Conference misery::feline

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

    Awhile back I recommended Control cat litter, because it seemed to be
    very good at controlling odor and at absorbing urine (instead of
    forming a muddy mess.)  However, the last 3 or 4 bags I bought (I buy
    them in bunches) had a very strong smell, like some cleaning product,
    and my cats were walking around with their feet turned dusty green from
    the green particles in the litter, apparently.
    
    The 800 number lady for this product said this shouldn't happen, and to
    stop using the litter.  I have no idea how widespread this problem is,
    or how serious it is, but having recommended Control in the first place
    I thought I ought to report it.
    

    This is a note of caution about the new "sand-type" litters that form
    clumps that can be scooped out of the litter box, thus reducing smells,
    etc.  My Sweetie had a respiratory problem aggravated by this type of
    litter, and someone else reported that her cat had a severe eye problem
    develop when using it.
    

                        
    I'm looking for some advice on automatic feeding dishes.
    
    In one of the catalogs I receive, I came across an automatic
    pet feeding dish.  It has several compartments for food, with 
    cold packs underneath to keep food fresh and a timed, rotating
    cover to expose the food.  
    
    Has anyone had any experience with this type of thing?  Does
    it work?   Has anyone seen one in a store (I hate buying things
    from a catalog!)
    
    Tx for your help,
    
    Jan

    The topic of automatic feeding dishes didn't seem to get much of a 
    response in 1992, but let's try again.
    
    I'm looking for an automatic feeder that can dispense dry food at 
    least twice a day for a 2 day period.  I'm looking for something that
    we can set up for when we go away on day trips or on an over-nighter.
    
    One of our cats eats only when she's hungry, the other cat would eat
    all day if we let her.  At the risk of one cat going hungry and the 
    other gorging herself (and getting fatter!) I thought a feeder would
    be a good investment. 
    
    I've called a couple of places in Nashua and the prices range from
    $40 - $65 depending whether you get the one or two day feeder and
    whether it dispenses twice a day or 4 times a day.
    
    Does anyone have any recommendations for feeders?  
    
    Thanks - Sharon 

    
    I know this isn't going to help much as I am in Scotland but I have a
    clockwork automatic food dispenser which serves six meals over 36
    hours.  They cost 10 pounds here and are well worth the money.
    
    I only use it about 4 times a year but it is good to have incase of
    emergency and I have never had any problems with it.
    
    I am sure you must have the same thing in the states!
    
    Kirsty
    

    
    re .5 - I know this subject has been discussed elsewhere in this
    conference, because I entered a note providing information about such a
    product but it wasn't in this thread.  But exactly where?  Your guess
    is as good as mine...
    
    len.
       

    The pedigrees catalog has them. Also, if you are in the greater maynard
    area, you could pick one up at Haddleigh House in Sudbury (1776 Boston
    Post Road, i.e., Rt 20)
    
    The cost would be about the same, but you would avoid the shipping and
    handling charges.
    
    Deb

	Is the feeder run by battery or by electric? If electric, does it pick
up where it left off when the electricity comes back on? 


Glen

    I'm not sure, Glen, but (based on my viewing of "Are You Being Served"
    :-} ) I think that in the UK "clockwork" means wind-up.  That may be
    why he mentions 36 hours (that's how long the spring stays wound?). 
    
    Leslie

    Whoops, sorry Kirsty, I meant *she*!
    
    Leslie

	Oh, that's cool Leslie. Then there should be no problems...well, unless
you stay away longer! :-)

    
    
    Leslie,
    
    Your definition of clockwork is correct.  I hope you don't think all
    our programmes are as bad as "Are you being served"!!
    
    Kirsty

    
    I have a couple of those Flexi-Mat Corporation CatNapper cat "shelves"
    that you attach (via a velcro fastener) to the window sill so the cats
    can sit in the sun and survey their domain.  The cats love them.  But
    the CatNappers are located right next to the bookcases that Rocky likes
    to lounge on top of, and he often uses them as a launching pad or
    springboard for his headlong rushes up the drapes, and as a landing pad
    when he jumps back down.  The shock is sometimes too much for the
    CatNapper's legs, and Rocky has managed to break five of them.  At
    first I bought an additional CatNapper to replace the legs, but after
    five, it seemed I needed a more efficient strategy (breaking Rocky of
    this habit has never been a consideration).
    
    So I wrote to Flexi-Mat, asking, since they were willing to sell
    replacement covers, were they willing to sell replacement legs?  I
    enclosed a picture of the five broken legs (Floyd served as my
    photographer's assistant, and insisted on being in the picture, but I
    explained that Floyd was not the guilty party).
    
    I expected that after a month a so, I'd get a letter from someone
    saying, sorry we don't sell replacement legs, and our product's not
    designed to catch chunky cats leaping from on high.
    
    So, you can imagine my surprise when within a few days, I got a letter
    from Flexi-Mat's customer service department saying, "our product's
    unconditionally guaranteed, four replacement legs are on their way to
    you at no charge, sorry if you've been in any way inconvenienced"!
    
    Last night a packaged arrived via UPS containing *six* replacement
    legs!                                 
    
    Now, that's what I call customer service.
    
    len.
     

    This is great news. I have two of them. We have some broken
    legs as well - Conan who is very large kitty does her leaps from the
    dining room table, and the stress on the legs is too much. Conan has
    really short stubby legs and can't go from floor to shelf. She has  to
    be on a chair or something. I tried all sorts of ways to repair those
    legs, but they don't last. I was about to send for a new cover, but now I
    am going to also ask about legs. I felt as you, I'd just have to buy an 
    entire new shelf eventually.
    Thanks
    Linda

Perhaps Flexi-mat(?) will eventually design heavier legs so they won't break as
easily.

    
    The letter they sent me said the legs *had* been redesigned, but I
    can't see how the changes will affect the particular failure mode I've
    been seeing.  It's a classic stress concentration problem; all five legs
    failed in exactly the same place.  I think some kind of internal
    reinforcement is necessary, but that would probably require a major
    change to their manufacturing process.  They apparently do not see this
    as a frequent enough problem to warrant this.
    
    len.
    

    Our boys got one for Christmas and someone (Veto, I suspect) broke a
    leg by New Year's.  The listing Napper still supported Veto for weeks,
    and then I finally got a Round Tuit and bought a new Napper, whose legs
    have (knock on wood) survived for several months now.  The boys even
    share it occasionally (total kittenage only about 25#).
    
    It's great to hear that they'll send free legs, but I'd *pay* if they'd
    make optional replacement legs out of metal instead of plastic.
    
    Leslie

    
    For lack of a better note I'll ask the question here.....
    
    Have you ever, or would you ever allow your cat (under supervision) to
    wear a bandana?  Why or why not?
    
    If you do or would, what prints would appeal to you?
    
    Would you buy a refillable cat toy?
    
    Any input is greatly appreciated!
    
    MaryAnne

    My boys aren't really bandana cats (I've always thot that was a dog
    thing), although I have put a bow-tie on Kostas for a formal picture
    (he really looks good in it, too). I'm not uually one for dressing up
    cats.
    
    As for refillable toys, yes. I have some hollow, wooden catnip balls
    that you put your own catnip in. Also we have the big blue mouseie and
    the big pink mouseie (these are about the size of an 8 month old cat).
    they are furry with a small zipper on the bottem. When you open the
    zipper, you find a seperate refillable puouch for catnip). My cats love
    these mousies and drag them all over the house.
    
    Deb

    No, I wouldn't.  Too easy for the cat to hang him/herself if
    the bandana got caught on something.
    

    
    If my cat(s) would cooperate I would love to take a pic of him wearing
    a bandana! A print of a cat beating on a dog would be a cute print. 
    
    I have an almost all pure white cat.  I bought him a black bow tie and
    he looks snazzy in it! 
    
    My kitties like the refillable catnip toys so I would have to say, yes,
    I like refillable toys.
    
    Nancy
    

Re. 19:

Banadana, no...I see no reason to dress my cats.

Refillable toys, yes.  I have a refillable ball for catnip.  Under normal
circumstances though, I make my own cat toys with catnip inside.

Laura    

    
    re. dressing a cat...
    
    When my daughter was playing with dolls, she used to 
    put doll clothes and bonnets (cabbage patch size) on 
    the cats. It was rather neat...and the cats let her
    dress them...
    
    
    Eva

    Re:  cats vs. bandanas
    
    The Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley sometimes puts 
    bandanas on their adoptable cats to dress them up a bit
    and make them look extra cute for prospective new parents.
    I was making my normal every 3 day rounds one night and
    noticed that an adorable black kitty was doing something
    odd with his mouth.  Closer inspection showed that he
    had gotten a string from the bandana (which was starting
    to fray (sp?)) caught on one of his bottom fangs and he
    couldn't get his mouth closed.  He was a friendly little 
    guy so I reached into his cage and moved the string off
    his teeth.  I made a note of his room and cage and bandana
    color and let one of the employees know about the problem.
    They promised to remove the bandana so it wouldn't be a
    problem in the future.
    
    So, bandanas are cute but they don't seem to be a good idea
    unless they're in good condition and kitty has someone to
    make sure he/she doesn't get hung up in it.
    
    Jan