TIME AND MONEY SAVING METHODS FROM MY KITCHEN

Over the past three years, now going on four, on this island in the Atlantic ocean called Prince Edward... I have developed certain methods to s-t-r-e-t-c-h both my $ and my time to make my supplies last a little longer. 

Presenting; a few of them for the benefit of my readers.

1. This was the result of an experiment. I was curious what would happen... You buy green onions at the store and they are expensive enough but I found a way to use the 'green' part of the onions indefinitely using this method.
The white part with the roots is always cut away and tossed;

Instead of doing that, one bunch of onions always goes into the drink to re-grow. Clean and cut off as much green as you are going to use then put the rest into a glass with an inch of plain water and set in natural light. Change the water every two days.

 One week later, you will have this to use again:

If you have a garden, instead of planting green onion seeds, plant green onions for the same result.

2. Although its preferable to make my own stock, in a pinch I have had to rely on store-bought. Several points about doing this I don't care for; the sheer amount of sodium, the chemicals added and the pure lack of flavor. When I have no choice I always want to cut the sodium in half by cutting the broth with an equal amount of distilled water as I don't use tap; for added flavor I rely on spices and flavorings. 

 3. Those tiny cans of tomato paste that you, more often than not, need only a tablespoon of, what do you do with the rest? Here's what I do:

Pop the can into a ziploc bag and freeze until the next use. Although its not a good idea to 'store' food in open cans, freezing the food does not allow for any unwanted interaction between the food and the metal container.
4. In the above picture you will also note what I do with butter ~ I buy several when on sale or I can at least get it for a decent price and freeze it. Butter freezes very well and the consistancey is not changed. 
5. I do the same thing with cheese I buy on sale and in bulk, margarine and cream cheese.

 6. You will note the multitude of Ziploc Freezer Bags... these are full of meats. Whenever I purchase meat I never freeze them in the original packages. Rather I toss the thin plastic wrap that is not suitable for the freezer and the styroform that is very unhealthy, portion the meats and into ziplocs they go. 
7. Now we come to one of my favorites, I buy whole milk and turn it into skim to make it go further and I use heavier juice containers to mix and store it in. 

One bag of whole milk = 4 cups; pour two bags into the container and add 4 cups of distilled water. If the container is not completely full, repeat in a second container and add to the first to fill it. Using this method I gain two things, the milk does not change flavor and I get an extra jug of milk free. 
8.  We are in the habit of throwing things away that can and should be reused. Because one box of Glad Ziploc bags costs over $3, I soap then lightly bleach water all my ziploc bags to sanitze and reuse them; this I do at least four times before tossing them. I also re-use aluminum foil if its not stained in cooking by simply wiping it clean, folding and storing it for the next use. I bake using parchment paper instead of oiling my pans; this saves on oil and doesn't add still more to what is being baked or oven cooked.
9.  For a cat treat I occasionally mix a half can of cat food with a handfull of dry kibble. It makes a nice change from the daily venue and my kitties don't harrass me for treats.
10. To saute vegetables or anything else for recipes, I use a veggie cooking spray instead of oil. This saves on oil and puts a lot less calories into the food. 

I hope you've found something useful in the shortcuts and savers I've been using; from my kitchen to yours...

Catspaw 

  

How To Write A Kijiji Ad That Gets Immediate Results

Since I write ads to re-home cats and kittens; since 2010 I have re-homed at least 50 animals. Some were my own before my three females were spayed, some were colony cats that I had tamed and socialized, some were strays that were found while others were abandoned here so I tell a mini story about how the animal came to be in my company and sharing our home. I even had Cat Action pick up at least two for re-homing. I always start with an Urgent Title that gets attention!  

 !!! This Baby Needs A Home NOW !!!

I go on to give a mini history of the cat or kitten, then I inform my ad's readers about aspects they would be interested in like temperament, how the animal eats and uses a litter box, if said cat/kitten would be a good match with other animals (dog or cat) and with children and whether its displays signs of becoming a 'one person' cat. I explain about its overall health and age; whether its fixed or not and any cute quirks he/she may possess; for instance, I had one little kitten that was a 'shoulder' cat, that was the place he most wanted to be. 

I should note here that I do not spare the readers of my ads the details when it comes to strays, throw-aways and barn or colony cats. I tell them about the life the animal has had and why they need someone like YOU to email or phone me to adopt, immediately. I give them the reasons then tell them to contact me. Here's an example of the current Kijiji Ad I have up for the little one that, after months of being alone and on her own, finally came in from the cold. 

"Last Winter I posted an ad for two of these kittens, they were this ones siblings. A group of three abandoned, dumped kittens had almost gone feral when my husband managed to catch two last November and I re-homed them, thanks to Cat Action and you. The third, this one, refused all attempts at helping her until just two days ago, she was so desperate that she allowed me to pick her up and bring her indoors and I've had her in since.

She is very small and malnourished for her age, which we put at possibly 9 months and easily startled by loud noises like the tv though she is adjusting well to her change in circumstance. She uses the box, eats well and is very friendly to any other cats, she tries hard to make friends but my cats won't have it so I have to put her, alone, in the porch each night.

She would get along very well with other animals and children as she is timid and has a mild temperament. She is the most affectionate kitten I've had in a while but she's in serious need of nurturing by someone who wants to give her the loving home she deserves and I am hoping to hear from someone out there soon, who is interested in her.

I will be posting pictures of her on my blog later today, so visit and read her story at  http://catsandtheirmews.blogspot.ca/"

I always blog about the animal then I hit them with the pictures!  I always have at least three shots of the animal(s). They are always 'free' to a good home and if I have some to spare, I give a can of wet food. 

The ad above was posted June 16th, there has been 95 views since yesterday and I got a positive response the same day! I like to meet the people taking the animal so I can judge for myself what kind of owners they will be and I have never been disappointed ~ all the people have been cat lovers and sincere about giving them loving homes. I didn't start out with the intention for being a rescue person but I could not leave the situation as it was either. Food for thought if you have animals in your neighborhood that need help.

Something to consider with your next Kijiji Ad whether its about animals or items, it can be written in the same format.

Catspaw

PS:  I re-homed the cat yesterday.

Working On ~~~

Sorry to be so late. I had an issue with a barn cat today. His name is Scaredy and for good reason ~ he's an absolute TWAWT!

So named because he's a barn cat that refuses to let anyone near him, although he is one to come round my patio door, begging. As you know my door(s) are open to all comers, within reason. Well, the usual barn cats came in this morning and as I quickly found out so did Scaredy. He came in (for the first time ever and probably the last) without me knowing it. It poured buckets of rain half the day so I closed the glass patio door. Lord God! All hell broke loose when Scaredy realized he couldn't get out!!!

He must have slammed into the patio door four times and the front window at least twice while running ramshackle through the house. Stupid cat smashed his nose up pretty good in the process. That other black cat did the same but Merrill was able to check him out and he wasn't hurt to the point where he would not recover; I'm sure the same will be said of Scaredy. Anyway, he managed to crawl under the fridge and I had to drag that out and get him free... Then he got himself trapped behind the big brown chair next to the patio door so I could finally shoo him outside. Haven't seen him since! Still have two greys and the black one in though, barn cats all and all as scared, at first as he is. They quickly learned the benefits. 

Today is our 10th Anniversary ~~~

Dumb cat!

Catspaw

There's A Coon At The Door!

One night while we watched a DVD Merrill heard a strange noise out the patio door. Figuring it was just another of the barn cats, we ignored it. Then it happened again. At first glance he could see nothing, then something moved and a large raccoon shambled into view. The visiting coon was a fully grown one coming to feast from an almost empty bag of old cat food. 

I managed to get pictures but it was through the patio door so they aren't exactly clear but the coon didn't seen to mind posing.
This is an adult raccoon visiting our house one night looking for a meal and he (or she) found one, of course. Hey, come to my house and any critter will find food, shelter and comfort!! 
 

He ambled around the darkened patio for awhile, peering through the glass at the cats who were peering through the same glass at him...


Guessing they were as curious about him as...

I gave him some crackers; the first of which he came over and gingerly took from my hand through the crack in the doorway I had opened so my cats wouldn't get out.

His eyes really shine in this picture! He was looking straight at me when the flash went off. Hubby offered him a piece of banana on the patio, after we left the patio for a few minutes, the banana disappeared! Guess he liked it. 


Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Could this cat be walking down your street or path today?

 

This could not be a normal 'cold' that he was feeling in his bones! Why would the fog affect him so? Morning found Sailor still taking shelter in the wooden doorway as the rain continued to pour from a leaden, unrelenting sky. There would be no fishing today and no child would wander without. Sailor had been so cold all night that he couldn't sleep and he was exhausted now. All he could think about was the ruined castle that stood away on the hill. The last time he had visited it, it was bathed in warm autumn sunshine that made the brown walls glow and radiate a sweet sense of home. He fervently wished he was there now in the enclosure of his birth with his mother and his siblings to break the extreme loneliness he felt. It wasn't fair that no human noticed him when they helped other stray cats. And it was not fair that children gave food to the homeless of the feline population in the village, yet paid no heed to Sailor when he was in gravest need of it. It was as if he were, to all intents and purposes, invisible to them all. And he was lonely. Never once in the years of trying to belong to this village had he felt a kind, human hand touch him or a gentle voice greet him. Now, crouching in this narrow, rain-filled doorway with water blanketing his fur, soaking his paws and with a stiff coldness in his bones, he silently mourned the abject loneliness and cruelty of his existence as the rain hitting cobblestones pounded in his ears.

Will you be the one to turn the other way and deny medical care, food, shelter and compassion?

Catspaw

Cat Feed ~ Rural Farm Style

Anyone who has cats, or dogs for that matter, knows how expensive it is to maintain pets. Whether you have one kitty or four like I have, when it comes to those 8 kg bags that cost $15 on the low end and up to $27 on the high end ~~ and what's the point of buying the high or middle ground stuff in smaller bags when you pay virtually the same price for them and they last a quarter as long?  You tell me. So with our 4 cats and putting food out in winter to help the barn and stray cats that land here, we just can't afford to keep them all in cat food. I buy the 8 kg large bag of low end food; sometimes, when its on sale, I will purchase the higher end. But that's a rare occasion. 


What to do?!  What I do, when I get the chance... 

 ... and hubby brings home some meat...

Since meat is the primary ingredient in their food, it gets ground up in our grinder...

and cracked barely gets added. Granted, it looks less than desirable to us but to them...  

I usually cook it a little bit just to soften the barely some...



 
You'd be surprised at how fast it disappears. 


Years ago, when we first moved to Alberta from BC, we lived on a feedlot farm; they had tons of cats. I would make up a batch of something akin to oatmeal that they'd eat like crazy over the winter, when prey was scarce. Its one reason they didn't go hungry... and they don't around here in winter either.

Catspaw

Its A Crow! Its A Raven! ~~~ Its A CAT !!! AGGGG!!!!

The date was March 16th, 2012. The time was during the mid day meal. The cats were napping in the living room when, without warning, Molly, the drama queen started awake... thus waking Emerald, with the princess complex. Both assumed their most expert stalking positions and shrinking to the floor, both tore forwards to the patio door.

The objective achieved, the two battle cats peered out the window, their attention at full throttle. Waiting and watching for any movement their heads moving simultaneously together as they glowered at the 'something' that was attempting to invade their territory.

Did you see that?  That what?  I know you saw that!

With twin concentrated efforts they were determined to stare their enemy down! But, what was the enemy and where?  Was it...

Over there, do you see it now? See WHAT! Well, LOOK!!

A Crow that landed on the patio deck for some leftover cat food?
A Raven that flew just past to see if it could spot the same food?
No, it was...

Oh T-H-A-T!  Its a...

 grey barn cat who came in from the cold.

P-l-e-a-s-e, I asking nicely?

Catspaw

The Peculiarity of Cats

Emmy pounding on the patio door

 My cats own some rather  
 peculiar, if not downright  
 eccentric behaviors that can 
 border on total weirdness at 
 times. Emerald's habit of getting
 up on her hind legs and furiously
 pawing at the window when she
 wants to go outside or come in; 



 or her way of sneaking and  
 snatching treats from the other
 cats by cautiously stretching out 
 her paw on the piece she wants
 and pulling it to herself.

Emmy, "I bethink I got something"!

Emmy always wants a taste of your dinnerplate so she whacks your fork for whatever she can get and licks her paw like she actually got something. Failing that, she will wallop the plate itself in the hope of something falling into her grasp.

Molly & Emmy, partners in crime

On occasion I've caught Molly stealing treats the same way and she never used to. Both Molly and Emmy have a taste for a pat of butter every now and again at lunchtime; they also like raw/cooked bacon, pork chops and cheese. 


Cats do learn from watching each other, a few years ago when we lived in our trailer, Molly taught Sassy how to tear through the window screen to get outside. The two of them plotted together and accomplished the same thing when we moved to the island. So much for keeping them as indoor cats! Lately Emerald has been deciding for herself when she wants her treats and the other three pick up on that; all head for the kitchen and wait expectantly for me to follow. I could literally teach Emmy to dance for her treat if I put enough work into it!

Meanwhile Winston has developed an affinity for the dryer...





and the dehydrator









Sassy likes to be rambunctious with her daughter, Emerald.

Catspaw

Homemade Cat Food Advice and Ideas

For some time now I have been concerned with my pet food bill and finding helpful ways I can shave a dollar or two off the cost, perhaps by supplementing healthier sources in combination with the no name dry and canned products I purchase now.

There are many good ideas on the net for making homemade cat fare and I have tried some of them usually with mixed reactions from my cats. I decided to pursue a safer method and researched several vet sites to get the input of professionals. I found some interesting insights for feeding an all-natural diet but drawbacks arose with the added expense of buying specialty items like whole rabbits, especially if you lack a local supplier and depending on how dedicated you plan to be in this venture, making volume amounts of animal provisions is the more beneficial way to go as it does involve some work.

If you're unsure how your cats will react to raw meat try giving them a little. When I'm preparing dinner using meats like fish, chicken, turkey or liver I cut small chucks and offer them to my felines to test how easily they will take to it. Usually all four will eat it without hesitation and beg more. You can also experiment with trying them on cooked meats to see how readily they will eat that.

To change your pet’s diet to completely natural foods you will need a quality Grinder. I purchased a Tasin 180 online from the States after learning they're not available in Canada. It was cheaper than I thought and the company got it to me within three days. This machine is recommended because of its ability to grind small, cooked bones well. Adding bone to your mixture insures the much needed calcium content of the food. If you're not certain about grinding the bone sufficiently, save eggshells and wash them well; leave to dry out completely for a few days then use a coffee grinder to grind the shells to a fine powder. Add a teaspoon to the finished food. I’ve done this myself so I know it works. I found this very idea on several vet sites that prepare whole raw diets for their cats otherwise I would never have tried it.

The easiest way to start is to take leftover cooked chicken or turkey and separate the meat you want to use; be sure to add skin and fat along with at least two small thigh or leg bones. Add a few slices of raw liver for more nutrition. Please note that you don't need to add much bone to get the amount of calcium required and because they are cooked they will go through more easily. With a half cup of water grind the meat and bones. I put it through twice, then I 'feel' the finished meat to find the larger pieces of bone to remove them. Adding water brings the moisture content up and makes grinding easier on the machine. Refrigerate in air tight containers and serve.

Since it comes out like wet canned food sometimes I will add chunks of meat to make it more attractive. Some cats prefer chunky fare as apposed to a more liquified consistency. Don't include a lot of vegetables in the meat mix. I have tried this and it was not a grand success. Cats are primarily meat eaters, though I have found that if I add a small chunk of potato, they like it better; you don't need to add spices of any kind either.

As an additional advantage to being a proud owner of a Grinder, I make my own sausage by cutting beef and pork roasts into chunks and mixing in my special spices. The cats love that too and its pure meat.

After reading about all the herbs and supplements I would need to invest in and the access to certain animals like rabbits and other smaller prey that I'd need to purchase again online, from the States; well, I had my budget to consider so I decided to go with half measures instead. Surely I could improve their diets by adding to rather than by making a complete and drastic change right now. Its gone well so far and my pocketbook, as well as my cats, are the happier for the alterations.

Catspaw

Sassy Has a Tail to Tell

Cat Friend Two

We’d been hearing an otherworldly meowing for three or four days. Boo and Molly were inside but we could never be sure if it wasn’t them playing. Winter hit hard that year, a cold snap that included gale force winds and freezing rain like daggers, turning to blizzard blowing snow. We lived in a trailer less than a quarter mile from the farm Merrill worked at; since he had decided it wasn’t much sense to drive such a short way he walked. This particular morning I was to discover where the source of the ethereal meowing was coming from. 

Just before 8 am I opened the porch door for Merrill when we both caught a glimpse of an orange cat before it vanished down a hole in the skirting around the trailer. How long it had been under there we didn’t know but now we had an accounting for the ghostly meowing we’d been hearing. After he left I opened a can of tuna, bundled myself into my parka, boots, mitts and scarf and sat myself down next to the hole with the tuna held out just far enough that it had no choice but to crawl out to get the food. The bribe didn’t take long to work but the feline fought like a wildcat to get free of the towel and my grasp. In the dead of winter and so obviously a  ‘throw-away’, an unwanted that someone dumped because, being near a farm thought there would be a means of survival or they just chucked the helpless little thing out to die in the freezing cold. Someone was grievously in need of a heart.

Once I managed to get this struggling little bundle inside and while the cat ate I had a better look at it. ‘It’ was not a cat in the real sense of the word, more like a pale shadow of one. The sad package before me was a dirty orange color, more bone than skin or fur and ferocious when defending food. Boo and Molly didn’t know what to make of this unwelcome, belligerent stranger suddenly in their midst so they stayed at a constant distance and gave way in everything so now, there was a perpetual tension in the house. Kitty was equally vicious towards us. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you, I had to be extremely careful when putting food down so as not to lose a hand to a sudden flash attack at anything that threatened the food and milk dishes; the cat was utterly convinced that I would the food away from it. 

Puss was sick, undernourished and piddled everywhere. I soon learned that we had another female in the house, unsprayed. Now I had to practically reinvent patience when it came to teaching her to use the cat box, this only when she would allow me to touch her, let alone to pick her up but as time went on and with slow improvement, she started gaining some weight. As her health improved so did her temperament, somewhat, but still she remained openly defiant and distant as if afraid to give in and rely on me for her care. It took several months to win her trust and more than a few more months before the three of them would learn to like each other and get along. It was a long winter! 

She took delight in doing her level best to dominate Boo and Molly. Taking over their personal places and making them hers; eating out of their dishes and playing with their toys. I think it amused her to annoy them and get away with it but eventually Molly began to take exception and quarreled with her over things that were rightfully hers. So the sparing events started. It was not unlike the Roman Gladiators, all one had to do was put armor on them and a sword in their paws and Wawla!  Gladiator Cats!  

They never actually hurt each other and even Boo would wake up and take notice; it was the loud caterwauling that got the neighbors attention and brought an almost endless stream of visitors and sudden friends to my door. For obvious reasons we named her Sassy because of her sassy disposition. Eventually, Sassy and Molly worked out their differences and played together, this usually involved racing up and down the hallway to see which of the two was faster and squabbling over the highest seat on the cat tower Merrill made for them, much to the annoyance of Boo. 

For a time Molly forgot about venturing outside to follow Boo, now she had a new friend to play with. Summer wore on and after a time it became a little too quiet in the house; I went to check. Merrill had repaired the screen in the spare room window, now I found it torn again and this time, two kittens were out and about in the neighborhood. 

Sassy has had a happy home with us for the past few years and joined us on our adventurous cross Canada road trip to PEI. 

Catspaw