SmartCat had its beginnings twenty years ago when Betsy Lipscomb,
the founder and president of Cats International, gathered old wooden
fence posts from her farm in Wisconsin and gave them to cat owners
to use for scratching posts. The posts were very popular and over the
years were improved with the addition of sisal rope and a sturdy
base.
After several years of volunteering for a local humane society and
caring for hundreds of cats, Betsy realized that the popular practice
of declawing (partial digital amputation) was detrimental to cats, both
physically and psychologically. In many cases declawing resulted in
more serious behavior problems such as inappropriate elimination
and biting problems.
Knowing that behavioral problems are the number one killer of pets in
this country, Betsy started a free behavior counseling service that is
known as Cats International (www.catsinternational.org). Cats
International is a reliable resource for intelligent and practical
solutions for solving as well as preventing difficult behavior and
training problems. Between calls to the behavior hotline and hits on
their website, Cats International receives thousands of contacts every
month.
Betsy dreamed of creating a company that could produce and market
superior products for cats. She recognized the need for products that
would satisfy cats’ natural instincts and meet their mental and
physical needs--thereby eliminating many common behavior
problems.
SmartCat was conceived with the unique mission to provide products
that are specifically designed to enhance the quality of life for cats by
providing for their behavioral needs. This mission is what sets
SmartCat™ apart from other companies. SmartCat™ products, with
their high quality design and construction, encourage the mental and
physical stimulation of cats while meeting the needs of both cats and
their humans. The products are designed by feline behavior experts
and all are widely tested and approved before reaching the market.
SmartCat’s extensive manufacturing capabilities have now taken the
farmhouse kitchen operation to new heights. The mission, however,
is still the same—to provide superior products that will improve the
quality of life for cats and their owners.
SmartCat is proud to be associated with Cats International. A portion
of the profits from the sale of SmartCat products will be donated to
Cats International to support their vital educational services. |
