2012-06-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

It's a fact that cats love to scratch -- but why do they have to annoy us with such bad behavior?

Instinct is a Powerful Motivator – Scratching is not a character defect, it is nature’s way! To survive and thrive in the wild, cats need claws for hunting and self-defense, and they need to keep those claws honed and healthy!

Keeps Claws Honed – Each of your cat's nails are covered by an outer sheath that sheds regularly to reveal a new, sharp claw underneath. Scratching quickens this natural shedding process and promotes healthy nail growth and renewal.

Stretches Muscles — Scratching works muscles and stretches limbs! Every time your cat scratches, it's like a mini-workout session for their shoulders, back, legs and chest.

Marks Territory – Special glands in the pads of your cat's paws release a scent during scratching that makes your house smelll like home sweet home to your cat and sends a visual signal to other cats that "this place is mine."

Although our human nose can't pick up the scent left behind by territorial scratching, our eyes can certainly see the damage left behind. In the wild, this is purr-fectly acceptable, but when it destroys our expensive home furnishings, it can quickly turn our furry feline friends into foes. Luckily, there are solutions!

Instead of fighting against your cat's instinctual need to scratch (a never ending battle), try offering your cat a claw-pleasing alternative to your expensive furniture, like Scratch 'n Shapes!

What makes a Scratch 'n Shape so effective?

It’s a Unique Texture in Your Home- The rough, honeycomb surface of a Scratch 'n Shape mimics the feel and appearance of natural tree bark, and is unlike any other texture in your home. And, because it's made from recycled paper (wood pulp), it smells kinda like a tree too! This makes it easy to train your cat to scratch in the appropriate place, whereas carpeted scratchers have similar textures and smells as other household items made from sythentic fibers (like rugs, curtains or upholstered sofas).

It Comes With 100% Certified Organic Catnip – Each Scratch 'n Shape comes with a bag of our pure and potent, 100% Certified Organic Catnip. Cats go crazy for catnip, so it is a very useful training aid. We recommend rubbing a pinch or two into the scratcher's surface -- this will release the essential oils that cats find irresistible and attract your cat to the scratcher. As the catnip falls through the honeycomb surface, cats will naturally begin scratching on the shape to forage for it.

It’s Satisfying to Scratch – The thick, corrugated surface of a Scratch 'n Shape lets your cat do some serious shredding! Your cat will happily return again and again to the Scratch N’ Shape to stretch, scratch, and play. Many cats even use their Scratch 'n Shape as a bed for their frequent naps!

It’s Built to Last– Scratch 'n Shapes outlast competitors scratchers by months! That's because they are made in the USA using high quality, 100% post consumer recycled content paper. Using a thicker paper also reduces the amount of paper that "sheds" and litters the floor when your cat scratches, as it takes your cat longer to tear through and loosen it. When it comes to checking a scratcher's quality, our rule of thumb is to use your thumb! Press your thumb into the surface of the scratcher - a good quality scratcher will not cave quickly under pressure. If the surface dents quickly under your thumb, or feels almost soft to the touch, that's a good indication your cat's claws are going to tear through it in no time.

Once your kitty's claws sink into the corrugated surface of a Scratch 'n Shape, your sofa, walls and curtains will be long forgotten! And with suggested retail prices starting at as little as $9.95, they are more affordable than replacing your sofa, and are a painless alternative to de-clawing!

Why Do Cats Love Cat ‘n Around Organic Catnip Toys?

2012-06-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

A customer recently sent me this email:

“We have three cats, and they are so picky! The only cat toy they will even deign to sniff at is yours. They really loved the octopus…and will bat the poor Goldfish all over the house, each trying to get their turn at chasing and chewing on it. Please, please don’t stop making the Imperial Cat Organic Catnip Toy. If you do, I don’t know what I would do! Cheers, Ivonne R. – Louisville, KY

There is certainly no need for Ivonne to worry about our catnip toys being discontinued. Our family has been in the business of making cats happy since 1986, and we plan on continuing that tradition for many more generations! But, she does bring up an interesting point – what makes our catnip toys so appealing?

It’s not a family secret, so I’ll tell you — it’s our catnip! At Imperial Cat, we use catnip that is pure, fresh and aromatic. This is premium catnip, harvested at its peak and comprised of the most potent parts of the catnip plant — the leaves, buds and flowers — which contain the highest concentration of nepetalactone (the essential oil that cats go crazy over). Our catnip is also certified organic, which means it has been grown, processed and packaged without any chemicals or pesticides that might harm your cat or our environment. You an also be confident our catnip is 100% catnip with no extra “fillers” mixed in. This means we don’t add any other type of plant material in with our catnip to “fill” up the bag and cut corners.

Many consumers don’t know what to look for when purchasing catnip or catnip stuffed toys, so we thought it might be helpful to provide a few tips. First, the freshness and quality of catnip can most easily be recognized by the color and smell. Catnip that is overwhelmingly brown in color or has little aroma is likely stale or contains fillers. In either instance, it is not going to appeal to your cat! Pure, fresh catnip will be green in color and have a strong, minty aroma that cats find irresistible.

Depending on the toy’s packaging, it may be difficult to see the catnip or take a good whiff of the toy to determine if it is fresh and of good quality, so be sure to read the packaging. In terms of quality, products containing pure, organic catnip should say ”100% Organic Catnip” on the product label. The product packaging may also feature the USDA Organic Logo (pictured at left). This logo tells consumers that at least 95% of the product contains organic ingredients.

There are laws and hefty penalties that help prevent the misuse of the term 100% Organic and the USDA Organic logo, but if you want further proof, you can also check the packaging to see if the company has their product certified by a third-party. For instance, our catnip is certified organic by Quality Assurance International, but there are many other accredited certifying agencies, and a complete list can be found at www.USDA.gov.

For more information about Imperial Cat’s Cat ‘n Around Toys and Certified Organic Catnip, visit www.imperialcat.com.