know I'm cute. What of it?"

Will you LOOK at him?!

When I settle in to chill at night, Cosmo lies behind me on the arm of the sofa. He must have his face inches from the back of my head. Will you look at how cute he is? LOOK!! Can you hardly stand it?

Even-If-I-Get-a-Sprained-Ankle Kind of Love

This is where Phoebe likes to sit when I'm carrying a full load of laundry or grocery bags up the stairs.

"Hi, Mom ... need some help?" *smirk*

Love that little monkey to pieces, even if she might be responsible for a future sprained ankle.

#AdoptaCatMonth : What to Consider Before Bringing a Cat into a Home With Children

June is Adopt-a-Cat month, and I decided to write about something for which I feel a ton of passion: kids and cats. During my five years blogging and freelancing, I've received more than a little feedback from readers who don't think kids and cats should ever mix. They believe -- either from experience or opinion -- that kids are too rough and loud with cats.

Although this can be the case in some homes (as it is in homes with dogs, rabbits or any other type of pet), I believe it's more the exception than the rule. Don't let these preconceptions deter you from bringing an adopted kitty into your family; however, it's important to think about a few things prior to adoption.

We adopted Saffy as an adult and she immediately connected with my kids.

Your child's age and level of maturity

Not every 5-year-old child has the same personality or maturity level. My kids shared their home with a cat since the day they were born. They weren't grabby or particularly loud. Some family's homes are more chaotic in nature, and cats probably shouldn't join an environment like that -- felines prefer a more gentle and peaceful vibe.

The cat's personality

If you're able to, learn about the personality of the cat before adoption -- don't just choose your new family member based on "pretty fur" or "cute face." Many shelters offer a short history of the cat that may indicate whether or not the cat is good with children, other cats, and if he or she is active and playful or more shy. Always consider an adult cat, whose history is more clear -- plus, adult kitties are often overlooked in favor of kittens, and small children may be able to properly handle adult cats rather than fragile, tiny kittens. Give a mature feline a chance!

My son has almost always helped feed the cats.

Spend some time

Before bringing kitty home, allow your child to spend some time with him or her. Many shelters have private visiting rooms where you can observe the interaction between the child and cat.

Teach your child

Before adoption, and during the first days at home, teach your child the proper way to handle the kitty, and how to read basic cat body language. Your children's friends who visit should also receive a short lesson. If your child's friend is particularly grabby, loud and has little experience with cats, it may be best to place your kitty in a closed room during the visit.

My kids have always shared their home with cats.

Your schedule

Many families have a busy lifestyle. Although it's true that cats are quite independent, they still require daily attention, interaction and playtime. If your family is one that leaves home early in the morning and doesn't return until late evening, it's a good idea to rethink the choice to adopt a cat.

So if you have a family and are thinking about bringing a cat into your home -- yay! More homes for cats! But please remember that bringing a new cat into your home requires a lot of thought and responsibility.

This post is being sponsored by BlogPaws. I am being compensated for spreading the word about Adopt-a-Cat month, but Catladyland only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.

Of Chipmunks and Grass-Vomiting

Saffy loves the smell of the great outdoors. She's the only one of my three who enjoys walking outside on a harness. She purrs and wags her tail the entire time we're making our way through the yard. Yesterday I caught her wistfully looking outside, probably dreaming of chipmunks and vomiting grass.

I Feel the Eyes

You know when you get that feeling that someone is looking at you? I get that feeling all the time because Cosmo's favorite hobby is staring at me. I was working at the kitchen table a few days ago, felt the feline laser-stare, and sure enough -- there was my boy.

"Hellloooo."

She Tolerates It For About the First 52 Times

When Phoebe is curled up on my lap, I love looking down at the top of her sweet little head. See that spot? That's the spot I lean down and kiss multiple times during the lap visit. She tolerates my incessant kissing for about the first 52 times, then she can get a little cranky.

My Temp is a Slacker

So I hired a temp to help me with some administrative tasks. She's kind of a slacker, though. She takes about a dozen breaks during the workday, and frequently falls asleep on the job. I really should approach her, but know she needs the money to pay for a very expensive catnip habit (it's medicinal).