If you switch around the letters in the word PETS you get PEST. Granted, I’m writing this after getting up with the dog no less than four times last night. In his defence, he had an upset stomach. Treating the cat’s litter box like an all-u-can-eat buffet will do that.
The other robber of sleep this week is our cat. Kevin has been embracing his nocturnal side and waking me up at all hours of the night to ‘suggest’ I feed him or to just lie on my face.
We’ve never had a cat so we’re on a bit of a learning curve. Litter box protocol, kitty food, the outdoor/indoor cat debate, weird meowing, insect stalking, unprovoked pouncing, and sandpaper tongue licks are all new pet territory.
- I can deal with scooping poop out of sandbox in my laundry room.
- I can handle the occasional hive or sneeze resulting from fur up my nose.
- I am okay with being spontaneously licked, pawed and/or sat on.
The thing I can not accept is my sleep being disrupted by these animals living under our roof, roof (see what I did there?). I’m exhausted and clearly making super lame pun choices.
Anyway, I have come up with a few options.
1. Sleep in my car.
2. Take these fur balls on a one way drive to the pound.
3. Switch up our bedroom door with a soundproof metal door.
4. Stay awake all night and sleep all day.
Not great options.
So here’s what I’m trying instead.
Roger the Dog:
a) Walk him before bed so he’s more tired and less “walk around our bedroom clacking toenails on the wood floor all nighty.”
b) Attempt to restrict his access to Kevin’s “sandy chocolate bounty.”
c) Make sure his fluffy blanket is in his upstairs bed since he’s like a toddler who can’t sleep without it.
Kevin the Cat:
I can’t keep Kevin out of our room—we have to keep our door open to be able to hear our daughter (long story). I can fall back to sleep after he pops in to say hello, but when he starts meowing at 5am to be fed, well that I can’t ignore. Luckily, we have found a solution and it’s freaking life changing.
We set up an automatic pet feeder! We’re using the Eatwell 5 Meal Pet Feeder and it’s outstanding. It’s battery operated and has five portioned sections for Kevin’s kibbles.
All you have to do is fill each section with dry food (this will work for cats and dogs but Roger is a finicky eater so this wouldn’t work for him) and then set the current time (you only have to do this once) and the time(s) you want your pet to eat. We do 5 AM (WHILE I’M SLEEPING!!) and 5 PM which is great for Kevin if we’re out at the kids’ activities so he doesn’t have to wait. God forbid…
At the designated feeding time, the unit will rotate to allow access to one
of the pre-filled food sections = satiated cat & well-rested cat owner.
As long as you make sure the batteries are always charged and the sections are filled with kibbles, you can rely on this feeder to feed your pet for you every day.
You’ll notice we put the feeder up high on the counter so Kevin (I had no idea cats can jump so freakishly high!) can access his food and dine at his leisure without the risk of Roger eating his food.
And… to ensure they always have plenty of fresh water, we’re using a Drinkwell Avalon Pet Fountain in their animal lair (aka our laundry room). Roger will go a whole day without drinking from his regular water bowl. But, put him outside and he’ll happily drink from our ornamental garden fountain—the one with stinky pond scum scented water. Gross. Between the mildewy water and “cat treats” his breath can peel paint. Anyway, this fountain is FABULOUS! Since the water is pumped through a charcoal filter and is always moving, it’s super fresh. Pets can drink directly from the bowl or lap from the waterfall.
Warning: If you are trying to increase your own water intake like I am, the sound of trickling water may “get to you.” If you know what I mean. Not to worry, you can unplug it whenever you want and your pets can still drink for the bowl, old school. *I also unplug it at night and if we’re going to be away from home for a full day—you don’t have to, but I don’t like to leave anything electrical running when I’m not home or conscious.*
On a final furry and funny note… this Amy Schumer skit! Seriously, if you haven’t seen it, you have to watch it. I howled. The dogs did too. My rescue dogs. I’m not kidding when I admit that we have a “Who Rescued Who?” magnet on our mini-van. I thought it was sweet, but now I can’t stop laughing whenever I look at it.
Click HERE to watch this hilarious Amy Schumer skit about doggie daycare one uppers. LOL!
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[…] used pet supplies from Petsafe in the past (the self-cleaning cat litter box and automatic cat feeder are pet game changers) and they generously sent us a collar to try. I’m thrilled to report […]