Conference misery::feline_v1

    I'll begin.
    
    
    PRODUCT:  Kitty Privy Litter System (or something like that)
    
    I decided to take a risk and purchase this system while at the
    Lexington cat show.  It was being sold by Chinacat Cattery for
    $35.  The guy seemed like a little bit of a b*llsh*tter, but
    he said he uses it in his cattery of 27 cats and he went on
    and on about how wonderful it is, so...I bought it.
    
    It's difficult to describe it physically, but here goes...
    it's a regular size box that has small 'holes' in the bottom.
    It sits/fits on top of a very shallow 'pan' type thing.
    The litter that goes with the system is supposedly made from
    corn husks (or something like that) that are coated with an
    oil-type substance, making the litter non-absorbent.  That's
    right, the litter does not absorb anything.
    
    The way that it works is that the urine passes through
    the litter, out the holes, and into the pan.  The coating
    on the litter provides a barrier, so that no urine odor
    comes through.  You can either empty the pan daily or
    put newspapers in the pan and replace daily.  The 'pan'
    part is the only thing that would need to get washed regularly.
    Supposedly, the litter is good for 1+ years, only requiring an
    occasional rinse with water.  As for solid matter, you remove
    as you would with regular litter.  You do lose a little bit
    of the litter this way, but not much.
    
    Well,  this consumer rates the Kitty Privy as a dismal failure.
    My biggest fear, come true, was that my cats would refuse to
    use it.  They will urinate it in, albeit reluctantly, once in a
    while, but they refuse to defacate in it.  I've had it out now
    for 3-4 weeks, and I've had to put a box of their 'old-style'
    litter back out.  I put the two of them together in hopes that
    they may still 'consider' using the 'new' box.
    
    
    The consistency of the litter itself is quite different from the
     standard litters and the stuff that it is coated with has it's own
     unique, somewhat offensive, odor.  This dissipates quite a bit
    after it's been out for several days though.  It does work quite
    well as a barrier to the odor in the pan below.  There is no urine
    smell at all associated with the box.
    
    Donna

    More.
    
    PRODUCT:  Kitty Tease
    
    Every cat owner should have one.
    
    Donna

    Good timing!  I just bought a *huge* cat tree, and I wish I could
    display a picture of ALL my cats climbing all over it and peeking
    out from the perches and "houses" built on it.
    
    It is STURDY.  *I* could perch on it and it wouldn't tip over. 
    I had it custom made (no extra cost -- the cost is based on size
    and materials, regardless of custom-made or not) with a non-pile
    carpet covering and lots of heavy wood logs.  [I have found that
    whereas people might like pile carpeting, my cats have all preferred
    coverings more like burlap or non-pile woven rugs.]  Three of us
    struggled to get it into my house: it must weigh over 200 pounds!
    
    The vendor is rather new, and they tend to show up at cat shows.
    
    They are trying to "become known" and so they will give a commission
    to breeders who refer customers.  So, if anyone wants to "be referred"
    by me, I'll be happy to let you get the benefit of the reduced price.
    
    I'll post the name/address (somewhere in Maryland) later -- I don't
    have it with me now.
    
    	Penelope

    Re: .2
    About 6 months before Kitty Tease appeared at the cat shows I took
    a piece of the plastic rod they are putting at the bottom of window
    shades these days.  I tied a piece of nylon cord (cotton will work)
    to the end, knotted the free end about an inch from the end and
    frayed the cord at the end.  Drives the cats wild, will "retrieve"
    a cat hiding under the couch, and costs about 50 cents.  I'm sorry
    I didn't patent the thing since Kitty Tease and Pocket Tiger sell
    for about 5 or 6 dollars.
    
    Frank
    
    

    RE: .3
    
    Penelope,
    
    Are the people from Aberdeen, MD? If so, the ones I saw were very
    nice, but a  couple of their displays were made from green wood.
    Is yours seasoned wood? Do other readers think this matters?
    
    Bryan

    re: .5
    
    Yes, they are from Aberdeen.  I didn't check if the wood was green
    or not.  Does (might) this make some kind of difference?  My cats
    seem much more interested in the climbing/perching/peering out than
    in scratching either the fabric or the wood, but I suspect that
    they will "remember" the scratching when the novelty wears off.
    
    How can I tell if it is green wood?  (The few places where there
    had been a branch removed, etc., so that the bark was not there,
    it looked [to my ignorant eye] that the wood was dried out, but
    I'm not quite sure what to look for.)
    
    The funniest part was convincing them (the cats) that it was OKAY!!!
    to prowl around on it.  The first time I left them alone with it,
    when I returned Nutmeg and Tag *flew* out/off it, just as if they
    had been caught in the china cabinet or something!  I kept placing
    them on it and making gentle sounds like "Yes, baby, its for YOU!"
    until they got the idea!  The kittens, however, didn't hesitate
    for a moment, except that they occasionally got stranded on a high
    spot and would cry to be helped down.

    RE: 3,6
    
    Sounds like a fun investment!  I have purchased 3 or 4 small pieces
    from these folks - I also worried about the green wood and discussed
    it with the vendor at the Boston Show - they said that their stuff
    is 100% guaranteed and that if for any reason you have problems
    with it they will replace the item - I don't know about refunds.
    I purchased (at the Boston show) an adorable rocker basket - looks
    like a shallow basket to carry flowers in (carpeted) - half a tube
    with a handle - touch it and it rocks! the babies & big kids love
    it (all ten of them)- no wood on this piece - sturdy and attractive.
    They should have a couple of new pieces out soon - they are open
    to ideas and suggestions from customers.
    

    Product: Deluxe Kitty Playground, II
    Price: $179	(5 years ago; they will give a 5% discount if you pay
    		 by check rather than credit card)
    
    company:   
    Abeta Products, Inc
    503 Miltwood Drive Dept Cf7
    Greensboro, NC 27408

    The Deluxe Kitty Playground II is the one that you see pictured
    in Abeta's ad in Cat Fancy magazine. It has a tall tree with a middle
    box (4 holes) and a top platform, an box on a short pole (top about
    3' off the ground), a scratching post with two tether balls, and
    a short platform about 6 inches off the ground. Along with being
    a tipproof design, it also has a tension pole. It is SOLID wood
    construction, and good quality carpet. No particleboard or cardboard
    or staples. I sent them a sample of my carpet and they did a very
    good job matching the color. The cats love it (I'm thinking of getting
    a second one for upstairs).
    
    On the negitive side, while they give you an excellent product,
    it takes forever to receive it. 10 weeks after I sent in my order
    I called them about it. (I suspect they are a cottage industry because
    I called on a Sunday and the person that answered the phone said
    something about having to go into the liveing room to get the order
    book.) I received by playground 3 weeks later. Seeing Gus and Pip
    playing on it (and seeing how it has held up) made the wait worth
    while. Also, a co-worker of mine purchased a tree from them and
    was a bit irked that while it took 10 weeks to get the tree, they
    charged his credit-card for the tree almost immediatly.
    
    Bottom line, the cats love it so I do also.
    
    Deb
    
    
    
    

    RE < Note 654.2 by VAXWRK::DUDLEY >
    
>    PRODUCT:  Kitty Tease
>    
>    Every cat owner should have one.
    

    Um, what is it...? (she asked ignorantly)

						-- Nina

    Nina,
    
    The Kitty Tease is a length of flexible glass rod, similar to a
    sawed off fishing rod tip, 3 to 4 feet long with a piece of thread
    tied to it and a piece of ribbon or fluff tied to the free end.
    
    I prefer to use nylon cord with the free end frayed.  Less likely
    to cut the cat's paws or lips when playing.
    
    Frank
    

I have purchased an air purification system from Alpine Air Products. I got the 
model 150 which cost me $422 including shipping and the governor's unfair share.

This product is classified as the "next generation" of air purification systems.
It has combined an ionizer with an ozone generator. Basically, airborne particles 
like dust, pollen and bacteria are electrically charged (ionized) to remove them
from the breathable. Ozone breaks down (oxidizes) impurities in the air. It
will destroy mildew mold, fungi and bacteria. Ozone rids the air of harmful
smoke and odors caused by cooking, pets, disease and chemical processes.

The net effect is that an the indoor air environment becomes similar to
places where humans fee the best like the seashore, mountains, near lakes, etc.

You can control the amount of ozone that gets generated; you might turn it up
when some noxious odor becomes present (burned food, cigar smoke, etc). Results
occur almost immediately.

The cost of operation has been between $1-$2 on my monthly electric bill. To be
really effective, it should be left on 24 hours a day. It has a fan but the
fan is very quiet, even when turned all the way up. 

Maintenance is easy; I vacuum the back of it once a month. At some point I will
need to wash the filters in mild dish soap and water. It doesn't take up much
room; I would guess it is about 8x8x12, and has a nice solid wood (not veneer)
casing.

You can write for more details to 220 Reservoir St, Needham Heights, MA 02194,
or call (800) 628-2209. They advertise in CATS magazine. The add has a little
line drawing of snowcapped mountains, a spruce tree and a rising sun with the
words ALPINE  Air for Cats on it.

Anyhow, I am very satisfied with it.

Deb

    Well, on Deb's recommendation, I contacted the Alpine Air Products
    Corp.  Having a cattery with anywhere from 10 to 20 cats can cause
    quite a "pollution problem" if you know what I mean.
    
    The gentleman came to my house to demonstrate the Alpine Air product,
    and then allowed me to keep the model for several days to see how I
    liked it.
    
    Well, it's fantastic!!!  This has got to be the best invention yet. 
    It cleared the air within a matter of minutes, and has kept the room
    odorfree for several days now.
    
    Because of the cat count in my house, they suggested the next model up
    from Deb's, the C150, which is $100 more at $499 + tax instead of $399,
    but this will probably be the best $500 I spend not only for odor
    control, but for the general health of both the cats and ourselves.
    
    Thanks Deb, for the recommendation.
    
    cin...
    

    So, does the one unit work for the entire house?  Do they have payment
    plans?  Do they have a California representative?
    
    I got the info in mail, and took it home and looked through it.
    I would like to try it too, but don't have the bucks to buy it outright
    right now.
    
    Jo

    They reccommend that you put the unit in the highest part of the house
    and that in about 24 hours it will take care of the entire house. I've
    left mine down stairs (becuase that is where the rugs they keep
    throwing up on are, as well as most of the litter boxes), and it does a
    good job for the downstairs. When I get some $$$$$$$, I'll get a second
    one for downstairs.
    
    As for a Calif rep/payment plan, why not call the 800 number and ask?
    (Consider that they are out of MN and Cin & I are in MA.
    
    Deb