All about your pet's Winter Coat with Petcurean!

When it gets cold out, your pets can't just go to the mall and buy a stylish new jacket to keep themselves warm when the thermometer drops. And given the tremendous cold snap we had last week, I figure now is a perfect time to make sure that your pets are well prepared for the winter. I had the opportunity to talk about winter coats with Petcurean's Pet Nutritionist Michele Dixon and ask all my pet winter coat questions.

Old Red Boots: What is the difference between a cold weather and a warm weather coat for cats? Why do they change with the season? 

Michele Dixon: The change in season as cold weather approaches, starts the cycle, allowing the cat to grow a thick coat. This coat helps keep heat in and cold air out. As the weather turns warmer, they shed this thick heavy coat.

ORB: How do you know if your cat has a healthy cold weather coat? What should I look for?

MD: A dull, dry lifeless coat, often with accompanying dandruff requires attention, particularly in the form of diet choice. A healthy coat appears thick, bright and shiny, with hydrated skin.

ORB: What can I feed my cat to ensure that they have a healthy cold weather coat? What ingredients should I look for in food?

MD: Omega Oils are especially important for his/her coat, and a balance between Omega 3 and 6 also crucial. As well, because fur is majorly comprised of protein, a good quality recipe such as Petcurean FIT + FREE Chicken, Turkey + Duck which has meat based protein, is essential.

ORB: Besides food, is there anything else a cat owner can do to make sure that coats are kept healthy and shiny?

MD: Brushing a minimum of once a week helps stimulate production of oils, and remove shedding hair. Brushing also helps reduce hairballs.

My fur babies have been enjoying their diet of Petcurean's Go Daily Defense formula for the past two months and I have to say that they are looking fabulous in their healthy, shiny winter coats. (Not to mention the fact that they just love the stuff) I mean, look at these faces and just try to tell me they aren't the cutest things ever!

** This post is sponsored by Petcurean but the opinions contained herein are wholly my (and my cats') own. **

Alley Cat Allies: National Feral Cat Day + Giveaway

If you are like me, you love all the cats. ALL THE CATS. This includes all the furry little darlings that don't have loving forever-homes. And if your neighborhood is like mine, you have a variety of local homeless favorites. Your local feral cats and any offspring they have could end up in shelters and are normally euthanized because they are wild, unsocialized and therefore not adoptable as pets. Bummer- BECAUSE I LOVE ALL THE CATS.

Because of this the wonderful people at Ally Cat Allies, the only national organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats, created National Feral Cat Day to raise awareness of feral cats and promote the humane trap-neuter-return program. National Feral Cat Day was started in 2001 and is held every year on October 16th. There are expected to be over 450 events this year to bring awareness to the humane treatment of feral cat populations.

If you're an AdvoCATe like me, you'll be happy to know the lovely people at ACA are offering one Old Red Boots reader the opportunity to win one of their 2013 National Feral Cat Day t-shirts and show your love for ALL THE CATS.

Enter below. The contest is only open to US residents (sorry international readers) and the winner will be announced in a week so you can show your pride on National Feral Cat day October 16th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cat makes out with a vacuum

I don't know about you, but I can sure use a cute cat video right now. Why are there so many good cat videos from Russia these days?!

Spring Kittens!

Well well well, we finally changed the clocks! Aside from waking up when it's really dark out, I love daylight savings. I'm pretty much a zombie in the morning anyway so I'd rather have the daylight when I can enjoy it, like after work. I'm always invigorated when I come home and there is still sunlight. It makes me want to run longer, cook, clean, anything that doesn't involve me plopping down on the couch.

And speaking of running, I had my longest run yet this Saturday- 9 miles in East Nashville. East Nashville is VERY hilly and possibly the worst place to run (unless you like punishment and pain). I was really nervous about this run because I was doing it by myself and I've never pushed myself so far. But you know what, I did it. The last two miles were painful (they sucked hardcore- let's be honest) but when I finished my loop I was so proud. I have to give a big thank you to Steve, who drove along the route, found me at mile 7 and showed up with water and a smile. I didn't realize how thirsty I was until I gulped down an entire water bottle!

So this weekend we were able to run some errands that we had been putting off for a while. We are still getting into the swing of cohabiting and even though the house is looking so much better there is still a lot of little stuff that needs to get done. Steve and I have a very impressive amount of concert posters so we decided this weekend to frame a bunch of them! Now if only we have time to hang them!

On Saturday night I went over to the Stone Fox to see Steve's band Scale Model. It was a great night of hanging out with good friends and hearing good music. Also on the bill was Ponychase who I LOVE. Not only are they super talented and make amazing 80s synth ballads but they are all super nice people. Their EP is very good and I highly recommend giving them a listen.

I spent the first Sunday of our new-found longer days working at a local coffee shop and attending a cook out with friends. It was perfect grilling weather and the fact that it stayed bright until 7 just put me in such a great mood. Have I mentioned enough times in this post how happy I am for longer days?!

Now on to the outfit! Isn't this super cute? I picked up this dress from Modcloth a while ago and actually wore it to my birthday party. But because it's made of very light material it's a spring/summer dress for sure. But how cute is it?! When I wore this dress I got several compliments from dudes who loved the kittens and wished that it was more socially appropriate for them to wear kitten clothing. This dress just makes me so happy!

Dress: Modcloth

Tights: Gift

Belt: So old- no idea!

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Necklace: Kelsea Echo

New York State of Mind

Happy Monday everyone! I can't believe it's already Monday. My weekend was so busy and not restful at all. It seems like I have only been away from my desk for 5 minutes and not a full two days. On Friday night I met up with some of my favorite ladies to play Cards Against Humanity at a local bar. The biggest surprise was that whoever played the game before us left an unused condom in the box. Imagine our surprise when we pulled that out of the box! It's performance art, people.

On Saturday I had the complete thrill of attending a Twin Peaks Themed Art Show and Prom. I am obsessed with Twin Peaks and it was wonderful to spend an evening with people who love it just as much as me. There was lots of fabulous Twin Peaks inspired art as well as a black lodge photobooth. Even some of my favorite burlesque performers did their take on TP. Steve and I also came in 3rd place in the costume contest! I was the log lady and he was my log. (I hope to have some photos of that later). The night even ended with some karaoke at Fran's. Fran's is easily the most Lynchian place on the East Side.

I also have a lot of big personal news going on right now. The reason why I have been so busy and tired all the time is that Steve is moving in! I'm super excited about cohabitation but at the same time a tad bit freaked out because I have never lived with anyone before. Also, moving is VERY stressful. I wish I had some magical house elf help for this. Where is Dobby when you need him?

I wore this outfit on Sunday to get my nails and toes done with some of my best ladies (Jen, Lauren and Meredith). Those girls are so amazing and I'm incredibly thankful to have them in my life. They knew I needed to take a break and relax from all the moving stress. They convinced me to leave the house for a few hours and take some time to myself. It was much needed. Thank you ladies.

I feel like this outfit is very New York of me. Not only because the leggings depict the city skyline, but also the whole feel of it. I love the abstract neon design on the sweater and how it contrasts the photo-realistic tights. I would be very comfortable walking around NYC in this outfit.

I'm wondering if I'm starting to get a bit boring with my outfits. I seem to have discovered my winter uniform: bright tights + big sweater. I don't think there is anything wrong with this combination but I'm beginning to wonder if I'm stuck in a creative rut. I'm sure warm weather will allow me to wear all the skirts that have been hiding in the back of my closet for the last 4 months, but I'm pretty sure I won't give up my winter uniform that easily.

So how about my new glasses?! After my recent dealings with online glasses providers, I decided to go visit my friend Allison at local optical shop called Specs and get some real-deal frames. These beauties are vintage and I love them so much. They are a really pretty steel-blue-gray color and just the right level of loud.

And the cat bag? I've seen this sucker all over the interwebs lately and I knew I had to have it. It's so much easier to carry all of your crap when it's being held in a sweet kitty cat. And this cat holds a lot! Inside is a pair of flip flops, wallet, glasses, kindle and an umbrella. Not bad for a sweet kitty face!

Sweater: Modcloth

Tights: Romwe

Shoes: Anthropologie

Collar: Modcloth

Glasses: Specs

Bag: Naputa's Secret Garden

Around the House, With Cats

Cat Photo Update

Just a few quick snaps of my boys....
 

Holiday Portraits

A few weekends ago Steve set up a mini portrait studio in his apartment and we took some holiday pictures of some of our favorite people. But of course, we tested the set up on ourselves first! Enjoy!

Witchy Woman

Happy Monday! I hope you had a good weekend. On Friday night I stopped by Old Made Good to pick up my Herb Williams print. It was a screen print of the very deer I'm standing next to in this shoot. Herb was there and even signed it! I'm really excited to see what the ladies from OMG do when they move into their new space behind the fifth HairWorld on Gallatin Rd. to the left. Later that night I went to see Steve's band Scale Model play a show. They are always a fun time!

I was supposed to run a race on Saturday morning but the gross weather decided that shouldn't be the case. But rather than being a bum and going back to bed I cleaned my house like a madwoman. We had lunch with some friends and then spent the rest of the day at the car dealership. Steve got a new car! But the process takes FOREVER. I was able to crochet a few holiday presents while we were hanging around.

Sunday was pretty lazy. We did have to go back to the car dealership to sign papers and take the new baby home, but that didn't take nearly as long as Saturday. We went for a nice run in the park and spent the evening curled up on the couch.

So how amazing are these tights from Drop Dead? I've been lusting after these for a while. I think I even included them in one of my internet round-ups. Steve got me these for Hanukkah and I'm super excited about them. The tights are such good quality- thick and smooth. I wore this outfit to the car dealership on Saturday and a lady that was also waiting said to me, "You know your pants are crazy, right? Like, crazy."  I admit they are not the average car shopping attire but in no way are they CRAZY. I'm NOT CRAZY PANTS LADY.

I'm kind of in love with black lipstick lately. I've seen a few bloggers wearing it and I just love how it works with their style, especially Annika of The Pineneedle Collective (I have a total blogger crush on that girl, BTW). This is my first time wearing black lipstick out during the day, and I really like it. I know it's not an everyday thing but I'll save this baby for the weekends.

I love these earrings. The talented C.B. from The City Bird's Nest made them for me! We did an earring swap (I sent her some mint BombPoms). I love these little kitties. The color is so perfect and they match most of my outfits.

This sweet charm bracelet was another Hanukkah gift from Steve. My dude is so thoughtful that sometimes I can't stand it. I have a fairly unhealthy obsession with Twin Peaks (so much so that I named my cat Special Agent Dale Cooper) and Steve and I just started watching it together. This is my 4th time through and his first! He found this wonderful Twin Peaks charm bracelet on Etsy and it is amazing! I've never owned a charm bracelet and it's something I've always wanted. Now I get to see Laura on my wrist all day!

Oh and the shoes. I got a lot of compliments on them when I wore them for our anniversary photos. This is my second time wearing them out of the house and I'm getting used to them. I'm more steady on my feet and I'm not clumping around like a hippo. I think I'll be wearing them more often!

Tights: Drop Dead

Dress: American Apparel

Skirt (Worn over dress): American Apparel

Cardigan: Gap

Shoes: UrbanOG

Socks: Betsey Johnson

Necklace: My Grandma's

Earrings: The City Bird's Nest

Bracelet: Gift (via Etsy)