My Picks from SuperZoo (turns out not a real zoo)

It took a pet product trade show called SuperZoo to finally get me to Las Vegas for the first time in my life. I guess it’s not that much of a stretch given I don’t gamble, most of the nice restaurants one finds there originated in NYC, and given my skin cancer paranoia, luxurious pools no longer hold the same power over me they once did.

 

While I intend to share  my favorite SuperZoo finds, I’ll be sprinkling in a few touristy pics from my time there – hope you don’t mind too much!  It will be as though you were there with me! There’s even an appearance by a famous cat (who I got to hold!) and a famous Cat Man (who I did NOT hold).

Here we go – Vegas as seen through my eyes along with my favorite things from SuperZoo and things I found just plain SUPER!

It was quite surreal to fly in from New York only to see the New York skyline – albeit a condensed, geographically incorrect version!

The photo below might just be the best one I took from my trip to Vegas. The colors and the juxtaposition of the MGM GRAND LION against the NEW YORK NEW YORK buildings. It doesn’t hurt that my name means lion (Arslan). Did anyone read, or watch, “The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe” growing up? (Aslan the lion….).

Okay, down to business! First up, by far and away my favorite find at the show, Lindy and Company Gourmet Treats.  This company motto says it all: “Saving Kids One Treat At A Time.” Granted, one PET treat at a time!

Lindy & Company’s treats for dogs and cats are made by homeless youth from an organization called Daybreak in Dayton, OH.  Sadly, like many animals, these youth are literally kicked to the curb and left to survive on their own. An estimated 550k every year, and as the website states, “they don’t even have fur coats.”

If they’re lucky, these shelter-living, couch-surfing kids come to Lindy’s through Daybreak to learn skills to help them get and stay employed, while building up their confidence and self-esteem at the same time.

 

I loved the super hero theme in their booth that reflects their packaging. If you ask me, it’s both the kids and “Lindy & Company” that are  superheroes. It takes a visionary at the helm to make a bold decision like the one this pet food company did. I commend them and hope it pays off ten-fold.

If you want to try a new treat for your cat and dog, why not make it Lindy’s just to support the kids. One can only imagine the pride they feel with each sale. And as a bonus, they even include a hand written note in each package of treats – ya just can’t beat that!

 

– Touristic Interlude – 

We stayed at Mandalay Bay since that’s where the convention was held.

And while I don’t gamble, it was pretty fun to look for and pose by the kitty-themed slot machines! Cats rule even in Vegas it seems (not sure why I’m surprised!).

 

BACK TO SUPERZOO!

I wish I could say something nice about Hunter, the pet company, but at every trade show I’ve been to, the representatives have seem non-to-pleased to have to interact with me. I’m not sure if it’s because of the “press” badge (vs buyer) or because I’m a “cat person.” But they provide as little information they humanly can, and do so rather begrudgingly.

Given all that, I am still including them because I think these DOG carriers would actually make quite stylish CAT carriers  (missed opportunity Hunter!). All they would need to do is remove the poop bag pouch, or replace it with a zippered version so we have a place for our lipstick.

I appreciated the Marchioro booth because finally someone took the modicum of effort to make the covered litter box visually appealing. Leave it to the Italians!

Not only the enclosed litter box (in several sizes) but the scoops and open litter pans get the Italian treatment as well. The pans even have a rim around them to keep the litter inside the box – nice touch!

 

While I’ve seen the Bolt Laser before (my cats loved it until it inexplicably stopped working), I’d never seen the FroliCat DART by PetSafe before. And while I took some video at the trade show, I thought it would be more fun to see it in action (I love how two of the four cats just cannot be bothered! ha!).

I’ve love the chance to see how my guys react to this one. I know now everyone believes in lasers as cat entertainment, but my cats don’t get wound up and nutty as I’ve heard some cats do.

FroliCat Pounce by PetSafe is another toy that looks fun to tryout. Of course with all automated toys longevity can be an issue. Then again, with regular toys not getting lost underneath the oven can be a challenge all its own! Another cute video – the initial reaction of the cats is hilarious.

 

– Touristic Interlude – 

The ceiling of the Bellagio

The photo below is of the ceiling of the lobby right at the check-in counters. It’s made of handmade (handblown?) glass by American artist Dale Chihuly.

The famous fountain show.

BACK TO SUPERZOO!

The Pet Smart Cart from dbest is in tho post because it’s a carrier that converts to one that can be pulled or pushed with ease. Before making cat and pup carriers these guys made and still make carts to tote around groceries, so they have that whole wheel-action thing down pat.

Plus, one of the guys at the booth was Armenian,  like me! So of COURSE they get brownie points (see Cat Man Alex Ohanian, founder of Reddit).

Rolf C Hagen is going unusually modern with several new products this year. The big introduction was a new line called Vesper. I’m interested to see the price points of the pieces because I got the sense it would be $100+. So the big question is, will the quality justify the cost.

Interesting choice of name. While yes, it came mean evening or evening star, most people I believe do think of it in terms of a religious service. I guess our cats can both sleep and pray in Hagen’s new Vesper line. Both seem conducive to a happy cat so I’m not complaining!

The Cat Scratcher Den (below) is a place for your cat to snooze or just hide and also provides a cardboard scratching surface on the top. I like the way all the new pieces look but wonder about durability.

 

– Gratuitous Interlude – 

While SuperZoo may not be a zoo after all, that doesn’t mean there weren’t furry things for me to accost during my trip.  And yes, these were all taken in the same day as I did in fact change my clothing every day. Promise.

Victim #1:  Yup, it’s Tara The Hero Cat! She’s a total sweetie pie and her mom and dad are super lovely. I got the scoop she was going to be there and was the first person to show up. So while I did not get to see her in her pink super hero cape, I did get to scoop her up which was wonderful treat!

During the keynote speech they announced that Daymond John of Shark Tank (and FUBU) fame was purchasing her licensing rights.  Is Feline FUBU in the works?

 

Okay, not a victim and not furry  – that I’m aware of – but I finally had the chance to meet Jackson at the PetMate booth where he was promoting his new line of cat products. He’s very approachable and seemingly down-to-earth. He even said he was familiar with I HAVE CAT so that was a nice surprise!

Victim #2 (lower left): A random bunny, forgot one kind. But a crazy soft kind. My first time holding a rabbit and I could barely put him (or her) down!

Victim #3 (lower right): Sweet puppy at the PURINA booth. A Golden who is being trained to be a therapy/guide dog. Someone said he didn’t look very happy with my forced love but I respectfully (and adamantly) disagree!

  BACK TO SUPERZOO!

Kittyscoop is a relatively new product with its patent pending. The intent of the product is to allow cat owners to scoop the litter box without getting their hands dirty or inhaling too much dust (if they use clay litter).

It can be used with or without a bag but I’m guessing I’d go with the bag so I wouldn’t have to clean the device itself.  It’s certainly original and I’d say it’s worth a try. Perhaps they’ll start making it in a variety of colors (black please!). One of just a few Litter Genie competitors popping up!

On Amazon the freeze-dried WildSide treats have been referred to as “cat-approved,” and “cat crack.”  Haven’t tried any with my guys (I’m anal about finishing a pack before opening another!) but I can’t wait to!

They make treats for both cats and dogs. For cats they have human grade 100% Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon and Lobster Treats which are actually “Langoustine Lobster and Wild Pollock.” The couple who came up with them were a trip and the cat on the package seems to be having fun so I included them!

Snoozers is missing out BIG TIME by marketing their Cozy Cave Pet Bed purely to dogs. Don’t the beds below look just perfect for a kitty to burrow in?  They come in a variety of sizes, colors and fabrics and some have orthopedic foam for senior pets.

Had they been any larger I would not have put it past myself to try to squeeze into ti. They look and feel crazy comfy!

Dazzle, by Precision Pet is soon going to be giving the Litter Genie a run for their money. They have a  Litter Box with ODO GARD and an accompanying “disposal system” I have yet to see in-market. I’m particularly interested with the disposal system for several reasons. First off, you need to know what “ODO GARD” is. According to its manufacturer:

“Its fine aerosol mist contains millions of microscopic molecules that actively seek offending odors then creates an irreversible covalent bond that changes the offending odor molecule by locking the bad odor away forever.”

So it doesn’t cover smells, it actually neutralizes them. Both the Litter Box and Disposal system include a bottle of ODO GARD. Give a spritz once kitty has pooped and another after you dump said poop in the canister.

Unlike Litter Genie, the waste container does not require special bags – just the ODO GARD (they go where the red stickers are in the photo below). And as an added bonus, it holds more waste.  Can’t wait to try it and see if it holds up to its promise!

Come on guys, I’m waaaaaiting 🙂 

 – Touristic Interlude – 

The Wynn. Talk about WOW! Can’t you just see someone getting married here right in the lobby? It was like being in a fairytale. My favorite hotel for sure.

  BACK TO SUPERZOO!

Last, but certainly not least. The hottest words on everyone’s lips at SuperZoo besides “Tara The Hero Cat”?  SILVER VINE.  Technically called Actinidia Polygamy, according to Wikipedia it’s a non-toxic plant also referred to as “cat powder” that has been used for centuries in Asia for preventative health.

It’s long been, “known to elicit euphoric responses in cats…..(and)….is the most popular cat treat in Asia.”  It’s said to be similar to, but more intense than catnip.

 

It seems a cat’s reaction to silver vine can last up to thirty minutes, and those cats who do not respond to catnip may respond to silver vine. While not every pet company has jumped on the silver vine wagon quite a few,  Vitakraft Purrk! and From The Field in particular, were very excited about it.  As with catnip, it’s sold both inside toys as well as separately to put on scratching posts or “renew” older toys.

 

Well, that’s all from SuperZoo. Hope you made it all the way through!  Which of the products in this post are you most eager to try?  Or have you tried (and tell us what you thought!). 

A few more pics just for fun!

 

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