Category: Cats

Posts just about cats.

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DIY: Round Recycled Cardboard Cat Scratcher

I’ve always thought I should make my own cat scratchers out of the cardboard boxes we have collected.  It seems crazy to buy cardboard scratchers , because–Hello?!  You want how much for what’s basically pieces of cardboard glued together??!!  But, I also wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of hot-gluing a bazillion strips of cardboard myself.  That would seriously get in the way of reading the subtitles for the Korean dramas to which I’ve gotten addicted.

This lovely tutorial is for a round cat scratcher! You have to coil the strips of cardboard tightly and then just tape the ends.  Sweet!  I can do that and read subtitles–no problem!  You can decorate the outside edge of the scratcher too so it doesn’t look like some freaky hunk of cardboard in your living room.  It’ll look like a decorated freaky hunk of cardboard!

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The FDA Recall Policy

It’s important to understand how FDA recalls work.  These voluntary recalls are not exactly voluntary, which isn’t at all clear to most people.  There are two problems, first the recalls are called voluntary because the FDA has no power to demand a recall.  The FDA doesn’t actually require recalls, they request them.  If a company refuses, the FDA can seize product and shut down operations.*  So, technically all recalls are voluntary.  However, because of liability issues, companies pretty much have to conduct a recall or face litigation and a court ordered recall.  So not so voluntary.**  

And this is important because secondly, the term ‘voluntary’ implies the danger of the product may not be all that great, that the company had a choice about the recall, that the company is recalling the product out of the goodness of their heart.   

For more information, here is are:

*[“The FDA can order a recall only under unusual circumstances. These include, but are not limited to, infant formula recalls, medical tissue product recalls (such as skin graft cultures) and medical device recalls where there’s a significant risk to a patient if the device is not used in its mandated and recommended way.”]

**(The exception is if the company initiates the recall first and informs the FDA, which tends to happen when the company conducts their own internal testing.  This sort of recall IS voluntary in the true sense of the word.)

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Recalls: Merrick, United Pet Group, Feline’s Pride, PetSafe Pet Bed


Merrick Beef Filet Squares


The FDA requested the recall of Beef Filet Squares for Dogs in 10 oz. plastic bags of marked with “Lot # 10084TL7 Best By Mar 24, 2012” on the top of the bag and on a sticker on the bottom.  The FDA tested samples collected from bags bought in a store and the sample tested positive for Salmonella.  For refund, return unused portion to place of purchase.

But wait, there’s more!  Food Safety News has a pretty damning article on Merrick.  In June, the FDA sent a warning letter to Merrick criticizing their handling of the January recall which was also due to Salmonella contamination.  The FDA finds fault with Merrick, stating:

  • Your firm delayed your public communication to alert consumers who may have the recalled product in their possession until after FDA issued an FDA Health Alert on January 14, 2010.
  • Your recall communications to distributors, retailers, and consumers only included case lot coding 9323, which was different from the lot coding on some of the individual bags. Due to a labeling error, some of the affected bags were coded with the lot code 9333.
  • Your recall letter did not identify the hazard involved. Your letter to wholesale and retail consignees indicated the product was recalled because it “may not have been processed properly.” Recalls can be less effective if the recall communication does not concisely explain the reason for recall and the hazard involved.

It’s this sort of arrogant response form a company that ticks me off.  Looks like the snarky comment (by Ken Wilks who said he was a Merrick employee) on my post about the 1st recall was indeed a load of crap.


United Pet Group—Includes 56 differently named products made for multiple brands


This one is a doosy.  The recall started out for just Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement tablets for dogs 100-count, UPC code 26851-01800 & expiration dates on or before “06/13”, but has been expanded—big time.  (I want to point out though, that this recall was initiated by the company after their own internal testing came up positive for Salmonella and the company itself decided to expand the recall.)

The expanded recall includes 55 more products.  I strongly encourage you to check the FDA’s list to make sure something you use isn’t affected.

Consumers who have any recalled products should contact United Pet Group or the place of purchase for further instructions. United Pet Group at 1-877-399-5226, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST.


Feline’s Pride Raw Food Natural Chicken Formula


Due to possible Salmonella contamination, Feline’s Pride is recalling one of their frozen products—Feline’s Pride Raw food with ground bone for cats and kittens, Natural Chicken Formula, Net Wt. 2.5 lbs., produced on June 10. It’s packaged in uncoded plastic containers and sold frozen to private customers nationwide. This recall affects only  orders placed and shipped from June 10-17.  It’s not clear from the announcement whether the Salmonella was detected through internal testing or through FDA testing.

If you have product affected by this recall, seal it on a plastic bag and dispose of it in a secure, lidded trash can.  Wash your hands thoroughly.

If you have questions or need a refund, contact the company at (716) 580-3096, Monday –Friday from 10 am – 4 pm EDT.


PetSafe Pet Bed Power Adapters


U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling the power adapters used with PetSafe Heated Wellness Sleepers sold at pet stores, in catalogs and online from September 2006 through April 2010, for between $70 and $110.  The recall is because when the metal connector is removed from the bed, it can cause arcing between the coil spring and the connector, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.  Yikes!

The recalled power adapters are identified by the markings “HON-KWANG”, “PLUG IN CLASS 2 TRANSFORMER”, “MODEL NO: K12-800” and have a spring coil covering the length of the electrical wire. Heated Wellness Sleepers with power adapters without springs are not affected by this voluntary recall.

The beds themselves have either Hunter Green/Sand, Military Blue/Sand and Khaki/Sand covers and have a jacquard PetSafe logo stitched to the center front. Additional product labels include the Radio Systems Customer Care phone number.

Consumers should stop using these products immediately and call Radio Systems Corporation’s Customer Care at 1-800-732-2677 for instructions on how to receive a free replacement power adapter with the return of the old power adapter.

You can also mail your old power adapter to the following address with your name, address, phone number, and other contact information, and they will ship a new power adapter to you:
Radio Systems Corporation
Attention: Recall
10427 Electric Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37932

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Music For Furred Ones

First Laurie Anderson & Lou Reed had a musical “inter-species social gathering”—a concert for dogs and their people—outside the Sydney Opera House.

Now Devo has had a Cat Listening Party for their new album Something For Everyone that was streamed live.  You can see video of the “event”. How to describe it.  Riveting?  Not so much.  I do like the velvety, blue Devo hat feline furniture though. 

(Full disclosure:  I didn’t watch the 9hrs. of streaming video.)

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