Viral Cats Hamper Giveaway

Regular readers of my blog will know I (well and the Mister) have three cats, often referred to as my fur-kids (we don't have small people yet) and they are just a little bit spoilt, okay a lot spoilt but their happiness means a lot to me, even if a 5am sing song is not really my idea of fun.

Dude, Dexter and Hector (who has his very own Instagram) are often featured across both mine and Beautykinguk's social media, so instead of getting baby spam, you get cute cat spam instead.  

But having cat comes with responsibility.  Did you know that there is an estimated 10.5 million cats in the UK with 24% of the population owning cat - wow!  Add to that 26% of cats have never been vaccinated, so that is 2.7 million vaccinated cats.  Vaccinations for cats are just as vital as those we have as humans to protect us from illness and disease. 

Many pet owners believe that if cats are vaccinated as kittens, the immunity received will protect them for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately this is not the case. After vaccination, the immune response reaches a peak and then begins to decline, until the level of immunity is no longer sufficient. Booster vaccination stimulates the immune response so that immunity is maintained. Merial is on a mission to change this! We have launched a national campaign to reach one million cat owners, with the use of social media, to educate them on the importance of vaccination. If you are not sure whether or not your cat is covered, take the quiz at the bottom of the homepage to check, it is just three easy questions and it takes seconds.

To raise awareness of and the people over at Viral Cats have kindly donated an incredible cat hamper to giveaway and here it is:

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is complete the widget below and it is a UK Only giveaway.  If you are under 16 I will need parental permission to enter as I will need your home address.  Anyone found not fulfilling the asks of the widget will be disqualified!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Purrfect Box for Cats - April Edition

Once again, the big pink cat box has arrived and as soon as it is opened my boys are clambering in before I even get a look in.  The cat bo in question is the April Purrfect box**. I have featured a few of these boxes now, but if you haven't seen the posts, the Purrfect box is a UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog (Pawsome Box).  Each month you will receive a box of treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on Instagram will know what a big part my three cats play in my life, Hector even has his own Instagram!

Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

As you can see, there is a whole lot of stuff in this box from toys and treats to food and again, my boys are more than spoilt for choice.

Now we have left winter behind and have moved in to Spring, my boys are malting and getting their summer coat.  They all like to go outside and explore and Dexter is quite nifty at rat catching, only a few weeks ago there was a live one in the flat which I found in the bath the following morning (yes still alive). With that, comes fleas, horrible little parasites which are just horrid, a cat version of head-lice if you please.  So I was pleased to see Biospotix in the box because ive used it in the past and it is brilliant.

Biospotix acts as a preventive solution by blocking the respiratory system of the parasites by using Geraniol. It also helps to dehydrate the laid eggs so they never hatch too. 

Like most cats, my boys love their food and they love treats and in this box there is a lovely selection.  Starting with Thrive Complete tinned food with Chicken Breast and Tuna Fillet.  What I like about Thrive is that it is cooked with added vitamins and minerals and with no gluten and no wheat.

Karlie Salmon Creme is something Hector just loves.  It is a salmon paste which I give to him direct from the tube, it never gets near his food bowl because as soon as the lid is off he is meowing for the paste.

The treats within this box come in the form of Tuna Cubes by Les Filous which, all three cats absolutely love. Like any other treat I give to them, I always ensure fresh drinking water is available and I stick to the guidelines of how many a day I give to them

When it comes to playing with toys, again all three, despite their age difference (12, 6 and 7 months) love to play.  Again there are three toys which you might assume would mean one each, but no, they always all want the same one.

Trixie is a brand I have come to know since my introduction to the Purrfect Boxes and the toys they create are really good quality. This time we have a spider which is scented with catnip and was the first toy they all fought over. 

Next is a Camon Ball which is made from a material called sisal. Hector loves this ball because it allows him to grip it and fling it around. The act of scratching also allows your cat to eliminate dead nails.

The final toy is a perfumed Dragonfly and its body is infused with a long lasting scent, that strongly appeals to cats and it is a smell can acutely pick up on. The crinkly spotted wings make a noise which entertains Dexter for hours as he pounces on it around the room as though he is hunting.

Finally in the box is some Jolly Moggie Cat Nip. Catnip, for those of you who are not aware of it, is categorised as being a member of the mint family. It is a part of a family of 200+ other mint species and it contains Nepetalactone, the essential oil found inside catnip.For cats who are sensitive to it, Nepetalactone has a very strong effect on cats and can turn even the laziest of cats into an ecstatic ball of energy and intrigue.  All three of mine are sensitive to it, so I only use it in small doses.

This box has proven to be a huge hit with my three boys and the contents are just brilliant. Again, as I have said before, The Purrfect Box is a real treat for my boys to get and as soon as they see the box they know exactly what it is and cannot wait for me to rip it open. If you have a friend who has cats, then this would make a fantastic present!  If you want to try it for yourself, I have a discount code for £5 off and it is ukbdlwba.

Christmas presents you should definitely buy your cat!

With three cats in the house, I might often be referred to as the 'Mad Cat Lady' but they are my boys, my furkids and I don't think they should be left out at Christmas.  A quick Google search gave me an endless list of things I could purchase.  

The first item I absolutely love and it could not be more perfect is Kitty Street - Terrace Cat Houses with Scratchy Roofs.  This is a cat bed terrace, perfect because I have three cats and rather than fighting over the one cat bed we have, they could have one each. Inside there are fur cushions and the roofs are scratching mats.  What I love about this is that you can also add more cubes should you need them.

One thing Hector loves is laying on the laptop when you are trying to use it and no matter what it is we are doing, the save button is constantly over-used because out of nowhere comes this crazy kitty jumping all over you. So this could be the answer to all of my problems - Cat Playhouse Cardboard Laptop. Designed to look like a laptop with screen and keyboard with a rather humorous mouse.  With this, I feel Hector could have a fantastic time sat next to me as I type and if you have a similar laptop obsessed kitty, you can find the laptop.

Having cats means providing stimulating play time or they get bored and can become quite destructive. Hector is now 4 months old and loves to climb, much to my horror. He loves to be as high as he can possibly get, which is normal for a cat. However, in an attempt to stop him from climbing on top of my wardrobes and bouncing off, we have bought the SmartCat Door Climber in the hope it will satisfy his climbing urge

If you have friends, who like me are mad cat ladies and you cannot think of anything to buy them, or they have everything, then forget them and buy something for the cats.  There are two cat hampers which really have caught my attention from Purrfectbox and Cat Hampurr.

My boys are huge fan of the Purrfectbox and we have reviewed a few of the boxes right here on Beautyqueenuk. The team over at Purrfecrbox have an amazing Special Edition Christmas Box is a box of 6 specially chosen products, perfect for those wanting to treat the pets of their friends and family. It costs just £19.90.

The lovely people over at Cat Hampurr have also come up with their very own Christmas Cat Hamper and which will be a hand picked a box full of goodies that will keep them entertained well into the new year. Again the box costs just £19.90 and you can get it  but be quick because they are limited.

Staying with the theme of food and hampers, my boys were very kindly sent family-owned US brand of natural pet food, Wellness, which has just launched at Pets at Home. Wellness offers wholesome, healthy nutrition for cats and contains no wheat, corn, soya, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. The recipes use delicious, real-foods like deboned meats, healthy fruits and vegetables and easily-digestible carbohydrates to provide the perfect balance of protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in the healthiest way possible. The range my boys have been trying is the CORE Divine Duos, an indulgent savoury pâté topped with protein-rich cuts in gravy. Dishes include hearty cuts of beef, chicken liver, tuna and salmon – balanced with nutrient-rich broccoli and carrots and it has been absolutely lapped up and loved.

Anyone who has any experience with kittens and cats will know that they love to scratch everything including you, your furniture, your carpet and anything you can do to encourage them not to do this will be in your favour and will also lower your stress levels. So a perfect gift for any cat is a scratching post, mine absolutely love them and they are the most used and loved item we have. The good news is that they also come in all shapes and sizes and are widely available and range in price from around £10 right up to £50+!

Anyone with cats will also know about catnip.  Catnip is part of the mint family but it has an essential oil in it called nepetalactone which has a powerful effect on cats who are sensitive to it, though not all are, and it turns them totally crazy and has them running around like a big fun-filled bag ecstasy, dribbling everywhere and generally just attacking the toy it is in or on.  Again, they are readily available and come in all different shapes and sizes but are really budget friendly and your cat will absolutely love it and you.

One final item that is synonymous with Christmas is stockings and yes there are stockings and stocking fillers for cats which all contain cat treats and are perfect for spoiling your little fur ball and again they range in price from £2 right up to £8 so they won't break the bank.

So here you have just a few ideas as to what you can buy your kitten, cat or your friends, family or neighbours cat as a gift.  There is naturally a whole host of other items I could have included within the toy section, the ideas are endless.

Do you have a cat or indeed any animal? If so, do you buy them a Christmas present?

Keeping Your Cool

With the heatwave we currently have, trying to keep cool and not melt is something I am sure we are all trying to do.  Whether it is using a fan, drinking ice cold drinks or even taking cool showers, we all do what we can to keep cool. 

Anyone who reads my blog will know that the mister and I have three cats affectionately known as the 'fur-kids' and in this weather keeping them cool is paramount.

Cats are really intelligent, and on a recent visit to the vet with Dexter, thank god for pet insurance, as he had a higher than normal temperature, he had a major operation recently so I have to keep my eye on him.  As a pet cannot tell you when they are ill, it is always advisable to seek advice from an expert.  My vet re-assured me that cats can stay cool on their own but you can help them by giving them the proper resources, so here are some of my tips:

• Ensure that they have a comfortable bed in a shaded area.  We have cat kennels which have no windows, just an entrance for my boys to get in and out.  Inside there are fleece blankets for them to lay on.
• If your cat will tolerate it and mine do after constant attempts, wipe them down with a cooled cloth, not one wringing wet with water as they won't like it, but something cool and allow them to lie on it around the home.  
• In hot weather like this, I tend to put some frozen peas under the blankets to cool them down. Cats love the coolness of the blankets to keep their temperature down.  Around the house, putting ice cubes inside toys and covering them with catnip always sparks their interest and encourages them to touch it and play.
• I always ensure there are two bowls of fresh water. One bowl is fresh from the tap and I put a few ice cubes in it to keep it cool for a while and the other is from the freezer which I put in every night so that the water thaws throughout the day.  It is important to ensure there is enough water for your cats all day long.
• Brushing your cat daily works to allow the air to move freely through their fur, whilst also removing loose fur due to malting.  

If at any time you don't think your cat or indeed any pet is being themselves, ensure you take them straight to the vet, like humans, cats can suffer from heat stroke and sunburn. 

What do you do to keep your pet cool in weather like this?

*Collaboration, all words my own.

Purrfect Box - January

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, will know that I (and the mister) have three cats, my fur kids and they have become big fans of the Purrfectbox, it is as though they know that the bright pink box is for them as soon as it arrives.

The Purrfect box costs £19 inc. delivery and is a monthly subscription box.  Each month there is a different theme and in each box you get a selection of top quality toys, treats, grooming tools, food and training products for your cat.  Furthermore, your box is custom made just for your pet(s) because you complete a short proforma detailing your pet's age, breed and fur type. 

So in my posession is the January box and the cats have already been in it and helped themselves, but the contents are amazing and they include:

• 1x Clean wipes from sanicat - Sanicat Cat Cleaning Wipes are a convenient way of cleaning your cat without having to get them in the bath. This also comes in handy for those kittens who haven’t quite got the hang of cleaning themselves yet, however cannot stand the bath. The wipes include a moisturising and antiseptic extract of aloe vera & they also contain lanolin for rapid absorption and conditioning effect. Cat wipes are hypoallergenic & pH neutral (5.5) making them ideal for the most sensitive parts of the skin. So never fear again for a mucky kitty.

• 1x Fish &1x horse toy - My cats always go totally crazy for products like this within the box.  This feathery fishy with its elastic band will have your pet cat chasing for hours on end. Accompanied with the horse toy, which, best of all for your pussycat, makes a rustling sound, which kitties seem to go mad for! 

• 1x 100% Natural foods from scheshir (tin and pouch) - The 100% natural foods from Schesir does exactly what it says on the tin (literally) – featuring in our January monthly subscription box in Tuna flavour, this seems to go down a treat with the kitties of the UK. Schesir Natural Cat Dinners are a nutritious complete food for cats, containing all the vitamins and minerals required for a long and healthy life, as it is filled with carefully selected ingredients making it a refined and delicate speciality food for cats. They are extremely palatable and contain only the highest quality ingredients – of course, as your pussycat only deserves the best! 

• 1x Scratching post from wasabycat - The cat needs to scratch and it’s better to do it on a scratching post than on a tablecloth! If there is a must-have item when you have a cat at home, it is the scratching post! To prevent your kitty from damaging the cloth during a picnic in the countryside, we suggest the scratching post manufactured by Wasabycat in France. It is made entirely from natural materials and wood support is PEFC certified. Sheet set with sisal scratch on wood planks are extremely strong to withstand the claws of your cat! 

• 1x Kitty treats from zolux - These treats are great for reducing your cats hair balls, including the necessary amounts of fibre to stimulate intestinal transit and reduces the amount of fur ball shedding 

The box also contained a mini magazine called Purr notes and inside you can read about the box itself to a cute DIY tutorial for giving treats to your cat which I actually want to try and Purrfectbox contributes financial aid towards the protection of these animals by supporting associations who provide these dogs with better living conditions, you can see more about that right here:

My cats have absolutely loved this box especially all of those toys and treats and they also love playing with the box once it had been emptied the contents, so it is like double the fun for them, though only one of then can fit in it at any one time.

What do you think of the Purrfectbox?

Purrfect Box for Cats

When asked if I would like to review the Christmas Purrfect subscription box, I jumped at the chance because my cats enjoyed the last one so much, it would be a perfect little treat for them. If you are a regular reader of my blog or my Hubby's blog, you will know that we have three male tabby cats who are often referred to as the #furkids and they make regular appearances on Instagram.

The Purrfect box** is a brand new UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat or your dog every month with a boy of treats.  These treats include toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products all of which will be customized and chosen by the information you give on your cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and you can see the original box I had HERE.

As this box is Christmas themed, you won't be surprised by some of the contents and this is what we have.

So there was a lot of interest in this box as soon as I placed it on the floor for the boys to look at and the first one in the box was no surprise, the little hunter that we call Asbo.  This box has something for each of my three cats, whether it is to eat or to play with, though it is no surprise that one item has become a firm favourite with the three of them.

The first item is a multi-pack of treats by Good Girl.  Like any cat, mine love a treat or five, though I do seriously try to limit their intake of these and instead reward them for good behaviour or just being cute.  In this bag there are milk drops, catnip drops and catnip biscuits, all of which we are yet to try and all of which will be totally new treats for them.

The next item is the Merry Mice Toys from HappyPet and these little critters are crinkly so make a nice crisp bag scrunching sound when played with and are perfectly designed for being carried around, rolled on and chewed.

Chick 'n' Snacks follows and again, as with treats, I try my best to stick to the guidelines given by my own vet rather than on the packet and having let my boys try these, they seemed a little unsure at first, but now know as soon as I rattle the packet that there is a treat coming their way.

The next item is the one which has caused the most excitement from all three boys (though one is too camera shy to appear) and it is the one toy that they will fight over and chase each other for because it comes with a tube of catnip, which you open and pour into the inside of the mouse and then let them get excited and drool away - like so!

Wrestling the cat nip mouse from them to try out the next item which comes in the form of a glove and is called the Grooming Glove from Camon.  The one things about having pets is that they shed hair, some only a little and others a lot and it is a natural cycle that cats go through to get both their summer and winter coat.  Mine are no exception to this rule and I am sure they have an inbuilt antennae which tells them I am wearing a lovely clean pair of black jeans which are furless, only for them to come and want to jump on my lap!  This Grooming Glove is designed so be worn over your hand and then act as a brush to help you groom your cat and remove those loose hairs which are waiting to fall off.   My cats loved to be brushed and they are quite keen on this glove too.

The final toy in this selection is a Christmas themed gingerbread man shaped teaser toy which is hangs off of a piece of elastic on a pole.  The idea being that you tease the cat with it, they get a bit of exercise and the poor toy gets pulled to bits.  My cats are big fans of these toys and happily bounce all over the show trying to catch it, when they do catch it they attack it as though it was once alive.  For a bit more fun, you can drizzle cat nip onto it to add to their excitement.

The final item is something no Christmas is the same without and that is a stocking for all these lovely gifts and infact it has come in really handy for storing all the treats in because it is both cool and dark. 

So there you have it, the Christmas box from Purrfect for cats, there is also an alternative for the dog in your life which you can find HERE.

My cats have absolutely loved this box and if all of those toys and treats were not enough, well all that is left to say is show a cat and a box and this is what you get: