• Consider having two emergency kits: one for times you may be stuck in your house and a lighter one for evacuations.
• Put copies of your pet’s adoption papers, license if any, and medical records in your emergency kits.
• Take a picture of you and the pet together. This will help you assert your ownership if you’re separated. You even may want to get your pet microchipped.
• As emergency shelters may not allow animals, be ready to go to a motel instead or to find a place to board your pet. Or set up a buddy system with a friend who can take it. (If you have a service animal, you have a legal right to keep it with you.)
• If you have stickers on your windows to alert rescue workers that there are animals in the house, write “evacuated with pets” on them before you go.
• Plan how to get your pets together to go. This may be hard, as animals tend to hide in frightening situations. If you need catnip to lure your cat back into the open, make sure you have some handy.

Though pets are an added responsibility in an emergency, they also can be a comfort. So, make sure yours are ready to face one with you.

All pets need to go to the veterinarian at some point in their lives. This is true regardless of whether they are small or big, young or old. In fact pets that have regular check-ups and get the shots they need will be healthier and happier animals. Bear in mind that any pet can have an accident that can lead to the need for emergency care. As your pet ages, his or her health needs will change. People tend to require more medical care as they get older, and so do animals. Think about buying pet insurance for vet visits. Otherwise make sure that you have money in the bank when your pet needs to be looked at by a veterinarian.

You may enjoy mixing up your daily routine and doing different things at different times, but pets do not. They are a lot like children in that they enjoy the same routine all of the time. Your pet will be happiest and feel his or her most secure and comfortable when you do everything possible to maintain a steady schedule.

Give your pet things in his life and his surroundings that he can count on. Feed him at the same time and same place every day. Leave his toys and bed in the same place so that he knows where to find them. If you have a cat, then leave the litter box in one spot and do not move it from spot to spot. Your pet will be happiest if she comes to understand your routine. For example, pets become attuned to their owner’s ways and come to know when they will get up in the morning and return home, etc. Think stable and steady. An occasional change of routine should not upset your pet too much, but be as predictable as possible.

Encourage healthy living in your pet as you do in your own life. Feed her nutritious foods; provide her with fresh water every day;  make sure she gets plenty of exercise. Taking care of your pet will help ward off many illnesses.

Start Them Young
It’s best to start training him as a puppy or kitten. If you get the pet when he is older, you can still train him, but it might be a little bit harder. You can send puppies and young dogs to obedience school, or you can learn to do train them yourself. Check out Complete Guide to Responsible Dog Ownership for more information about the latter.   As for kitty, it is important to know that what might work for a dog won’t necessarily work for a cat. Felines are more independent by nature, which means you’ll have to find some creative ways to discipline them properly. Ask your vet for advice on discipline cats.

Learn Patience
This is especially true when it comes to cats, but it’s a good thing to know for all animals. Don’t get mad, don’t yell, and don’t scare your pet. The goal here is to discourage bad behavior while encouraging good behaviors.

Praise Good Behaviors
Let her know when she’s being good, just a simple praise or even a treat should encourage her. Remember to follow up and let her know from time to time what is acceptable and what is not. You want to make sure that she stays safe and secure, that is why a little discipline is good.

HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society works to help not only individual dogs, but the entire breed’s image. It also strives to build a community of responsible owners for dogs who often attract the wrong kind.

Many of us have the idea that pit bulls have been bred to be aggressive – and, though they can’t help it, they’re not the kind of dog you’d want to have around. News reports and breed-specific legislation, like Ontario’s restrictions on bull breeds, certainly reinforce that.

It’s true that pit bulls were originally bred to fight bulls, bears, and other dogs as a spectator sport. However, to work with their handlers, they had to be free of aggression toward humans. This resulted in dogs that need close association with their owners. HugABull’s website says:

. . . they are not a good choice if you want a very independent dog. Your pit bull can snooze away the day while you’re at work, but will definitely claim your attention – and your lap – the minute you get home.

Unfortunately, as it also says:

The pit bull’s tough reputation often draws the “wrong” kind of owners. Not surprisingly, these are the same individuals who beat, starve and neglect their animals, eventually abandoning them altogether.

Homeless pit bulls often have trouble getting adopted, not only because of their reputation, but because they’re not at their best in a shelter. Without an owner, a pit bull can grow depressed – or hyperactive.

HugABull helps out by placing pit bulls in foster homes and helping them find permanent homes. It also works to spread accurate information about the breed. To find out more, visit HugABull.com.

Cats enjoy variety in the foods they eat and in their daily menu as much as people do. They also like fresh food and eating frequently. In fact, as a cat owner, you have to learn to say no to them sometimes even though you may melt at the sight of those sweet eyes staring at you!

Cats are very clean animals that enjoy a pristine environment in which to dine. They also like eating and drinking from dishes that are very clean.  In the same way, felines like to enjoy their food in a comfortable and safe area that is private and quiet. Your cat’s eating place should be away from noise and heavy traffic in your home.

If anything is not up to your pet’s standards, then he may walk away from his food dish. In order to encourage your cat’s appetite, give him some variety. This is important whether you feed him wet food, dry food or both. Try different kinds of flavors and brands.

Make sure that your cat has fresh food to eat. Your cat is not likely to eat food that has been sitting on the countertop for a couple of hours. If you feed your cat canned food, then always serve it at room temperature. If you feed your cat dry food, then make sure he has fresh food in his bowl every day or every other day.

To entice your feline’s palate put his food into the microwave for a very brief span of time. Heating it up will help to bring out the aroma of the food. If your cat loves tuna (and what cat doesn’t?), then another option to tempt the taste buds is to pour a tiny portion of tuna juice over his food. If you like, you can microwave it to make it that much more appealing to his ravenous nature.

You also can sprinkle a small amount of lukewarm water on the food. Just make sure it is a tiny portion! If you overdo it, he will not be pleased!

Dr. Lorie Huston, a long time vet and writer on pet health, says there are a few things cats need to be able to go about normal cat behaviors. If there is more than one cat in the house, each will probably need its own.

• A hiding place. This is why cats spend so much time under beds and other furniture – they need places where they can feel safe, or just private. Cat beds, open carriers, or even cardboard boxes will work.
• A perch – a high place where the cat can, again, feel safe, and also see what’s going on. He may find his own, somewhere on top of the furniture, or you may prefer to get a cat castle.
• Something to scratch (if you don’t provide this, the cat will start scratching anyway, so . . . ). It’ll sharpen claws and stretch muscles.
• Toys. These help cats feel like the predators they’re made to be. They also provide exercise and a chance for you and your cat to interact – which isn’t always easy with such a solitary animal.
• Food and water they don’t have to fight over. This may mean separate feeding places for each cat.
• An adequate litter box. Of course, it should be clean, large enough, and in a private place. But, if possible, have one more box than the number of cats. This is another thing they don’t like to share.

We humans do not understand fully why cats love catnip so much. It has no real scent to us, but to cats, this is a herb that will trigger an intense reaction. However, this reaction only happens in a few cats. It is an inherited trait– this is why it only lasts for a few minutes at a time. During those few minutes, cats become acclimated to it, and then the cat loses interest. However, after a break of a few hours, the cat’s brain resets itself, and the cat once again will be able to react to the catnip. Studies have found that catnip contains a chemical nepetalactone that somehow triggers a cat’s brain. This is because it somehow triggers a stereotypical pattern in cats that are sensitive to the chemical. Even big cats like tigers can be sensitive to catnip! Cats that are not typically affected by catnip are very old cats, or younger kittens.

Catnip toys are typically great gifts to give to your cat. If you have not already seen a cat get extremely excited about catnip, you should buy a toy or plain catnip. A lot of toys allow you to restuff your catnip toys–which could save you a lot of money. The only thing is that your cat probably will destroy that toy, so you may have to buy a new toy anyway!

As I’ve learned through my writing, any behavioral change means a cat should be checked by a vet, so we took him to the animal hospital. I learned a few things in the process:

1. You can’t tell a cat’s body temperature by touch. Ours didn’t feel hot, but the vet’s thermometer showed he had a fever. And, of course, that means infection.

2. “Lethargic” doesn’t necessarily mean “easier to get into the carrier”. Once, about 30 years ago, I saw a listless cat get packed into a carrier without a fight. Most other sick cats, ours included, will spring to life and claw fiercely to avoid going in.

3. Eating mice or birds can make a cat sick. One of the first questions the vet asked – just after asking if the cat ever went outside – was whether it was possible he could’ve eaten a mouse or a bird. (Since he goes outside only on a leash, I thought someone would’ve noticed.) Though prey is most of a cat’s natural diet, it’s not guaranteed to go down easily, any more than “natural” food is guaranteed not to give humans heartburn.

4. If a cat is dehydrated, fixing that will go a long way toward making it feel better. The vet found ours was – maybe his stomach trouble had made him unwilling to drink — and treated it with an injection. The results were almost instantaneous. As soon as we got him home, he went to his food bowl for the first time in two days.

The cat is back to his old self now, though still on antibiotics for a few days. His blood tests came back normal, and everything should be all right for now.

Gifts for a Cat

We all know that most felines are finicky by nature, but that is why we love them! Pamper your favorite feline with something heart shaped such as a food/water dish, pillow, or toy. If you want to spend a little more, then purchase a piece of cat furniture like a kitty condo, which often includes a plush sleep spot and a scratching post.  As for a classic gift choice, you cannot go wrong with cat toys! Laser toys, fishing toys, feather wands, and cat nip toys work great, but your cat also might like special cat entertainment DVDs. Pop one of these in your DVD player and watch kitty go crazy over real life images of birds and fish.

Gifts for a Dog

It’s amazing to see the nearly limitless options for dog gifts! You’ll find plenty of doggy apparel, accessories including charms and barrettes, real sheepskin beds, and even gourmet treats. Visit dog websites for a wide selection of these types of gifts, including designer gifts. You also could go the more personalized route and purchase a basic gift with a personalized touch like a food dish and coordinating mat with his name on it.

If you cannot afford or just don’t want to purchase a gift for your pet, rest assured that your furry friend already has the best Valentine’s Day gift: your love and attention.

Dr. Bonnie Beaver of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University says depression – “a decreased response to the environment” – in cats is common in association with medical conditions, not strictly as a mental condition. Dr. Lorie Huston, a vet and writer, says, “Feline depression is probably more aptly termed feline stress and/or
anxiety.”

The most common cause is fever. Pain, and sometimes the loss of a human or animal companion, also can trigger it.

So, look for sickness in your cat if it starts showing any of the depressive signs these vets give:

• An ungroomed coat
• Increased sleeping
• No interest in food
• Not wanting to play, or do things it once enjoyed
• Increased or decreased vocalization
• Drooling
• Not using the litter box (using other places, that is)
• Aggression against other cats in the household
• Hiding from the family

These, or any change in behavior, mean the cat should be checked out by a vet.

“Cats are normally very good about hiding mild signs of illness, so when it is obviously expressed, it’s time to see the veterinarian,” says Dr. Beaver.

Even if the cause is loss or grief, the cat may need meds for a short time. The goal is to get it interested in its environment again.

MEMO — multi-modal environmental modification – may be used for this, Dr. Huston says.  It involves changing the cat’s physical environment to cut down on stress, give stimulation, and let the cat do the things all cats want to do.

Though cats don’t experience stress or depression the same way we do, they need help with it just as we do.