Author: Pawjourr

Categories
Brand Highlights Community Stories

Why premium food is important for your pets!

This article is brought to you by Pets Club SG.

Pet foods come in various shapes and sizes. Our furry friends may be blessed with an array of options, but for our pet owners, it can be daunting to choose the ‘perfect’ one, faced with countless brands out there claiming to be the best for your pets.

Why is premium better?

Pet foods that are certified ‘complete and balanced, containing all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to meet your pets’ daily nutritional needs. When picking premium quality foods, you will see that they are often formulated functionally to reduce the risk of stomach upsets, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Additionally, they are exceptional value for money! You get what you pay for, and paying for better quality food equates to paying for nutritionally richer, cleaner, and more effective formulas for your pets to absorb nutrients effectively for their long-term health.

Lesser quality foods are often made with fillers like grains, weeds, straw, low-grade fibers, etc. All these ingredients are bad for your pet’s health. They provide almost no nutritional value for your furry companion. In the long run, they’ll be chronically deprived of the number of nutrients they need. 

Poor quality ingredients can lead to:

  • Increased shedding
  • Intermittent vomiting
  • Gassiness 
  • Chronically loose stools
  • Obesity

What is high-quality?

High-quality pet food consists of unrefined, minimally processed foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and plenty of proteins. It should not contain any by-products, fillers, or gum — only the good stuff!

These diets may contain natural supplements like omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. The best part about these diets is that they’re rich in nutrients. Hence, it is important to check the labels for the ingredients list, because when it comes to pet food, quality is everything.

NUTRIPE Pure’s signature ingredient, green tripe, is a prime example of high quality.

What makes NUTRIPE premium?

NUTRIPE’s products only contain free-range tripe from New Zealand and Australia, working with ethical and sustainable farms to ensure the quality of their ingredients. They are gently rinsed with cold water, unprocessed, and unbleached, retaining their rich nutrients.

Green tripe is a premium superfood for cats and dogs as it contains an impressive range of proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and digestive enzymes, designed to support your pets with a healthy gut microbiome which is essential to their well-being!

This is why NUTRIPE Pure specializes in maximizing the benefits of green tripe as their signature ingredient. A healthy gut accounts for 70% of their immune system, and with a healthy gut microbiome, your pets’ health is in good hands.

Available for both cats and dogs, NUTRIPE Pure is designed to make a difference in your furkid’s health and diet. So what’s stopping you from trying out some premium food? Try it out today!

Things to note

There are no strict rules when it comes to commercial pet foods as it comes in various forms, dry and wet. However, it is important to read the label, and check the ingredients listed. You should find out where the products are made, including the source of their ingredients. Ethically sourced ingredients guarantee the quality of the product!

So, opt for higher quality products because your pets do not just deserve the best, they need it!

Categories
Creator's Academy

How To Become A Pet Influencer Parent

We all click photos of our pets and pamper them with our love. Occasionally, we also post some cuteness-overloaded pictures for all to enjoy across social media platforms. Generally, images and videos of pets garner greater attention. Have you ever considered making a career using this natural attention that your pet receives?

Like all content creators, a pet influencer must have a recognizable personality. Our pets cannot talk to us, but they have quirks and traits that differentiate them from others. We should emphasize characteristics that make them weird, fun, and lovable. We all talk to our pets and imagine a reply they would give us in our heads. Put that out for the public to enjoy and create a consistent persona with our pet’s characteristics.

Grow Your Skills And Followers

A full-time job requires investment. Therefore, planning to be a pet influencer’s parent will require time, money, and dedication. Social media is filled with influencers coming up with new content ideas every other day. To stand out, we need to polish our skills and methods. 

Equipment

Tripods are important : Smartphones can take decent images and videos to get us started with our pet influencer account. But, to grow our social media account into a full-time hustle, pet videos and pictures must be high in quality. Therefore, we must invest in equipment like lights, cameras, tripods, and stabilizers. 

Photography and Cinematography Skills

Proper equipment can only alleviate our images and videos to a certain extent. However, truly bringing the best out of our pets requires learning new skills and techniques. We should practice taking pictures of our pets and try to improve upon them.

Learn about the camera

Photography and cinematography courses are readily available across the internet, and they can help us understand the minute details that are too complicated for a casual hobbyist. For example, how to utilize natural and artificial light in our photos and videos, use tripods and stabilizers, the correct camera setting depending on the environment, etc. 

Followers

With a unique personality, the proper equipment, and the necessary skills, we can start building a fanbase. Consistency is required when it comes to social media following. Utilizing photographs, videos, stories, shorts, reels, and live features of a platform is necessary to maintain consistency. To be consistent on instagram, you can use an Instagram reel maker to create posts quickly and easily.

Track activity and engagement

Using stories and comment sections, we should interact with the pages and accounts of different pet influencers to attract followers of our own. We can also use hashtags to increase the visibility of our pet influencer content. 

Start Monetizing

Once we have built up a loyal fanbase of a considerable amount, say 10,000 followers, we should start looking for sponsors relevant to the page. Like all other businesses, influencer management is also dependent upon networking. Some brands might approach us themselves for paid promotions , but we should also prepare ourselves to pitch our business to the brands.

What to Pitch?

It is important to define clear goals and requirements. While brands usually engage in paid sponsorships, some might offer an exchange of products and/or services, and some offer a mixture. Receiving perks like a day at a pet spa or free access to toys and other goodies is lucrative. But we should always assess the worth of our page and quote a fair price.

Dog spa and grooming

Firstly, we should get a rough idea from other social media accounts. Brands that usually sponsor those accounts will be interested in our social media page.

Next, approaching brands via email is the best method. We should highlight to the sponsor that our pet regularly uses and loves their products. Mentioning the natural, strong growth of our pet influencer account is necessary. It will help us ask for a price that we think is fair.

And finally, we should stay in our domain. Reaching sponsors that are relevant to our pets is very important. Endorsing a dog skincare product if our pet is a Persian cat makes little sense.

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing can help us earn a good amount of money. It is a referral program where a retailer pays us commissions for every purchase made using our affiliate link. We need to divert traffic from our social media page to the retailer site to earn money. For example, if we have a YouTube Petfluencer account, we can make youtube videos and put a link in description to promote affiliate products.

Affiliate merchant

Joining the correct affiliate merchant can be a tricky part. Some merchants provide better commissions, sales, and bonuses over others. We should do proper research before partnering with a merchant.

Promoting products we vouch for is a healthy way to gain the trust of our followers. But it is not always the case. We can promote products we have not personally used if we are assured of their quality. Moreover, affiliates and sponsored posts should be mandatorily disclosed, and we should follow all the guidelines.

Merch is Cute and Profitable

Thanks to our lovable pets’ unique personalities and fan following, merchandise will sell like hotcakes. Physical products with cute designs and photos of our pets can be sold at merchant websites that act like affiliates.

These merchants stock up on socks, shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, and even pillows. They are direct-to-print merchants that print a design only after an order is placed. Therefore, inventory management is a non-issue. They are the ones who build websites for our products; we only need to design and promote them. Instagram is a great platform to promote merchandise. To create some engaging stories with minimal effort, you can use some prebuilt Instagram story templates.

Pet merchandise

Wrapping Up

While being a pet influencer parent is a full-time job, it is one of the most rewarding and fun career paths. However, it can be difficult to make a living from it. Earnings come from sponsors, affiliates, and merch only after we have built our brand using interesting content. Interactive social media filters, apps, and tools like Instagram reel makers to produce content on the go. All this can be done alongside having fun with our pets!

Categories
Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Bailey_japspitz

It goes without saying that a pawrent’s biggest wish is to provide a healthy and comfortable life for their fur kid. It can be difficult at times, but to Joanne, pawmom to her two-years-old Japanese Spitz Bailey, it’s all worth it!

Working as a real estate agent, Joanne’s flexible working schedule allows her to spend more time with her loved ones, especially Bailey.

Forever floofy

Japanese Spitz are known to be energetic fur balls who are faithful, affectionate, and well-behaved — with Bailey checking all the boxes. Bailey can always be seen with a smile on his face. He is super friendly with other dogs and even strangers!

And that’s not all! Bailey is also the master of peace; small baby hoomans could be picking at him, and smaller fur friends could be barking incessantly in his face, and he will remain unfazed, waiting patiently for his hoomans to save him.

Another interesting fact about Bailey is that he treasures cleanliness the most! He does not dirty the house even with the worst tummy aches, “the sweetest boy,” says pawmom Joanne.

“Can we eat now?”

The perfect Spitz

Joanne had been searching for a new dog from Australian and New Zealand breeders for a long time, but it took a pause when her previous dog of 14 years had passed on. 8 years later, with the intention of getting a new fur kid, Joanne was recommended by fellow dog owners to search for breeders under Dogz Online.

One of the breeders reached out, with the intention of rehoming seven-month-old Bailey within New Zealand, and with much assurance and convincing, Bailey eventually became the breeder’s first and only export out of New Zealand!

Bailey came from a niche kennel in South New Zealand that breeds Japanese Spitz to perfection mainly for dog shows. The breeders do it out of passion, with the aim of achieving pristine breed standards — not for mass breeding and sale.

As Bailey has a lower confidence level and a larger build that exceeds maximum entry size, he was put for adoption. But, he still makes a perfect house pet!

Bailey wandering around dreamland.

Preparations for the future

Japanese Spitz are known to be prone to Luxating Patella. However, by choosing to import Bailey from an ethical breeder, it allows Joanne to be at ease knowing Bailey was bred to perfection in terms of looks and health. That’s why it was important to Joanne not to get a new dog from backyard breeders.

“Dogs are paired ethically to avoid health issues inherent to the breed as much as possible,” added Joanne.

That said, the best preparation for the worst is always assurance. As a pawrent to a silky terrier before Bailey, Joanne had to spend a bomb to fly in a specialist that manages canine cataracts. In times of emergencies, she hopes to reduce her worry about medical bills and focus more on Bailey’s recovery.

Joanne was introduced to Aon Happy Tails through a recommendation from other pet owners. With a couple Google searches and reviews, Joanna was enticed by their comprehensive coverage and benefits! 

“We are on the Furball plan because my take is to either do it or not do it. Once decided and committed to do so, then it is nothing short of the best within the category!”

Bailey looks trendy as ever.

*Bonus Content*

If Bailey could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to him, or do with him?

“If Bailey could speak hooman for 7 days… then he better use that 7 days to tell us all his likes and dislikes across all categories that will affect his life!”

Categories
Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Gimmegizmothecorgi

Life is full of surprises, ups and downs, and in-betweens. But never fear, your doggo companion is here! The growing pains of being a dog owner are so rewarding when seeing your fur kid prancing around with its fellow furiends. That is what Xinyi, pawmom to her Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Gizmo, believes in.

A Corgi’s odyssey

Xinyi first saw Gizmo from an Australian breeder, Nireno Kennels. Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, she wasn’t able to meet him physically. However, the distance didn’t stop her from finding ‘the one’! 

Named after the 1984 movie Gremlins, Gizmo is just as adorable as his namesake. Attention-seeking by nature, he craves all the scratches and cuddles that he can get, and has grown to love his hoomans much more than his fur friends. “He is living true to his name!”, says Xinyi. 

@gimmegizmothecorgi having the time of his life playing tug of war

Gizmo is a true fighter, and he channels that fighting spirit when it comes to his favorite game, tug of war. He’ll go at it with anyone — even if they’re twice his size!

While he loves to play rough, that doesn’t mean he can’t relax and have a good time. Beyond all that roughhousing, he really enjoys long walks at the park or getting all dirty and muddy at the beach. 

Every week, Xinyi looks forward to planning social events for her rambunctious fur kid. “We try to let him experience new things and activities as much as we can so that we can create many happy memories with him.”

@gimmegizmothecorgi loving his water activities

Pushing through the rainy days

When Gizmo was taken for a DNA test, he was found to be at an increased risk for Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) which is a common health issue amongst Corgis. Other serious health issues include hip dysplasia, epilepsy and degenerative myelopathy.

A pawrent’s biggest fear is to see their fur kid(s) getting sick — and this came true when Gizmo had a health scare last year. He has since made a full recovery but the incident convinced Xinyi to get Gizmo insured due to his hefty hospitalization bills.

“Most comprehensive in terms of his needs”

Xinyi went on a hunt for the best insurance plan out there and found AON Happy Tails, known for their comprehensive insurance policy for pets!

Happy Tails is the only pet insurance company that covers specified hereditary and congenital conditions — “which is helpful for us as Gizmo is at risk of IVDD and prone to congenital conditions like Hip Dysplasia,” said Xinyi.

Additionally, pups between the age of sixteen weeks and four years enjoy a lifetime co-insurance of 20%. This means 80% of the incurred expenses are covered. Enrolling your pups at a young age means they get to enjoy better co-insurance coverage – isn’t that fantastic?

“I think it provides us with a peace of mind, and means that our fur babies get to enjoy their life to the fullest without us having to worry about the ‘what-ifs’,” Xinyi added.

*Bonus Content*

If Gizmo could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to him? Or do with him?

“I would love to be able to travel overseas with him, and to let him explore the different sights, attractions, and food other countries have to offer. If he can speak hooman he will definitely be talking non-stop about his favorite country and food, and also making a lot of friends all around the world!”

Categories
Creator's Academy General Updates

What’s new on Pawjourr: September 2022

An experience designed with creators in mind.

We’re proud to finally introduce the brand new Pawjourr Creator Dashboard with key features that will help you make the most out of your content creator experience. Expect a full rundown of what it is, how it works, and what’s new!

Everything you need in one place

Say goodbye to forgotten applications. With the new dashboard, you can now manage your profile and track your campaign progress on your homepage – allowing you to keep track of your application status and earnings efficiently!

In addition, we made sure it’s easier than before to upload your drafts. Ongoing Jobs allows you to view your active campaigns in greater detail and upload your content with ease – isn’t that such a breeze?

Watch your funds fill up

That’s not all! You no longer have to worry about how much you’ve earned or how much you’re making from your campaigns. 

Your Treat Jar helps you to keep tabs on your earnings and you can be an expert navigator by following these steps:

Step 1: Choose your preferred payment method.

Step 2: Add and save your preferred payout method for easy withdrawals.

Step 3: Keep track of your earnings and withdrawals through your transaction history.

Level up your job search

Skip the endless scrollings! With our improved filters, your next opportunity is only a few clicks away.  Select specific requirements based on your campaign preferences using the search filter on the left. From countries to creator types, we got them all!

Have a question?

For new creators, fret not! With the Pawjourr Help Center, you can easily access FAQs and answers to your questions. You can even connect with our team directly via our chatbot and we’ll be there for you in a jiffy!

Now that everything you need is all in one place, we hope you are ready to navigate your way through the world of exciting and fun branded opportunities. 

Let us know what you think about our new release!

Categories
Brand's Resources Creator's Academy

Instagram Reels vs TikTok: Which is better?

It can be hard to figure out which media channels to use for your company. Every social media platform has a different type of distribution content, not to mention different target audiences and media cultures. 

Fret not. Once you understand how the different platforms work and what kind of content best fits the audiences, you’ll be going viral and gaining a following in no time. Right now, video content is crucial in marketing your products and getting your brand out there. What’s the difference between Instagram reels and TikTok videos? 

By Pawjourr

Instagram Reels

For starters, just because they’re both video-based content doesn’t mean they are the same. The two media platforms are giants in their own way and have different ways to connect to audiences. 

Instagram, the old classic. It’s been around for a long time and chances are, your company already has an Instagram page of its own where you post your own branded content. Mainly a platform that posts images instead of videos, all that changed when Instagram reels were introduced in 2020. 

Typically lasting 15 to 60 seconds, these reels allow you to further your audience and reach. While Instagram stories are tied to your page and only your followers are privy to your content, your reels are discoverable through the ‘Explore’ page on Instagram and there’s a higher chance of your video being seen by new users. 

By Pawjourr

Due to the nature of the platform, content on Instagram is inclined to be a little more formal. That doesn’t mean all the fun stuff should be taken away but rather, educational videos for your brand’s community and polished informative videos are more likely to do better. 

You can also decide whether or not to have it displayed on your grid layout – you can move it to the reels tab instead. That way, your content can be curated in a different way than your images. Personalised vlogs, special takeovers and campaign videos all fit the bill! 

Statistics show that Instagram reels earn up to 22% more engagement than video posts shared on the native feed, so next time you want to post a video, you might want to publish it as a reel instead. 

TikTok 

The underdog that grew in popularity during the pandemic, is not to be taken lightly either. Even though it hasn’t been around as long as Instagram, the chances of going viral tend to be much higher and your content has way more chances of reaching new users due to the platform’s ‘For You Page’ algorithms. 

It might seem like TikTok isn’t the best platform for marketing your brand but it’s a huge window of opportunity. In fact, 84% of marketers are diverting their attention to TikTok. The emphasis on community and vlogging allows brands to connect with their customers while marketing their products with ease. 

By Pawjourr

The nature of TikTok videos tends to be more candid and real. Think of funny sketches, down-to-earth conversations and product reviews. In truth, it can be anything. The beauty of TikTok is that, unlike Instagram, there’s less pressure to curate your feed and create a unified brand of content. Since users are mainly scrolling through videos on their FYP, your videos will most likely be viewed individually. 

By Pawjourr

When to use IG Reels or TikTok

Even though there isn’t a strict rulebook you have to follow, after trial and error, you’ll find that your brand will be connecting with different communities on both platforms. Social media statistics show that TikTok’s users point to its rising popularity amongst teenagers while Instagram frequents both young adults and teens. 

The advertising opportunities on the platforms differ slightly. While Instagram is no stranger to including ads in your feed, TikTok puts a big emphasis on creator-based ads against Instagram’s ‘shopping’ section and shoppable ads. 

TikTok also tracks both the brand’s profile as a whole and the individual video performance. This means overall metrics, total playtime and geolocation. Instagram reels offer the general analytics you’re used to, interactions, reach, and engagement statistics with reel-specific data to get insights on. 


Take a look at the CatCare Water Fountain campaign in partnership with DogCare. Featuring Pawjourr’s pawfluencers, the two platforms saw different engagement statistics and results. Since the creative briefs were the same for the campaign, the style and content of the posts remain the same – the only difference was the social media platforms

By @maiathemeow on Instagram

The combined reach of the campaign, with 18 pawfluencers, was 129,000 accounts reached  with 4,300 profile engagements. 

Similarly, the campaign was also held on TikTok, featuring 12 pawcreators from Pawjourr. The results were 539,000 accounts reached with 6,900 profile engagements. 

By @tabbyandtuxedocat on TikTok

 Ultimately, you get to decide how your brand intends to curate your content and persona on these platforms. The difference between Instagram and TikTok might be confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really rewarding. 

Don’t forget that your brand stands a good chance of reaching different audiences through the two different platforms. Growing your community and brand awareness is essential in building your brand, but remember to keep your content authentic and sincere. 

This way, no matter what you do, your content is sure to do well no matter what the platform is. 

Categories
Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: The Golden Shayne

Finding your best friend makes the world a brighter place. Especially when he comes in the shape of the cutest Golden Retriever. The epitome of sunshine, the fun-loving star isn’t only a bundle of joy to be around – he’s a star too! Shayne just wrapped up filming a Mediacorp drama, so look out for him gracing your screens soon. 

Photo by @GoldenShayne

Love At First Click 

Livia first saw Shayne online. After doing rounds of extensive research, Livia first laid eyes on her best friend to-be through videos of Shayne playing in his dog pen with all his toys. She knew he was the one when he calmed immediately when a human would pet him. 

“He looked so calm and enjoyed the stroke of human touch. I knew instantly he was the one when I couldn’t stop sharing the videos of Shayne with my loved ones,” exclaimed Livia. 

That was all it took for Shayne to be flown to Singapore to his forever home. 

Photo by @GoldenShayne

A Ray of Sun-‘Shayne’ 

Shayne, a bundle of joy and a whole lot of energy, loves to swim. His pawparents encourage his passion for the waves, bringing him to frequent swimming sessions on the weekends. He also goes for playdates with the dogs next door and visits pet-friendly cafes – Livia wasn’t kidding when she said he was outgoing and energetic! 

Even so, enjoying quiet time as a family is something treasured between this paw family too. 

“My partner and I will usually watch Netflix on the sofa together after a long day of work and Shayne will lean on us as we watch TV,” said Livia. 

“Shayne even watched TC too! Especially when he sees dogs going after a ball or a toy. He will stand right in front of the TV to have a closer look if he needs to ‘inspect’ what’s going on.” 

Photo by @GoldenShayne

Worries, Prevention and Protection 

For a dog like Shayne, one of the biggest fears Livia faces is potential hip problems that would affect his active lifestyle. 

Despite getting good hip scores as a puppy, hip dysplasia is common amongst Golden Retrievers and Livia doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. 

“We took preventative measures to minimize his risk when he was barely five months old. We took him to a vet and did a JPS surgery, an early intervention procedure that significantly reduces the chances of hip problems,” said Livia. 

The medical costs for procedures like hip replacements now are very costly. Livia and her partner decided on getting pet insurance to avoid financial worries becoming a factor in deciding between having treatment – anything that can be done for their furkid in the future was important. 

“It gives us peace of mind when the pet insurance provides a comprehensive cover, which is what HappyTails does. Even for hip dysplasia,” said Livia. 

When Shayne visited the vet a few months ago, his hips were thankfully in good condition and he doesn’t look like he’ll be in any danger anytime soon. This ball of sunshine can play to his heart’s content. 

*Bonus Question*

If Shayne could speak hooman for 7 days. What would you say to her for that week?

“I would want to tell Shayne to trust that we will give him the best life we could give to him! To tell him how much we love him and how much joy and laughter he’s brought into our lives! We are very grateful that he is the one.”

“We want to hear how he feels about us too!” 

Categories
Brand Highlights Community Stories

The Pawfect Weekend with Your Dog

This article is brought to you by Pets Club SG.

Picture this: You’ve spent the past five days waking up at sunrise, leaving your best friend at home while you travel to your office, and come home at sunset with only enough time to share an intimate dinner with them and call it a night. Friday comes around and you ask yourself, “What should I do with my dog this weekend?” Look no further, because here’s how you can make the most of your free time, and plan the pawfect weekend with your doggo.

Socialising 

You got a friend in you, so bring your pawpal with you! Grab your dog, grab a leash, and make some new friends at Singapore’s many parks. The Singapore Botanic Gardens come with many slopes and fields for your pawpal to roll around and nom on grass. Within the park, there’s also a long hill that faces the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, where you can have your own picnic and bask in the sense of community.

Photo by mentatdgt

Singapore’s Garden City energy also has a coastline! Take your doggo down south to Marina Barrage and let them run in the vast open plains with the sea breeze behind their tail. Chase kite tails (and dog tails) with the other pawpals and watch their eyes light up, enjoying their freedom to roam after a whole week in an apartment.

Adventure

Worn out from the monotony of 21st Century Civilisation? Take a break from the city and explore the road less travelled — literally! Singapore’s many hiking trails are sure to bring you and your doggo closer to nature. Walk down The Green Corridor, an abandoned railway track full of colonial-era artefacts only visible to those with a keen eye.If your sea legs are up for the challenge, why not hit the beach and rent a kayak? Oar in hand and doggo on board, you can join kayak tours to explore Singapore’s mangroves and river biomes that host a myriad of flora and fauna. With experienced Kayak guides leading the way, you’ll be shore to have a fun time!

Photo by Lotta Tamminen on Unsplash

Homebodies

Retreating into the comfort of your own home might just be the best way to unwind from work. Cosy up under the covers and grab a remote, you and your doggo can binge some movies together! A home is a safe space after all, and if you aren’t using it to unwind, what are you waiting for? Spoil your furbaby even more with a home-cooked meal to munch on while watching. No matter how you look at it, they’ll get to enjoy good food AND quality time together, so it’s an absolute win.

Photo by Bethany Ferr

If you haven’t had the time to train your pupper, you could take the weekend to bond with them. Get them used to potty training and discipline, or just teach your ol’ doggo some new tricks! Paw-sitive reinforcement by rewarding good behaviour makes it easier for your pawpal to get accustomed to their new changes. Use a treat that you know they will like to get better results. For everything else, Bronco’s flavoured jerkies are a sure-fire way to capture their attention. Made with Vitamin E, inulin, and real meat, every bite delivers a burst flavour that guarantees a stronger digestive system. Present these affordable oven-cooked treats, and your pawpal will be excitedly waiting for your next instruction before you know it!

Cover Photo by Sam Lion

Categories
Brand Highlights

Feeding Your Fussy Feline

This article is brought to you by Pets Club SG.

Like a toddler looking away when you present them with their spoonful of porridge, you’ll be in for a bad time if you try to force-feed your cat. These animals are apex predators, masters of their own will, and will only eat what they want when they want it. So how can you ease them into a meal routine? Here are four easy steps to feeding your fussy feline.

#1. Reduce their treats

Say it ain’t so! Our adorable furbabies? Getting fewer treats? The audacity! Before you write this off, consider that your cat would have a lesser appetite if fed with treats in between meals. They may also be less compelled to eat their main meals since they know they will get treats later. We’re not saying you shouldn’t give treats at all, just reduce it to once or twice a day.

#2. Play with them before their meal

That’s right — play with them! Work up their appetite by dedicating about 10 minutes to getting active with their favourite toys. By the time you’re done, they’ll be hungry enough to eat just about anything. The extra calories burnt also keep them fit and deter feline obesity!

#3. Mixing textures

If your cat is not interested in the food you have, why not change things up by mixing different types of foods together? Dry kibbles can be paired with raw foods or wet foods to give a range of tastes and textures. Aatas Cat’s Creamy Chicken and Tantalizing Tuna series offer a wide selection of flavours topped with natural ingredients to give your cat a juicy gourmet experience. Add those to their kibbles and they’ll be sure to come back for more!


Aatas Cat’s Creamy Chicken and Tantalising Tuna Series, courtesy of @Jiku.cat

#4. Just add water

Sometimes, all they want is for their dry food to be, well, not dry. Adding warm water to your cat’s meals helps them stay hydrated and improve their digestion. Pet-friendly broths and stews, such as Aatas Cat’s Soupy Stew series, also make for a hearty hydrating meal for your fussy felines.


Aatas Cat’s Soupy Stew Series, courtesy of @t2munchkins

In Conclusion

Your felines are proud creatures that don’t bend to anyone’s whims except their own. If they aren’t already demanding food from their hoomans, chances are there’s something hindering them from doing so. As their pawrents, we have to be vigilant in looking out for these factors so that we can eliminate them and provide our pawpals with the nutrition they need. If your cat is still being fussy, it’s worth a visit to the vet!

Cover Photo by Sheep. On Pexels

Categories
Community Stories

Aon’s Happy Tales: Ronin.the.kitty

Healthcare is confusing. And expensive. And scary. It’s a herculean task to wrap your head around what you need, what you’re insured for, and what to do if an emergency happens. But there’s a reason why we still do it – to avoid having to do them after something unfortunate happens. Insurance is essential for us, but it’s equally crucial for our furkids. Systems and software engineer Yi Ling, a lover of cuddles, takes us through her journey with her pawpal Ronin who isn’t a fan of said cuddling time. “She kicks us away when we cuddle her for too long,” said Yi Ling. “She gets away with it though because she’s so cute.”

Getting Through Together

The pair first met when Yi Ling adopted Ronin in a foster home. The chubby cat had fallen off a moving lorry during a rainy day but thankfully left unscathed. Now, after spending 2 whole years together thanks to the pandemic and working remotely, Yi Ling knows the ins and outs of her furkid’s personality. Her feisty personality, coupled with a weakness for feathers and food are but some of the main traits that stand out.

Yi Ling and her one and only Ronin

Once every morning and evening, Yi Ling feeds Ronin furosemide drops and Vetmedin pills to treat her heart failure. When the medication first started, the brazen cat disliked it so much she went as far as knocking over two full bottles worth of furosemide. “Now, she just drinks it up and even takes the pill herself,” said Yi Ling proudly. 

Even though the vet has advised that Ronin refrain from strenuous activity, nothing can stop her from doing the zoomies at night and going absolutely ham on any bird toy in sight. “When she starts panting, that’s when we know it’s time to stop playing,” said Yi Ling. These days, Ronin has been speeding around less and likes to keep busy while still being on her belly.

Putting The Best Paw Forward

On the 7th of November last year, Yi Ling’s father noticed Ronin coughing badly and whining. When she arrived home to Ronin, the coughing and wheezing had not stopped and Yi Ling quickly rushed her to the Emergency Room. “It was a scary experience, the nurse told me that Ronin wasn’t looking good,” she recalled. “I signed a form consenting to CPR if necessary, and even though it was super expensive, I knew I had to sign it.” 

Thankfully, CPR wasn’t needed. But even then, the bill amounted to close to three grand. Yi Ling laughed it off saying “I’ve never even spent this much on my own bills!” Following the medical scare, Ronin now goes for check-ups and medication that cost about $400 each time. The vet says that pets with cognitive heart failure cannot live long but it’s been 8 months since her diagnosis and Ronin’s condition is improving. 

“We are just hoping that she stays happy and lives as long as possible!” 

Ensuring And Enduring

Even though it seems hard for Ronin to get insured now as she isn’t microchipped if there’s a suitable plan, Yi Ling would get one. “Every paw-rent should get a plan with good coverage.” Not only does pet insurance secure the well-being of your pet if something were to happen, but it also provides peace of mind for owners at a time you already have so much to worry about. 

“Pets can’t speak like humans so I know how aggravating it can get for the owner when they see their pet suffering. At the A&E, there were a few owners bawling and it was so scary,” said Yi Ling. “At these moments, having to worry about money is the last thing you want.” 

*Bonus Question*

Say Ronin could speak hooman for 7 days. What would you say to her for that week?

“Do you like me or my husband more?”

“I would ask her how she really is, how effective the medicine is, and if she was in pain. Would she rather us save her or let her go? I would ask her what’s her favourite food and make her agree to cuddle with me more to exchange for her favourite food haha. Also, whether she likes me or my husband more!”