Pet Goddess

A lot of people are very well-meaning when it comes to adopting pets, but unfortunately, that does not always mean that know what it is to be a responsible pet owner.  Often it is a case of trial and error, with error being the best, but often the most painful teacher.

So here are the most common mistakes that pet owners make, which can seriously impact the life and safety of their dog or cat.

* Not having a regular vet’s examination for their pets.
Yearly exams are important and can diagnose potential health problems early on, while they are still treatable. For dogs over the age of 10, every six months is best.

* Not getting pet insurance.
It often covers the cost of accidents, and also the pet’s checkups and any related medicine, and often loss of the pet (a must for show dogs) and protection in case Fido or even Fifi the cat does any damage. Some rescue pets even come with insurance, which you can keep up for a few dollars a month.  For older pets, they may not insure them over age 10, but never assume that just because the pet is young, it is going to be problem free.

Posted September 29, 2008 Comments(0)

Gates can be essential to keep your new puppy or dog  confined to an area while he is being housebroken and so you can supervise his every move in order to keep him safe. It can be used in addition to a crate, to help train him more fully and keep your house neat and clean too.

It can also be useul to keep a senior or sick pet confined, or away from other pets and people while it recuperates.

Before buying your gate, consider where you want it, the width of the area you are tying to gate and the size of your dog.

Is it a high traffic area that you will need to go through too? Or is it just to keep him confined.  There are different models from the kinds that slide back and forth or even lock into place, to the ones that are like a swing gate so you can just press down with your foot and it will open easily in either direction (really handy if you have a toddler as well!)

Desirable features in gates include a durable material, sturdy, easy to clean, safe, and easy to use.

You also need to consider if you want a permanent style (such as that bolts into the wall) or a temporary style gate what just slides back and forth. Depending on the size of the dog, a temporary one might be just too flimsy to keep him contained.

An idea choice is a good quality plastic and metal gates can be can both be safe and durable. We do not recommend wooden onesdue to the risk of chewing.

Posted September 27, 2008 Comments(0)

Spraying is not a litter box problem, but rather, is a behavior to mark territory, particularly with male cats.

It is a communication system for a cat, appropriate when they are in the wild, but not so appropriate when they are living indoors and doing it on all your walls and furniture.

To prevent spraying, you may wish to consult your vet about neutering your (male) cat, and checking for possible medical causes.

You can try to get at the root cause by paying attention to the reasons he or she is spraying (yes, sometimes even females have this nasty habit).

There are a number of reasons why your normally placid puss might pee inappropriately, and even spray.

*  New pet, new family member or visitors
* Problems with another pet or household member
* Cats visiting in the yard
* Moving house, or remodeling

If any of these things are the case, they problem should resolve itself once the event is over.

Be sure to not punish your cat, even if caught in the act of spraying, as this will likely lead to more yucky spraying.

Remember that your pet is territorial, so try to keep its environment stable and secure.

If you still have a spraying cat, try some of the new generation of enzyme cleaners for urine, which basically break down the proteins and also the smell.

There is also a new Febreeze line of pet odor eliminators for those times when you need a bit more help with your household cleaning and fragrance, especially if your pet is spraying against the legs of your upholstered furniture.

There is also pet repellent, good for protecting your general area around the house from unwanted animals in your yard, but it can also affect your own cat. So be vigilant, and reassure your cat that he is number one in your house.

Posted September 25, 2008 Comments(0)

YOUR SHOPPING LIST OF CAT ESSENTIALS

A CAT CARRIER

To bring your pet home, you will be given a cardboard box, but you will need a proper cat carrier for your pet. There are several comfortable and sturdy styles at your local pet store. Some are made with cloth, padded material, or high-impact plastic — all suitable for various travel needs.

We recommend the plastic with the wire door, mainly covered, but with airholes in the side on the upper part of the carrier. It will make the cat less skittish to not have to look out, or have others looking in.  It is also sturdy and durable and can be used for a variety of purposes.

We do not recommend softsides, as kitty claws can be sharp and they can easily rip right through the bag.

Posted September 23, 2008 Comments(0)

I reserve the right to defend pit bulls on the grounds that they have an unfair reputation.

Yes, SOME of them are TRAINED to be killers, trained mostly by men, it has to be said, for the purpose of entertainment, dog fighting, which Michael Vick was convicted of, not too long ago.

Similarly, Rottweilers were trained by the Roman Army to fight and kill. Why do they not have the same reputation as pit bulls, or worse, since they killed people, versus pit bulls killing prey.

Bulldogs were used for bull baiting, where the pack of dogs would attack, and would literally bite onto the nose of the bull with their odd shaped jaws and face and SUFFOCATE the bull to death.

Terriers, Latin terra, earth, for digging up vermin on farms and killing them.

However, over 17,000 Irish terriers gave their lives in the trenches in WWI, where they wwere used to keep down the rats in the trenches, and as messenger dogs, rescue dogs finding wounded on the battlefield, and as loving companions.

So, viciousness and aggression is NOT the dog’s nature, it is the nature of the human being training it to have those attributes. anyone who has seen Animal Planet will see the way some of these poor animals are treated before they are rescued.

They can also be man’s best friend. I have known many many gentle pit bulls. There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.

So all this talk of pit bulls is reinforcing an unfair stereotype.

Posted September 22, 2008 Comments(0)

YOUR SHOPPING LIST OF CAT ESSENTIALS

NAME TAG AND COLLAR

Many breeders and rescue groups advocate keeping cats indoors at all times, safe from the dangers of cars, poisons and wild animals. Studies show that outdoor cats tend to live shorter lives than indoor ones.

If you are living in a house, rather than an apartment, it may be difficult to contain them in the house forever.

If you do allow your cat outdoors, fit her with a name tag and breakaway collar (it pulls apart when tugged hard to enable her to escape should she get caught on something).

We recommend getting these items from your local pet store before bringing home your new cat or kitten. That way if Puss does give you the slip, you won’t be hard-broken.

A lot of pets are now microchipped, especially if they have come from pet adoption centers or shelters, to try to keep track of the animal in case it is lost, and to foster responsible pet ownership—making sure that the pet is not being allowed to wander at will and not be cared for properly.

But the microchip can only be read at a vet’s office. The tags can be read by any human the cat approaches on the street.

Rule of the road with cats. If you see one and it meows at you, check it out to make sure it is a local cat with a home, rather than a stray. They will ask for help from you if they need it. They are people oriented, and rely on us for food and water.

All our male cats were strays without collars or tags.  One was outside a fire station matted with ringworm, one was in a pumpkin patch—it had been dumped on the highway and wandered to look for help. One was owned by an elderly lady who died, and the family threw the cats out on the street in a snowstorm. One followed the dog home, one followed me home from the bank, and the last was a kitten in my brother’s back yard.

So if you do have an outdoor cat, make sure you tag it if you ever want to see it again.  Also, make sure it is spayed or neutered, to keep down the unwanted pet population.

Posted September 21, 2008 Comments(0)

YOUR SHOPPING LIST OF CAT ESSENTIALS

FEEDING DISH AND WATER BOWL

Choose a feeding dish and water bowl that is easy to clean. Plastic or aluminum are good choices. If you already have a cat or dog, your new pet can share the water bowl, but not the feeding dish.

Whatever kind of bowl you use, both you and your pet will be happier if it’s designed not to tip over. Some cats like to place a paw on the rim of the feeding dish while eating, so a nontip design is important.

A skid proof rubber edged one is also ideal.  There are insulated bowls to keep the water cool all day, good in hot climates. Ceramic bowls will do the same, except they have the potential to chip or break.

Posted September 19, 2008 Comments(0)

Your children: Depending on your child’s age, you will want to get your child involved right away in the care and feeding of the cat.  But they will mainly be interested in play.  They’ll wonder why they can’t have fun with the new kitten or cat right away.

Explain that you expect to have your new cat not just for a day or two, but for many years, and that you want it to be healthy and happy. Tell them that there will be plenty of time to play after it becomes accustomed to its new home.

Teach them that the litter box and the bed are off limits, so that the cat has some peace and quiet.  Otherwise, it will just hide all the time.

Posted September 17, 2008 Comments(0)

 For fear of salmonella, Pedigree is recalling some of its petfood.

Here are the details directly from the company.

http://www.petcare.mars.com./

Posted September 16, 2008 Comments(0)

Other pets:  If you have other pets, introduce them slowly. You might want to start out with the new arrival in one room, and them getting to know each other through the door, where they can smell and hear one another.

Your old cat may be instantly jealous, and might arch her back and hiss, howl, or act with disdain and hide. This behavior may last a few hours to a couple of days.

Your dog may growl or bark, or look really put out by the whole idea of a new arrival. On the other hand, they might be delighted with a new companion, and be very curious and eager. Perhaps too eager!

Do remember with a cat that it can jump up off the floor out of the way of a dog in most cases, so even if Fido gets too excited, the cat will be able to moderate the amount of contact time it spends with the other pets in your house.

If your dog is at all aggressive or high strung, definitely try to keep him separated from the newcomer for the first few days until it gets used to the presence of the cat. Certain breeds, mainly terriers, are prone to chase or hunt ‘vermin’ and so movement may set it off.

Posted September 15, 2008 Comments(0)