The Catit Design Senses Food Maze is an amusing way to feed your cat.

Cats are natural hunters and most cats prefer to play with their food before they eat it. The Food Maze appeals to your cat’s sense of touch and taste while encouraging mental and physical activity. The cat moves the food (or treats) through the maze by pawing at it through the side openings until it drops down to the food tray.

Plus, if you have a fat cat, the Food Maze can be a valuable tool to help with overeating or obesity problems. The Food Maze makes your cat work for its food and you can monitor the amount of food added to the maze.

Catit Design Senses products are designed to appeal to all of your cat’s senses.

Purchase at Amazon

Animal Planet’s Pet Costumes offers an inventory of cute and out-roar-ishly attire straight from the wild kingdom. Your furry friend can choose from a scary bat, a frightening shark, a cute tortoise or a beautiful butterfly. There are even elephant and walrus costumes for those who like to live large.

Your little trick-or-treater can step back in time and don dino apparel. Choose from a raptor, a stegosaurus or a triceratops.

These unique costumes will transform your pet during the Halloween craze and turn them into the talk of the party.  The costumes are available a PartyCity.com

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During the hot summer days, our pets need our extra attention. Dogs can heat up quick in a car, even on a “quick” errand. At Petsguide, we want to spread the word to keep dogs cool this summer.

Laura Benoit of Orange County Emergency Pet Clinic  (www.er4yourpet.com) reports that, “Many overheated dogs are coming in these days… remember [your] pets during extreme temperatures!”

We found a great website, www.MyDogisCool.com. You can review summer tips, check the weather forecast, find out how cars get hot even with the windows cracked, and download fliers to get the word out.

Go on, show off your senior pet! Email us a photo of your pal and be automatically entered in a drawing to win cool prizes. Entries will be posted on this site. Winners will be selected by readers. Keep checking this space for updates and new photo entries.

1. Reader Dee Sato, shares: “Larry is a very young, 12 years old Welsh Terrier.  I love this photo because I never knew what he looked like when I give him hugs.  After someone snapped this photo, and I saw that big, goofy smile – I see that the feeling of love between us is mutual!”

2. Tara Lupo has this to say about her pet: “Lucy-Lee-Lu-Dog-Lupo, I’ll turn 20 years young on April 1st 2011 that is when she came into my life, she is older than that, but she’ll never revile her true age.she has lived a long life and is still kickin’. she also has many talents and is educated.”

3. Amie Newberry is the proud owner of wise-looking Cabo. “Here is Cabo, a true ‘golden’ oldie, 13 years young this July. :)”

4. Amanda Wainfan is camera-friendly Scout’s owner. “Scout is 13 now and still acts like shes one! She is a wheaten terrier who seems to love me and my camera.”

5. At sweet 16, Joey is Sr. Paula Cooney‘s beloved pal.

6. Hop-py Year of the Rabbit! Davin Dawson submitted this photo of 11-year-old French bulldog Serge, dressed to welcome the 2011 Lunar New Year.

7. Martina Steege and her family adopted their bright-eyed Belgian Shepard/Chow mix, 12-year-old Morgan, almost 10 years ago.

Petsguide Magazine this winter launched “Howls for Towels” benefiting Long Beach metro and Orange County animal shelters. The month-long donation drive was held Nov. 15 – Dec. 15. More than 500 pounds of blankets, cat and dog beds, food, toys and leashes were collected to be distributed among a dozen nonprofit animal organizations.

Facing reduced budgets and overflowing with homeless animals, including pets abandoned by families hit by home foreclosures, animal shelters are in need of items to help care and provide comfort to adoption-ready pets waiting for their forever homes. Petsguide conducted a survey of local shelters and found that most are in need of basic supplies, most commonly towels and blankets for the animals under their care.

Howls4Towels recipients are:
• Animal Assistance League of Orange County
• Irvine Animal Care Center
• Seal Beach Animal Care Center
• San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter
• Mission Viejo Animal Services Center
• Laguna Beach Animal Shelter
• OC Animal Care
• Orange County Humane Society
• Newport Beach Animal Shelter
• P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village
• LA County Downey Animal Shelter
• Southeast Area Animal Control Authority
• Harbor Animal Care and Control Shelter
• Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets
• Pet Rescue Center

So, there you are: chatting up a friend you ran into while out walking Rex, a cup of coffee in one hand, leash looped around your wrist, and a full bag in another. You’d prefer it wasn’t so, but you only have two hands.

This is where PoopPac (Retail, $29.95) comes in. It’s promoted as a companion for dog-walkers, but for the busy dog-parent, it’s like a third hand. A lightweight case that’s both durable and machine-washable, it’s designed to carry used and unused bags in two separate compartments. The main compartment has a wipeable lining and has a built-in charcoal filter to absorb odors. The second compartment is reserved for unused bags, but also has slots to carry personal belongings like keys, cell phones and wallet.

Choose from an array of attractive patterns, and is customizable to suit the preferences of its owner. You can clip it to your belt, attach it to a lanyard or wear it with a shoulder strap.

Learn more about PoopPac, contact Sherri Loomer from Your Animals Best Friend at sherri@youranimalsbestfriend.com or call her at 714-230-6541 or 949-375-1832.

We have popsicle, ice cream and soda fountains. Now, there’s something cool just for dogs to survive the heat from those dog days of summer: Premier’s Kool Dog Ice Treat Maker.

This refreshing product (Retail: $27) comes with all the accoutrements needed to make Fido’s icy treat. In addition to a reusable freezable bucket, a sturdy steel base and extension rod, the kit also comes with a recipe book for icy snacks dogs will enjoy.

Whether it’s a trim your pet needs or full-on styling, Puppy Shop Boys has a complete menu of grooming services that’ll to please the stylish pet parents and pamper a cherished pet.

Prices are based on your dog’s size, as well as their coat condition when they come in for their appointment.

Starting at less than $25, Bath and Brush service includes use of premium tearless shampoo and conditioner. Pooches also get treated to a soothing full-body and face massage, blow-drying and brushing, and even a nails/ears/anal glands check. For an extra $5, you can also add a light trim to the service to give your pet that added polished look.

Feel like going all out? Puppy Shop’s style mavens can make your dog look and feel fabulous in a styling session ($45 and up) customized to their specific breed or mix. The styling package includes bath and brush services, plus skilled hand-scissoring, trim, clipping and finishing. Styles range from the traditional (and adorable) Teddy Bear, to adventurous mohawk and colorful pet-safe dye jobs (additional $25 charge), and Puppy Shop Boys’ own creation, the Lion Cut. (To see some of their work, browse the Poochie Gallery.)

Puppy Shop’s entire line of dog grooming services are available daily, by appointment. To learn about additional services, visit www.puppyshopboys.com or call (714) 641-1717. Puppy Shop Boys is at 688 Baker St. #5, Costa Mesa.