My New Cat Scratcher/Lounger #SundaySelfie

My old scratcher/lounger was completely battered and warn out. The other day Mum spotted a deep hole in it. Worried that it might cause me harm - something about my lovely claws getting stuck - she ordered me a new one. About time, I say!

I love it to bits already, and you can see how much from the pics as I've clawed it a bit. That's what it's for isn't it? And it is so curved and comfy to lounge on too. It was cheaper than my old one by Petfusion - which doesn't seem to be available on Amazon anymore so Mum ordered me this one.

As you can see from my selfie below, I look great on it.

Hosted by The Cat on My Head

Hosted by Four-Legged Furballs & 15andmeowing

FRIENDELY FILL-INS

1. I am going to ____________ on ___________________.

2.The worst _____________ is _____________.

3. From my experience, _________ is worth its weight in gold.

4. _________ does not work for me.

Marie

1. I am going to dye my hair again soon. The grey roots are really showing now.

2.The worst experience is grief.

3. From my experience, the love of a pet is worth its weight in gold 💜

4. Positive thinking does not work for me. I've spent all my life trying to be positve but what's the point? Better to be realistic. 

Athena

1. I am going to bite Mum's leg tonight if she won't play with me at 2am..

2.The worst pain is hunger and fear when you are a tiny kitten being left to fend for yourself. That was my start in life. Luckily, Mum rescued me!💚

3. From my experience, a human you can rule over is worth its weight in gold.

4. Training does not work on me. I'm not a dog. Mum thinks she can't be trained, either. Maybe not by another human but by a cat like me - yes 😸

On My Cat Lounger #CaturdayArt

Happy Caturday 😻

Mum used the Prisma Gothic effect.

Check out the jigsaw too 😻

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Caturday Art is a chance for all pets and their humans to get creative

 with their photos. 

And if you're an artist you are free to share your animal art as well. We'd love to see it! But the focus of Caturday Art Blog Hop is to get artsy with your pet photos by adding filters (there are many free photo editors and apps available, as we're sure you all know.) Have fun!

This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here.

ART BOARD

available from our Redbubble store 

ADOPT DON'T SHOP! 

 Marie's Pet Adoption and Rescue Board on Pinterest!

Please always shop Cruelty-Free 

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Feline Friday, Friendly Fill-Ins and Foto Fail

Happy Feline Friday!

This post contains some affiliate links. Full disclosure here.

Here I am enjoying my cat PetFusion scratcher and lounger  Mum bought it for me back in 2016 and it's one of my fave things. We know it's very popular with lots of kitties!

Mum has it by her bed which is great because I can lounge around on it before jumping up onto the bed when it's time to nap or sleep. I sleep with Mum at night and during afternoon naptime. But if it's hot I prefer resting and lounging on my lounger! I also pose on it a lot!

Here's an arty version because Mum was bored. It's the Oil Painting DLX artsy filter from BeFunky.

It would look great for tomorrow's Caturday Art but Mum has another masterpiece planned for that,

Don't forget to get your art ready!

We are joining Feline Friday, which is hosted by Comedy Plus.

😻

We are joining the Friendly Fill-Ins, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

Friendly Fill-Ins

1. I would like to improve my ______________________________ skills.
2. My _____________ is _______________.
3. My current to-do list includes _________.
4. I finally _________.

MARIE
1. I would like to improve my singing, photography & video-making skills.
2. My anxiety is really bad lately.
3. My current to-do list includes quite a lot which overwhelms me.
4. I finally deleted my TikTok account. I don't like it and I just don't get it. It's clearly for the youngsters - not for a middle-aged woman like me! Also, how much more social media do I need?

ATHENA
1. I would like to improve my hunting skills.
2. My Mum is the best.
3. My current to-do list includes going out into the catio for some fresh air and sunshine, eating, getting a groom and some Reiki from Mum and then naptime (hopefully with Mum).
4. I finally got Mum to delete TikTok. All this social media crap is making her ill. Real life overwhelms her so why should she let the online world do that too? She is OK with blogging, Instagram, and Twitter, but the rest she can't be bothered with and shouldn't need to even bother! The world has too much Noise!

Pet Photo Fails

Mum was just too embarrassed to show this but it's a great one for the Pet Photo Fails which is hosted by Melissa and Mudpie.

Athena and Marie Amazon Store

Athena Cat Goddess is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

This Is Where You Will Find Me Most of the Time #caturdayart

Happy Caturday!

I spend most of my time in my Mum's bedroom/office. It's my room too. I have lots of my stuff in here. My PetFusion scratcher is right next to the bed. I also sleep on the bed with Mum and under the bed by myself.

I have lots of room to run and play, window sill to sit and watch some great birdie TV. I can even watch the birdies whilst laying on the bed. I have a great view of all my kingdom and I can have a nosy on the neighbours and other furries. So far I have spotted many dogs walking by with their humans on their way to the woods. I've also seen a couple of neighbour's cats walking in the road. They better keep their distance or else!

Mum used the Dawn art filter from LunaPic for this week's Caturday Art.

Here is the original.

Sunday Selfie, Cat World Domination Day, and Fill-Ins

Note: This post contains affiliate links. This blog doesn't run itself and I need to earn a little income if I spend hours on it. 

Happy Sunday and Cat World Domination Day!

I'm joining my furriend Summer and all my other cat pals today to celebrate Cat World Domination Day! What am I doing? Nothing really, just taking it easy on a Sunday just like any wise feline would. In my selfie below you can see me lounging on my PetFusion Cat longer/scratcher and hoping Mum takes it easy today too. Since moving to our new lovely home I always keep her company in our bedroom as she works hard at her desk in the corner.

 I have to watch over her because she hasn't been well lately.

You may have noticed that we don't post much now. It's not only because we've been extremely busy with the move but Mum hasn't been coping well with her depression and anxiety. She hasn't felt motivated to post in a long time. She says there's no point sometimes as both blogs cost too much in time and money to run and though she loves blogging, she needs to earn money as she is unable to work because of her illness. Working from home is the ideal for her, plus she really needs to be a stay at home mum to look after me!

Don't worry though because we are not going anywhere.  Mum loves blogging and all her blogging pals but has become so overwhelmed with her problems lately. Depression is so hard to explain to people that have never experienced it. She can't just "pull herself together" and "get on with it". Depression is an illness just like any other.

She wants to talk about what is really bugging her. And I'm doing it for her now. You see, she's had depression for years. And then anxiety followed, which has been getting a lot worse lately. Trying to sell our house really messed her up I think. But it's more than that.

Mum is agoraphobic and suffers from social anxiety. She cannot stay away from home for long. She manages to run a few errands now and then and goes shopping, but rarely on her own. Because of this, she can't work. She wants to work from home. Blogging isn't earning her a penny. Neither is writing. She's tried everything she feels she is good at but nothing works out. She feels such a loser. 

And her writing has suffered because of it. That's why she can't write books anymore and only manages a few longer posts here now and then. Writing was once her passion. A sense of failure has seen an end to that, I think.

She is looking for jobs to do at home that aren't scams. And of course, she would love a job that involves animals (especially cats!) I suggested cat sitter, even though the thought of her being affectionate with another cat and bringing home the scent of another feline makes me sick!

So, she is bravely opening up and putting this out there in the hope that someone might offer any advice. And by talking, she is hoping to help others in similar situations. 

Remember, we live in the UK (recently moved from London to Essex) but if she can earn any money online which isn't a scam then she would love it.

Mum is good at writing, photography, social media marketing, editing. She has an English degree and has recently completed a Level 3 Diploma in Cat Care and Behaviour. 

Of course, she is the owner of this blog and Purrs Full of Love and needs to pay for the running of these blogs. Affiliates and advertising haven't earned her enough if nothing at all. Does anyone actually make any money from affiliates and partnerships? And as for our Zazzle store CatGoddessDesigns and our RedBubble  store, just like Mum's books, her designs have only earned her a few quid. 

One thing many of you bloggers I'm sure can relate to is people approaching her to post stuff on our blog which is blatantly free advertising for them and don't want to pay for it. Mum ignores those emails now, but really she wants to tell them to do one! Mum is tired of working for free and she's lost count of how many of her books she has given away for free on Amazon.

The stress is real. Mum doesn't exaggerate. She feels guilty moaning about her problems as she knows there are people with worse problems out there. But she says she can't take all this stress anymore. The worry just piles on as well as the weight as she tends to overeat when worried and turns to wine in order to help her cope with anxiety. 

As a private person, she hates voicing her problems or posting anything about her personal life online. But keeping silent about these issues doesn't help anyone and just adds to the stigma.

Have a good day, everyone 💚

P.S. If you would like to work with us click HERE.

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My answers

1. My favourite scent is Mum.

2. I hope to get more treats this weekend.

3. Silence is music to my ears.

4. Home is where I feel safe with Mummy.

Mum's answers

1. My favourite scent is cinnamon (or maybe vanilla).

2. I hope to not be stressed this weekend.

3. Athena's purring is music to my ears.

4. Home is where I feel safe and happy and I don't really care if people think I'm boring because of it. 

Top 10 Must-Haves for Your Indoor Cats in 2018

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase any item through any of the links I will receive a small commission.

Top 10 Must-Haves for Indoor Cats

Mum wants to tell you all about these must-have items that will help to keep your indoor cats safe and happy all year round. January can be a boring month for both indoors and outdoor cats, so here is Mum to give you some ideas of what to buy your feline friend this month to get them sorted for the whole year and beyond!

***

Athena has most of these but I've chosen a few items I am thinking of purchasing in the near future. Of course, it goes without saying that you will also need a litter tray or two, depending on how many cats you have so I won't be mentioning these items here.

Instead, these must-haves are also important as they will help keep your beloved feline happy, healthy and contented,

I work from home, so I am always keeping Athena company. If I didn't I would be off to rescue another cat to keep her company as well (though how she'd react I don't know as she's used to being an only kitty).

Anyway on to our Must-Haves list...

1. Cat Scratcher/Lounger

Athena absolutely loves her PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge and to my delight (and my mother's) it has stopped her scratching the sofa and wallpaper. If only I bought it ages ago! I like it so much that once we move to our new house I will get her another one.

Athena lounging on her PetFusion lounger/scratcher

2. Water Fountain

I don't actually have one of these for Athena as I'm never out of the house for long so there isn't a problem keeping her water fresh and always available (from a mug because that's what the goddess wants!) However, this would be great if you are out of the house for long hours or at work as you can ensure that plenty of fresh drinking water for your pet is available at all times of the day or night.
The Cat Mate Fresh Water Drinking Fountain for Cats and Small Dogs seems a great choice to buy!

3. Automatic Pet Feeder

Another must-have for cats who spend most days alone while owners are out at work is the Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder with Digital Timer for Cats and Small Dogs As the name says, it's also suitable for small dogs and will serve meals at your pet’s normal meal times. All you need to do is program the digital timer to the required meal times.

4. Cat Shelf

Cats love to climb and these CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Lounge Handcrafted Wall mounted Cat Tree Shelves, are so purrfect for your acrobat kitty as it gives her or him a superb outlet for their climbing needs. And this one has a cute little hammock for your kitty to take naps on.  

5. Cat Radiator Bed

As we know, cats really hate the cold so how about this cute Radiator Cat Bed for your little one? Athena has quite a few beds but she rarely uses them as she prefers my bed every time. I also have a special chair with a cushion made by my mum for her to sleep on right near the radiator in the living room. I'm pretty certain most cats would love the radiator bed though.

6. Cat Grass

Athena loves kitty grass and I love that I can purchase Vitakraft Cat Grass 120 g (Pack of 6) at a reasonable price! Cat grass is great for your cat's digestion as it adds roughage to the diet as well as helping to prevent hairballs in the stomach. It also adds essential vitamins and minerals to the cat's diet.

7. Cat Multilevel Cat tree

 Cats need to climb and scratch so this Cozy Pet Deluxe Multi Level Cat Tree Scratcher Activity Centre Scratching Post looks purrfect!  I don't actually own this particular tree. Athena's tree/scratching post in the main photo at the top of this post comes from Zooplus. She's posed on it many times for this blog!

8. Bozita Indoor and Sterilised Cat Food

This Indoor & Sterilised Bozita cat food from Sweden will provide your pet with vital vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids, as well as taurine. This excellent high-quality wet cat food is available in different varieties and has been specially developed to suit your cat’s lifestyle. This one is for house cats, senior cats, and neutered cats and helps your indoor cat maintain her ideal weight and has 93 % meat content. Athena loves it! I like to purchase it from Zooplus but if you want to buy from Amazon click on the following link: 16 x 190g Indoor & Sterilised Feline Tetra Pak Saver Pack Bozita Wet Cat Food 

9. Interactive Cat Feeder

This Catch Interactive Cat Feeder looks like great fun for your kitty and will no doubt keep them entertained as it will give them the chance to act out their hunting instinct. NORTHMATE® Catch feeder also encourages your cat to eat more slowly. I'm thinking of buying this for my little huntress!

10. Exercise Wheel

A bit pricey maybe but I thought I'd include it here anyway because I believe it to be a fun product and if I could afford it (and if I had space) I would certainly consider it. However, the Cat in Motion in anthracite - Running wheel for cats would probably only impress Athena for a day or two as she does tire of most things quickly.I could do with something like this myself, but obviously, it's too small for a 5ft 7in human!

So that's ten must-haves for your indoor kitty that will help ensure that they get adequate exercise and keep the boredom from setting in. There are also many cat toys out there that I'm sure your little darling will appreciate.

Athena has loads of toys - from feather fishing rod types to all sorts of balls and catnip filled toys. The thing is, she gets bored easily (takes after me!) and in the end, all it takes to keep her happy and playful is a new box, paper bag, or any old ribbon that I might pull along the floor for her, mimicking prey which really thrills her. Oh, and she loves laundry/clothes pegs!

Anything you can add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!