The Colorado artist makes fun and colorful portraits of pets under the name of Beccavision. Her work, which Liz Acosta wrote about last year, uses unconventional techniques, shapes, and hues to create a funky, full-of-life rendering. She works from a photo and uses art marker -- think fancy markers for artists, not kids -- as her medium.

Abraham, by Rebecca Fischer.

Mac and Cheddar, by Rebecca Fischer.

Lucy, by Rebecca Fischer.

Fischer has generously offered to create a custom portrait for one very lucky Catster reader. The piece, measuring 16 by 20 inches at a value of $275, will arrive matted and ready to frame. If you simply must see your beloved kitty in a bigger portrait, she will put the value toward a larger 24-by-36-inch piece, which regularly costs $325. Fischer also will include a print of the original. 

To enter, show us the photo you would like to see in Beccavision and tell us a little about your cat. Also, per usual, please follow the instructions below -- to the letter. Over the past few weeks, we've had more than a few readers not include a valid email on their Disqus account or simply not respond to our email after they've won. Check your spam folders!

Also, if you would like to win a custom Beccavision portrait of a canine family member, enter over on Dogster. 

HOW TO WIN

Would you like the chance to win a Beccavision custom pet portrait? If so, please do the following:

1. Create a Disqus account, if you haven't already, and include a valid email. It takes just a minute and allows you to better participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. If you already have a Disqus account, check it to ensure the account includes a valid email.
2. Comment below using your Disqus account, post the photo you want used to create the portrait, and tell us a little about your cat. Our favorite comment wins! Note: You must be a U.S. resident to win. 
3. Check your email for a “You've Won!” message from us after noon PST on Wednesday, April 3. We'll give the winner two days to respond before moving on to our next favorite comment.

If you don't score the Beccavision, not to worry: You still have plenty of opportunities to win other great prizes -- every Friday, in fact! You also can commission a portrait through the Beccavision website. 

Her cat collars feature a breakaway buckle, tested by Pye herself on a variety of cats (even kittens weighing just four pounds), and a bell to announce comings and goings. Check out Egon in the Press Star collar and one of Pye's new bow-tie accessory designs:

Such a handsome kitty.

As you can see, Pye favors bright colors and fun fabrics for her creations, with several perfect for spring and summer. My favorites include:

A sweet collar for a sweet kitty.

Love love love the argyle.

Pye has generously offered up one of her collars to a lucky Catster reader as this week's Friday Freebie. To enter, post a photo of your kitty in his or her current neckwear and share why you simply must have one of Pooch and Puddy's stylish and safe designs. Is the existing collar worn out? Does it get caught, creating an unsafe situation? Also, follow the instructions below. (And if you want to win one of Pye's equally stylish and safe collars for your dog, enter over on Dogster!)

HOW TO WIN

Would you like the chance to win a Pooch and Puddy collar? If so, please do the following:

1. Create a Disqus account, if you haven't already, and include a valid email. It takes just a minute and allows you to better participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. If you already have a Disqus account, check it to ensure the account includes a valid email.
2. Comment below using your Disqus account and post a photo of your cat in his or her current collar, share why you must have a new one from Pooch and Puddy, and tell us which one you want; see the full collection. Our favorite comment wins! Note: You must be a U.S. or Canadian resident to win.
3. Check your email for a “You've Won!” message from us after noon, PST, on Wednesday, March 27. We'll give the winner two days to respond before moving on to our next favorite comment.

If you don't score the Pooch and Puddy collar, not to worry: You still have plenty of opportunities to win other great prizes -- every Friday, in fact! You also can purchase a collar through the Pooch and Puddy boutique on Etsy. The regular collars cost just $18, with the bow-tie accessories running $12. 

The Stimulo cat feeder from Aïkiou makes mealtimes a blast for your kitty. Cats are natural predators (think about how they stalk those mousie toys!), so "hunting" for their food in different-length tubes like these gives them a chance to use their natural instincts.

Plus, if you have a cat who likes to eat too fast (I'm raising my hand for this one), the Stimulo cat feeder can help slow him down. He'll have to play around and dig out each piece, so there's less chance for the vacuum-eating method some cats employ. 

Each of the tubs has lines and measurements on the side so you can be sure you're properly portioning your cat's food. There are also different-height tubes for different levels of challenge for your kitty!

Want to try it? Yes? Yay! One lucky Catster reader will get to win one of your own!

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, simply leave us a comment letting us know the name of the kitty you'd like to give this to. We'll randomly choose one winner and notify you by email.

All entries must be received by Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 at noon, PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.)

We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

Treat yourself to a new Kat Daddy each month, in all kinds of crazy settings, with all kinds of adorable kitties.

Me-OW!

All of the images for the 2013 Kat Daddy calendar were taken by Lynn Terry Photography, and each and every cat was rescued or adopted by Rainbow Ranch in St. Louis, Missouri.

Proceeds from the sale of this calendar go to Rainbow Ranch as well as to its Feral on the Farm program, which was started to promote TNR and to help feral cats find safe forever homes in stables, ranches, and farms.

These calendars are on sale at the Lynn Terry Images shop on Etsy, and there are a limited number. (I already ordered mine!) Lynn does all kinds of photography, but we especially love her pet photography. This calendar is a wonderful idea to help raise money for rescue.

One lucky Catster reader will win a Kat Daddy calendar of your very own to kick off the New Year!

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, leave us a comment letting us know your cat-related resolution for 2013. Are you adopting a new cat? Going to start fostering? Volunteering at a shelter? Let us know! 

We'll randomly choose one winner and notify you by email. 

All entries must be received by Thursday, Dec. 27, at noon, PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

It's Rudolph, of course! And Santa Claws knows your kitty would just love to sink her claws into this fabulously festive reindeer-shaped cat scratcher.

It's also good for rubbing on!

As it does for nearly every holiday, Imperial Cat has launched a line of holiday Scratch and Shapes scratchers! They have great quality and are made from 100 percent recycled cardboard. Plus, they're tougher than regular corrugated cardboard scratchers, so your cat can enjoy her reindeer scratcher even after the holidays.

This fabulous reindeer scratcher measures 21 inches long, so even the longest kitty can lounge on it to her heart's content. Plus, it's super cute. Just look at that red nose!

Ho-ho-happy scratching.

One lucky Catster reader will get to win one of these reindeer cat scratchers for your very own cat. It's the perfect holiday present, and we know your furry son or daughter will love it.

HOW TO ENTER

Simply leave us a comment below letting us know what your kitty wants for Christmas (you never know, Santa might be reading this!). We'll randomly choose a winner and let you know by email.

All entries must be received by Thursday, Dec. 6, at noon PST. Prize can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

That's the mission behind Cat Tee Mission. Wear your love for cats proudly on your chest, and benefit them, too.

Founder Sarah Menzies has loved and supported cats all her life. She is a blogger and shop owner, and she wanted to do more than just love cats. She wanted to help them. And so Cat Tee Mission was born.

All of the proceeds from the sales of the Cat Tee Mission T-shirts go to cat rescues that work to find homes for unwanted cats and run trap-neuter-return on cats who don't have homes. 

"I once read a quote that said ‘Saving one animal won’t change the world, but it’ll change the world for that one animal,' and it really resonated with me," Sarah says. "Let’s see how many cats’ lives we can change."

There are may designs in the Cat Tee Mission shop, each with a message or cat illustration. Today, one lucky Catster reader will win one of these shirts.

Just a few of the designs and colors!

HOW TO ENTER

Visit the Cat Tee Mission shop and choose which style, design, color, and size shirt you would like, then come back here and leave us a comment telling us which you chose. We'll randomly choose one winner.

All entries must be received by Thursday, Nov. 15, at noon PST. Winners can live anywhere.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid e-mail address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by e-mail, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

The Catpod is a scratcher that matches your kitty's love of cardboard with your love of stylish cat furniture. And with this week's giveaway, you'll get to win one for yourself -- and one for your favorite rescue, too!

Win this Catpods Prize Package!

Catpods are made by Green Cat Industries, a feline furniture design studio based in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tryon, North Carolina. They make eco-friendly cat furniture, and because they care about the health of our kitties and the environment, all Catpods are made with nontoxic adhesives. They also use recycled packaging materials whenever possible.

My cat, Moo, has one of these Catpods. We've had it for many months now, and we can certainly vouch for how long they last. It's his favorite thing in the world -- he runs over to it and scratches away as soon as I get home every day; I think it's his way of saying "hi" to me. And, so far, you can hardly tell he's even used it. It's amazing. 

Catpods also make for a fabulous hidey place or snuggle spot.

Moo loves Catpods!

Now for the good news: One lucky Catster reader will not only win a Catpods Prize Package for yourself, but you also get to choose your favorite rescue to get a prize package, too! How wonderful is that?!

Each prize package includes an Original Catpod, one regular-sized Kitty Speedbump, and a six-pack of Kitty Pucks toys.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, leave us a comment letting us know why you'd like to win and which rescue you'd like to receive a prize package. We'll randomly select one winner from all the comments and let you know if you won!

All entries must be received by Wednesday, Oct. 31, at noon PST. Prize can only be shipped to U.S. and Canada addresses.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

And we've got your chance to win any costume of your choice.

Is your kitty a little devil?

Our friends at Nip and Bones have a seriously silly collection of pet costumes, from cute to funny to pretty and scary. Your cat can dress up as a pretty princess, a spooky monster -- or even a slab of bacon. (My cats Pimp and Moo are going to be breakfast for Halloween -- bacon and a banana. Ha!)

My cat Moo as a prisoner one year. Pimp was a cop!

When it comes to picking out a cat Halloween costume, don't forget that you can also choose dog costumes for your cat; just pick one of the smaller sizes. That gives you a ton more choices, and they fit just as fabulously.

Don't dress up your cat? Then you can still win with today's giveaway. You can win a costume or a Halloween toy -- it's up to you.

Some of the other fun cat stuff you can win! Catnip toys and collar charms!

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, visit Nip and Bones' Halloween shop and choose which costume or Halloween toy you'd like to win. Then leave us a comment here letting us know your choice! 

All entries must be received by Thursday, Oct. 18, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

Catster Coupon

You know we love to give you all a good deal, so we worked it out so you get free shipping on any costume with coupon code MEOWLOWEEN at Nip and Bones! Coupon expires October 31, 2012.

Spooky and cute ... and comfy!

Imperial Cat has expanded its line of high-quality, eco-friendly, and natural cat lifestyle products to include Halloween-themed Scratch ‘n Shapes. These scratchers come in fun and spooky designs and shapes that add to your home décor and provide a safe place for your cats to play. 

So if you can't dress your cat up for Halloween (I will, but that's a whole other post), then your kitty can still get in on the Halloween spirit with this fun Halloween cat scratcher! And even better, one lucky Catster reader's kitty will get one for free with this week's giveaway.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, simply leave us a comment letting us know you'd like to win. We'll randomly choose one winner -- and your kitty will get one of these fabulous scratchers!

All entries must be received by Thursday, Oct. 11, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes.

Good luck, everyone!

Each pillow is custom made by Broderpress shop owner Shannon Broder, using full-length photos of your pet. The custom pet pillows measure approximately 13 by 17 inches, depending on the proportions of the picture (or, um, how wide your kitty is). The pillows are black and white, giving them a retro feel. 

Your kitty can be in any position -- sitting down, standing sideways, lying down ... or any other way you want to prop them. You can use the pillow for yourself, for decoration, or maybe even for your cat. How weird would that look?

One lucky Catster reader gets to win a custom pet pillow of his or her pet.

If you win, you'll need to provide a full-length, high-quality photo of your kitty to work from, so be thinking about which one you'll choose now, just in case.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, simply leave us a comment telling us where you think you'll put your custom pet pillow! We'll randomly choose one winner, and we can ship the prize anywhere, so everyone can enter.

All entries must be received by Thursday, Oct. 4, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes. Good luck, everyone!

Superfabulous Catster Coupon

Woohoo! Catster readers get the VIP treatment this week. Use coupon code CATSTER12 at the Broderpress shop to get 15 percent off a custom pet pillow -- whether you win this giveaway or not. We're all winners! Yay! (The coupon is good until October 18, 2012.)

No matter what your cat's style, Sweet Pickles Designs has the ultimate in on-trend cat collars for your fabulous feline.

Pickles, the diva cat who inspired the Sweet Pickles Designs shop, is a purrfect model.

Sweet Pickles Designs has some of the most fun collars we've ever seen, with creative and catchy names to match. With their new fall collection of cat collars, your kitty could don The Wingman, The Boss, The Catwalk, The Life of the Party, and more! Each one is handmade and sure to please even the most finicky feline's style. And they all feature breakaway buckles ... fashion and function!

A few of the new collars in the Fall Collection.

Plus, with each new collection, Sweet Pickles has started a wonderful initiative we love: All the proceeds from sales of one collar -- with this collection, it's The Preppy go to an animal rescue. This time, it's the Oregon Humane Society. 

The Preppy.

If that wasn't good enough good news, two lucky Catster readers will get to win cat collars of their choice from Sweet Pickles Design entire collection! Your kitty is going to look wonderful, dahling!

HOW TO ENTER

Visit the Sweet Pickles Designs shop on Etsy and choose the collar your fancy cat would like to win. Then come back here and let us know which you'd like in the comments below. This prize can be shipped anywhere internationally!

We'll randomly select two winners and notify you by e-mail if your kitty is the lucky one!

All entries must be received by Thursday, Sept. 27, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats.

(And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes. Good luck, everyone!

Superfabulous Catster Coupon

Use coupon code ILOVECATS at the Sweet Pickles Designs shop to get free shipping on your whole order right now (that's free shipping anywhere in the world!).

“Score!” shout the kitties. “Unlimited scraps and boxes!”

“Well, sure,” Roberts replies, “but I can do better than that.”

See, Roberts also dabbles in design. And when he went looking for kitty furniture a couple of years ago and found only small scratch pads and bigger, high-end kitty trees and condos, he set out to make his own thing.

Smaller scratch items selling for $10-$20 and “were incredibly limited, aesthetically and functionally,” Roberts says, while the bigger cat structures (the ones he found sold for more than $100 each) “were awesome, but who could afford them?”

Roberts suspected that a piece of cat furniture couldn’t cost that much to make, so he tested his hypothesis.

“My criteria were pretty simple,” he says. “Minimalist aesthetic, tons of functionality, and affordable price.”

(And there’s also that whole “I own a cardboard company” thing to give him a head start, but hey, play to your strengths, we say.)

Hence, the $34.95 Kittyblock was born.

What is the Kittyblock? It’s essentially a bunch of sheets of cardboard -- "corrugated fiberboard,” as industry insiders say -- stuck together with starch-based adhesive and then cut into big bricks with square holes in the center.

It’s a box. It’s a multisided scratching pad. It’s a hiding place. It’s a sleeping place. It’s something to chase other cats through. It’s something to knock over and crawl into from the top.

“Your kitty might lounge peacefully on/inside the Kittyblock,” Roberts says on his website. “Conversely, your kitty may decide their purpose in life is to shred and destroy the Kittyblock.”

Banjo (a tabby) and Blossom (a calico) agreed to field-test the prototypes before Roberts could finish asking the question.

Today you can win a Kittyblock and have your cat test it for you.

Outside, it measures about 15 inches on all dimensions, according to the Kittyblock website. The hole is about 10 inches square and 15 inches deep. The whole thing weighs about 8 pounds. It's stackable. 

Because the Kittyblock is cardboard, it’s recyclable -- but you might want to keep that fact from the kitties. They consider themselves born recyclers.

Contest rules

To win a Kittyblock, go to the Kittyblock page on Facebook and “like” the item. (We’ll check that, by the way.) Then come back to this story and leave a comment about why your kitty or kitties need a Kittyblock. The story we like best will be the winner.

To be eligible, you must use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid e-mail address, you can't win because we can't contact you. So please check your account.)

We'll notify the winner by e-mail, and you have two days to respond before we choose someone else.

The deadline is 12 noon PST on Wednesday, Sept. 26. U.S. residents only. (Sorry, everyone else.) Good luck!

Not only is it possible, but your cat can paint his meowsterpiece -- without getting paint on his paws -- using the Kitty-Casso Paint Kit for Cats.

No mess in your house and no paint on the paws!

We got one of these Kitty-Casso Paint Kit for Cats from Artcasso, so of course I had to give my cat, Moo, a shot at creating a painting of his own. The kit includes good paper to paint on, five colors of nontoxic paint, a plastic sheet to cover the paper, a toy to entice your kitty to "paint," and a frame to hang it when it's dry.

How does it work? Plop some of the paint on the paper and then place it on a hard surface -- I put it on my tile floor -- and then cover that with the plastic sheet. Wave the toy around to make your kitty run, walk, and roll over the covered paint. He's painting! When he's done, sign his name, let it dry, and voila! Your kitty is a regular Purrcasso.

Moo winding up to paint.

Two lucky Catster readers will get Kitty-Casso Painting Kits with this week's giveaway. I bet you'll be the only one you know with true cat art on your wall.

Moo's masterpiece. I helped him sign it.

How to Enter

To enter to win, simply leave us a comment imagining what you think your kitty would paint if he had the chance. A mouse? A catnip tree? A family portrait? We'll randomly pick two lucky winners.

All entries must be received by Thursday, Sept. 13, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.) We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes. Good luck, everyone.

Here's a video of Moo painting.

Superfabulous Catster Coupon

Use coupon code CATSTER25 to get 25 percent off at the Artcasso site through Sept. 30, 2012, if you don't win but still want to buy your kitty a kit to paint. (There's a dog version, too.) Happy painting.

Do we need any more rules after that? I'm pretty sure that basically sums up their existence -- and how we feel about them. So why not hang that sentiment on your wall with our ultra-cool polished metal "Cats Rule" wall hanging giveaway?

Crafted by artisans in Brooklyn and sold by Gauge nyc, this "Cats Rule" sign is created from hand-forged, polished aluminum and curved to form graceful scripted words. Just like all the other pieces in the shop, they are lightweight, easy to hang, and they accent an already cat-loving home. 

Founder Paul Smotrys says the inspiration for his designs is "that place in between art and industry. The beauty and integrity of metal is the underlying bond within the collection. The results are designs that are straightforward, clean, and visually compelling." We're partial to this kitty-themed one, but some of his other best-sellers are inspirational or silly ones like "Dream," "Believe," "Create," and "I <3 bacon." The company also makes necklaces and cake toppers.

One lucky Catster winner will win a "Cats Rule" sign with this week's giveaway.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, leave us a comment below telling us the name of the cat that rules your household. If you have more than one kitty, you know there's that one that rules the roost, so share his or her name! 

All entries must be received by Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.)

We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes! Good luck, everyone!

CATSTER EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS! Catster readers can save 10 percent off anything the Gauge nyc shop using coupon code CATSTER10 through 9/6/2012. There is some really great stuff there (not just cat stuff!), so enjoy the discount!

Win this Crazy Cat Lady necklace!

Show off your love for your kitties loud and proud with Crazy Cat Lady necklaces from Doodlecats. Each one is laser-cut out of acrylic and hangs from a silver-plated chain. The Crazy Cat Lady charm part is 2 inches wide and the chain hangs 16 inches; each one is handmade with love by shop owner and cat lover Beth Wilson.

Combining jewelry and cats is the ultimate cat-lady chic combination as far as we're concerned, so we're super excited to be able to offer three of these to give away today.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, simply leave us a comment below telling us know why you're crazy about your cats. Do they make great pillows? Comfort you when you're sad? Smell extra-super-delicious? (You know kitties smell yummy!) Whatever it is, let us know. We'll randomly choose THREE lucky winners. 

All entries must be received by Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.)

We'll notify the winner by email, and you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes! Good luck, everyone!

CATSTER EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS! Catster readers can save 10 percent in the Doodlecats shop using coupon code CATSTER10 through the rest of the month. Beth has tons of cute cat-loving items, so be sure to check out what's there!

Then you're in the right place! We're giving away a sleek, feline-approved Wave cat bed from Neko Habitat!

Plush, yet minimalistic. Happy kitty, happy home!

Neko Habitat cat beds bring fun, elegance, and dazzling modernism to the wonderful world of high-end pet furniture products. Cat beds are no longer just cat beds ... they're fabulous furniture!

The Wave cat bed, which retails for $124.95, is an elevated sleeping platform with a complementary-colored cushion. There's a stainless steel "foot" under the platform that supports your kitty, even if he is a little on the larger side. 

Neko Habitat's Wave cat beds come in several colors, and one lucky Catster reader will get to win one in the color of your choice. 

HOW TO ENTER

Here's what you do:

1. "Like" Neko Habitat on Facebook and/or follow Neko Habitat on Twitter. (Feel free to say that Catster sent you when you do this!)

2. Visit the Neko Habitat page and choose the color combo you'd like to win for your Wave cat bed and then leave us a comment here with your pick!

All entries must be received by Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, at noon PST.

To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and it is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because we can't contact you. Boo! So please check your account.)

We'll notify the winner by e-mail; you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes! Good luck, everyone!

P.S. Catster readers get a VIP deal, as usual! Now through August 31, you can use code CATSTER20 to get 20 percent off a Wave bed of your own from Neko Habitat. To get your discount, e-mail CustService@NekoHabitat.com and mention the bed, color, and coupon code to order. Product details at the Neko Habitat site.

Which is why, as our resident Crazy Cat Lady, Dorian Wagner, recently documented, taking your kitty to the vet can sometimes be a scene out of a horror movie. Your normally precious, gentle, purring pet suddenly becomes a spitting, hissing, terrified ball of fluff, which is tragic when it prevents you from taking your cat for much-needed regular vet checks.

Getting your cat into the carrier alone can be a harrowing experience. For many it's a necessary evil if they want to keep their feline friends healthy. But Banfield Pet Hospital is here to help with an inFURvention, so those regular vet trips can be less horrible and more happy.

For starters, here's a great video demonstrating how to acclimate your kitty to her carrier so that it becomes more of a place of comfort rather than a place of fear. This is especially helpful in an emergency when you may not have time to wrestle kitty into a carrier.

Banfield is also offering a chance to win an in-home visit from pet expert Victoria Stilwell by submitting a video of you -- either successfully or unsuccessfully -- trying to get your cat into his or her carrier. Contest details can be found here.

What methods have you tried? Let us know! 

With today's giveaway, your kitty can have just that -- a handmade cat bed that's convertible and reversible to cater to your cat's every whim every day!

Just a few of the designs you could win!

These beds are handmade by cat lover and animal rescuer Cheryl Peters, who runs the punkybrat shop on Etsy. Her cat beds come in a wide variety of bright and funky fabrics with a soft, cool print on one side and a fuzzy, warmer fabric on the other, for snuggling on in colder weather. So, that's the reversible part.

And now for the really fun part! The beds are sewn with a drawstring so you can decide whether your kitty wants a flat bed or a doughnut bed. Tug on the string and the sides raise up, making for a comfy wall around your furry baby. Loosen the drawstring and the sides go back down, making for a perfectly flat, fluffy bed to lounge on!

Donut or flat: How is a cat to choose?!

Plus, Cheryl runs The Rock Feline Adoption Center in New York, where she rescues cats from death row, and whenever she sells one of her cat beds in her shop, the proceeds go to help the kitties! Makes the beds seem even more comfortable, doesn't it?

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, visit the punkybrat shop and choose the design you'd like to win. Then come back here and leave us a comment telling us which one you chose! When you visit her shop, you'll see they all look flat -- Cheryl fills them as they get ordered and will send yours to you ready to go!

All entries must be received by Thursday, July 26, 2012 at noon PST. To be eligible for the prize, use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats.

We'll notify the winner by email; you have two days to respond or we'll pick someone else. That's just how it goes! Good luck, everyone!

Stephanie Harwin's Catsparella is among four finalists in the category of Best Use of Social Media Blog, while Dorian Wagner's Your Daily Cute is one of four sites up for Funniest Blog or Blogger. Our sister site Dogster, meanwhile, is up for Best Video Post for the "Who's Your Mama" episode of The Dog Show starring Catster and Dogster founder Ted Rheingold (which you can watch below). Vote for us here, here, here!

Each winner will be awarded a $1,000 donation from DogTime to the nonprofit shelter or rescue organization of choice, in addition to a Petties trophy. Voters can also nominate nonprofit shelter or rescue groups; the one that receives the most nominations will get a $10,000 donation.

Stephanie's chosen cause is the Sayreville Pet Adoption Center in New Jersey. She describes Catsparella as a "cat culture blog dedicated to [my] passion for finding and sharing all of the coolest cat-related content online." She calls herself a lifelong animal lover, getting her first cat at age 20 when a tuxedo kitten named Priscilla came into her life. She now also has Charlie, a black cat. Stephanie says it might surprise people, but most of he human friends are either "dog people" or have cat allergies.

From Catsparella's "Around the World in 80 Cats: Romania" series. Photo by CameliaTwu / Flickr

Dorian is a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady (and we love her for it). In 2008 she founded Your Daily Cute, and the following year she founded Santa Paws Drive to raise money and toys for shelter animals during the holidays. It has contributed more than $30,000 in toys and cash donations to shelters around the world. She has two cats, Pimp (shown below, on his 13th birthday) and Moo.

Pimp looks into his new Catpod, a present for his 13th birthday.

You can vote -- once every 24 hours! -- for these and your other favorite pet sites on the Petties site. Voting closes at midnight Pacific time on Tuesday, July 31.

Also, let us know which shelter or rescue you think we should donate to if we win! We have so many favorites, so it's hard to choose.

You can even mix and match mat colors and embroidery colors to make the most of this meowvalously modern mat -- and best of all, we're giving one away for free!

In case your cat ever forgets which food is his ... and learns to read.

These custom kitty placemats are the perfect way to keep your floor or carpet clean. They are totally eco-friendly and made of 100 percent recycled materials. You can personalize them with up to 15 letters -- your cat's name, nickname, or any other cute words you want. 

One lucky Catster reader will get to win one of these stylish, personalized cat mats, courtesy of Nip and Bones, a great online shop that carries lots of unique items your cat (and other pets!) will love. You can choose the placemat color, embroidery color and even the font that's used.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter to win, visit Nip and Bones and choose the color mat and writing you want. Then come back here and leave us a comment letting us know -- and be sure to tell us what you'd like to custom-embroider on your mat if you win! 

To be eligible for prizes, you must use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. One winner will be randomly chosen and we'll contact you by email. You will have two days to respond or else we're picking another winner. You snooze, you lose! All entries must be received by Thursday, July 12, at noon PST. Good luck. 

P.S. We have lots of winners to announce, too! Congrats to Mary for winning the Cattino Cat Scratcher Kitty Condo giveaway, Jill for winning the funky, punky cat bed giveaway and Fiona and her kitty, Shalimar, for winning the swirly cat blanket giveaway!