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Most people don’t give buying a litter box a second thought. I am not like most people. I have been trying to find the “perfect” litter box for years. Not just a box that looks good (after all litter boxes just don’t usually give that nice decorative touch to your house), but also one my cats would like. Having had cats with litter box issues, it has become personal.

We’ve used regular open litter boxes, the litter gets all over. We’ve used covered litter boxes, but I can’t help comparing them to having to use a Port-A-Pottie (I have to be on the verge of desperation). I have looked at the automatic litter boxes, but haven’t heard good reviews from friends, and the thought of 6 cats using it, the thing would be going constantly. I went to plastic storage totes and have been happy with them except for one thing- my 14 year old cat. Tyke has arthritis so getting in and out of one was painful for him. So our current set of has been several of the storage totes upstairs, 1 small box in the living room and 2 regular open boxes in the first floor bathroom (Tyke spends most of his time on the first floor).

At the beginning of January, I was contacted by the Biddy Cat Company and asked if I would be interested in trying their litter box, the Biddy Cat Easy-Scoop Litter Box, and reviewing it. Before contacting them, I went to their website and read through the product information. Hmmm, looking at the pictures it was huge. Hopeful that this box might be the “one”, I replied that I would be happy to try it.

When it arrived, I was more than impressed. It was HUGE. It actually took the place of the 2 regular litter boxes in my first floor bathroom. It is also a great size for my Ragdoll, Woody. Woody is a really big cat, he towers over my other felines and this box is ideal for him.

The sides of the box were high, great for keeping the litter from being thrown over the sides by my more exuberant diggers. But they weren’t too high to be a problem for Tyke’s arthritis. he has no problem getting in and out of this box.

The box is made of very high quality material. The plastic is smooth and thick. I have had boxes become stained really quickly and after almost 2 months of use, haven’t had it happen with the Biddy Cat Easy-Scoop Litter Box .

The box design is great. It was designed to not have those corners that collect the litter in them. The way this box is designed, you can scoop along the entire bottom of the box from one side to the other. Even my mother who sometimes pitches in for litter box duties commented on how easy it was to scoop.

I was also impressed with how the company keeps in touch with their customers. They were concerned about the box tipping when used with some lighter weight litters and contacted their customers asking for input. They do recommend using about a 2-3 inch depth of clumping litter for best results. I use regular clay litter (when you have a cat with litter box issues, you use what he wants to use) and have had no problems.

This is a product I have no problem recommending to others. In fact, I really need to measure the space upstairs and see if the Biddy Cat Easy-Scoop Litter Box will fit so I can get a second one.

For more information on the Biddy Cat Easy-Scoop Litter Box and to order a box yourself, please visit the Biddy Cat Company.

I feel so neglectful, but I have been busy with work, the college classes I am taking and of course my pets. In fact, the population has increased just a bit since August.

At the end of August I took a trip out to Kentucky where I adopted 2 BIG champagne colored ferrets from The Ferret Haven. These guys were born at the shelter from parents who had come from a badly kept ferret breeding farm. You can read about the shelters experience here- Shelter News.

I knew about the babies before they were born and went back and forth about adoption. I didn’t need another ferret, but when I found out they had champagne boys I decided I had to put in an application. I love the champagne coloring and with all my ferret girls here, I wanted a big ferret boy. I decided to indulge myself and since you can never be sure how a ferret will fit in with current residents, I decided I would apply to adopt 2 so they would have each other if my ferrets wouldn’t accept them.

I was so happy when my application was accepted and could hardly wait until they were old enough to leave. At first I wasn’t sure how they would get here. We could have seen about setting up a transport with Ferrets Across America, a group that helps transport ferrets to their new homes, but in the end I decided I would take a roadtrip. I broke it down so I wouldn’t be driving more than 8 hours a day and went over a weekend, staying a bit more than halfway between my home and the ferret shelter. It was worth it., Jerri, has a real nice shelter and great support. The boys are awesome. The D boys as I call them - Devious and Dervish fit in well after a good talking to by ferret matriarch, Sugar. They are big, Dervish being much bigger than Devious (I don’t have current weights, but Dervish must be around 4 pounds and Devious around 3) and so much fun to have around. (They are hard to photograph unless they are sleeping.)

The D Boys

Dervish

Recharging

They aren’t the only new addition! Check back to meet him!

Across the United States, there are millions of dogs in shelters looking for a home. To help find them homes, the American Humane Association promotes October as Adopt A Dog Month.

The Adopted Dog Tails Carnival gives us a chance to share our stories and tips on adopting a dog. We hope it inspires you to give a dog a second chance.

Robin recently made the decision to adopt and shares the news of her new addition. In her post Adopt A Dog, meet her dog, Newman, over at Soul Seeds of Inspiration.

Linette at The Virtual Garden helps promote Adopt A Dog Month by sharing her adoption success stories and explains why you may want to consider adopting an adult dog.

Johann The Dog tells about her Gotcha Day, the day her human was lucky enough to adopt her from a shelter in Johann The Dog: It’s my Gotcha Day! over on her own blog, Johann the Dog.

Sometimes you never know what destiny has in mind. Miss T shares her adoption story, how she accidentally adopted the perfect puppy, in Miss T’s Perfect Puppy at Prefurr.com.

There are many disabled dogs who are also looking for homes. DoggieWoggie shares “What Dogs Can Teach Us About Handling Disability” at Doggiewoggie - All About Dogs.

If you are considering adopting but looking for more information to insure you are making the right choice you can find resources in Thinking of adopting a dog? here at afFURmation.

Thank you to all the participants! Pet adoption is a cause that is near and dear to my heart and it is great to be able to share and let people know that adoption is a great option to choose!

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adopted dog tails, blog carnival.

Adopting a dog can be one of the most rewarding decisions you may ever make. But how do you choose the right dog for your family? How do you get off on the right foot once your new dog has moved in?

Here are some resources to help you.

Making the decision to adopt a dog shouldn’t come lightly. Here are some thing to think about before adopting-

Things to Consider Before Adopting A Dog…

Are You Really Ready To Get A Dog?

There are many places to adopt a dog. Many people are familiar with their city or county run shelter, but there are also private run shelters and rescues to adopt from. Look for a group near you at:

Petfinder

Pets911

1-800-Save-A-Pet.com

For someone looking for that extra special dog, you may want to visit-

The Senior Dogs Project

Pets With Disabilities

Deaf Dog Education Action Fund

Once you find a shelter a rescue, it is important to make sure it is reputable.

What is “A Reputable Animal Rescue”?

“HOW TO CHOOSE A REPUTABLE DOG RESCUE GROUP”

Then, of course, there is choosing the dog that will become a part of your family. It can be difficult, especially when you see so many dogs looking for a home. Remember this is one of the few times you get to chose a family member, you want to make sure it is a good fit.

Choosing the Right Dog

Choosing the Right Dog for You

How To Find the Right Dog Breed For Your Family- even if you are looking for a mix breed, it helps to know about different breed characteristics. This is a great post that discusses the different types of dogs.

Choosing the Right Dog

Adopting A Shelter Dog

Once you have chosen your new best friend, there are things you can do to make his adjustment to his new life easier.

Tips on Adopting a Dog - A guide to the First Few Weeks

Adult Dogs: Adjusting to a New Home

Before the New Puppy Comes Home

What to do after adoption

Bonding with Your Dog

Naming Your Dog Well

Welcome Home: Preventing Problems from Day One

Introducing Dogs to Each Other

There are many more resources available online, these were just some that I thought would be helpful. Once you’ve added that new furry family member, be sure to come back and tell us! Good luck!

Ricochet- adopted in January 2001 from the Luzerne County SPCA.