Catch Those Bubbles Kitty

Trying to exercise a older kitty can be tough. I know as my cat Jade, now 12 years does not have the same spunk she used to. One solution to this problem that still gets her going is catnip bubbles - available at most local pet stores. Jade loves to pounce on the bubbles that land on the floor. You can use the bubble solution indoors on a cold winter day to add some spice to your cats indoor routine or on a warm, breezy day, with all the windows open to create a roomful of bubbles to chase.

Here is some easy solutions if you cannot find catnip bubbles in your local pet store. Make your own by mixing together 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons glycerin, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Other option is buying a jar of bubble solution for children. When you blow your bubbles, face in different directions so they scatter around the room. Alternate between blowing through the plastic wand that came with the bubble solution and waving the wand through the air.

Your cat will have fun trying to catch the bubbles -- and you will be very entertained guaranteed!

Canadian Living Magazine seeks cute pet pics

February 05, 2009 | By Kristin Laird

Canadian Living is encouraging readers to capture their furry, feathered, scaly or finned friends on camera for its “Most Lovable Pet Photo and Video Contest.”

The contest, sponsored by Eukanuba, Dyson and Epson, asks readers to capture comical, mischievous and adorable images of their pets on still or video camera, which can then be uploaded to PetContest.CanadianLiving.com.

This is the second year the magazine has hosted the contest, although it’s the first year it has accepted video submissions. The magazine received 13,000 photo submissions last year, and has received over 1,700 entries since the contest launched last Monday.

“Our readers love pets,” said Doug O’Neill, executive editor of the Transcontinental Media-owned magazine. “Pets just seem to be one of those growing things—people love showing off their pets, and people love to contribute to our website,” he said.

First place photo and video winners will receive the Dyson DC25 Animal vacuum, second place photo winners will receive an Epson Artisan 800 printer, second place video winners will receive a Dyson DC16 Animal vacuum, and third place photo and video winners will receive $100 cash.

The magazine is promoting the contest through newsletters, Transcontinental websites, blogs and a double-page spread that will appear in the March issue, which hits newsstands Monday.

February is Heart Month!

Valentine's day is also just around the corner...

If the entire Canadian population followed the physical activity guidelines and did 60 minutes of physical activity a day, we could wipe out approximately one third of deaths related to coronary heart disease (Warburton, D. E. R., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Rhodes, R. E., & Shephard, R. J. (2007))

Our pet's need regular activity too. Those 60 minutes of activity don't have to be done all at once. There are plenty of fun things you can do, 10 minutes at a time, to get to that daily total. Break up walks and play time into 20 minute segments. Try a new games like hide and seek (my cat love this one and really gets into it). There are lots of safe fenced in dog parks available to let your dog off leash for some rough and tumble play time.

Get inspired and build in fun time to your daily routine. You and your pet will benefit from getting off the couch and get moving to shake off those winter blues.