Pet Product Reviews

I am not too picky when it comes to choosing treats for my dogs. I only have 2 criteria for my ideal dog treat- they be healthy and they be small, about the size of a pea. Of course, my main reason for wanting my treats to be healthy are because I care about my pets' health and I do feel that nutrition plays a big part in their overall health. Yes, I do occasionally give them treats that I consider junk food (afterall, I am one of the biggest junk food junkies!), but the majority of their treats are healthy. I like my treats to be small because 3 of my dogs are small, from 15 to 28 pounds. Those calories add up if you are giving several treats a day and because I use treats for training we can easily go through a 1/2 cup in a training session.

Simon and Huey's Soft Training Treats fit both my criteria and then some. They are small, about 7/16ths of an inch. They are healthy- no sugar added and they make them without corn, wheat or soy so are great for dogs with those food allergies. They come in 7 flavors and my dogs love them all (okay, they don't turn their noses up at to much, but they really get excited when they see the Simon & Huey container coming out!) The flavors include - Kickin' Chicken, Liver Mesquite, Salmon Dill, Peanut Butter Molasses, Garlic Dill, White Cheddar and Wild Ginger (for ingredients, visit Simon & Huey).

I like the soft treats for training because they go down easier (who wants to take time to do a lot of chewing when they are having fun). Even though they are soft, they don't break into pieces in my hands while training and they throw nice if you need to reward your dog from a distance. Honestly, I can't find a bad thing to say about Simon & Huey's Soft Training Treats. Next we will have to try their Bites, a crunchy treats about the same size. I don't think my dogs will complain about the taste testing.

My cats have several different types of cat scratchers- a floor to ceiling cat tree, a 2 level cat condo and their cardboard cat scratcher. Their favorite- the cardboard cat scratcher. So it's not trend-setting and it doesn't match my decor, but it is much better than having my furniture and moldings destroyed (which is much worse for my decorating reputation).

My cats have no interest in the cardboard scratchers that hang from door knobs, but really tackle the ones that come in the slanted cardboard holder. Inexpensive, the cardboard inserts can be turned over so the cats use the other side and then when that is worn, a replacement insert can be purchased. Add a little catnip to the insert to keep your cats interested. The little hole with the toy is an added bonus!

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Awesome! That is all you need to describe this cage. The doors open completely, maing it SO easy to access the inside of the cage. The trays sit down a bit inside the level so they don't move when the doors are open and making it a little harder for ferrets to burrow under them (I won't say it makes it impossible, these are ferrets after all!). The finish of the cage wipes clean very easily. The doors close tight and the only way to open them is by squeezing the handles together making it hard for escapes. There is a ton of room in each level and you can have a total of 3 levels giving you LOTS of ferret room.

The only issue I have had has been with the shelf and it is an issue others have had. Luckily, the manufacturer cared enough to listen to consumers and make a change. The shelves had an area at the front where 2 bars run parallel to each each. They provide a space for the ramp to attach. Ferrets were getting their toes caught when getting off the shelf and many ending up hanging upside down. The manufacturer has changed the design and has been sending replacements to those who contact them. I do wish the ramps came in different sizes for when you adjust the shelves (they can be put at 3 different heights, but my ferrets don't seem to concerned.

The picture shows the 3 levels of my cage. The stand doesn't appear in the picture. With 3 levels and stand, it is about 7 feet tall (at 5'9", I need a stool to get into the top level). There is plenty of room for all the hammocks and bedding we ferret owners collect. I added the Marshall Mini Mansion cage cover to the top of my Nation to provide my ferrets with a dark area to sleep. It covers the top level.

When you look at the prices of ferret cages, this one is well worth the money. It may be the last ferret cage you need to buy.

Cage Diapers

The name really gets your imagination moving, doesn't it? The name really threw me off at first. I didn't think I could like a product called "Cage Diapers", but I was happily surprised. Cage Diapers are a heavy paper cage liner for the bottom of your rabbit's (or any other small animal) cage. Why not just use newspaper? I always did. My rabbits have free run of a bedroom, but I have a dog crate that they can go into. It contains their litter box and water bottle and it is where I put their hay. I lined both the crate tray and the litter box with about 7 layers of newspaper. It worked fine, until clean-up time. Trying to clean-up the mess without the paper disintegrating was a challenge. With the Cage Diapers, I only have to use one for the crate tray and one for the litter box. Clean-up is a breeze. Even when being a little torn (Smudge loves to dig and scratch at the paper), it rolls up without falling apart. Made of unbleached pulp, it is okay if my rabbits nibble on them a bit (always watch for pets that will devour a lot of it. Too much of anything has the potential to cause problems). Because it is made from wood pulp, it is also biodegradable which I love since I compost! These have definitely made a difference in my rabbit care routine.