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Pheromone Therapy

Valerian, an herb with a soothing effect The day after I posted my article on laser declawing, I received an email from my friend and former roommate Becca. She wanted to share a laser declawing success story; a friend of hers signed her cat up for the surgery and it went very well. The cat was able to jump around the house the same day as the surgery as if everything was normal, and because the procedure did not remove the cat’s knuckles, it can still catch things like houseflies that traditionally declawed cats cannot. I’m excited to hear firsthand … Continue reading →

How to Keep Pets Off Furniture

I decided I liked everyone on the sofa more than off We might love our pets but that doesn’t mean we want to let them go anywhere they want in the house. For example, both my cat and my dog aren’t allowed upstairs because I’m a light sleeper and they tend to keep me up by making a lot of noise in my bedroom. Far more common, however, is the practice of keeping your pets off of your furniture. Unless you’re willing to spend either the time or money to properly groom your pet or have a professional do it … Continue reading →

Feline Body Language, Part 2

Today I’m concluding my look at the meaning of feline body language and noises, as set out by animal behavior specialist Amy Shojai. The rest of Shojai’s list covers actual body language as opposed to noises. First I’ll describe an upset, aggressive cat using her parameters, then a relaxed, happy cat. Scared cats arch their backs to look larger, whereas defensive cats try to shrink into themselves. Ears flicking back and forth mean agitation, ears directed sideways indicate unease, and ears curled tightly towards the head denote that the cat’s preparing itself to attack. The fur bunches and stands up … Continue reading →

Introducing Pets to Newborns, Pt. 2

Last week I started a series on how to introduce your newborn children to the household pets. I stressed that the most important thing you can do to make the transition as smooth as possible for all family members, human and animal alike, is to make sure pets still receive some exclusive attention. Today I’ll look at some other things you can do before the baby arrives to help prepare your pet. Both expectant and new parents have several options to prepare and properly train pets to be around babies. The nine months of pregnancy afford you invaluable time to … Continue reading →

The Big Move

Cole did enjoy all of the stacked boxes during the move. Between Christmas and New Year’s my husband and I moved from our apartment into our first house. The move was only across town so we didn’t have far to go, but we knew that the distance wouldn’t make much difference to our pets. We especially anticipated Cole needing at least several days to adjust to our new home, as he’d loathed an afternoon trip to a friend’s house during a flea bombing. However, this time Cole was feeling so off-balance that he wanted even more reassurance that he did … Continue reading →

New Pet Products for 2011

Before Christmas pet website Zootoo published a list of new holiday pet products. None of the items are explicitly Christmas-themed, however, so I thought I’d share them now; maybe you might even be able to find some of these at post-holiday discount prices. The Walking My Dog Kid-Sized Leash is the latest product meant to make those dog walks easier. My little 20-pound shepherd/beagle mix gives the leash such a hefty pull that I use a Gentle Leader with her on walks, so I can imagine how difficult it might be for children to hold a lead for many dogs. … Continue reading →

The Scents of Romance

If you’re planning something romantic for Valentine’s Day (or any date night with your spouse), you can use aromatherapy to help set the mood. The right scent can help your loved one relax and enjoy the evening. Spicy and herbal, woodsy scents can mimic human scents — the pheromones that help make us attractive to others. Here are some scents you can try for your romantic evening! Anise — you may recognize it better as the smell of licorice — is appealing to both men and women, according to studies from the Chicago Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Institute. … Continue reading →