A Mr. Cheddar Review: Jiffy Cat Grass Kit

Mr. Cheddar here.

 

Yes, I'm baaaaaack....finally!

 

 

It's been a long, dreary winter here and Meowmie has been spending even more time on the computer these days, making it difficult for me to get my own work done.

 

But today, I've finally commandeered (how's that for a swanky, big word) the keyboard and have another fav feline product to share with all my cat and human admirers.

 

 

I'm a big fan of the Jiffy Cat Grass Kit.

 

 

Meowmie and I have tried many brands of these kits over the years. Truth be told, a lot of them stink, big time!! Even though the instructions were followed to the letter (And I make sure to supervise the humans here with any delicate operations such as this) many times, they have refused to produce even the minimum of green, verdant grass as expected.

 

 

Not so with the Jiffy Cat Grass Kit. This product is the real deal.

 

As you are probably already aware, house-bound felines in particular (and my outdoor pals in winter too) all need a source of greens provided to nibble on, to keep us at our best.

I like to think of my Jiffy Cat Grass Kit as my own personal salad bar! But without the heavy, fattening dressings that the humans seem to crave with their own salads, of course.

 

 

Here's how easy it is to use this handy kit:

 

 

 

 

First, the attractive package!

 

 Note the sensuous kitty on the front.

 

I just KNOW that's a female. And yet another of the fairer sex that I LOOOOONG to meet. So many gals out there and so little spare time!!! Sigh....sorry, I digress.

  

 

 

 



 

 

 

Next step, the big "burgery" chunk of soil stuff is then placed in the growing container and watered until it expands to mammoth proportions!  Well... maybe not mammoth, but it sucks up that H2O real good! Sluuuurp!!! ;<)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

After that, the soily stuff is spread out just like cake batter snort....and the seeds are inserted, one by one. This is the part my Pawmie likes to do with a chopstick. What can I say, he doesn't get out much......

 

Then the plastic dome goes on top and the little seedlings get to take a rest in a dark place for a few days. When they start to shooost up and we see the green of their eyes (make that roots) it's time to put them in the sunshine to finish the process.

 

 

 

  

Then it's time to chow down! Yummm-O!

 

 

I love a few good chews a couple of times a day, to keep myself ahhhem...oh so regular and feeling fine. Also helps with any furball issues. Heh, we all need greens, not just the humans. So if by chance your human hasn't provided you with your own salad bar yet, make sure they read this review and get one of these kits real soon.

 

They can also read this info. about the need for greens in our feline diets.
Cats do NOT live by kibbles alone! No sir reee Bob! Snort.

 

 

We usually buy these kits at the local pet store but Meowmie also did a search for me over at Amazon today and found this kit in an organic form. And you know how much Meowmie loves organics, if you've been reading here for any length of time. The kits I get do not have any chemicals added to them and that's the main thing. But this is another Jiffy option that's a goodun too!

 

 

Well, it's long overdue that I bedded down for my morning nap so I'll bid you a wonderful day for now and I promise that my absence from this blog will not be so long next time. I know how much my fans miss me, based on the thousands of emails and letters I receive every week from adoring felines around the world. Just joshin...it's probably only hundreds but who's counting. Snort.

  

And in case you've missed it, I have a new employment sideline, you can read about here.

 

 

 

Yes, I'm also a Private Eye these days:

 

Ched Perkie: Feline PI!!!!!

 

Talk about a babe magnet profession. There's some real perks to this gig I'll tell ya! Wink, wink!

 

That's 50 kibbles a day, plus expenses.

 

Just the facts maaaaam!!!!

 

***

 

Overall rating for this product: Excellent. 5 out of 5.

Hamilton Beach Aroma Express 5 Cup Coffeemaker

As I wrote in this previous post  I am a huge coffee fan. Lately I have been making an effort to cut back on the java but sometimes, it's still gotta be the "real thing" to fit the craving.

As my previous coffeemaker had gone kaput quite some time ago and I had been drinking instant or coffee substitutes since then (more about a wonderful coffee substitute here) I recently decided to invest in a small coffeemaker to once again enjoy the full-brewed experience occasionally, at home.
                                
The Hamilton Beach Aroma Express is small, doesn't take up a lot of counter space and cost less than $20 at the local Save-On store. I have also purchased other Hamilton Beach products in the past that performed very well. Brands do count, don't they? I know it's always a consideration for me.

And best of all the results: a really full, rich-tasting and hot cup of coffee. This unit seems to brew coffee at a higher temperature than many of the other coffeemakers that I've tried in the past. Add to that spring water and freshly-ground organic coffee, viola bliss!!!  I really savored that first cup of brewed coffee, after a long hiatus at home. And let's face it, restaurant coffee isn't all that great usually, unless you are visiting the coffee bars and putting out the big bucks for a truly satisfying cup of brewed java.
                           
What I didn't like about this coffeemaker? Well, the Hamilton Beach Aroma Express is suppose to make 5 cups of coffee. It is called a 5 cup coffeemaker. So what does that actually mean? Last time I checked a cup was still an 8 ounce measure. This actually refers to 5- 5 oz. cups of coffee and not really even that as it has to be filled to the top of the carafe with water to make the full  5 "cups". And as we all know, filling a coffee carafe right to the top is NEVER a good idea, unless you like cleaning up a big mess afterwards with spilled coffee all over the counter.

I don't know why manufacturers of these products do this. Who actually drinks 5 oz. cups of coffee? For me, that's just a sampler. Most coffee mugs hold about 10-12 oz. now that's more like it. But to make it accurate and easy to understand, why not stick with a 1 cup measurement= 8 ounces. I think this is so misleading.

The picture on the box is also misleading, it looks like a fairly good-sized carafe. I didn't take the time to start undoing the box and packaging at the store. I always feel a bit weird opening boxes up to any real extent when I'm shopping and I was in a hurry at the time. So, the sorta surprise came when I unpacked the unit at home. Yes, I could have returned it at that point but for the price ($18. on sale) I thought, let's just give it a try.

It makes about 3 average-sized mugs of coffee when the carafe is ALMOST full of water. For the present, it will work out fine. And I do have a larger coffeemaker (with all the bells and whistles) in a storage unit right now so that's available when we get moved and back to having more room for all our appliances, in the near future.

For now, the Hamilton Beach Aroma Express (but not really 5 cup) coffeemaker makes a delish cup of coffee. Just not a lot at one time.

Overall rating for this product: Good. 3 out of 5.

A Mr. Cheddar Review: Zuke's Hip Action Treats

                                                        

Amen to that Ched!

BTW, that's some text cloud you've got there! Impressive in a strange sort of way LOL Ok, all kidding aside and on with our review...

That's exactly what the Ched "says" when these tasty little morsels are taken out of his stash cupboard. And that in my opinion is the minus when it comes to giving these treats (which are available for dogs too). In small print on the package it gives feeding instructions. For a big boy like the Ched (he weighs in at about 14 pounds) he is only suppose to have 2 of these treats daily. Two!!! That's not a treat for either of us. He looks at me as if I'm being a cheap-o Meowmie, every time I dole these out. For smaller cats, up to 11 pounds, the news is even worse, just 1 a day!

And Ched LOVES the taste of these.

And he does want MORE, MORE, MORE.

I also wonder if a lot of people fail to notice the tiny printed feeding instructions and give these with abandon to their pets? These are supplements after all, not just treats. Each barrel-shaped portion contains 50 MG. of Glucosamine and 15 MG. of Chondroitin. Both ingredients are (as with humans) said to promote and improve joint health. They also do not contain any artificial colors, wheat, corn, soy or by-products according to the package.

All good, all pluses but again, how do you tell your pet: "that's it, that's all, see ya tomorrow"...when they want MORE?


From the Amazon product page:

Did you know that cats can suffer from achy and stiff joints just like people and dogs do? Cat Hip Action treats contain cat-specific levels of the same pharmaceutical-grade glucosamine and chondroitin found in our best-selling Hip Action dog treats. In addition to soothing aches and pains, recent studies show that glucosamine also can promote cat urinary tract health. Made with real chicken and salmon, plus vitamins and minerals, Hip Action treats are a delicious way to keep your cat agile and healthy.

So for Ched it was a mixed blessing finding a couple bags of Zuke's Hip Action treats  in one of his Christmas goodie bags. He loves the taste of them but he doesn't love the limited portions he is allowed each day. Perhaps the company that manufactures these could try a lower-dose version that would allow more portions per day. I know it will make Ched's day if they do.

PS: I debated about what rating to give this product and decided on Good. Except for the portion concerns, I still think it's better than a lot of cat treats/supplements that are currently available.

An update with additional product information from the folks at Zuke's:
"Thanks for this! Fun indeed. You should check out our Natural Purzz treats too! They are the same taste/look/smell as the Hip Action, but
they don't contain the glucosamine or chondroitin, so they can be fed as
much as you want. Mr. Cheddar would be happy to know that!
Thank you for your support."
                                        
Overall rating for this product: Good. 3 out of  5.

A Mr. Cheddar Review:Greenies Cat Treats

Mr. Cheddar LOVES Greenies!

 

**PLEASE SEE UPDATED RATING AND COMMENT BELOW! **

 

Here's what he had to say about them this morning, in cat-speak:

"Meow, meow, meow yummmm....greenies. Now can I get back to my nap Meowmie?"

Well, I guess that's all the Ched plans to contribute to this particular post so I will take over.

I've been owned by a number of cats for many, many years. Dental health is always a concern when it comes to overall feline health and well-being. Having their teeth cleaned at the vets is an option but that involves sedation, is certainly stressful for cats and expensive too. If at all possible, it's great to find ways to keep their teeth healthy and clean on a daily basis and with Greenies that's been easier to accomplish.

From the Greenies site:

"The moment you give Feline Greenies® dental treats to your cat, you’ll hear nothing but the sweet purring of joy. Not only does this treat deliver a taste cats love, but the unique teeth-cleaning shape of Feline Greenies® dental treats is clinically proven to help reduce tartar and plaque buildup cleans teeth, freshens breath, and stirs up purrs of joy."

It's been true in this feline household. And unlike many of the cat "treats" out there that contain some questionable ingredients (I've even seen sugar and flour  in the list on more than one occasion, yikes!) here's the ingredient list page for the various types of Greenies for cats.

What I really note that's different about Greenies is the texture of these treats, it's crunchy but still porous, easier for cats of all ages to bite into, while still a providing a good workout for the teeth and gums.

Our dear Mitzi, who lived to be (in terms of cats) a ripe old age of 21, was still active and frisky right up to her last week with us. She had gotten to the point in the last couple of years of her life that most regular kibble food was just too hard for her to bite into. But Greenies, those she could still crunch on and enjoy. I credit these treats with keeping her healthy and her teeth still ok, for probably much longer than they would have been, without Greenies.

I know that it's recommended that we brush our cats/dogs teeth, in-between vet cleanings but in reality, does that really happen on a regular basis? I've tried brushing my cat's teeth several times over the past few years. Usually the only thing that comes of it is a stressed-out cat and a chomp on my hand by way of a feline GET LOST and NOW Meowmie!!  If you've found a way to brush your pet's teeth, without them giving you a "just reward" in return, do let me know!

Greenies really seem to have a better than average product for cats and for dogs when it comes to a crunchy treat that is beneficial in several ways. They have a variety of products/flavors available (with some free/discount coupons available at their site on a regular basis too)in pet stores everywhere. They also have some Greenies for sneaking in meds. if required.

With February being Pet Dental Health Month, it's a good reminder to check out your pet's oral health on a regular basis. And maybe give Greenies a try too! I also recently noted several of their products available on Amazon and very reasonably priced.

BTW, The Ched didn't want me to bring up the D-O-G word but I thought, fair is fair! Equal time for the canines. Their teeth are very important too.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

 

**Updated rating as of October 2013: Unsatisfactory. 1 out of 5 **

 

(see my comment below)

A Mr. Cheddar Review: SlimCat Exerciser/Toy

                          
Mr. Cheddar and  I have both been making an effort lately to get more exercise and eat sensibly. For me, it's been voluntary. For the Ched, let's just say he's not one to over-exert himself, unless of course yarn attached to knitting needles/a crochet hook is involved. ;<)

 Since the passing of our dear Mitzi , Mr. Cheddar has gotten a bit lazy to put it bluntly. In spite of our daily efforts to engage him in playtime, he's still not convinced that a nap or a snack is ALWAYS a better idea.

Enter the SlimCat toy/exerciser! I found these at our local pet store last week. They are also available (at a better price!) at Amazon.com.  A plastic ball that you put treats/kibbles into and adjust the opening so that they come out (slowly) when the ball is moved around. It seems to be working. Mr. Cheddar is still happier when the grub shows up in his stainless steel chow-bowl, but he is getting " the goods" from this new toy too, which we are subbing at mealtimes, a few times a week.

If you tried SlimCat with your own cat(s) let me know how it went, thanks!

Chiao for now, from me and the soon to be svelte Mr. Cheddar!

Update: Since this review was first written a few months ago, the locking mechanism has loosened up quite a bit, for adjusting the size of the opening, where kibble is released. It still works but not as well as it did originally. Mr. Cheddar is still using the SlimCat but not on a daily basis. He's not crazy about the concept of working a bit for his chow but he will if there's no other options at din-din time.


I still think this is a good product and one that can really benefit more sedentary cats. I do think the design needs a bit of work though, to make the lock more secure and sturdy. I also think that adding a measuring spoon/cup would be a handy feature. Just pouring in kibble is not very accurate. I've been using a measure we have on hand for this purpose.

Overall rating for this product: Good. 3 out of 5. 

A Mr. Cheddar Review: The ScratchKabin

Mr. Cheddar here...
                             

Happy New Year to all my feline friends and yes, their  human kibble-providers too.

I hope it was a great holiday for all you felines and that the gifts were plentiful and as you specified! Those humans can mess up the simplest of requests at times, snort!!!

                   

In terms of my own "haul" one item in particular stands out that I simply had to share with all of you. Not only was the product itself marvelous, it also came in a very large cardboard box! And we all love those big boxes, don't we? 
                                                               

After the box was thoroughly checked out it was time to move on to the exciting contents it had packaged.
                       
                   

Drum roll please!

May I present, The ScratchKabin: 
                                 

                
Did I mention that it comes with a mouse! Yippee!!!!

                                         

                   

     Talk about comfort and relaxation.
 I'm in feline heaven in my new hiding/snoozing place!

                               
                          

And how's this for another bonus.

The outside is all carpet-covered and ready for my trusty claws.

A scratching I will go!!!

                                 
                            

                                         

Talking about a nice scratchy item. This mouse rocks!

He is rather durable though.
 I haven't finished him off  yet but tomorrow's another day. Snort!!!


                                  
                                   

                                      

Meowmie and I had only one small complaint about the new ScratchKabin. The pad and cover that came with it was IMNSHO, a bit thin. I like ample padding when I'm snoozing. I'm sure all you felines can relate! Easy fix though, Meowmie is making a new quilted cover for the pad this week. In the meantime, I'm using a cushion that I already had.

Overall, I would definitely give the ScratchKabin the Ched "Paw' s UP".

Comfort, privacy, just the right size (and I am almost 15 lbs.of muscle and fur!!!), sturdy construction, love the gorgeous Blueberry carpet and oh so sensual feeling on my claws! The added mouse was a nice touch too. Never enough critters!
                          
                                                  

The ScratchKabin is available here. Humans can read all about many other exciting products available too. And heh, what better creature to spend the moola on than your feline pal, right?Some interesting choices for outdoor felines too.

All and all, they seem to  have their thinking caps on.
Must be some felines on the staff, I'm guessing.
                                   
                                                     

And btw, if they do need a  SpokesCat, look no further.
 I am very photogenic and only an email away.

Chiao for now, The Ched!

 

                                        

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.