Ever wonder why cats won’t eat, or why your dog snubs the bowl? All pets lose their appetite once in a while. It’s normal if pets won’t eat for a meal or two.
Sick Pets Won’t Eat? What to Do About Anorexia
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Why Do Cats Spray and How to Stop Cat Spraying!
When you live with and love pets, a certain amount of crappiocca comes with the territory. That doesn’t mean you must LIVE with a spraying cat. You need to understand why do cats spray before you can stop the behavior. Here’s what you need to know.
Matchmaking Tips for Cats & Dogs & Introducing Pets
Do you know how to introduce dogs to cats? Or how to choose the right pet for your existing pet home? This past week’s behavior consults included a family with two cats wanting to introduce a young German Shepherd to their life. The couple has had lots of dog and cat experience but wanted specific tips to smooth the transition and keep their kitties happy and safe.
Pet Microchips? Why You Should Check the Chip
It’s Check Your Pet Microchip Day on August 15! If you ever wondered how does a dog microchip or cat microchip work for pets, read on! Your cats and dogs are microchipped, right? When he was (ahem) neutered, Shadow-Pup got his microchip. Both Bravo-Dawg and Karma-Kat already had microchips so that if the worst happens, we’d be reunited. I don’t even what to think about losing my pets.
It goes beyond checking for the chip, too. Keep your pet info updated. When I added Shadow to my pet account, I also adjusted for Karma’s weight (he’s shed some poundage, good kitty!). I changed Bravo’s picture once he became a tripawd dawg and then, sadly, let them know he’d passed away.
And of course, I also have tags on my pets, to give ’em every reason to be found. Here’s everything you need to know about microchipping pets.
Liver Disease In Cats: Know The Signs
Liver disease is any condition which impairs that organ’s normal function. The liver is the body’s metabolic headquarters. It serves a dual role both as a kind of factory, and as a filter. That makes the liver the first line of defense–and at risk from damage–when filtering out toxins and more. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Homeopathy? Can Homeopathic Nosodes Replace Vaccines?
In the past I’ve received messages from pet lovers anxious to protect their cats and dogs from disease using homeopathic nosodes. In one case, the dogs had bad experiences in the past with pharmaceutical vaccinations and had dog vaccine side effects. With plans for a new puppy or two in the works, she asked for advice about alternatives to vaccinations for the new pups, to protect them from the most common canine illnesses: distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, and rabies.
More specifically, she asked for recommendations for where to obtain homeopathic nosodes for each of these pathogens.
Stressed Cats Overgrooming? Your Guide to Cat Hair Loss
Tabby doesn’t deal with office politics and gets to sleep 16 hours a day, but cats still suffer from feline stress. In fact, upset feelings can leave them biting their nails and pulling their hair. Literally…
How To Keep Outside Cats Safe
Do your cats get to go outside? How do you keep them safe from harm, especially if they door dash and escape? How would you go about transitioning an exclusively INDOOR ONLY cat to life on the outside? What can you do to make certain your kitties are always safe? If you’re concerned about indoor vs outdoor cats, read on to learn options for how to keep outside cats safe!
How to Keep Cats from Dashing Outside
There is a saying, that a cat is “always on the wrong side of a door.” My cat Seren(dipity) faithfully adhered to this principle, although with age, her dash-for-the-door became more like a stroll. Karma-Kat these days waits for the dog’s potty time, and makes a bee-line for the door. When you live with a cat, chances are you’ll have a door dashing cat escape now and then. Here’s what to do…
Recent Posts
“Cat-mas” Gift Book: Christmas Cat Legend
Several years ago, an editor friend urged me to turn this story into a children’s book. But (as those who read my thrillers understand) I don’t write for kids! Children are, IMO, the toughest audience of all.
But I do love the story. My friend passed away not long after I’d worked with her on another of her terrific pet-theme anthologies.
People, and ideas, come to us for a reason and so I followed the suggestion. Better late than never, right? This gift book, not specifically a “kids book,” I offer as a story for people of ALL ages who love Christmas…and cats.
Share the joy of the season with a heartwarming, original telling of the very first Christmas in this gorgeous full-color gift book for cat lovers of all ages!
Counting Thanksgiving Blessings, the Pet Writer Way in 2025
Time for my annual Count My Blessings post. The past year has meant change, change, and more change, and that’s good and also challenging. But some things never change…I’m thankful to you—yes, those who read this blog, the cat book lovers, and the dog book lovers, and folks who have “adopted” my thriller series. And those who offered awesome applause and support any of the other venues mentioned…
How to Create A Cat Safe Christmas Tree
Cat safe Christmas tree? Is there any other kind? I post this blog every year and — with Shadow-Pup & Trinity-Kitten now in the house, I’ve decided to forgo the Christmas tree this year. Sometimes you have to choose your battles. Here’s how to do it, though–and I may give in and give it a try after all!
Amy Shojai’s Thriller TRICK OR TREAT RELEASED!
“Love, loyalty, and a supremely smart service dog make TRICK OR TREAT a definite treat for thriller readers. Come for the wonderful Shadow and be drawn in by a can’t-miss plot that plays all the tricks.” – Clea Simon, author of The Cat’s Eye Charm, a Witch Cats of Cambridge cozy mystery
Here are the links to get your latest September & Shadow adventure!
7 Tips How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits
How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits
Holiday celebrations include visiting family and friends. It also means keeping pets safe during the holidays. Since we consider cats and dogs part of the family, pet holiday visits require special preparations. Changes to routine can increase fear, anxiety, and stress in everyone, and especially our pets. Hitting the road also raises stress levels, so unless your pets adore car travel, prepare with advice in this article. Here are some tips for reducing the angst once you arrive, so that everyone enjoys family pet holiday visits.
10 People Foods for Cats
My Seren-Kitty never met a meal she didn’t like—including my own. Once she even tasted the hot mustard dip from my plate. Have you ever seen a cat LEVITATE?! Kitty foaming at the mouth is no laughing matter
In her last year, I created a monster because at age 21, I figured Seren should get to eat ANYTHING she wanted. And then Karma-Kat thought HE should do the same. Yikes! (BAD Amy…)
The first week we had Karma, he conducted a snatch-and-grab, swiped a kabob from my husband’s plate, and took off with it. (10-second rule…hubby chased him down and “rescued” the kabob.) These days, Karma-Kat and Shadow-Pup still get the occasional healthy treat from the table.
The key, of course, is the word “healthy.”
10 People Food Treats Dogs Can Eat
Oh, those puppy dog eyes begging for people food…It doesn’t have to be a holiday for us to want to give treats to our dogs. We love to indulge ourselves—and them—with safe people food and holiday dog treats…
Doc & Phoebe’s Feeder: The NoBowl Feeding Solution for Cats
Here’s an option for feeding your cats in a more species-appropriate way. And…it helps keep your cat’s brain working for GOOD rather than EVIL…ha ha ha ha!
Hearing Aid for Deaf Dogs?
Have you ever met a deaf dog, or had a beloved older canine lose his hearing? How did you manage? The article on deaf puppies and dogs has a number of tips for managing the issue. But have you ever thought about a hearing aid? Here’s what you need to know.
How to Live with Deaf Dogs
Perhaps you adopted a deaf dog, or only recently discovered your canine friend can’t hear as well as expected. Dogs get along quite well even with a deficit in hearing. So as long as you make accommodations for your pet, the love keeps on going and tails continue to wag.
Visit Amy’s Website
Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author. You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website.
On Demand Writer Coaching
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Awards
CWA Muse Medallion Award
Dog Writers Association of America Maxwell Award
Fear Free Certified
CWA Muse Medallion Award
Cat Writers Muse Medallion Awards
Memberships
