Morris the cat speaks out about proper "cat petting" techinique!

You know until recently I was not a cat person. I've been a loyal #chihuahua and #minpin survivor for almost 20 years.  However, since the creation of Blue Pony Farm in early 2013 I have to say my cats are certainly working their way up the food chain. Recently 9Lives sent us a package of cat food to sample and I have to say my cats were overjoyed at finally getting some real "awards" that they deserve around the farm. Morris sent along an article I think you'll enjoy that pretty much sums up what its like living with a cat on a daily basis!

Pictured is Ghost one of our awesomeness barn kitties!

How to Pet a Cat (or Dog if Your Must)

By Morris the cat (9Lives)

One thing I've discovered throughout my years of living well is that more than a few humans could really benefit from cat-petting instruction. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s not a lesson they teach in school.

Although every cat is different and has a unique set of purr-worthy zones, us felines usually have some common petting preferences. So put down your smart phone. Fasten your seat belt. Make sure your seatbacks and tray tables are in their fully upright and locked positions. It's time to learn some life skills, people!

To bond with your cat — and receive a happy purr or friendly head butt, if you do it right -- follow my specific steps for these 9 must-learn and must-do cat petting techniques:


1. The Chin Chillin'

Purpose: Activate scent glands, assist with grooming
Popularized by: Jay Leno, Marlon Brando

Step 1: Locate the underside of the chin where the jawbone connects to the skull.
Step 2: Take one hand and scratch rapidly like your fingers are doing "The Riverdance."
Step 3: Listen for a Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. (Congratulations, you're doing it right!)


2. The Swedish Earmuffs

Purpose: Stimulate glands, release tension
Popularized by: Abba, Vince Vaughn

Step 1: Place your thumb and forefinger behind our ears.
Step 2: Rub them back and forth like Johnny Manziel after scoring a touchdown.
Step 3: Watch us melt into a purring ball of cuddles. (Hint: Drool is good!)


3. The Booty-O-Vator

Purpose: Therapeutic relaxation, triggering kitten memories
Popularized by: Jennifer Lopez, Sir Mix-a-Lot

Step 1: Locate your cat’s rear muscles, right above the tail.
Step 2: Squeeze your hands in and out like you’re kneading dough.
Step 3: Go slow and steady… this isn’t the latest Vin Diesel movie.

NOTE: When we position our rear towards you, it is an offer of camaraderie—much like a posterior Facebook “friend request.”


4. The Neckasaurus Rex

Benefits: Stress relief, cat-human bonding
Popularized by: Keira Knightley, Gweneth Paltrow

Step 1: Feel the spot at the base of your cat’s skull where the head meets the neck.
Step 2: Use your finger and thumb to create a circular motion for 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 3: Watch your cat rub his face against you like a little furry windshield wiper.


5. The Brain Hurricane

Benefits: Stimulates creativity, tends to end in napping
Popularized by: Natalie Portman, Danica McKellar

Step 1: Put your thumb and index finger on the top of your cat's head.
Step 2: Pretend you are a large lobster and gently pinch your thumb and index finger back and forth.
Step 3: Your cat will likely blink and nod in approval (and lucky you for having opposable thumbs!).


6. The Smooth Operator

Benefits: Muscle relaxation, back alignment
Popularized by: Marvin Gaye, Boyz II Men

Step 1: Place one hand in a flat position on the upper portion of your cat's back.
Step 2: Swoop your hand down the entire length of your cat's back saying “smooooth” as you do it.
Step 3: You may feel us stretch out our limbs and paws in kitty delight.


7. The Lumbardi Party

Benefits: Helps release toxins and chemicals, relieves the stress of chasing red laser dots
Popularized by: Rihanna, Vince Lombardi

Step 1: Put down your smartphone and place two hands on our lower back and sides.
Step 2: Position your fingers to form a cat-ready fine-tooth comb.
Step 3: Move your hands to and fro, pausing every so often to let us ask for more.

NOTE: I highly recommend pairing this petting experience with a follow-up nap in a nice sunny spot.


8. The Get Cheeky

Benefits: Social bonding, marks you with our scent glands
Popularized by: Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bundchen

Step 1: Locate your cat's temporal gland on the upper cheek between the eye and ear.
Step 2: Keep your fingers relaxed but firm and give your cat a nice scratch.
Step 3: Much like an NFL football player, you may become the recipient of a friendly head butt.


9. The Shoulderific

Benefits: Therapeutic massage
Popularized by: Michelle Obama, Ashley Greene

Step 1: Place two hands on your cat's back, one on each shoulder blade.
Step 2: Press inward with your palms and use soft circular movements (but don't press on the spine).
Step 3: Feel great about your rapid accumulation of positive kitty points and good cat karma.

Wanna know exactly what a cat sees? 

Check out my first 'catventure' where I am outfitted with cutting-edge wearable technology straight from Silicon Valley:

>>  The 'Cat's Eye View' Experience 

>>  http://www.9lives.com/catseyeview/

(Take two minutes to try "Cat's Eye View" ... you'll be laughing like crazy.)

And guess what? I'm now on social media. That's right, I can tweet and hashtag like the best of them (#YOL9 !!). So what are you waiting for, follow me back!

Disclosure: I was given a a copy of sample package of 9lives cat food for review, we were not compensated for this post in any other way. My opinions and comments on items we review are always my own and are never influenced by sponsors.

I think I'm in the doghouse.

I've been working so much lately and between Connor, school and the blog my poor puppies have been a bit neglected in the attention area. Pretty much me giving them attention has been a few kind words and some treats at lunchtime before I head off for school of sit down to do my work while Connor naps. I'm starting to feel a little guilty to be honest.

Quite possibly I could make it up to them by buying them some cool treats over at Red Dog House. I've actually been looking into buying them a great outdoor bed that would look fabulous out on our screened in porch. The dogs spend most of their time out there these days, I have the best back yard and a cool screened in porch with a doggie door so it seems a shame not to let them have their run of the yard. The only problem is finding a great looking bed that will hold up and not look like something the rat dragged in after just a few days outside. The first thing that caught my eye over at Red Dog House was the awesome Coney Island Outdoor Bed they have available. Sleek modern looking wide stripes would look amazing inside the house beside my black furniture or even better out on the sun porch and it would give us a space that at least for me is traditionally hard to decorate some extra style! I really need to add it to my Christmas wish list for them!

If your looking for some great stocking stuffers for your dogs or as gifts for friends there are tons of great options for those pampered pooches out there. The Natural Balance Conditioning Shampoo smells like something I would want to use in my own hair. I have a long haired chihuahua who is my pride and joy. Though not the first champion to grace my household he is certainly our first champion chihuahua and one of the most gorgeous creatures I've ever seen, but then again I'm partial. The only issue I have with him is all the time he spends laying in the grass leaves his hair dry and between the humidity in Alabama and his dried out hair from too much sunbathing it leaves his gorgeous long hair frizzy. It almost looks as if someone burned his hair with a curling iron. You'd never know if you saw him some days that he was even the great dog he is. I've just been having the worst time finding a shampoo that won't dry him out anymore and leave his hair looking better. The Natural Balance shampoo leaves him looking great, makes it way easier to brush him out later, and I'm fairly positive he smells better than I do after his baths. heh.

If your looking for a special treat for the the picky dog, or just a special dog on your list that may be a bit overweight the Wildside Salmon treats are not only a special luxury for your fur friends but Salmon is a great treat for any dog but its one of the treats I recommend for my overweight dog friends as its highly nutritious and its very low in fat. Though there are a handful of dogs that will not eat Salmon, *cough* Melos..., all of my dogs other than our little prince Melos who refuses to eat anything that even remotely resembles a "dog" treats loves it!

Check out the full selection over at Red Dog House, your bound to find something really awesome for your fur friends!

Red Dog House was kind enough to send me a jar of Super Easy Ear Wipes to give away to one reader! Lemon and Marigold scented it will leave your dogs ears smelling fresh and its so much easier to attempt to clean a dogs ears with a wipe verses risking using a qtip on a wiggly dog.

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out the Red Dog House and tell me what you would like to get your fur friend for christmas from their selection!
  
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
• For an extra entry :
• Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
• Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
• One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
• This contest will end Oct 30th at midnight!