Sherlock is a plump, affectionate tabby, the constant companion of a busy home-based professional. They share a big 3-story house with feline amenities that include lots of tall windows, bookshelves to climb, a litter box on every floor, two daily servings of wet food, and access to a walled garden his owner transformed into an […]
Winter’s short days and biting windchills tend to shrink a dog’s daily routine. Small and thin-haired breeds and senior dogs may be reluctant to go outside because of the cold. As for the rest, fewer walks, less outdoor play, and less time in the sun can lead to canine frustration, boredom, and a whole lot
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Mrs. Murphy and Lopito lived in a 3-story house with so many windows and soft furnishings to choose from, they were seldom seen together on the same floor. The two black cats shared upholstered seating, windowsills, litter boxes, daily bowls of kibble, and a single female owner on separate timetables, but dining together in the
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Is it safe to share the Thanksgiving feast with your pet? Nobody likes a holiday buzzkill. But our national food culture has changed — from viral food fads to the decline in cooking at home. More money is now spent at restaurants and bars than grocery stores while food marketers have aided and abetted America’s
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Rosalita and Roxanne were the cherished pets of a single woman whose profession required occasional business travel. While it was hard to leave them, she took comfort in their obvious affection for each other. Wherever Rosalita went, Roxanne was sure to follow. Except when I turned up, signaling Roxanne’s temporary retreat into the shadows. She
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In addition to modeling their mother’s behavior and incorporating her attitude, kittens also learn social manners and boundaries through interactions and playtime with siblings. But it is the father’s genetics that provide the blueprint for a kitten’s personality development. All of these inputs, along with early exploration, help kittens build self-confidence, including those produced by
What Shapes Kitten Personality? Read More »
Peanut squirmed in her owner’s arms as she was carried from hiding to meet the new pet sitter. She was super shy with outsiders, always streaking into hiding when the door buzzer sounded. Yet her owner believed meeting new people would help Peanut become less afraid and what better way to get acquainted than from
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This image was captured moments after Sam spun away from the hummingbirds on TV to zero in on a bird visiting a feeder his loving owner had mounted on the outside of a window. I thought Sam was merely distracted but it may have had more to do with what he perceived. I wondered what
How Does Home Technology Affect Your Pet? Read More »
By two years of age, Zoey was maintaining her pleasantly plump figure on a daily bowl of kibble with a side of wet food. To her veterinarian, Zoey’s weight had become “less than ideal.” But to her owner, she was perfect. Affectionate, sweet-natured, and playful, Zoey was a loving friend and companion the owner wanted
Since dogs and cats do not come with trouble-shooting guides, you could be forgiven for missing a few cues here and there, particularly when a pet is feeling sick or troubled. Even for those of you most in touch with your pet’s feelings, evolutionary hardwiring will likely prevent the pet from communicating her wants and
8 Things Pets Wish They Could Tell You Read More »
Sleek and glossy black, Mister and Lady were easy to tell apart because Lady was always the first on scene when I catered mealtimes. And that was a problem for her everlastingly shy brother. Both cats loved wet food and, if Mister didn’t put himself out there, his sister would lap it all up. But
On a sunny morning I had finished watering the potted plants framing the dining area windows to notice T, a plump gray tabby, sitting at the opposite end of the kitchen watching me. Odd because his breakfast had been served and he never passed up a meal. As I approached the sink, T lowered to
