New Toys from P.L.A.Y!

P.L.A.Y. is coming out with the CUTEST toys that I've seen in a long time! I just found out about their new Safari and International Classic toy collections, and I can't wait to get them for my dogs. Pets Lifestyle And You makes some of the most adorable toys out there, and ours are still going strong after months of rough play. What durable, fun, and functional toys have they come up with now? Let's take a look!

International Classic Toy Collection

This toy collection features classic international foods in plush toy form. There is a knotted German pretzel, a set of three sushi pieces strung together on a rope, and a taco. Super cute, right? Wait, there's more!

The taco actually comes apart. Each of the components has a different texture, and they all velcro together into a fun package that dogs can rip apart without actually ripping apart.

The International Classic collection is a fun variation on P.L.A.Y.'s American Classic toy line, featuring a burger, hot dog, french fries, and all that terrible food we love.

Ru is a huge fan of real tacos, he's got the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to following a plate of hot Mexican food. I think the girls are going to enjoy this toy more than he will, though. 

Safari Collection

This toy collection features ball-shaped African wildlife that looks kind of like it rolled out of this video. Each is equipped with a large and unusual squeaker that doesn't sound like the average squeaky toy. Their limbs also have ropes inside for tugging fun. 

The Safari toys are just the sort of thing I've been looking for, in my quest for larger ball-type toys that don't present a choking hazard. We're definitely going to be getting one as soon as they hit the market. 

For a look at some of P.L.A.Y.'s earlier collections, check out my reviews of their Giant Squid, Garden Fresh Carrot, King Crab, and Star stuffies. Our crab lost its squeaker a few months ago, but otherwise everything is holding up amazingly well to the insane amount of chewing, unstuffing, and fetching at goes on around here.

Product Review: Kurgo Reflect and Protect Active Dog Vest

Kurgo's Reflect and Protect Active Dog Vest combines high-visibility safety-orange with flashing red lights, so that everyone can see your dog. This vest is made from lightweight durable fabric, including mesh areas for better airflow. Reflective piping and tape runs around the sides, top, and front. There is a row of flashing red LEDs along the back for even greater visibility. This vest is available in five sizes, to fit dogs with chests 14-45" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

I really like the concept of Kurgo's visibility vest. It's much sturdier than our OllyDog vest, and feels like it will hold up to romps in the woods through major brush. I think it's important to have safety-orange-colored stuff on Godzilla when we're hiking, because she moves in a way that makes random people on the street ask if she's part coyote. I like to make sure everyone that sees her knows she is definitely an owned domestic animal and not a chupacabra.

The vest does have some serious sizing issues. Ours is a size small, intended to fit 18-25" chests. Sisci Godzilla measures 22", but this vest barely fits her when adjusted all the way out. It's also surprisingly short. Like most of Kurgo's smaller-sized jackets, it appears to have been made with very short-backed dogs in mind.

Pros

• Easy to put on
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Good for hot weather or over winter jackets
• Flashing lights increase visibility

Cons

• Surface area is lacking a bit
• Not offical "blaze orange", slightly duller color
• Sizing runs very small

Bottom Line

This is more of a road safety vest for leashed walks at night, and less of a "please don't shoot my dog in the woods" safety vest.

Caturday: An Escape-Proof Cat Harness?

It's Caturday, and I'm taking James out for a little stroll in his Ruffwear Webmaster harness. It was designed for dogs, but this is the closest thing I've found to to an escape-proof cat harness. It definitely feels more secure than PetSafe's Come With Me Kitty harness. Plus it has a handle, and cats should have handles.

Cat Physics

Cats are basically slow-moving liquids. They flow to fit the shape of any container, they spread out when left on a flat surface, and you can pour them. Keeping one in a harness can be a challenge. Most dog harnesses are not designed to be escape-proof. They fit comfortably around the chest and shoulders, and a determined dog can usually slither out of them. Cats are experts at oozing out of regular dog harnesses.

The Web Master harness is designed to be supportive, so it has an extra strap that fits further back on the dog's undercarriage. When fitted well, this strap sits behind the ribcage, around the abdomen. This prevents most dogs from backing out of the harness, because the belly strap is cinched down tighter than the ribcage.

Escape-Resistant

Cats are pretty amazing at getting out of harnesses, so I'm not going to declare this one to be escape-proof. However, the Webmaster does feel secure to me. I can pick up James by the handle, and he feels comfortably supported, not like he's about to slide out of the thing. Sometimes I hoist him up and stick him in trees just for kicks. I do put the harness on very snug, as tight as I can get it, for my own piece of mind.

Solstice is, unfortunately, too fat for the XXS web master harness. I can barely get the back strap buckle snapped, and she complains a whole lot about it. I'm currently looking for an inexpensive XS size to try on her, hopefully the rest of the straps won't be too big. She's basically got a normal-sized ribcage and then a giant expanse of catflab.

Other Options

I've heard good things about the Kitty Holster and Lupine's cat harness. Both of these prevent escape by adjusting snug around the neck, with no strap running up the chest between the belly and neck straps. I have not tried this style of harness on The Hellions yet, but they aren't particularly interested in escaping so they don't make very good product testers.

Do you have a harness for your cat?