The post Verlo Pet Beds Review 2024: My Cat’s Paws-On Review by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Overview Our Experience Pros & Cons Key Features About Verlo Are They Good Value? FAQ Review Summary Our Final Verdict We give Verlo Pet Beds a rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars. Quality: 5/5 Options: 4.8/5 Comfort: 4.9/5 Value: 4.5/5 Check Price on Verlo Pet Beds These days, customizable mattresses are all the rage, and for good reason. Adjusting the firmness, features, and, in some cases, the materials of your mattress make it easier to find the perfect fit for the perfect night’s sleep. If it works so well for humans, why aren’t pet beds this customizable? That’s exactly what Verlo mattress company was thinking when they designed their tailor-made pet beds. These unique cat and dog beds are made to order with customizable options, including size, materials, and extras like heating elements and cooling gel. My cat, Makoa, had the pleasure of testing one of these bespoke beds. In my full Verlo Pet Beds review, below, find out how much he liked this comfy mattress-style bed and why it might be the right buy for your cat. Overview Check Price on Verlo Pet Beds Product Type: Pet Bed Best Suited For: Cats and dogs with various comfort needs Price Range: Premium Contents: Custom-made pet bed with waterproof cover and top cover Specs: Small: 18 x 24 inches; Large: 30 x 36 inches Options: Hypoallergenic fabrics, cooling gel, heating elements, memory foam, elevated designs Assembly: Comes vacuum packed, fully assembled Cleaning: Machine wash cold, tumble dry cool or hang dry (cover only) Our Experience Check Price on Verlo Pet Beds Like most cats, my one-year-old Domestic Shorthair, Makoa, is a comfort hound. Because of that, I knew he would make a great reviewer for Verlo’s Pet Beds. Makoa knows what he likes and how to tell you if he’s unhappy. Luckily, Verlo makes it easy to get your discerning pet exactly what they desire when it comes to a pet bed. You get to choose your size, the materials that go into the bed, including cooling gel and memory foam, and the type of fabric used in the cover. For Makoa, I opted for a small bed from their V5 line with a memory foam topper and textured cover meant to help increase airflow. All these beds come with a washable top cover and waterproof inner cover, a must for all pet beds, in my opinion. Once the box arrived, I took out the vacuum-sealed bed-burrito, cut the plastic off, and set it out to let it puff back up to full size. After about twenty minutes, it was ready for testing. And that’s exactly how long it took Makoa to find it and claim it as his own. What We Liked From the moment this bed came out of the plastic wrap, I could tell it was a quality product. The cover is very well made with attention to detail. The textured pattern top is not only functional to help with airflow, but it is super cute and much more interesting to look at than what pet beds typically offer. The diamond stitching on the sides added another level of detail and beauty. I was also a big fan of the color. The metallic blue on the sides perfectly matches my decor and the gray and white top has a nice neutral feel. The zippers, which are smartly located on the bottom of the bed, are also well-made. The top cover features a full 360-degree zipper that makes it super easy to take the bed apart. And inside, you’ll find a waterproof cover with its own zipper that can be removed to access the inner layers of foam. It’s safe to say that I like this pet bed, but what about Makoa? The instant this bed was ready to use, Makoa was all over it. He hopped up, plopped down, and didn’t move for hours. In fact, he only left because my Chihuahua tried to claim the bed as his. The memory foam topper I opted for gives the bed a squishy feel with just enough give to cradle those kitty joints. I can see it being a great option for both cats like Makoa who love soft things and for older cats who need joint support. It is definitely softer than it is firm, but for cats, I see this as a major plus. Where We Saw Room for Improvement Makoa loves resting on this bed throughout the day. He usually lays on it with his paws tucked under and his head up, in that half-asleep position cats often use when keeping an eye on things. I moved the bed to his sleeping room at night and set it next to his normal sunken, round cat bed to see which he liked more. After checking the pet cam in the morning, I learned that he used his round bed most of the night. This was a surprise because that old bed is not nearly as soft as this one. I think, in this case, the natural instinct to curl up won out over his craving for comfiness. If Verlo could make a round pet bed with bolstered sides, I’m certain they’d win the battle for kitty hearts everywhere. The only other downside I noted is the price. This bed, which is from the V5 line, is quite a bit more expensive than your average cat bed. But much of that is due to the customizable options, quality, and human-grade mattress materials used. The bed options from the more prestigious V7 and V9 lines are even higher priced but also made with higher-quality, more durable materials. Beyond the less cat-friendly shape and the higher price tag, I have very few complaints about this bed. I love that you can choose from different features to make the perfect bed to meet your pet’s needs and that each bed is made by hand to order. If you have a cat who loves to stretch out and rest on flat, comfy surfaces, this bed will be absolutely perfect. Pros & Cons Pros Made by hand to order Highly customizable Quality craftsmanship Super comfortable Waterproof inner cover Washable outer cover Very stylish finish Cons Not the perfect cat shape Premium price range Key Features Check Price on Verlo Pet Beds Made to Order One of the most unique features of the Verlo Pet Beds is that they are made by hand to order. This is the same approach Verlo takes with its human mattresses. Each of these is made to accommodate the comfort preferences and needs of the person who will be sleeping on it. Verlo even offers free adjustments to their mattresses to ensure they fit your every need. While I’m not sure that this service extends to their pet beds, it still speaks volumes about this company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and a great night’s sleep. Options From the cover to the comfort layers that go inside, you have a lot of options when it comes to building your own pet bed with Verbo. If your cat has issues with allergies or sensitive skin, you can opt for a hypoallergenic cover. For older cats and those who love soft surfaces, the memory foam topper is a great feature. You can also add cooling gel for kitties who run hot, or heating elements for the typical cat who seeks out warmth above all else. Best of all, if you have a brick-and-mortar Verlo store near you, you can choose from many additional customization options. Double Zippered Covers Each Verlo pet bed comes with two covers. The outer cover is beautifully designed for looks and function. And it is machine washable so you can keep it looking as good as new even if your cat isn’t the cleanest feline. The inner cover is fully waterproof to protect those foam layers from accidents. This is an especially great feature if you have an older kitty prone to leaks or if the bed will be shared by canine roommates who are known to get wet and drooly. About Verlo Check Price on Verlo Pet Beds Verlo started as a furniture company in 1958 but has since pivoted, due to customer demand, to only making mattresses. Each of their mattresses is handmade to order—you can even watch your mattress being put together if you want! Manufacturing: All mattresses and pet beds are made in the US at local Verlo factories Sourcing: All materials are high quality and sourced in the USA Warranty: 3 to 15 years, depending on the product Ordering: In-store or via the national online store Products: Mattresses, sleep accessories, pet beds Are Verlo Pet Beds a Good Value? Compared to other cat beds, you can expect to pay a premium for this option. That said, this one is far more customizable than any other cat bed out there. On top of that, it is very well made (by hand), includes features most pet beds do not, and is made of human-grade mattress materials. So, while it might be more expensive, it is also hard to compare to other options due to the quality and features. How We Tested I tested the Verlo Pet Bed by watching and noting how my cat, Makoa, interacted with the product and setting up specific tests to gauge how well he liked it. I started by introducing him to the bed. As soon as I placed him next to it, he happily got on and laid down. I left the bed out on our main level and made notes about how long he slept on it throughout the day. I also set up specific tests by placing the bed next to his known favorite sleeping spots. I noted when and how often he chose this new bed over his old favorites. This included putting a camera on him overnight to see how much he liked this bed compared to his round bed, which he normally sleeps in. Lastly, I spent time interacting with the bed as any owner would. I removed the cover and washed it to see how it held up and spent time inspecting the inner cover and foam layers. Check Price on Verlo Pet Beds Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What size Verlo pet bed should I buy for my cat? The small size is plenty big and should accommodate all cats, even those on the larger side. How thick is the bed? The small size Verlo pet bed is about 4.5 inches thick, depending on the features included. Is this bed washable? Yes, the cover is washable. The company recommends washing it on cold and hanging it to dry, though it can be tumble dried on low. Is the cover durable? The bed cover is well made and soft, but not likely to stand up to digging by dogs or excessive scratching by cats. Conclusion If you’re looking for a highly customizable pet bed that allows you to choose the perfect features to make your kitty comfy, I highly recommend Verlo Pet Beds. This mattress company has made a name for themselves by offering fully customizable, made-by-hand mattresses for people, and now they are doing the same for pets. Their small pet bed is perfect for discerning comfort kitties. Choose from a variety of options, including memory foam and cooling gel toppers, hypoallergenic covers, heating elements, and more to create the perfect bed for your cat’s needs. The post Verlo Pet Beds Review 2024: My Cat’s Paws-On Review by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A new legal challenge, spearheaded by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, has thrust the state of California into the spotlight once again over allegations of infringing on free speech rights. This federal lawsuit, lodged on behalf of video-sharing platform Rumble, argues that two new California statutes unconstitutionally restrict users’ ability to share political content online. We obtained a copy of the lawsuit for you here. Under these controversial laws, specifically AB 2655, platforms like Rumble are coerced into policing and removing content that the state deems harmful. These regulations have been criticized for compelling platforms to censor speech, thereby becoming unwilling agents of government censorship. According to ADF Senior Counsel Phil Sechler, in a press release sent to Reclaim The Net, “California’s war against political speech is censorship, plain and simple. We can’t trust the government to decide what is true in our online political debates.” He emphasized the importance of platforms like Rumble, which resist governmental pressures to curtail free expression. The complaint details the operational challenges: “The law forces Rumble to undertake the impossible task of training its team to recognize and then remove and label content based on inherently vague and subjective terms on which even pollsters and government officials cannot agree, such as what content may be ‘likely to harm’ electoral prospects or may likely undermine confidence in an election.” Further, Rumble contends that AB 2655 oversteps by altering and compelling the speech of private entities, thus infringing upon their rights to free speech. It argues that neither the Constitution nor Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act allows California to “alter and compel Rumble’s speech while also mandating that it censor its users’ speech. As such, this Court should enjoin AB 2655 and declare it unlawful.” The genesis of these laws can be traced back to July when a parody video targeting Vice President Kamala Harris spurred Gov. Gavin Newsom to advocate for making such content illegal. Subsequently, the California Legislature expedited the passage of these laws, which Gov. Newsom signed into action on September 17. AB 2839, in particular, imposes vague criteria to penalize individuals for sharing content related to elections, such as political memes and parodies. In the detailed legal challenge, attorneys argue that AB 2655 forces Rumble to alter its own speech and police its users’ speech based on arbitrary criteria that even experts cannot uniformly interpret. The law imposes a duty on Rumble to train staff to identify and mitigate content that could potentially damage a politician’s reputation or undermine confidence in elections — criteria seen as inherently subjective. This lawsuit follows a similar successful defense of free speech by ADF on behalf of The Babylon Bee and attorney Kelly Chang Rickert, leading to a temporary halt on enforcing AB 2839 against them while their legal battle continues. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Rumble Sues California Over Censorship Law That Impacts Satire appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Welcome to Medicinal Uses For Weeds Commonly Found Around Your Home – Part 6! Let’s take a quick look at the medicinal weeds I have covered thus far. Part 1: purslane, ground ivy, and chickweed Part 2: thistle, wild violet, hairy bitterness, and prickly lettuce Part 3:lamb’s quarters, mallow, stinging nettle, and chicory Part 4: henbit, curly dock, garlic mustard, and amaranth Part 5: daisies, sheep sorrel, elderflowers What do all of these wild plants have in common? They can usually be found close to or around your home. Today, I’ll cover the medicinal uses for mullein, yarrow, and horseweed. Medicinal Weeds Around Your Home And Its Wonderful Uses Word of caution… As I did in part 1- 5, I would like to share with you two articles which include information on safety precautions you need to be aware of when foraging for wild, edible, plants. In my article, Foraging Tips for the 7 Most Common Edible Plants, I share great tips on things to consider and to look out for when you forage for any and all wild, edible plants. Another great article, “Need To Know” Rules When Picking Edible & Medicinal Plants, is written by Mykel Hawke, star of Discovery’s “Man, Woman, Wild”. He also talks about considerations and safety precautions to take when foraging in the wild. I sincerely encourage you to read these articles if you have never foraged for wild and edible plants. Foraging can be a great experience but, safety precautions are a must! Let’s get started! Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) This beautiful, wild plant is a tall, stalk like plant that can reach a height of 7-8 feet tall. The leaves are pale green in color and the blooms are yellow and have 5 petals per flower. The edible parts of this plant are the leaves and flowers and can be used in a salad. A tea can also be made out of the dried leaves and flowers. Mullein has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and the entire plant is usable. This plant has many medicinal properties which include: Anti-inflammatory Antiviral Antibacterial Anti cancer Cardiodepressant Antihistamine Antioxidant Fungicide Hypnotic Sedative The health benefits of this plant include: Mullein oil can be used to kill germs. Mullein tea helps to promote sleep. Mullein tea can also be used for lung related ailments such as asthma, coughs, and bronchitis. The tea also treats ailments related to the kidneys, bowels, ulcers, cramps, earaches, convulsions, and any health issues related to lymphatic system. Mullein tea recipe: 1 cup of boiled water 1-2 teaspoons of dried mullein leaves or flowers Let this mixture steep for about 15 minutes. Drink at least 1-2 cups daily to relieve symptoms of any of the above mentioned ailments. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) This medicinal plant has been used since around 1200 BC. The yarrow plant has fern like leaves and the flowers can be white, red, yellow, pink, or salmon in color. It can also grow between 2-4 feet in height. The leaves of the yarrow plant are edible, yet have a bitter taste. They can be eaten raw or cooked in soups. The younger leaves are recommended for a salad. You can also dry the leaves and use them as an herb for cooking. Yarrow tea can be made out of the dried flowers and leaves. This plant has a few medicinal properties which include: Anti-inflammatory Antibiotic Antiseptic This plant has many health benefits which include: Heals wounds and various skin conditions Regulates high blood pressure Soothes the symptoms of asthma Mild sedative for anxiety Beneficial for gastrointestinal issues Natural treatment for mastitis Reduces inflammation Yarrow tea recipe: 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow 1 cup of boiling water 1 teaspoon of honey (optional) 1 lemon slice (optional) Add dried leaves to boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Add honey and lemon and stir. Warning on the use of yarrow: Some people have been known to have reactions to yarrow so it is advisable to test small amounts first. Do not drink (or consume) yarrow for more than 2 weeks as it can become toxic to your liver. Do not drink (or consume) if you are pregnant or nursing. Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) This annual wild plant is a tall plant with bristly leafy stems from top to bottom and can grow between 2-7 feet tall. The leaves have a serrated look to them. The blooms are tiny and are greenish and white in color. The young leaves are edible and leaves can also be dried to make tea. This plant has a few medicinal properties which include: Astringent Styptic Diuretic This plant has many health benefits which include: Beneficial for bladder and colon problems Eases the symptoms of diabetes Nosebleeds Fever reducer Soothes the symptoms of bronchitis Soothes coughs Horseweed  tea: 1 teaspoon of dried horseweed leaves 1 cup of boiling water Steep dried horseweed leaves in the cup of boiling water for 30 mins. Can consume 1-2 cups daily. Warning: excessive use of this plant may cause contact dermatitis. Survivalkraft shows a video on Mullein: A Great Medicinal Weed With Practical Uses: What weeds commonly found around your home do you use for medicinal purposes? Tell us in the comment section below. UP NEXT: 30 Medicinal Plants That Could Save Your Life Follow us on facebook, instagram, pinterest, and twitter! The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.

Chicago Mayor's Press Director Accused of Misogyny, Sexual Harassment, Anti-Semitism

Click to Skip Ahead About Love, Nala Key Features Our Reviews Our Experience Our Final Verdict We give Love, Nala products an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.  Quality: 4.75/5 Variety: 4.75/5 Ingredients: 4.5/5 Cat Appeal: 5/5 Value: 4.5/5 Check Price on Chewy Among all the cute cats on the internet, one that really stands out is a cool California kitty named Nala. Nala was rescued from a shelter when she was only a kitten, and her owner started an Instagram account to share photos with her family in Thailand. As Nala’s followers grew, her owner also started a website, Nalacat.com, and used the two platforms to spread awareness about proper pet parenting as well as the importance of adopting. Eventually, Nala the cat started her own premium pet food brand, “Love, Nala,” both to continue building a positive legacy and to allow her owners to consistently donate to animal shelters. Ingredients were carefully chosen to create a healthy yet affordable product, and Nala tested everything herself to ensure other kitties would approve. According to their website, Love, Nala has donated over 250,000 meals to rescue organizations all over the US. They work closely with their manufacturer to maintain a high-quality product that is healthy for cats of all ages. They also use quality ingredients like wild-caught, antibiotic-free seafood, and local, cage-free chicken. My cat Luna has been eating Love, Nala, and her verdict is: this food is purrfect! At a Glance: What We Received Rating Image Product Details Our Favorite Air-Dried Cat Food 3 recipe options High protein content No artificial coloring CHECK PRICE Flaked Wet Food Whole ingredients you can see High moisture content Enticing aroma CHECK PRICE Digestive Health Supplement Supports gut health Soft chewy texture Chicken flavor CHECK PRICE Mousse Treat Tubes High-value treat Can be used as a topper Minimal ingredients CHECK PRICE About Love, Nala Who Makes Love, Nala and Where is it Produced? Per the company website, Love, Nala was founded by cat lover Vasiri “Pookie” Methachittiphan and her partner Shannon Ellis in 2019. They named the premium cat food brand after Pookie’s beloved Siamese/Tabby-cross, Nala, and even included her likeness on the packaging. Nala was already internet-famous, having amassed millions of Instagram followers, and was even recognized the following year by the Guinness Book Records as the cat with the most Instagram followers, at that time more than 4 million! Nala’s owner Pookie always wanted to use Nala’s fame for good, and together, she and Shannon decided to start a cat food brand to allow them to donate to animal shelters while also providing a nutritious product to improve the well-being of cats everywhere. Today, Love, Nala’s air-dried recipes are produced in California by the brand’s partner, Perfection Pet Foods, with an emphasis on using human-grade, hormone-free, and locally sourced ingredients. Their wet foods are produced in Pookie’s home country of Thailand in a human-grade facility with locally sourced cage-free poultry. Love, Nala also uses wild-caught fish, which is antibiotic-free, and never uses artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Every ingredient has been carefully chosen to be healthy for our cats and also environmentally friendly, while still tasting amazing. Which Types of Pets is Love, Nala Best Suited For? Any cat owner who loves their pets like family wants to feed them the very best food possible. But there are so many choices, and the very best options are typically the most expensive. This is what Love, Nala wanted to change. After formulating nutritious recipes using whole ingredients and leaving out the harmful artificial additives and fillers, this brand went the extra mile to make their products more affordable than other premium foods of the same caliber. So whether you have a kitten, an adult cat in the prime of its life, or a senior kitty, the food, treats, and supplements from Love, Nala can ensure your pet stays healthy for many years to come. Key Features Check Price on Chewy Love, Nala considered all the most important features a premium cat food should have when formulating their product line. And they have proven their willingness to improve upon their foods by discontinuing their dry kibble in favor of an air-dried recipe which retains more nutrients. Ingredients are carefully chosen based on their effects on both feline health and the health of our planet, and yet this food remains less expensive than most comparable brands on the market. Ingredients Love, Nala adheres to a “meat-first” policy with both their air-dried and wet formulas (except for added broth/water as the first ingredient in their canned food and lickable treats). This ensures these recipes are appropriate for our carnivorous kitties and also helps them maintain lean muscle mass – something that’s very important for indoor cats. The beef in their formulas is sourced in the USA, while their chicken comes from cage-free farms in Thailand. Seafood ingredients are wild-caught, which avoids the problem of antibiotics in the meat prior to processing, and Love, Nala also states all their meat is hormone-free. Aside from what’s in Love, Nala food, it’s important to note what’s not in it. You won’t find harmful chemical preservatives, artificial flavors and colors, or nutritionally inferior fillers like corn or rice. This brand is committed to providing species-appropriate nutrition that is higher in animal protein sources and lower in carbohydrates. Flavor Options No matter how picky your cat is, Love, Nala probably has a flavor they’ll enjoy. Air-dried foods come in three flavors – beef, turkey/chicken, and chicken. Wet foods come in two textures (flaked or paté) and a variety of flavor combinations centered around either fish or poultry. The lickable mousse treats come in three flavors of either tuna, tuna/salmon, or chicken. Nutritional Content Cats are true carnivores, meaning their bodies are designed to digest animal protein and fat efficiently, and they have very little need for carbohydrates. Love, Nala’s air-dried and wet foods are all formulated with a meat-first approach to ensure their diets are not only biologically appropriate and adhere to AAFCO guidelines but are also higher in protein than the lower-quality high-temperature processed dry kibbles on the market. While those low-cost foods are typically around 26-32% protein, Love, Nala’s air-dried formulas are all 37-43% protein, depending on the flavor. Pricing Love, Nala’s pricing, while on the higher end, is in line with comparable premium foods. And true to their founders’ goal of making premium cat food more affordable, the wet and dry foods both come in a couple dollars below most of their competitors when looking at other air-dried and premium canned foods. Their website offers a subscribe-and-save discount, and shipping over $59 is free. If you’re committed to feeding your kitty a premium food, Love, Nala is a great one to try thanks to its slightly more affordable pricing. Our Reviews of the Love, Nala Products We Received 1. Air-Dried Beef Recipe Check Latest Price All the dry food options from Love, Nala are air-dried, meaning the majority of the moisture has been removed using a gentle process that allows vital nutrients to remain. For this reason, air-dried foods are superior to traditional kibbles processed at extremely high temperatures and pressures. However, just like kibble, this gently baked dry food is easy to store and convenient as it does not require refrigeration or rehydration. This makes them a great option for people wanting healthier but hassle-free food for their pets. Love, Nala’s Beef Recipe is a tasty grain-free food that cats find irresistible. The air-dried Love, Nala Beef Recipe has more meat-derived nutrition than the other two formulas, as the first four ingredients are all meat. However, of all three air-dried recipe options, the Beef Recipe has the lowest percentage of protein at 37%. It is also important to note that it contains pork and natural chicken flavor, which may represent a challenge for kitties with specific allergies to any of those ingredients. It also contains chickpeas as the first plant source on the ingredient list (fourth ingredient overall), which is usually added as a plant-based protein source. Although our carnivorous kitties have no dietary need for legumes and could do perfectly well with only animal-based proteins, plant proteins are added and balanced to avoid having the economic and environmental cost of the food become astronomic. This recipe is the lower calorie of all three baked Love, Nala products, making it the product to consider for less active cats. Pros First 3 ingredients are meat Mild aroma Gently processed, baked Can be a meal or topper Cons Several protein sources Not ideal for kitties with allergies 2. Air-dried Turkey & Chicken Recipe Check Latest Price Love, Nala’s Turkey & Chicken Recipe brings a higher level of protein, at 40%, and a minimal fat content at 19.5%. The total calorie level is intermediate between the other two products. However, the ingredient list introduces a plant source earlier than the Beef Recipe, with “potato” landing at the #3 spot behind turkey and chicken. Potato contains some protein and may be easier to digest than chickpeas for some kitties. However, it is still mainly a carbohydrate source and not considered a natural ingredient for felines, which are obligate carnivores with no real need for plant nutrients in their diet. All the Love, Nala air-dried recipes use quality whole ingredients – no mystery meat by-products, meals, or cheap fillers like corn or rice. There are also no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors, and their products are made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. Love, Nala foods are formulated to meet AAFCO standards for nutrition levels and can be fed to kitties of all ages. Pros High protein Appealing flavor No artificial colors Grain-free Cons Sweet potato as third ingredient 3. Flaked Variety Pack Check Latest Price As obligate carnivores, feline species in the wild obtain most of their daily moisture requirements from their food – fresh, real chicken or fish. And our domestic house cats are not that different. Few indoor cats drink enough water to offset what is lost by living on a strictly dry-food diet, which is why offering wet food every day is such an important part of caring for a cat. Adequate hydration is critical to all bodily processes, but especially urinary and renal health. So, although chronic kidney disease can be influenced by many things, including nutrition and dental disease, it only makes sense to feed quality moisture-rich foods daily as the first line of defense. Love, Nala’s variety pack of flaked wet food comes with 12 cans of three different flavors, including tuna, salmon, and chicken. Each can is 2.8 oz., and each contains a generous quantity of broth, making this a great way to hydrate your cat. All three recipes contain real meat and whole plant ingredients that you can see when you open the can. These are highly nutritious, highly palatable wet foods, but there is one ingredient on all three recipe lists that Love, Nala might improve upon, and that’s sunflower oil. Although a common ingredient in wet cat food and a source of Vitamin E for skin and coat health, felines do better with animal-derived fats as opposed to seed oils, and animal nutritionists mostly agree that sunflower oil is unnecessary in cat food. Pros Multiple flavor options High moisture content Easy to plate Optimal meal size Cons Contains vegetable oil 4. Digestive Health Supplement Check Latest Price Love, Nala’s Digestive Health Supplement comes in a convenient chicken-based soft chew. Each tub contains 90 chews. The label recommends a dosage of 1 chew per day for cats under 10 lbs., or 2 chews per day for cats over 10 lbs. The label also advises that cats should take this supplement daily for the first 4-6 weeks, and then every other day for maintenance. While this supplement is designed around a blend of special enzymes that can improve a cat’s gut health, there are some ingredients the average pet owner may be confused by. The first is “Animal Plasma,” listed as an inactive ingredient. Animal plasma is indeed the plasma spun down from the blood of animals, but in this case, we do not know exactly what species of animal (usually cows or pigs but could be from poultry). Animal plasma is a nutrient-rich ingredient that adds flavor and assists with texture. Another ingredient on the list that some pet owners may be unfamiliar with is “Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver.” While this may sound questionable to some, hydrolyzed chicken liver is actually a highly digestible powder form. An ingredient that does leave room for questions is “Palm Fruit Oil,” listed in the inactive ingredients list. This oil has gained a bad rap in recent years, primarily due to deforestation of rainforests to make way for palm tree growers. There are label certifications for companies using only sustainable sources of palm fruit oil, but this is missing from Love, Nala’s label. Pros Supports a healthy digestive tract Can help with diet changes Great for sensitive stomachs Every-other-day maintenance dose Cons One flavor option Use of palm fruit oil 5. Mousse Variety Pack Check Latest Price Lickable cat treats in tubes have gained popularity in the last decade, both as a way for pets and owners to bond, and to distract displeased kitties during vet visits. A lot of the options available today amount to nothing short of junk food when their ingredients are analyzed, but Love, Nala makes three tasty options that contain great ingredients that are good for your cat. Their variety pack contains a chicken recipe, a tuna recipe, and a tuna & salmon combo. All three are void of mystery by-products and artificial colorings and flavorings and can be used as either treats or food toppers. All recipe options contain guar gum and tapioca starch as thickeners, which are both considered generally safe for cat consumption. Each variety pack comes with 24 tubes of mousse, with a generous portion size of 0.5 oz. If this is too much to feed your kitty at one time, you can fold over the top of the tube, secure with a clip, and refrigerate (preferably standing up to avoid leakage) for a few days without worry. Love, Nala recommends feeding up to two tubes daily as a treat. Pros 3 flavor options in one pack Appealing aroma Can be a treat or topper Minimal ingredients Cons Messy to dispense Leftovers difficult to store Our Experience With Love, Nala I’m always looking for better food and treats for my cat Luna, and recently the Love, Nala brand caught my eye. Actually, if I’m being honest, the packaging is what got my attention – a cute cartoon kitty with big blue eyes on an aqua background (my favorite color). But I don’t buy products off a catchy logo, so I started reading the ingredients as I do anytime I choose a new pet food…and I was impressed. Sold on the meat-first ingredient lineup and lack of artificial ingredients, I decided to give Love, Nala a try, and Luna Kitty is sure glad I did! She has loved everything I’ve given her, from the air-dried food to the canned food, to the mousse packets. She even loves the digestive supplement and gobbles it up like a treat. The air-dried food is larger than her normal kibble, but she has had no problem eating it and likes both the beef and the turkey/chicken flavors. The flaked wet food flavors were all a hit as well, and she loved licking up all the broth before devouring the chunks of meat. I love that the canned food has so much moisture in it because I know she needs the added water in her diet. It also makes it easy to dump the can in her bowl without having to get a spoon to scrape it out. The mousse packets have become our daily bonding ritual since I have to hold them for her. It’s also a great way for me to say “I’m sorry” after we trim her toenails (she HATES that!). And with all these new foods and treats in her diet, I’m happy to report that Luna has had ZERO stomach upset, which I attribute partly to our slow introduction of the food into her existing diet, but mostly to the Love, Nala digestive supplement that she takes daily. This has been a flawless food trial of a great brand, and aside from Luna’s love of everything, I can also see she has gained a little needed weight and is looking healthier and more content after just a few weeks of Love, Nala. Check Price on Chewy Conclusion Love, Nala is a healthy premium cat food line from a brand intent on improving the lives of kitties everywhere. Not only do they spread an important message on their online platforms around pet care and rescue, but they are also committed to assisting animal shelters and rescues through food donations. By feeding your cat Love, Nala, you are furthering their mission of improving animal welfare while improving your own cat’s health and happiness. The post Love, Nala Cat Food & Product Review 2024: One Kitty Caregiver’s Honest Assessment appeared first on PangoVet.

This year, I became a father. They say that becoming a parent changes everything — and I agree. In the first moments that I held my son after he emerged from the safety of his mother's womb, I thought to myself, "My life is over." When I take for myself, I flourish. But when I give up myself, my family flourishes. But that is good — and for that, I am thankful. Western culture today prioritizes self-actualization and the liberation from external influence. Subjectivity, personal feelings, and internal perceptions of identity are propped up as chief goods. And the dominant narrative we are told is this: I am the author of my life — and the story is all about me. My happiness is the most important currency in my life. If anything hinders my version of the good life, which I get to define, then I must immediately erase it from my life. To have children is the ultimate way to fight back against this poisoned worldview. It is to embrace death of self. Parenting, as I have experienced in my short 3.5 months and as I have witnessed in the lives of my friends, requires an identity shift. Parenting is not something that I do. Rather, I am a father. But I am not a father in the margins of life. I am first a husband and father — and the rest of life is crafted around those vocations. The compass that guides me is not powered by my personal feelings and desires. Instead, I am motivated to provide for and to protect my family, to serve and to lead them, and to pour myself out for them because I want them flourish. When I take for myself, I flourish. But when I give up myself, my family flourishes. My self loses — but my family wins. Self-sacrifice and others-centered love is the name of the game. In parenting, this is intuitive. The survival of our children requires us to spend years meeting their every need, sacrificing me for them. They would literally die if we did not prioritize them. The journey of parenthood, therefore, is an invitation to death. But there is good news. Not only will embracing the death of self lead to a more fulfilling life — one in which we discover that true joy is found not in self-indulgence but in self-giving love — but it leads to life itself. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, "Whoever pursues after his own life to preserve it will lose it; but whoever loses [his own life], he will be given life" (Luke 17:33, my translation). Ultimately, it is my faith that motivates me to embrace the death of self. To be a Christian, after all, means accepting Jesus' invitation to follow him into death and through it to resurrection life. This thanksgiving, I thank God that he called me into fatherhood and gifted me the end of adolescence. He has trusted my wife and me to embrace the death of self to care for His son. There is no escape hatch, and there is no going back. And for that, I thank God every day.

A coalition of 11 Republican-led states filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and State Street Corporation, accusing the three asset managers of violating antitrust laws.According to the complaint, the companies' promotion of environmental, social, and governance standards resulted in less coal production and higher energy prices.Companies 'formed a cartel to rig the coal market.'The lawsuit stated that the financial institutions "artificially constrained the supply of coal, significantly diminished competition in the markets for coal, increased energy prices for American consumers, and produced cartel-level profits" for themselves by leveraging their power.Reuters reported that the three financial institutions have more than $26 trillion in assets under their management.The companies have pressured coal companies to reduce their carbon emission by more than 50% by 2030, the complaint noted."Competitive markets — not the dictates of far-flung asset managers — should determine the price Americans pay for electricity," it read.The coalition of states — including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Wyoming — was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).Paxton accused the asset managers of "illegally conspiring to manipulate energy markets.""These firms also deceived thousands of investors who elected to invest in non-ESG funds to maximize their profits. Yet these funds pursued ESG strategies notwithstanding the defendants' representations to the contrary," he claimed.The lawsuit accused BlackRock of "actively deceiving investors about the nature of its funds" by using all of its holdings, even those in non-ESG funds, to advance its climate goals. Paxton told Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk that the reduced coal production forces the U.S. to purchase more energy overseas. "It's affecting consumers in all kinds of ways," he said.Paxton wrote in a post on X, "Texas will not tolerate the illegal weaponization of the financial industry in service of a destructive, politicized 'environmental' agenda. BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street formed a cartel to rig the coal market, artificially reduce the energy supply, and raise prices. Their conspiracy has harmed American energy production and hurt consumers. This is a stunning violation of State and federal law."BlackRock said in a statement to Bloomberg that the lawsuit "undermines Texas' pro-business reputation.""The suggestion that BlackRock invested money in companies with the goal of harming those companies is baseless and defies common sense," the company said.Vanguard Group and State Street Corporation did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters or Bloomberg.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has been telling people close to him that he is considering leaving the United States because of Donald Trump's historic win in this year's presidential election.The New York Times reported that Hoffman, a big donor to Democrats, is concerned about retaliation from the new Trump administration because he helped financed private litigation against Trump, such as providing the funding for E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against the now-president-elect for alleged sexual abuse and defamation.'I really think that we should honor my father’s wisdom today by not letting ourselves be defeated.'CNN reported earlier this year that Hoffman gave over $7 million to the Harris super PAC Future Forward.The Times noted that several other major Democratic donors and advisers are considering leaving the country since it is clear American voters rejected not just Harris but also her wealthy allies. Celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have already moved out of the U.S. because of Republicans' victory.At a recent gathering of donors and Democratic operatives, Alex Soros, the son of George Soros who now controls his father's vast network, said he is concerned that other donors may not spend the money needed to help rebuild after the stinging electoral defeat. For himself, Soros remains committed to giving money to progressive causes. He chastised Democrats for not listening more to his father, who has helped install pro-crime district attorneys in several key cities across the country."I think if he was taken more seriously, some of the problems that America still deals with today would not be here and we’d be on more stable footing," he said about his father. "I really think that we should honor my father’s wisdom today by not letting ourselves be defeated."Altogether, Harris was able to raise over $1 billion after she was put at the top of ticket following President Joe Biden's disastrous debate with Trump. Despite the eye-popping financial support, her campaign ended with an election loss and $20 million in debt.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

While the news cycle has shifted its focus to the president-elect and other timely issues, the people of North Carolina are still suffering in silence after Hurricane Helene ravaged the place they call home — with government assistance almost nowhere to be found. Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker was on the ground in North Carolina following the deadly storm — and what he saw is something he can’t soon forget. “You see the devastation, and you see houses up in trees, 30 feet above the current water level, that are still there, and it all of a sudden dawned on me, multi-hour, winding, 150-mile journey to Tennessee through the back roads, is I didn’t see a single military transport at all, of any kind,” Baker tells Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.” “Not one troop on the ground of any kind, either active duty or National Guard,” he adds, noting that as soon as he got back to Dallas, Texas, he began asking some serious questions. “The first thing that I discovered was that in fact, the National Guard had been withdrawn on the 19th of this month,” Baker explains, adding, “So, as I’m starting to dig through this, I go to the X account of the North Carolina National Guard.” According to Baker, the pinned post on the Guard's X account said, “This is a no fail mission. We are there for you until it’s over.” “No, they’re not,” Baker comments. “So we’re working on this story for the last several days, and then just yesterday, all of the sudden, whoever their social media person is is populating the X page with all these new posts showing photos of all the work that they’re currently doing, except that some of those photos have green leaves on the trees still in the background.” “This is gaslighting, this is propaganda, and so we’re asking the questions,” he adds. Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Warframe 1999 is right around the corner, bringing fans of the live service shooter back to a wild but enticing setting that mixes dark tech fantasy with turn-of-the-millennium vibes. It looks marvelous, and now developer Digital Extremes is being incredibly generous by giving away Dark Sector, its debut game that was a predecessor to what you see in Warframe today, totally free to those on Steam. Continue reading Dark Sector, the forgotten predecessor to Warframe, is free on Steam right now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warframe on Steam Deck, Warframe builds, Warframe codes