Cat & Dog Behavior & Care Advice
Amy Shojai, CABC, Pet Expert & Award-Winning Author
DWAA Hall of Fame & AVMA Veterinary Media Award Winner
New World Screwworm: What Pet Owners Need to Know
New World screwworm, or Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic blow fly. As an adult, the fly causes little harm but becomes a hazard because it lays eggs in open wounds. The eggs develop into screw-shaped larvae (maggots). Unlike more common species of maggots that eat dead material, screwworm larvae eat living tissue. They cause a devastating impact on livestock when the blow fly lays eggs in open wounds. It gets its name from the habit of burrowing (or screwing itself) into the wound. Read on to learn more…
HIT AND RUN–VOTE NOW for Name That Dog & Name That Cat Contest for New Thriller
NOMINATIONS & VOTING CLOSED: As of April 19, there are 158 cat names and 172 dog names nominated, woot! Those who have followed the September & Shadow pet-centric thriller series know that with each book I've held a contest to NAME THAT DOG and NAME THAT CAT...
Lions & Tigers & Cats, Oh My! Stay Up to Date about Pets and Covid
PETS and COVID UPDATES: Reports announced the week of March 17, 2021, reveal dogs and cats have now been infected with the UK variant of the COVID virus, some presenting with heart signs. This does not appear to change previously published safety recommendations. Read...
Social Distancing: Grief & Mourning the Loss of Normalcy
Social distancing--hate it, love it, the reality means we grieve the loss of normalcy. A kind of "little death" that doesn't rise to the level of true loss (until it does, when someone we know dies). Yet all the emotions seem familiar. I suspect most readers are...
Dear Science, We Owe You An Apology. Love, Humanity
My colleague and friend, veterinarian Dr. Liz Bales, sent me this guest post in response to the coronavirus situation. I've previously written about pet diseases that can make you sick, but the COVID-19 goes way beyond that. While not exactly the plague, it has been...
Himalayan Wolf Uniquely Adapted to High Altitude Life
In my recent book DOG LIFE, I enjoyed writing about the forebears of our dogs, the wolf. The book includes several sections with information about the wolf through evolution and history. You'll find three wolf species (Gray Wolf, Red Wolf, and Ethiopian Wolf) plus...
Auditions for STRAYS the Musical January 12 & 13, 2020
Those who regularly read this blog know that I not only write about pets but also give talks about pet behavior. You may be surprised to learn that sometimes I write music about pet behavior, too and even SING about cats and dogs. Bravo-Dawg howls and Karma-Kat...
New Year Pet Goals–with Commentary from Amy Shojai for 2020
Each year, rather than making New Year’s resolutions, I plan for goals—and hope that the journey along the way proves equally rewarding. Rather than say, “lose weight” I instead want to strive for good health. To that end, the past few months I try to swim several...
NEW BOOK RELEASES–Cat Life: The History, Culture & Love of the Cat
NEW BOOK RELEASES--Cat Life: The History, Culture & Love of the Cat I'm delighted to announce the release of my latest pet care book, CAT LIFE: The History, Culture & Love of the Cat. This is the first time I've published with full-color interior photographs....
Pet Naming Tips: How to Choose the Best Name for Your Kitten
With the holidays on the horizon and the possibility of new pets joining your family, I've revisited several "new pet" topics over the past several weeks. But have you thought about pet names? You're in luck because guest blog writer Maya Kinsley has all the tips you...

















