My dad was a veterinarian, so growing up I was exposed to the love, care, and responsibility that goes with all sorts of animals: cats, dogs, horses, birds, tortoises, guinea pigs, hamsters… I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in pet care, though, so while I have been a cat owner for years I was at a loss when my one-year-old orange tabby, Sir Goose, started having some behavior issues that coincided with the time my boyfriend (his “dad”) left for active duty.
Goose suddenly liked to go number two right next to the litter box instead of inside it, and Goose also had a newfound habit of chewing and destroying my favorite clothes. I had tried everything I could think of to stop these habits and honestly thought I just had to accept this was my new normal for the time being, but then I discovered KONG Club.
What is KONG Club
KONG Club is a membership that comes with a monthly delivery of treats and toys for your pet, but the real gold lies in the KONG Club app. With my membership, I was able to speak with a Pet Lifestyle Coach directly through the app, and they can give recommendations if you’re not sure if your pet needs immediate care at the emergency if maybe you’re overreacting to the fact they threw up on the rug. Each month you’re subscribed you get $45 put into a Rainy Day Fund that can be used for financial support should your pet ever truly have an emergency that needs immediate care.
Enriching Cat Toys
You can expect to receive a variety of toys and treats designed for your pet’s ultimate wellness, but that doesn’t mean much if your cat doesn’t like what is offered. No concerns about that here- Goose has been having a blast exploring his way through the box. His favorite item by far is a pop-up camper toy he can go inside of (it even has a window he can fit through along with a regular door and sunroof), and he is absolutely enamored and will take his other KONG Club toys inside of the camper for ultimate happiness. Then, when he’s done playing, he scampers over to me for some cuddles.
1-on-1 Pet Coaching
I was able to register (as all members are) for one-on-one pet coaching with a certified pet lifestyle expert who helps you create a 360° Pet Lifestyle Plan for whatever journey you and your pet may be going through. I was paired up with Karen, a certified professional trainer with over 8 years of experience at different training facilities. Karen was super easy to talk to, there was no mom-shaming or blame-casting as we talked about Goose and the issues that needed addressing, and she provided incredibly useful tips I put to use as soon as our Zoom call ended.
Expert Advice
One of the things Karen was curious about was if Goose’s litter box issue truly stemmed from his feelings about dad being gone, or if that coincided with the time he may have grown out of his litter box. The thought had honestly never even occurred to me (and Goose is a big boy!), so I immediately went online to order a bigger litter box with high hopes. Shortly after our call ended, I had a pet plan created by Karen going over all of her suggestions for helping Goose, as well as links to products that may be helpful (such as a litter additive that could make the litter box more appealing, or a spray that could discourage chewing, though we both agreed mitigation seemed like the best option for us at this time).
Final Thoughts
I loved the ability to speak with a pet behavior specialist- that’s a unique concept I had never heard of before discovering KONG Club. I especially love that it’s paired with the ability to speak with a vet at any hour of the day. Something that’s important to note, though, is that the toys that they send in their monthly box are awesome too. I have truly never seen Goose play with a toy the way he plays with that camper; it’s almost like I can hear him telling me that he’s happy I gave KONG Club a try. The cat subscriptions start at only $24.99/month!
