Purina #BetterWithPets Summit Was Informative ... and KITTENS!

I love New York City and I love pets, so of course I was thrilled for the invitation to return to Nestlé Purina's annual Better With Pets Summit. In past years, the summit was set up in a TED Talks format, but this year included three expert panels, interesting speakers, and some fun hands-on activities. Yeah, that means I had my "hands on" a lot of kittens! Jealous? You should be.

Yay, kittens!

The focus of Better With Pets is the human-pet bond, and how our lives really are better with pets. In particular, this year's event centered around the theme of emotional wellness for pets and the people who love them. The panels and activities supported that idea.

P is for Pudge

The first panel discussed the question, "Are millennials changing our relationship with cats?" It was an interesting conversation because I'd never really considered any differences. Since millennials tend to wait to start families, their cats are their children, and they also don't blink an eye at spending money on pampering them.

In a word, infinitely.

The second panel focused on stress and pets. I've always believed my cats are fuzzy little anti-anxiety "meds." I can't tell you the number of times I've looked to my cats for balance, peace, and relaxation. This panel not only validated what I already knew, they discussed stress in pets, how to recognize it, and how to soothe and prevent stress. One of the panelists noted that some vet clinics are now using cages with horizontal bars instead of vertical ones. This gives the cats unobstructed views, thus keeping them in a calmer state.

Expert kids-and-pets panel.

The third panel was especially close to my heart. I've always been a huge proponent of nurturing the relationship between kids and cats. Well, that's just what this panel covered. Pets can be great therapy for kids who are stressed or in crisis, and living with pets helps teach kids responsibility and compassion. Yeah, I'm a big fan.

Yes.

After lunch, we got to experience some cool hands-on exhibits. There were examples of food puzzles, which not only keep pets from wolfing their food, they exercise their brain. My favorite part, of course, was the cat room, which demonstrated healthy environments for kitties. There were many levels or perching spots, hiding places, and toys galore. I could have stayed in that room all day long. I'd probably still be there if I didn't have to catch a cab back to the hotel!

This guy!

Oh, and how cool is this? Purina announced they will donate $50,000 to The Frank Attla Youth Program, which was developed to help at-risk youth in rural Alaska gain confidence and self-esteem by adding dogs into the school curriculum, and giving them a unique opportunity to create bonds with these dogs by teaching students how to care for them.

Robin, Tamar and I hijacked the set.

All in all, it was another successful Summit! I learned a lot, got to play with kitties, and visited with a whole bunch of my favorite blogger friends. I already can't wait until next year!

I was compensated to help spread the word about Purina Better With Pets Summit. Catladyland only shares information we think would be of interest to our readers. The opinions are our own.

Two Out of Three Cats Approve of Me

When I was in New York City last week, I stayed with my good friend Tamar of I Have Cat. Do you read her blog? You should -- that's a fact.

Of course, I spent a more-than-fair amount of time with her three cats, Kip, Haddie, and Petie. Two of the kitties were happy to share space with me, and one immediately offered me an eviction notice with his eyeballs.

Here are some photos illustrating my experiences with the three urban pussycats.

Kip gives me the old cheek smooch.

Sweet Haddie goes nose-to-nose with me.

Petie? Well, you get the picture.

Peeky Tongue is Peeky

Cosmo has the best peeky-tongue face, and I wish he'd release more showings than his every-so-often-just-to-tease-you offerings. I want to touch the peeky tongue, but am certain it will result in its immediate exit.

At least I have sweet memories ... and about 28374024 photos on my phone. Of course I go nuts on the pics until he retracts the subject.

Here are a couple of the latest ones. No need to thank me -- I know you more than appreciate this peek at the peeky.

Tease!

The pensive, peeky-tongue pose.

Sometimes Cats Trap You

I don't think they set out thinking, "Hey, I'm going to trap you," but still they do. They have a way of positioning themselves in ways that completely impede our movement. The single-cat-in-a-lap trap is pretty common, but then there's the multiple-cat-maneuver, wherein they pin us from a few angles. Then, of course, how can we possibly disturb the trap? Who knows if a slight move would trigger the appearance of another cat -- mega trap!

They must learn all about this at cat school.

The Laundry Basket Cat Slope

Laundry baskets are cat magnets. Phoebe can spot a fresh one from across the house. Usually she finds a way to burrow inside the warm contents, but if she's unable to dig around in the pile, she stretches across the top. She's no quitter.

Exhibit A: The Cat Slope

Pretzel Body: An Photographic Examination

So many things about this Phoebe photo.

Visible spotty paw pads = no-brainer cuteness overload.
Back leg-dangle = always wins.
Poof of white belly fur = beckoning, yet is an obvious trap.
One ear cocked, showing attentive annoyance = because cats.
Pretzel body = I need more yoga.

Giveaway: Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter Gives You More

We are a member of the Tidy Cats Insiders and are being compensated to help spread the word about innovations and updates about Tidy Cats. Catladyland only shares information we think would be of interest to our readers. The opinions are our own.

Cat litter! That's right -- today on Catladyland we're talking litter, and don't worry, we're not going to get heavy on you. Haha. But seriously, folks -- Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter is light on weight, but doesn't skimp on clumping power or odor absorption. I use this litter in all of my cats' litter boxes, and it's the bomb ... and not the stinky kind of bomb. Sorry!

I'll be here all week ... don't forget to tip your server.

Impressed with the litter, yes. My bad jokes, no.

It's true -- Tidy Cats Lightweight works like a charm in just the right ways, and it's also a dream to carry from the car to the house. I feel like such an athlete as I pull two jugs from my trunk. I'm pretty sure my neighbors are impressed.

The Tidy Cats Innovation Lab has been hard at work making sure their litter is the best value. They conducted a volume test comparing Tidy Cats Lightweight with three different brands of lightweight litter. You know what happened? Well, it turns out Tidy Cats Lightweight gives us at least 40% more litter than the other brands! Pretty exciting, isn't it? We're all looking for the best quality and value when shopping for litter, and Tidy Cats has already done the work for us.

Now it's your turn to give the litter a try. Catladyland and Tidy Cats are giving away five jugs of Tidy Cats Lightweight to five lucky winners (one jug per winner).

• Winners must be U.S. residents.
• Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Leave a comment letting us know which variety you'd like to try (24/7, Instant Action, or Glade Tough Odor Solutions).

Good luck!

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Dangly Cat Legs and Best Friends

Phoebe and my teenage son are the best of friends. She loves hanging out in his room, and parks herself in spots where she can sleep, but also keep a watchful eye on him. You know, there's a pretty good chance he'll drop snacks on the floor. #truefriendship

And then there's the bonus leg-dangle. I mean, c'mon! I want to be best friends with that leg. Ridiculous.

Fact: Cats Love the Neck Scritches

Nearly every morning, Phoebe races into my bedroom and demands a snuggle. That's right -- demands. You totally know what I mean, right? Well, one of her favorite snuggle moves is the chin scritch. Her eyes roll back in her head and she's immediately on the fast track to Purrville.

Plus, she looks adorable whilst receiving the scritches. Bonus!

Learn About Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, and Win a Free Bag of Urinary Formula from Purina Pro Plan #Sponsored

Sometimes it's hard to know when cats don't feel well -- they can be masters at hiding pain. Their symptoms might even mimic a completely different health or behavior issue. Cats can be confusing!

One health concern that's sometimes difficult to recognize is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), which is a group of diseases that affect both the bladder and urethra in cats. Sometimes FLUTD is caused by urinary stones or crystals. It's way more common that you might imagine. In fact, my Saffy has struggled with this very situation on and off for several years.

Poor Saffy!

We thought our 14-year-old Saffy had litter box issues and showed signed of anxiety, which are warning signs for FLUTD, but can also indicate other situations. We knew something was off because she began consistently urinating on any clothing she'd find on the floor. We made sure the boxes were super clean and even tried a different type of litter, but nothing helped. We decided it was time for a vet visit. After discussing Saffy's symptoms and gathering information from an x-ray, we finally knew what was causing the inappropriate urination -- she had a few crystals in her bladder, which thankfully explained her behavior.

Here are some of FLUTD's risk factors:

Gender: Although both males and females experience urinary tract disorders, a male's longer and narrower urethra is more likely to be obstructed by crystals and mucus.

Breed: Persians seem to have a higher incidence of FLUTD, while there are less cases with Siamese cats.

Age: Cats ages 2-6 are most often affected by lower urinary tract disorders; however cats of any age can be susceptible.

Activity Level: Indoor cats, who are more sedentary than outdoor kitties, are at a higher risk for developing FLUTD. This may be because less activity leads to less water consumed, which leads to less urination and the formation of crystals.

Diet: Recent studies indicate urine pH and concentration are important factors in the development of FLUTD. Increased water intake is a vital component in reducing the risk of developing the disease.

Again, FLUTD can present as other types of health concerns. Here are the symptoms of which you need to be aware:

• Frequent trips to the litter box
• Cries when urinating
• Urinates outside the litter box
• Licks genital areas excessively
• Strains to urinate, with little success
• Displays signs of anxiety, such as pacing or hiding 

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Formulas promote increased water intake and encourages a urinary environment unfavorable to the development of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. The wet and dry formulas are commonly prescribed by veterinarians for the nutritional management of cats with, or are predisposed to, FLUTD.

Purina and Catladyland have two special offers for you! Click here for a $15 off mail-in rebate for the new UR Urinary St/Ox Feline Canned Formulas.

You can also enter to win one of two coupons for a free bag of the same formula. Enter via the below widget. U.S. residents only. Two winners receive one coupon each which must be redeemed at a veterinary clinic. Giveaway ends 10/8/15, at 11:59 PM CDT.

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This post is sponsored by Purina. Catladyland only shares information and products we feel are relevant to our readers. Purina is not responsible for the content of this post.