We used the new booster seat on the way to and from Agility class last night. Stan was a little confused about why he couldn’t get to my lap, but once he figured it out, he snuggled right in to the new bed! It is so plush and cozy!
The inside clip attaches right to his harness and keeps him in the bed. I love that the side facing the dashboard is taller to give him a bit of cushion if something did happen. Stanley isn’t a big fan of the AC vents, so the taller front also blocks him from that a bit which is nice. Having the side facing me a bit lower gives him a chance to sit up like this, and makes it easy for me to reach in and pat him.
And on the way home, tired after his agility runs, the side makes a nice pillow, and he can still keep an eye on me.
I think this is going to be a fantastic addition to my dog care items. So nice to not have him loose in the car, and to know he has a super cozy spot to call his own.
I’m going to try to be better about updating my Instagram, so feel free to check me out there as well at petmomma.co
I recently bought the ZOMISIA Dog Car Seat for Small Dogs, and after a bit of a bumpy start, I’m officially a fan.
At $29.99, the price was hard to beat, and right out of the box the outer covering felt well-made — rugged, durable, strong stitching, and not at all cheap-feeling. My only hiccup: the listing says the cushions need 24-72 hours to fully fluff up after being vacuum-packed, but mine just weren’t puffing up no matter how long I waited. I decided to take a chance and exchange it for a new one. Amazon customer service was great as usual. I had a new booster the day after I requested it.
Best decision ever. The replacement arrived and the cushions started fluffing up almost immediately — a totally different experience from the first one. So glad I gave it a second shot! I will say a review I read said to put the cushions in the booster when they have started plumping up, but not gotten to full size to make it easier, and that was really helpful when putting it together.
Size-wise, this thing is not small, but it will be great for Stan to have a little stretch room. It takes up the entire passenger seat, which is perfectly fine when it’s just me and Stan riding together. Now that the cushions have puffed up properly, it’s incredibly plush and looks so cozy.
One thing I really dug into before buying: safety. I’ve learned there are very few dog car seats on the market that are actually crash/safety tested (I found exactly one), so for this purchase I mostly had to go with my gut — and I really like how this one attaches. There are three points of attachment: canvas straps on the back of the booster for the seatbelt to run through, a strap that loops around the headrest and buckles back to the booster, and another strap that clips to two rings on the back of the booster and wraps around the back of the seat. There’s also a buckle inside the seat that clips right to Stanley’s harness, so he stays secured in his little bed even once he’s settled in.
I love that the two exterior straps have an easy-release buckle in the middle, which makes it simple to attach each side to the booster and then clip it behind the car seat or headrest. The buckles also make it easy to cinch the straps snug so everything stays put.
Installation was genuinely fast — about 3 minutes. I set it in place, buckled the two straps around the back, and ran the seatbelt through the loops on the booster. Done.
Oh, and I almost forgot — there’s a giant pocket on the front that’s perfect for stashing a leash, treats, and other essentials. It also has two handles so that it could be used as a pet carrier.
Stanley is trying it out for the first time tonight, so I’ll be back to update once I see how he takes to it. He had a booster seat as a tiny puppy, but once he outgrew it, he’s mostly just ridden in my lap or on a blanket on the passenger seat. He’s a pretty good passenger already, but if this booster is a hit — and we start taking more road trips — it’ll be great for him to have his own safe, cozy spot in the car.
Confession time: I had no idea the Catlink Scooper Pro needed a real deep clean every couple of months.
I’ve had mine for years, and it’s always done a great job with the day-to-day scooping, so it honestly never occurred to me that there was more maintenance involved other than emptying the box under it. Then my son mentioned that he’d taken his own Catlink apart to clean it out, which planted a little seed in my brain — but I didn’t think much more about it until yesterday, when I noticed my box smelled pretty bad even though I had just emptied it.
That was my wake-up call. I pulled up a YouTube video on how to take apart the Scooper Pro, and it honestly came apart way more easily than I expected. No fighting with it, no special tools — just following along step by step.
Once I got it open, I could see exactly why it needed the attention. I cleaned everything thoroughly, got into all the spots I’d never touched before, and put it all back together without any trouble. I’ll admit, I feel a little guilty for owning this thing for years without ever giving it a proper deep clean — but better late than never!
If you have a Catlink, or really any automatic litter box, take this as your sign to look up a deep-clean tutorial for your model. It’s easier than it looks, and your nose (and your cat) will thank you.
That’s how I’m attacking this upcoming year! Thanks to Skye for the motivation.
I’ve added a bunch of stuff to my eBay listings, there are over a 100 listings now including handmade jewelry, crystal bracelets, and still lots of books. I’m hoping to add some pet products at some point, but still experimenting and learning how it all works.
Cats
The cats are doing well. I am always grateful for the everyday joy that comes with sharing life with them.
Bean’s fur is growing back quickly—possibly a little too quickly for my liking! I am hoping he makes it through the winter without needing another shave, but for now, it is nice to see his coat filling back in.
Puck is, of course, still Puck: sweet, lovable, cuddly, and always ready to make himself comfortable nearby. Some things never change, and that is one of the best things about him.
One thing I need to improve on is brushing their teeth more regularly. It is easy to let little routines slide when everyone seems happy and healthy, but dental care is important too. So that is my reminder to myself: make tooth-brushing a more consistent part of our cat-care routine. If I need motivation, remember the cost of a vet dental cleaning!
Not Impressed with the Mirror
Hector
Hector is her usual cranky self. Yesterday, while I was on a Zoom call, she was screaming, whistling, chirping, and banging toys in the background. Thankfully, I do not think anyone else on the call could hear her!
First Agility Trial!
Stanley and I have been working hard, and I officially signed us up for our very first agility trial. I am so excited! My only real goal is to show up and experience what a real trial is like. If we actually finish a class, that will be a wonderful bonus.
It is a three-day trial, and on the first day we are doing three game classes: Jumpers, Colors, and Full House. We are entering the easiest level in each class, and little Stan only has to jump 8 inches.
Jumpers is a set course made up of jumps and tunnels. We will need to complete the course within a certain amount of time—hopefully without going off course, refusing obstacles, or knocking down jumps.
Colors has two courses set up in the arena at the same time. We get to choose which course to complete, which gives us the opportunity to find the one that works best for us.
Full House sounds like it will be especially fun. There will be a variety of obstacles set up around the arena, but no assigned course. Each obstacle is worth a different number of points, and we will need to earn a set point total within the allotted time. A jump might be worth one point, while an A-frame or weave poles could be worth five points. A tunnel or tire jump may be worth three points. We can choose the order in which we do the obstacles, so if Stan decides a tunnel sounds more appealing than a jump, that is completely fine—as long as we meet the requirements!
I have also signed us up for another Jumpers class on the third day. I am thinking it might be good to give Stanley a day of rest and then return to the trial atmosphere while it is still fresh in his little mind. Of course, I can always skip the Sunday class if he seems like he needs a break.
Tired After Practice
Back to agility class tonight! We will be doing lots of practicing over the next few weeks as we get ready for our first competition.
How’s your summer going? What are you doing to keep your pets busy and engaged? Let me know!
It’s time to declutter! I’ve been going through my house and selling off a bunch of books and other items. It all started a couple of months ago when I had to pay for two cat dentals in less than two months. Needed some extra cash, and selling off a bunch of stuff I wasn’t using seemed like a good ideaand, I discovered that I’m enjoying reselling!
Finding items, photographing, listing, packaging and mailing. It’s been fun, so I’m going to keep doing it!
I’m mentioning it here because the name of my business is now PetMomma’s Picks! You can find me on ebay.
Right now there is a huge variety of books out there, Stephen King, horse books, and just novels. Feel free to take a look!
Sales are going to help fund my pet expenses and new obsession with Agility, and I’m donating part of my sales to my local animal shelter 😉 Hoping to add more pet related products as time goes on. What would you like to see me selling?
A little sad news to start today’s post: I lost my bearded dragon last week. She’d been slowing down for months, pickier about food, sleeping more, and less active, and I knew she was getting up there in age. I got her about eight years ago when she was already around five. I’ll miss her watching me work and tapping on the glass whenever she wanted to come out.
Stanley picked up kennel cough while boarding during my daughter’s wedding, so he had to sit out our 4th of July trip. He’s doing fine now, and thankfully a friend stayed at the house to take care of him and the rest of the pets, I think she enjoyed the relaxing weekend. His quarantine ends this week, so we’re excited to get back to agility after missing two classes.
Hector seems happy the foster bird went back to the shelter, though I’ll admit I loved watching the two of them interact.
The cats are doing okay. Bean’s haircut is growing in nicely. My son’s cat’s urinary issues have flared up again: he’s peed on a new bed and the couch several times despite closed doors and a tarp. It’s rough since he’s such a sweet cat, but we may need to try anxiety medication. For now it’s back on the calming prescription food.
Today started as one of those easy summer days where nothing in particular is happening, but everything feels just right. We were out on the deck eating lunch, soaking up the warm weather, and I was mentally running through the list of chores I’d been happily ignoring. Somewhere between “do the dishes” and “fold the laundry,” it hit me: I really needed to spend some time grooming Bean, our big fluffy Maine Coon.
Grooming Bean is not my favorite chore. He absolutely hates being brushed, and he has so much fur. Normally I can keep up by working on him in small batches a couple of times a week, but this year his coat has been especially bad. I’m not sure if it’s the weather, his age, or just a heavier shed season, but he’s been getting matted more than usual, especially in those tricky spots where it’s hard for him to groom himself.
For the past few weeks I’ve been slowly working away at the mats, a little at a time, trying not to stress him out too much. Even so, every time I thought I was making progress, I’d find another tangle hiding along his sides or under his belly.
While we were talking about it, my husband casually asked why I didn’t just shave him. I immediately said I was nervous about doing it myself, and the groomer I talked to wanted over $400 to shave him down. That’s a lot of money for one cat haircut, even a very large, very fluffy one.
My son, however, had a different attitude. He was sure we could handle it ourselves. Before I could overthink it, I decided to be brave. I grabbed all my grooming supplies, the clippers, and, of course, the cat. I started on my own and was able to get a little done, but Bean wasn’t thrilled with the process and I definitely needed an extra set of hands. My son jumped in and we took turns—one of us holding and reassuring Bean while the other worked carefully with the clippers.
I’m not going to pretend the end result is show-ring perfect. There are a few slightly choppy spots, and he definitely looks a little funny if you catch him from the wrong angle. But you know what? We got rid of the mats, and that’s what really matters. Bean seems so much happier and more comfortable already. All that heavy fur can’t feel great when it’s hot out, especially when it’s pulling on his skin in tight clumps.
Now that he’s lighter and smoother, he’s moving around more easily and seems more relaxed when we pet him. I’m hoping this new short “summer style” will also cut down on the number of hairballs I find around the house. With less loose fur for him to swallow while grooming, maybe we’ll all get a bit of a break.
In the end, I’m really glad we went for it. It was a little nerve‑wracking to do it ourselves, but it saved a lot of money and, most importantly, Bean is more comfortable. Sometimes the spur‑of‑the‑moment decisions turn out to be the best ones—for both pets and their people.
What a day! I volunteered with my new Dog Agility Club at a local charity dog walk today, and it was such a fun but exhausting day. Stanley and I got there early to help set up, then spent time walking around the park, checking out the exhibits, and meeting lots of dogs and people. Stanley did really well with all the excitement — even after an unexpected little escape from his crate when I went to give him water! Thankfully, I stayed calm, caught up with the little rascal, and after that he stayed in his crate with his leash on.
Sleepy Boy on the Way Home
We ran the agility obstacles a few times, and after a few wild loops at first, Stanley settled in and really started listening. The crowd loved watching him fly through the weave poles, and he sailed through all 12 like a pro. On our second run, he listened even better and we practiced some serpentines too. I had so much fun watching the other dogs, helping new people try the obstacles, and chatting with everyone. I’m so proud of my boy — great day all around!
Foster Boy
Another bird update: one of the foster birds is still with us for a little while longer. The lovebirds have already gone, but the shelter still isn’t bird-safe yet, so I agreed to keep the little Senegal parrot a bit longer. He really isn’t too much trouble, and it’s definitely easier having just him here instead of him and the lovebirds together.
Warmer weather has officially arrived, and Stanley is very happy about it. If there is a patch of sunlight anywhere in the house or yard, he plans to be lying directly in it. Honestly, I get it.
We’ve also been taking LOTS of walks around the neighborhood lately, which has been really good for both of us. Stanley loves exploring, sniffing absolutely everything, and soaking up the sunshine. I love getting outside more and enjoying the longer days.
We are still taking agility classes and really enjoying them. Last week, I helped the agility club put together the outdoor agility course for the season. Stanley got to come along and wait in his crate while we built everything, and then he became the very first dog to practice on the course for the year.
Running outside on a full-size course is so different from indoor practice. The obstacles feel huge out there! I was honestly a little intimidated by the full-height dog walk, but Stanley didn’t hesitate for even a second. He marched right up like he owned the place. He also absolutely loves the full-size A-frame and seems very proud of the view from the top.
We went back earlier this week to practice again, and… well… it was not Stanley’s best night.
He was very distracted by all the smells in the ring, and keeping his attention was definitely a challenge. We did successfully do the dog walk a few times, and he even went up the teeter! Unfortunately, I think he thought the teeter was the dog walk and just ran straight up it. Thankfully I was close enough to grab it before it slammed down. The last thing I want is for him to get scared of it. Eventually, I got tired of him ignoring me, clipped the leash back on, walked him over a few simple obstacles, and called it a day. It was hot, and honestly, that was enough for both of us.
Tired after class!
The good news is that class last night went really well. Stanley was focused, listening, and working nicely. I was actually the slower half of the team this time with my handling! He’s really starting to understand things.
I think for the summer, I may pause formal classes for a bit and focus more on obedience work and a few small agility exercises at home. We still have access to the outdoor course for practice, and I’d also like to make some trips to the dog park to work around distractions.
As for the rest of the pets…
The dragon worried me a little recently. She was acting quiet, wasn’t eating much, and just seemed “off” for a few days. Then she disappeared into her little cave hide for basically an all-day nap, came back out, and suddenly seemed completely normal again. At this point, I honestly don’t know how old she is, but she definitely isn’t young anymore.
The foster birds are all still here too. They’re cute and everything, but I’m definitely ready for them to move on to their next homes. They’ve completely taken over my downstairs craft desk area, and I would really love my space back. The little Senegal parrot is adorable, but having him out loose is complicated because Stanley gets jealous and wants to chase him around. Between dogs, birds, reptiles, agility equipment, and crates everywhere, the house really does feel like a zoo sometimes.
We’re planning to visit family over the 4th of July and bring Stanley along for the adventure. Hopefully he behaves himself and enjoys the outing.
What are your summer plans with your pets? Any trips, adventures, classes, or favorite warm-weather activities?
Old School Black and White photos this time as I just finished off an old, lost and found roll of film
Lots going on around here lately, so I figured it was time for a little update from the zoo. Stanley is back in another round of agility classes, which just makes me so happy. Will he come when I call him in our own yard? Absolutely not. But get him in a training space and he suddenly remembers that I exist and that we’re a team. He’s really starting to get the agility thing, and he’ll stay with me and run a whole course, which feels pretty amazing. I’m really curious to see how he does when we can practice in an outdoor arena this summer instead of just in a small, closed room.
In other fun news, I found an old roll of black and white film in a camera I was thinking about selling. Of course I had to finish the roll, and I ended up getting some really cute pictures of Stanley doing jumps on our porch. His ears in mid-air are just the best — they flop in every possible direction. I kind of love the old-school film look on action shots; it makes him look like a tiny, dramatic movie star.
The big news around here, though, is that our local animal shelter had a fire last week. Thankfully, all the humans and all the animals got out safely, but the building needed some serious cleanup and repairs, which meant no animals could stay there for a bit. Since I’ve fostered for them before, my phone rang pretty quickly asking if I could help out and foster a bird. There was no way I could say no. Fast forward a few hours and somehow we ended up with two lovebirds and a Senegal parrot in the house.
I had forgotten what “real” birds are like at night. Hector doesn’t like to be covered, so I’ve gotten used to just leaving her be. The first morning with the foster birds, I was up at sunrise sprinting around and covering cages because they were up and ready to greet the day at full volume. We’ve settled into a routine now, and everyone seems a lot happier with a defined bedtime.
The lovebirds came from a recent hoarding situation. They are cute little things, but not at all tame, so they are staying safely tucked in their cage for now. They watch everything, and I feel like they’re quietly judging all of us, but at least they seem comfortable. The Senegal parrot is a totally different story. He wants to be out of his cage all the time, and when he’s out, he only wants one place to be: on my shoulder.
The first day, Stanley was not impressed. There was a lot of barking at the little parrot, and a lot of me trying to reassure Stan that he is still my number one little guy. Thankfully, everyone is adjusting. I don’t expect the foster crew to be here too long — hopefully they can go back to the shelter sometime next week once things are cleaned up — but the little parrot has been a very entertaining visitor.
If I put him on his cage and walk away, he immediately flies right back to my shoulder like, “Excuse me, we were hanging out.” He also tries to steal food directly from my plate, and yes, he will go for food in my mouth if I’m not careful. I’ve had to be very aware of what I’m eating when he’s out, because he is absolutely not shy about helping himself.
Not the best photo, but had to play with the black and white film
Hector, meanwhile, seems to be enjoying the guest. The little parrot flew over to the fence by her cage and she very clearly said, “Hi bird,” which kind of blew my mind. I’m guessing she understands that he’s the same species, or at least that “bird” means something specific to her. Another time she just kept saying, “Hi, hi, hi, hi…” on repeat, which was ridiculously cute. She also asked him, “What doing?” Apparently the birds are speaking English to each other now. I guess that’s the common language for birds and many humans in this house.
The Dragon is good and just finished a nice shed, so she’s looking extra shiny and pleased with herself. The cats are good. Stanley has been enjoying some trips to the dog park now that the weather is nicer. I love bringing him and watching him run and play with the other dogs, but I’m always a little petrified that a big dog is going to hurt him. I stay very close when we go, and I try to quietly feel out the vibe of the other dogs before I really relax.
The other day there was one big dog playing a little too rough for my comfort level. Stanley gave a couple of warning nips to say “back off,” but it didn’t seem to make much difference. I scooped him up and we left. It’s just not worth the risk of him getting hurt, no matter how much he likes to play. Today there were two big dogs at the park again, but they were very gentle with Stan and it all went fine. When it works, it’s so fun to watch him zoom around with friends. I’m still hopeful that we run into the little Doxy he had so much fun with a couple of weeks ago again. That’s the current state of the Pet Momma house: agility, surprise film photoshoots, temporary birds, talkative parrots, a freshly shed Dragon, happy cats, and one small dog living his best dog park life with a very cautious chaperone.
How are you enjoying the nicer weather where you are — are you and your pets getting outside a bit more these days? Let me know!
I love that the two exterior straps have an easy-release buckle in the middle, which makes it simple to attach each side to the booster and then clip it behind the car seat or headrest. The buckles also make it easy to cinch the straps snug so everything stays put.
Oh, and I almost forgot — there’s a giant pocket on the front that’s perfect for stashing a leash, treats, and other essentials. It also has two handles so that it could be used as a pet carrier.
Super excited to see how tonight goes!
That was my wake-up call. I pulled up a YouTube video on how to take apart the Scooper Pro, and it honestly came apart way more easily than I expected. No fighting with it, no special tools — just following along step by step.
If you have a Catlink, or really any automatic litter box, take this as your sign to look up a deep-clean tutorial for your model. It’s easier than it looks, and your nose (and your cat) will thank you.
It’s time to declutter! I’ve been going through my house and selling off a bunch of books and other items. It all started a couple of months ago when I had to pay for two cat dentals in less than two months. Needed some extra cash, and selling off a bunch of stuff I wasn’t using seemed like a good ideaand, I discovered that I’m enjoying reselling!
I’m mentioning it here because the name of my business is now PetMomma’s Picks! You can find me on 
Old School Black and White photos this time as I just finished off an old, lost and found roll of film
