Baxter and Bitty could have stepped off the pages of the Bengal cat breed profile: sweet-natured, affectionate, playful, high energy, and exotically beautiful. Baxter was perennially outgoing, Bitty’s charm was masked by shyness around strangers, keeping her in the shadow of her spirited 14-pound brother. She followed him everywhere, including into trouble. I entered the […]
Disorderly Conduct Read More »
The Penn professors had recently moved into a large Victorian-era house with Monkey, their 2-year-old gray tabby. He was small, lively and very cute. His special talent was scaling the seemingly impossible, a penchant aided by an extra toe on each snowy front paw. Monkey’s new home was a paradise of tall windows, stairways, mantels,
Never underestimate what your dog (or cat) can or will do when they want something badly enough. The Mischief-Maker is about Homer, a little dog that only wanted his owner’s time and attention but ended up feeling grumpy all the time because his favorite human was exasperated and exhausted by his persistent attempts to get
Is Your Pet Demanding? Read More »
Discouraging an insanely gifted athlete from popping up onto kitchen counters would seem a hopeless endeavor. Yet there are persistent, determined cat owners who have succeeded. If you happen to live with a cat more persistent and determined than you are — but the idea of a cat on kitchen counters drives you crazy —
Advice for Keeping Cats Off Kitchen Counters Read More »
Standing between the kitchen sink and Sapphire’s feeding station is an island regularly used by a pet owner who loves to cook and a cat that appreciates its value as a social platform perfectly suited to her pint-size flair for brand placement. Of course, taking a walk on the countertop would be a mere trifle
The Litter Box Withholder introduces readers to Harry, a cat very easy to love. He is beautiful, friendly, and enjoys being cradled in his owners’ arms like a baby. So it’s no surprise that a few little meows at mealtime were met with smiles and extra attention. Harry’s keen interest in the intoxicating smell of
Can You Hear Me Now? Read More »
The first time I cared for Harry, he didn’t use his litter box until the third day. A big relief for both of us. Until then I was patting down patterned rugs, soft furnishings, checking under beds and inside closets convinced I would find proof Harry was thinking outside the box. He wasn’t and that
The Litter Box Withholder Read More »
On the several occasions Harold’s doting owners traveled together, their beloved tabby would make himself personally available only to sink his teeth into me. In Harold’s contrary world there were two kinds of people: the owners who loved and accepted him and the soft targets who visited. Among the latter group he was known as
Why Harold Had So Few Friends Read More »
The majority of cats are faithful to their litter boxes. But when they aren’t, the reasons fall into two general categories: health problems and thinking-outside-the-box issues. In all cases taking the cat for a health checkup is the vet-recommended first step. If the problem is not health-related, a cat will use urine and feces to
5 Litter Box Stories Read More »
When I met Rosie in 1995, my head was still in the clouds as the first pet sitter to be named “Best of Philly.” This is the cat I credit with keeping me humble during those heady days. At the meet & greet her owners warned their beloved cat had issues while 3-year-old Rosie crouched
About a Cat and an Umbrella Read More »
This photo captures the opening scene of a ten-day booking caring for three cats: two adult females rarely seen by outsiders and one very active juvenile male we’ll call Bizzy. Jet black with amber eyes, his real name and photo have been withheld to protect the guilty. Nearing 18 months of age, Bizzy had been
