Cat & Dog Behavior & Care Advice
Amy Shojai, CABC, Pet Expert & Award-Winning Author
DWAA Hall of Fame & AVMA Veterinary Media Award Winner
How & Why Cats Groom: Cat Neatness Freaks
Does your cat groom nonstop? We cherish the cat’s fastidious nature but did you ever wonder why cats groom? Neatnik behavior goes beyond looking good. Did you know in this hot weather, cats also groom to stay cool and prevent heatstroke?
How and why cats groom impacts physical, emotional, and social health. My Karma-Kat even tries to groom his best friend, Bravo-Dawg. The instinct starts during kittenhood and lasts a lifetime. Of course, some cats get dingy when cats don’t groom, and there are reasons for that as well.
Grooming is a barometer of kitty health. Cats that feel bad often stop grooming, or lick and pull fur out due to stress or pain. Consider an unthrifty appearance or “barbering” themselves bald a kitty cry for vet care. Cats often need help in the grooming department—especially longhair beauties. Here are 5 common reasons why cats groom.
Pet Rescue Breathing & CPR Saves Cat & Dog Lives
Do you know how perform Pet Rescue Breathing and pet CPR? You can save your dog or cat’s life by knowing how to do pet CPR and how to perform rescue breathing. Pets suffer brain injury and death if oxygen is cut off for only a few minutes. When minutes count, rescue breathing can save your pet’s life.
Oh Baby! Introducing Dogs to Kids–Safely
A colleague called me after someone asked about tips for introducing babies to dogs. The person wanted to know how to teach the dog that the Baby was “alpha.”
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK!!!
Think about it. There is so much WRONG with that statement I really don’t know where to begin. You bring an infant home from the hospital, a creature that makes funny, weird (scary! prey-like) sounds and moves in a (scary! prey-like) strange way and has enticing (scary! food-like) odors–milk, baby lotion, poopy-treats–
And you expect the dog that’s lived in your house, shared your lap/sofa/bed and received his share of attention and love to suddenly say to this helpless and obviously puppy-esque creature–
YOU DA BOSS!
Oh no no no…read on for the info you need to know!
Pets And Snakebite First Aid
Snakebites are common in pets, especially dogs, because dogs are often curious and try to play with moving critters. In fact, about 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten by poisonous snakes each year in the United States alone. Learn about the top villains and what to do in this post.
Dog Digging Disasters: Why Do Dogs Dig Holes & How to Stop Excavations
Dogs excavate for a variety of reasons. Dog digging is a natural canine behavior that developed as a means of survival. With spring coming soon, and digging gardens in my future, my Shadow-Pup wants to help digging and kicking up dirt. Some dog breeds dig holes more than others do, so read on for more details if you have a digging dog.
Learn more about why dogs dig, and how you can manage this normal canine behavior.
Pumpkin pet insurance responds to Nationwide pet insurance policies cancelations
I’ve written about pet insurance before, and do not recommend one company over another. However, I’m sharing a press release I just received from Pumpkin pet insurance offering help. Feel free to share this with others who have been affected.
STUDY ON SERVICE DOG EFFECTIVENESS FOR PTSD FINDS MANY BENEFITS
June is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness and providing support and education for people who suffer from PTSD. So when I received the press release, below, I eagerly scheduled this great news. Read on!
Ponte Vedra, FL (June 4, 2024) – The first National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial of its kind links the pairing of service dogs with military Veterans to lowered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity, odds of PTSD diagnosis and other negative mental health symptoms. The study, released in time for PTSD Awareness Month in June, was also the largest national study to date comparing Veterans and service dog teams to usual care alone for PTSD-afflicted Veterans…
Cat Whiskers & Dog Whiskers: What Are They For?
I’m fascinated by kitty whiskers, how about you? Does your cat have lots of whiskers, or only a few? What about your dog? Have you noticed how s/he actually uses them? Seren had a “wild” whisker that started to grow curled forward once she became an aging kitteh. And for some of the longer furred cats and dogs (or those with curly fur), you might not even see all of the whiskers.
Fostering Kittens? Cats & Kittens Thrive with Training, Socialization, & Love
Fostering Kittens & Tips for Kitten Training Fostering kittens and cats includes socializing kittens to help them become wonderful pets. Love helps but isn't enough. Nothing trumps kittens for furry love. But when kitten season rolls around, local animal shelters...
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): Treatment Hope On The Horizon
Since May is National Pet Month I wanted to share some recent good news about FIP. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats first described in the late 1950s that continues to challenge our understanding today. Until recently, FIP was considered a death sentence and veterinarians had little help for diagnosing the disease.
And now, a treatment is available in the United States! Yay! Read on for more details.
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
