#amazon – Pet Momma

Pet Gear Special Edition No-Zip Stroller Review

Agility trials have become a bit of an addiction, and I realized this at my very first one. I also realized I haul an absurd amount of stuff: folding crate, treats, towel, leashes, toys, a book, snacks, drinks. I was considering a wagon so I could stop making five trips to the car, and then I spotted someone at a trial with a small dog in a stroller.

Brilliant. No folding crate needed, because Stan can rest in the stroller. With storage underneath, it keeps all my stuff in one spot.

I’ve used mine for one trial and one practice so far, and it’s been awesome. Stanley seems to prefer it to his crate, since he sits up higher and can supervise everything. The mesh makes it very breathable, and I add a blanket for coziness (or drape one partway over the top when we’re outside and it’s chilly).

Now I sling a folding chair over my shoulder, wheel Stan and all my gear in, and that’s it: one trip. Once we’re settled, I can take Stan out for a walk. Leaving is just as easy. Fold the chair, wheel everything to the car, and give Stan a last stroll before the ride home.

Strollers in general are great, but I really love this Pet Gear one. It wasn’t cheap at about $100 on Amazon, but here’s why it’s worth it:

No zippers. The top folds over and clips shut, which is much faster than zipping all the way around, and it feels durable.
Plenty of room. Stan is 11 lbs and can stretch out or curl up, with space for blankets and a toy. The sides are high enough to feel cozy.
Cool and breathable. Lots of mesh, plus I clip on a little battery-powered fan for hot days.
Big storage underneath. It’s about the size of the pet area, with plenty of room for toys and snacks.
Adjustable tether. It snaps to Stan’s harness, so I can leave the top open while I sit next to him and he still can’t launch himself out.
Three wheels. The two close together in front keep it stable, and it steers easily in tight spots. It rolls over grass and gravel, and I can push it one-handed through doorways.
Cup holder. On the handle, where it belongs.

Cupholder is missing in this picture, but it just clips on to the handle, very convenient.

My favorite perk is having Stan safely contained while I get settled in a new building, and I can stop and chat with friends without worrying about surprise dog introductions.

It does feel solid and well made. Folding it took me a minute and a couple of fumbles, but now it’s easy, and it fits in my trunk with room to spare.

I’m excited to use it at all my upcoming trials. It makes everything easier, and Stan gets a front-row seat!

Mini Review: New Leash

We don’t have a fenced yard, so Stan gets walked every time he needs to go out. For a long time, I kept a collar on him around the house for quick trips to the yard, then switched to a harness for longer walks around the neighborhood.

His agility leash is a martingale collar attached to a leash. I love the idea of it, but it’s a thick, fleecy thing I don’t want to use every day. So I went looking for something similar and found the BTINESFUL Long Slip Lead Dog Training Leash on Amazon. I LOVE IT.

Soft Rope – Thick Enough to Not Get Tangled

Collar has a stop so it can’t pull too tight

It’s well made and sturdy, and it’s a little reflective, which is nice at night. Because it works like a martingale, it can’t overtighten the way a choke collar can. I got the 10-foot one, which is long enough to give him some freedom in the yard. It’s a nice bright blue, and it slips on and off in seconds.

The best part? Stan can be naked in the house now, and I can still get him outside quickly and easily.

It was super reasonably priced (I think I paid about $10), and I may buy a spare!

Zomisia Pet Carrier/Booster Seat Review

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.

Super excited to see how tonight goes!

The Cat Burrito That Changed Everything 🌯😸 (Or: How I Trimmed Puck’s Nails Solo!)

Happy Valentine’s Day! Stan celebrated the day with a Starbucks Pup Cup! On the way home, with the windows open, I remembered why it has been a long time since he’s had one!

Remember how I mentioned Puck has extra claws on each front foot? Well, let me tell you about the battle that nail trimming has been in this house.

For years — and I mean years — it’s been a two-person job. One person restrains Puck, the other attempts to trim. And somehow, no matter how careful we are, we end up needing bandaids. For us, not him. Those extra claws are his secret weapons, and he is NOT a fan of having them touched.

So when I saw this Cat Grooming Wrap on Amazon, I added it to Puck’s Christmas list. Best. Decision. Ever.

The Solo Nail Trim Victory 🏆

This morning I trimmed Puck’s nails. All by myself.

Do you understand what a HUGE win this is? Let me say it again: I trimmed all of Puck’s nails — including those evil extra claws he hates having messed with — completely alone.

He purred through most of it.

I know. I’m as shocked as you are.

How It Works (AKA: The Magic Burrito)

The wrap is super soft, but here’s the magic: it sticks to itself using some kind of gentle grip material. No velcro, no buckles, nothing harsh. You literally wrap your cat up like a little burrito, and they feel secure.

Here’s what I did:

Wrapped Puck up snugly (think baby swaddle, but cat-sized)
Pulled out one paw at a time as I needed it
Trimmed the nails on that paw
Tucked the paw back in and moved to the next one

Did Puck love every second? No. He hissed a couple of times when I got to those extra claws — he’s made it clear throughout his life that those are off-limits in his opinion. But he stayed calm, he purred for most of the process, and most importantly: nobody bled.

That’s a win in my book.

Why I Wish I’d Bought This Years Ago

I’ve spent literal years thinking nail trims just HAD to be a wrestling match. I thought that’s just how it was with difficult cats. Turns out, sometimes the answer is simpler than you think.

The wrap makes Puck feel secure rather than restrained. There’s a difference. It’s soft enough that he’s comfortable, but snug enough that he can’t flail around or scratch me to pieces while I’m trying to work.

For anyone else dealing with a cat who acts like nail trimming is the end of the world — or in Puck’s case, a cat with bonus murder mittens — I cannot recommend this enough. It’s under $10. It’s washable. It takes up almost no space.

I now consider this a cat essential. Right up there with food bowls and litter boxes.

The Bottom Line

If you have a cat that’s difficult to handle for grooming — whether it’s nails, brushing, or even giving medication — this wrap is worth every penny. It’s gentle but effective, and it might just save you from needing a second person (and a first aid kit).

You can find it here on Amazon. They have different sizes, so check which one fits your cat’s weight.

Opinion: Sometimes the best pet products are the simple ones. Not every solution needs to be high-tech or expensive. Sometimes you just need a well-designed burrito wrap and a little patience.

The Day AI Solved Stanley’s Picky Eating Problem 🐶 – I Hope!

I knew AI had quietly become useful in my daily life — but I didn’t expect it to help me crack Stanley’s food drama.

Since we got him at the end of March, I’ve tried everything. All the fancy fresh foods:

If it was fresh, expensive, and highly recommended, I probably ordered it.

Eventually, I landed on Happy Howl, a shelf-stable wet food with better ingredients than typical canned food. Stanley ate it happily for a couple of months. Feeling confident, I bought a full case.

And within days of that case arriving, Stanley decided he was done.

We paused. We retried. Nothing. I’ll likely donate the rest to a local shelter.

Out of desperation, I grabbed Fresh Pet at the grocery store. Stanley loved it — but the quality isn’t great, and after a couple of weeks he was shockingly gassy. Not ideal.

At the same time, I was free-feeding Science Diet Small & Mini Sensitive Stomach and Science Diet Oral Care, thinking that if he didn’t want the fancy stuff, he could eat dry food.

Enter AI (and a Reality Check)

Frustrated, I laid the whole situation out for ChatGPT. Its advice was simple and honestly relieving:

Stop trying so hard.

No more juggling fresh foods. No more expensive, high-maintenance meals. Switch to a high-quality dry food and stick with it.

The recommendation was Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate. I had never heard of this brand, but I’ll research.

I was skeptical — it’s “just kibble” — but the nutrition checked out. So I ordered it.

It arrived yesterday. I gave Stanley a few pieces.

He inhaled them.

This morning, I offered a small mix of what he’d been eating (including a little Fresh Pet) plus the new food. Stanley ate all of the Fresh Pet and all of the N&D.

🎉 Woot.

The New Plan

No more free-feeding
Two meals a day
Slow transition off everything else
Eventually: just the N&D

This is what you get, buddy. Like it or not.

Opinion: Sometimes picky eating isn’t about the food — it’s about too many options. Simpler really can be better.

Where I’m Buying Food Now

I’ve always ordered pet food from Amazon using Subscribe & Save — easy and automatic. But I couldn’t find this specific food there, so I ordered from Chewy.

After doing a quick comparison, Chewy turned out to be cheaper for some pet items, but not all. I’ll keep buying cat food from Amazon, but I’ve moved Stanley’s new food — and a few other items — to Chewy.

I’ve also been using ChatGPT to help build a dental care plan for the cats (especially Puck post-dental) and for Stanley. More on that soon.

If you’ve lived with a picky eater, I’d love to hear what finally worked for you.

Super Quick Review – Sift Ease

I’ve been searching local pet stores and of course Amazon lately in my quest for the perfect litter box. During one of my Amazon searches, I came across the SiftEase.

Seems like a really interesting product. You don’t need to use any special litter box, but in theory, it should help save time scooping.

Here’s the idea, a big scooping tray, with a bin underneath so that you just pick up your litter box and pour the litter through the sifter. The sifter catches the clumps (clumping litter obviously required) and you throw them away. The bin underneath catches the clean litter and you can just pour that back in the box.

Here’s the giant sifter. It sits on top of the grey bin shown in the first photo. I have to say that I really like the idea of this product. I’ve tried litter boxes with built in sifting devices and I’ve never had much luck with them.

Unfortunately, this product just didn’t work for me. First of all, dumping a litter box into the strainer/sifter is much harder than it seems. I tried to be careful, but litter spilled onto the floor. While I tried to scrape clumps loose in the pan before I dumped it, there were still clumps in the box after I dumped it into the sifter.

Next problem, the holes in the sifter didn’t let all the litter through. Maybe that’s my fault, and I’m sure there are other types of litter that might work better than the OxoCat litter that I prefer, but I have enough issues with litter boxes right now, and I’m not changing my litter.

So I have a sifter full of dirty cat litter. I tried shaking it, but it only helped a little. I had to get my litter scoop and push the litter around in the sifter until I could get most of the clean litter through the slats and dump the clumps. I ended up wasting a lot of litter between the spills on the floor, and the litter that was thrown out because it didn’t sift well.

Finally removed the sifter from the base and dumped the litter back into the box. Time to sweep up the giant mess before I was done. All this hassle, and I only cleaned one box. Four more to go? I don’t think so.

Once I finished sweeping, I cleaned out the SiftEase and folded it back up. I put it back in the box, and told Amazon to come pick it up. This is not a product for me. As much as I hate scooping. This product didn’t save me any time or hassle at all.

I’m going to continue my dreams of having a LitterRobot. There have been many times I’ve been tempted to just spend the money and try one out, but I know I would need at least two of them, and I’m not convinced it would work out for my big Maine Coon, or whichever cat likes to use two boxes to take care of business. I have heard they have a 90 day money back guarantee, so maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days. The joys of cat ownership do not include litter boxes!