Author: WildBirds

Keep Your Cat Safe and Secure in a Durable Plastic Cat Carrier

When taking your cat on a trip or to the vet, the safest and most comfortable place for your cat is in a cat carrier.  A sturdy cat carrier is ideal for making your cat feel safe and secure when traveling in the car.   Since you will be using your cat carrier on a regular basis, it is important to choose a dependable carrier that is made of durable plastic with ventilation on at least three side.  It is not a good idea to carry your cat in a wicker basket or cardboard carrier because the material is not strong enough to hold up well for many uses and both are difficult, if not impossible, to clean when your cat has an accident.

One of my favorite cat carriers is the Double Door Deluxe Kennel made in the USA by Petmate.  This kennel has sturdy plastic sides with lots of ventiliation and two access doors.   The door on the top is great for easy access to your cat and makes taking your cat out easier when your cat is stressed.  Both doors are made of steel for strength and safely keep your cat safe.   The plastic sides and bottom separate and are very easy to clean in case there is an accident.  In addition, this carrier comes in three sizes for a comfortable fit no matter what the size is of your cat.

Another great carrier for your cat is the Clipper Cayman Pet Carrier.  This crate is made by Marchioro, an Italian company, and is designed with your cat’s safety in mind.  The rounded plastic top and bottom are latched together and may be unlatched for easy cleaning.  Each side has ventiliation and the door is made of steel to safely keep your cat inside.  This carrier is also available in three sizes to suit your cat’s needs.

For a touch of fun, the Pink Kennel Cab by Petmate is a safe, fun carrier for your cat.  This carrier is available in two sizes and is perfect for any cat owner who loves the color pink.  The top and bottom separate for cleaning and the door is also made of steel.  It offers you a safe way to carry your cat in style.

Choosing a durable cat carrier is one of the most important things that you can buy for your cat.  For a great selection of cat carriers and other cat supplies, check out GregRobert Pet Supplies.

Marjolein Bastin Bird Houses Make Festive Decorations for Your Home or Yard

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Get creative when decorating your home for the holidays with a beautifully painted bird house by Marjolein Bastin.  These charming, hand-painted bird houses are great as a decoration inside or outside of your home.  For a festive, natural touch to your holiday decor, place a birdhouse inside a Christmas tree or on a mantle with a little bird inside.  When not being used as a decoration indoors, these bird houses make the perfect home for a variety of wild birds and look great hanging from a tree branch or attached to a post in your yard.

The Bird Nest Box w/ Artwork by Marjolein Bastin is available in four different designs and each bird house is painted in a light, creme colored paint with a naturally stained roof.  There are two 10 inch bird houses that when used outdoors, are sure to attract a variety of Chickadees, Titmouses, and Wrens to your yard.  The other two bird houses are available in a 12 inch size that is perfect for attracting a variety of birds including:  Chickadee’s (Black Capped, Carolina, Chestnut Backed and Mountain), Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatches (Red-Breasted, Brown Headed and White Breasted), Wrens (House and Bewick’s) and Downy Woodpeckers.  

My favorite bird house for the holidays is the 10 inch Chickadee Bird House.  This charming bird house has a beautiful, hand painted scene with chickadees and berries and is painted in the perfect, muted red and green holiday colors.  It looks great indoors or outdoors for a festive, holiday decoration and makes the ideal home for a smaller sized bird.  Place this bird house outdoors in the early spring to attract wrens to your yard.

These beautiful, bird houses also make great gifts for any bird lover or home owner and are made to be durable and long-lasting homes for birds.  For a variety of unique, hand painted bird house, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Thanksgiving Decorations for the Birds

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Celebrate Thanksgiving this year with some Thanksgiving Decorations that are sure to make the birds thankful.  A bird seed wreath or bird seed ornaments are a great way to celebrate the holiday with the birds and make ideal outdoor decoration for the holiday.   They look great hanging on your home, on your garage or hanging in multiples on a fir or evergreen tree.  In addition, these seed wreaths and ornaments make a great gift for anyone who loves feeding the birds your Thanksgiving dinner host.

One of my favorite, new seed wreaths is the Bird Lover’s Blend Garden Chic Bird or Squirrel Instant Feeder by FM Browns.  These beautiful seed wreaths are perfect for hanging on the outside of your home or garage.  Each one has a different type of seed to attract a variety of birds throughout the year.  A seed wreath is a great way to feed birds throughout the year and these wreaths make feeding the birds easy in the fall and winter.

Another great seed wreath is the Seed Wreath for Wild Birds by C and S Products.  This seed wreath is filled with a variety of seeds and nuts that birds go crazy for and it will attract a variety of birds to your yard.  In addition, this wreath comes in a beautiful package that makes it easy to give as a gift for your Thankgiving host.   

Add some whimsy and charm to your fir and evergreen trees with the Variety Gift Pack of Ornaments for Wild Birds by Pine Tree Farms.  This variety pack includes a variety of whimsical shapes that includes:  a heart, butterfly, mini-wreath, star, moon and mini-sunflower.  Each ornament is made of sunflower hearts, peanuts, black oil seed and white safflower and are sure to attract a variety of birds to your yard. 

For a variety of great bird seed wreaths and ornaments for the holiday season, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Heated Pet Beds That Will Keep Your Pet Cozy

This is the perfect time of the year to invest in a heated pet bed for your cat or dog.  Heated pet beds are great for your pet to nap or relax in because they give your pet a soft, warm place to nap any where in your home.  These pet beds are designed not to overheat and maintain a constant temperature that is ideal for your pet’s body temperature.  You can feel safe when your pet uses any of these great heated pet beds.

One of my favorite heated pet beds for either cats or dogs is the Thermo-Pet Cuddle Cushion for Cats and Dogs.  This heated pet bed offers your pet support around the back and the sides for comfortable support when napping.   It has a low wattage, so it won’t use much energy and it is very easy to care for because the heater is removable for washing the bed in the machine.  Your cat or dog will love this warm and cozy heated pet bed.

The Thermo-Bed Heated Dog Bed is the perfect heated pet bed for a wide variety of dogs.  This soft, comforter-style pet bed is not only great for large dogs, but may also used be used for more than one small dog or multiple cats.  Use this heated pet bed anywhere in your home, on the floor, on the couch, or on a bed, to provide an extra soft and warm resting place for your pet.

A cozy, little hideaway for your pet cat is the Thermo-Kitty Heated Cat Hut.  This adorable cat bed has a hood over the bed, which makes it the perfect place for your cat to hide and snuggle.  Your cat will love the extra warmth this heated pet bed provides your cat and is sure to spend time in it everyday.  The material is super soft, so your cat won’t be able to resist this wonderful heated pet bed.

All of these innovative heated pet beds are by K and H Manufacturing.  To check out all of their great pet beds, check out GregRobert Pet Supplies.

How to Help Your Backyard Birds Thrive in the Winter

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The winter is the hardest time of the year for birds to survive outdoors.  With less vegetatation around for the bird to utilize, the food supply is decreased and the amount of shelter available is lessened by the increase in bare trees.  To help the birds thrive outdoors during the winter, it is a good idea to offer the birds shelther and a constant food supply in your yard.  Here are some tips to follow when offering shelter and food to the birds during the winter.

  • When offering the backyard birds shelter in your yard, it is a good idea to investigate what types of birds winter in your area for the winter.  Use a bird guide, such as the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, to make identification easier.
  • Once you have determined what type of birds are going to winter in your area, it is important to provide a good source of shelter.   The Audubon Cedar Bluebird House is a great home to have in your yard for the bluebirds.  Put a few of these well-built homes up around your yard to offer the birds a warm, cozy spot to live for the winter.  The bird will flock to the homes for shelter when the weather is harsh.
  • Offer the birds nesting material such as Bird Nester Refill.  The winter can be a difficult time for birds to find nesting material and offering them nesting material for their home is a great way to ensure that they are able to create a nest inside their home.
  • Keep a few bird feeders filled with bird seed.  If you know that the birds in your area enjoy a particular type of bird seed, fill the bird feeders with a seed that they are sure to love.  The Outdoor Bluebird Feeder is perfect for feeding bluebirds in the winter and has an overhang to help protect the birds from the elements. 

To survive the winter, birds need help from their human friends.  Don’t forget to offer plenty of the birds plenty of shelter and food during the winter.  Check out Rachel’s Robin to find everything you need for healthy, happy birds during the winter.

Easy-to-Clean Tube Bird Feeders for the Winter

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Cleaning and filliird ng your bird feeder in the winter can be a hassle, but well worth your time and effort.  To make your job easier and more efficient, look for tube bird feeders that are designed for easy filling and cleaning.  It is important to continue cleaning your bird feeders in the winter to help prevent the growth of bacteria and mold that make birds sick.

One of my favorite easy-to-clean bird feeders for Nyjer bird seed is the Quick-Clean Nyjer Tube Feeder for Wild Birds.  This stylish tube Nyjer seed feeder is ideal for feeding a variety of birds that love thistle seed, including finches.  This feeder comes apart easily for cleaning and maybe cleaned quickly with a brush like the Birdfeeder Cleaning Brush by Droll Yankees.  For feeding the birds a variety of seed, the Quick-Clean Seed Tube Feeder works with a variety of bird seed and also comes apart easily for cleaning and refilling.

Another great tube feeder that is easy to clean and is available in both Nyjer or Sunflower/Mixed Seed Bird Feeders is the Onyx Clever Clean Bird Feeders that are also made by Droll Yankees.  Both kinds of feeders are easy to clean because the caps and seed ports are detachable, so that you can get into the crevices for cleaning.  Both the Onyx Clever Clean Sunflower / Mixed Seed Bird Feeder and the Onyx Clever Clean Nyjer Seed Bird Feeder are available in three sizes and can hold one to three pounds of seed.

Keeping your bird feeder clean in the winter is easy when you have a tube bird feeder that is easy to clean.  A clean bird feeder helps to keep the birds healthier throughout the winter.  For a variety of bird feeders that are easy to clean, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Keep Your Cat from Destroying Your Houseplants

Cats love to nibble on houseplants and this can be unhealthy for your cat and your houseplants.  Not only do cats love to nibble on houseplants, but they also like to use the soil as an alternative to the litter box.  Without having to get rid of your houseplants, there are several things that you can do so that your cat and houseplants can co-exist without having problems.

  • Give your cat a plant of his own.  A great plant to grow for your cat is catnip grass.  The Cosmic Catnip Gardenby Cosmic Pet Products makes growing your own catnip easy and covenient for any cat owner.  This product consists of two pre-planted containers of catnip that allows you to just water and sunlight.  Your cat will love the fresh taste of catnip.  In addition, you can also find out cat-friendly plants that are safe for your cat to nibble on and that will help to keep their interest away from your other plants.
  • Keep your plants off of the ground.  Use a hanging planter inside your home to keep your cats away from your plants.  The Audubon 14 inch Wall Bracket is easy to install anywhere in your home and extends 14 inches away from the wall to securely hold your houseplant.
  • Use a cat repellent on your large houseplants.  The Grannicks Bitter Apple for Cats Pet Dabber is a non-toxic cat repellent and has a bitter taste that cats don’t like.  Use the dabber on the leaves of your large houseplants to help deter the cats from nibbling on your plants.
  • Cover the soil with rocks.  By adding rocks to the soil, it will be harder for your cat to have access to the soil for eliminating body fluids into.  Use rocks that are large enough to make it harder for your cat to move, but small enough to fit your planter.
  • Make sure your litter box is cleaned on a regular basis.  Cats love to have clean litter boxes, so it is important to keep it clean for your cat.  This will help to encourage your cat to use the litter box instead of your plant.

Wild Bird Lover Gifts for the Holidays

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Give the wild bird lover in your life something special this holiday season with an unique bird gift that is sure to make a great impression.  Whether your wild bird lover just enjoys feeding the birds or has interest in attracting more birds to their yard, there are a number of great items available to suit your needs.  The following items are some of my favorite wild bird products for this holiday season:

  • Make a grand statement with a birdbath.  A great gift for any bird lover is the  Birdscapes Garden Sip and Seed BirdFeeder.   This feeder/bird bath combination is sure to a winner with any bird lover.  It has a classic, charming appeal and may be hung up on any post or tree branch.  The bird bath matches the bird feeder perfectly for a coordinated look.  It is easy to clean and refill with both food and water.  Any bird lover would be thrilled to receive this sleek bird feeder and bird bath.
  • Have fun with a colorful, wild birdhouse.  Nothing makes a statement in a yard more, than a colorful, printed birdhouse.  To liven up your bird lover’s outdoor living space, the Animal Print birdhouse is a creative way to express your love of wild birds.  This birdhouse is designed not only to look pretty, but it also has a galvanized steel roof to help protect wild birds from the elements outdoors.  To give you the perfect size hole for any bird, a reducer magnet is included to make the birdhouse more appealing to smaller birds.
  • Give some economical holiday cheer.  A decorative seed wreath is an economical way to show the wild bird lover in your life that you care.  One of my favorite seed wreaths is the Candy Cane Seed Wreath by Pine Tree Farms.  This clever seed wreath is shaped in the classic candy cane shape.  With bright green and red seed, the birds are sure to take notice.  An attached hanger makes this wreath easy to hang anywhere and looks great decorating a pine tree for the holidays.

These items are just a few of my favorites bird lover gifts for the holidays.  For a great selection in wild bird items, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Keep Your Bird Bath Water Warm with a Heater

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Finding a source of warm water for birds during the winter is critical for their survival.  An easy way to provide birds with water during the winter is to use a heated bird bath or a bird bath heater in your bird bath.  By offering a source of fresh water for the birds during the winter, you will not only be helping the birds to thrive, but will also attract more birds to your yard.

A classic bird bath that looks great in any yard is the Heated Bird Bath with Stand.  This stylish and streamline bird bath has a sturdy, weatherproof stand with a white basin.  The white basin is ideal for attracting birds because they will be able to see the bottom and it blends in well with the snow.  The heater in the bird bath is designed to keep the water from freezing in temperatures up to -20 degrees.  This bird bath also includes hardware for mounting it to your deck.

The Heated Ground BirdBath – 70 Watts is a fun and unique way to offer the birds with water.  This bird bath is designed to sit on the ground to provide birds with easy access to warmer water.  The unique shape of this feeder looks great in a garden, flower bed, or placed on your lawn.  It blends in well with any rock formation and looks like a real rock.  The birds will love the shallowness of the bird bath.

If you are just looking for a heating element to place inside your bird bath, choose one like the Heated Rock Bird Bath De-icer -75 Watts to warm up your bird bath water and keep it from freezing over.  This de-icer is thermostatically controlled to work when the temperature drops below 35 degrees.  Made of cast aluminum to be durable and weather resistant, this de-icer has a great rock shape that blends in well with any bird bath.

Keeping a supply of fresh water for the birds during the winter is important for the survival of birds and helps to attract them to your yard.  For a great selection of heated bird baths and bird bath heaters, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Cute Dog Dresses that are Perfect for the Holidays

Dressing up your dog can be a lot of fun for both you and your dog.  This holiday season is the perfect time to get your dog dressed up for guests and pictures.  Before you dress up your dog in her best, it is a good idea to pamper your dog with a refreshing bath and hair blow-out.  Your dog will look and smell great with a good shampoo and a fancy dress, which will make her picture perfect for any holiday picture!

For a classic holiday look, the Herring-Bone Dress for Dogs is perfect for holiday pictures or any holiday event. Take a look into cvlinens.com and find linen tablecloths for sale to perfect prices for any event.   This dress has a cute little red sweater on top with a fun herringbone skirt.  The sweater top is great for keeping your dog warm and cozy and the front placket has a Velcro closure to make it easy to put on and take off.  The closure also has buttons sewn on for a classy look and the herringbone collar adds a lot of character.  It is easy to care for and may be washed in the machine.

Another fun holiday dress for your dog is the Preppy Stripe Dog Dress.  This adorable, sweater dress has a fun stripe detail at the waist and is available in a classic navy or cherrry red color.  Whether you choose the navy or the red, your dog will look cute in every picture, while staying warm.  This dress is also easy to care for and may be washed in the machine in cold water.

To keep your dog even warmer, choose a dressy coat like the Herring-Bone Sunday Dog Coat to coordinate with your dog’s dress.  This charming coat is made of 100% polyester with a 100% polyester fleece lining and has a faux-fur collar.  Your dog will be both warm and cute in this adorable coat.  When the coat gets dirty, just throw it in the washing machine in cold water and lay it flat to dry.

This holiday season is a great time to have fun with your dog by dressing her up in a classic dress.  Not only are these dresses cute for any special occasion, but they are great for keeping your dog warm.  For a great selection of dog clothes, check out GregRobert Pet Supplies.