3 Unique Valentine's Gifts for Your Pet

Photo Credit: Flickr Bird-dogger CharlieBird

Your pet may endure costumes for Halloween and annoying fur-trimmed hoodies for Christmas. What will he or she get from you this Valentine's Day? If Buster could speak, I bet he would ask for gourmet faux chocolate bark. If Snowball could text, she'd say she wanted an iPad app. Here are my top 3 picks for pet valentine's gifts.

Photo Credit: Flicker ScreamingKid Kitty

1. Mice, Cheese & Virtual Yarn App for Cats
2. Remote Dog Feeder with Camera
3. Dog-walking Tracker


Note: If you don't own a pet companion, volunteer at the Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Santa Barbara.
Paws for Valentine's Day!

3 Things I Learned as Pet Parent

Photo Credit: Flickr Renee Marchol's Cat

I grew up with German Shephards, Poodles, Boxers, American Eskimos and mixed breed dogs. As you can tell none of these breeds are cats. When I married Nik, I became a cat parent. I had to learn a whole new way of relating to a pet. No, I shouldn't greet the cat loudly like I would a dog. No, I shouldn't rough-house the cat like I would a dog.

Photo Credit: Flickr IndyDina with Mr. Wonderful

I also learned three cat care tips that will save you money if you are a new cat parent:

Photo Credit: Flickr Dan Forg Sir Michael

1. Cats may like no-cost toys better than ones purchased from a pet store. For instance, nothing makes this Russian Blue-Chartreau mix happier than playing with the tissue paper I get with lingerie purchases. She loves shooting underneath the red or white tissue, hiding her cat soccer balls underneath, and pouncing on its crinkly texture. She had no interest in the foil/mylar ball I bought her or the 2' tall sisal cat tree.

Photo Credit: Flickr Sweet Carolina Design

2. Place your hands behind your head if you want your cat to sit on your lap. Cats are more fragile than dogs so they don't like flailing hands and sudden movements. Cleo feels safer when I sit on the sofa in jeans and  put my hands behind my head. Maybe it signals that I am ready to sit still for 20 minutes. This will save you time and money spent on Amazon buying cat guides how to bond with your pet. Just make sure you are still.

Photo Credit: Flickr SuzyQ212

3. Befriend cat fans who can't have a cat in their apartment. Sometimes these individuals will be willing to watch your cat for less than the cost of a professional cat sitter. This is because they enjoy playing with your cat and appreciate the space in your apartment for your cat to romp. In my case, I met two sisters from church who refer to my cat Cleo as their "niece".

I worked for Zuca, a designer luggage and pet carrier company, when I was a MBA student. You can still find Zuca pet carriers nowadays. However, even more exciting pet products are coming out through Donte Designs. That's another company created by Founder Laura Udall. In Norcal, I was an active supporter for Tony LaRussa's ARF foundation. Do you know of a good Socal nonprofit that is good to stray cats?

Share your cat care tips in this cat care guide by contacting me.

Happy Cat Parenting!