Frequently Asked Questions

A: Everyone wants the best for their pets, but since we're different species it can be difficult to figure out what the best really is. Here are three common cat care mistakes. 1. Never punish or frighten your cat Cats are sensitive, and they're definitely not human. Yelling at cats, hitting them, or scaring them does not work to change behavior. It will just leave your cat thinking you're a horrible thing that should be avoided. Scared cats are stressed, and can lead to illness in the long run. Shape your cat's behavior with praise and treats. Cats like calm and predictable environments where they can be relaxed and happy while enjoying their calm and predictable humans. 2. Don't use products made for humans, dogs, or horses on your cat Cats have specific needs, and they're sensitive to many things we don't give a second thought. Only use products labeled for cats, and read the label carefully. Products created for adult cats might not be safe for kittens. Never give a cat aspirin or tylenol, or flea-control products made for dogs. Also keep an eye on how your cat behaves around plants - many plants and flowers are toxic to cats. If your cat shows a tendency to chew plants, provide some safe cat grass. 3. Don't overfeed your cat Obesity is a huge problem for pets in the USA, and overfeeding leads to a wide variety of problems from diabetes to arthritis. If your cat is overweight, make sure that you measure the cat food, only feed cat food, and say no to begging. Keeping your cat's weight in check can add years to his or her life span. It is also important to know that dogs can eat cat food, but cats should not eat dog food. Cats have very specific nutrient needs that can only be satisfied through eating meat - they lack the ability to create some nutrients.

A: Cats are masters at disguising any illness. This seems counterproductive to us - we can only help the cat if we know something is wrong - but to the cat, showing illness equals showing weakness.  The sooner a problem is detected the better and faster it can be treated, and it is important for cat owners to keep an eye for any subtle changes in behavior. And, if your cat suddenly starts acting "weird" it's time for a trip to the vet. Here are some of the most common - but subtle - signs of illness in cats: Unexplained weight loss or gain Since you see your cat every day it can be hard to notice weight loss or weight gain. It's a good idea to weigh your cat once a month, or take monthly photos to compare. Many cats are finicky eaters, and it can be difficult to keep track of consumption of food and water. Measuring the cat's food helps. You also want to keep an eye on how your furry friend eats - if your cat has always been neat and suddenly starts eating in a messy fashion there might be a problem with their teeth. Changes in behavior with others If your cat has enjoyed playing with other cats regularly and starts avoiding them, something is most likely wrong. It can be a health problem, or stress. The other way around can also be true - if your cat has always been private and a loner and suddenly starts seeking attention, something might be wrong. If your cat suddenly slows down from being energetic, or drastically increases activity, it's a good idea to visit the vet. Sudden increases in activity in older cat can be a result of a thyroid problem. Altered habits If your cat suddenly changes their sleeping pattern or grooming habits, it's time to see the vet. Also watch for a change in the cat's voice and smell. Be particularly alert for foul breath.

A: The Russian winter is harsh and unforgiving, and the chance of an unprotected infant surviving the cold must be close to zero. That is, if it weren't for cats.  Masha the cat became a hero recently when she found an abandoned baby in a box. The child had been left with a package of diapers and some baby food. He was well dressed, but alone in the cold. Masha jumped into the box to keep the baby warm, and meowed for help. She is a communal cat, cared for by the local residents, and known for being friendly and quiet. Her loud outbursts now did not go unnoticed; help finally arrived in the shape of neighbor Irina Lavrova who thought Masha must have been hurt. Imagine her surprise when she found the cat in a box with a baby. The boy is around two months old and was taken straight to a hospital. Thanks to Masha he will come out of this adventure unscathed - authorities believe she spent hours with him in the box. Masha is now reaping the rewards of being a good cat - she is considered a hero and is getting all her favorite foods.   //youtu.be/F0wU-_noDvo

A: The American Kennel Club - AKC - sent out a press release just before New Years telling that it recognizes four breeds new to the club. This brings the number of breeds able to participate in AKC events up to 184. The new breeds are the Bergamasco, Boerboel, Cirneco dell'Etna, and the Spanish Water Dog. AKC adds new breeds when they fill the club's standards, which include a breed club and a minimum number of individuals in the country. The Bergamasco is a sheep dog from Italy with a history that goes back around 7,000 years. As most sheep dogs, these are highly intelligent and love to work. The Boerboel is a hardy farm dog from South Africa. This breed is known for being intelligent, protective, and willing to please their family. Through history these dogs have been used for everything from babysitting to protecting against predators. The Cirneco dell'Etna is an Italian hunting dog known for its resistance to heat and tough conditions. In the past, it was often used for hunting together with a ferret. The Spanish Water Dog is another lively and hard working herding dog. This versatile breed herds, hunts, and helps fishermen.

A: At this time a year pet owners need to watch out for antifreeze spills. Antifreeze for cars is based on ethylene glycol, which is quite toxic and leads to many pet deaths every year. If a pet laps it up and isn't treated immediately, severe damage to kidneys and nervous system will follow. In the past all antifreeze solutions had a sweet smell and taste, nowadays some manufacturers have changed the formula to make them less appealing to pets, and some manufacturers make "pet safe" antifreeze. Using the pet safe products helps - they are less toxic than traditional products, but can still be dangerous. If you see a puddle on the ground when you're walking your dog, don't let your pet drink from it or walk through it. If it gets on the paws, odds are the pet will lick it off later to clean itself. Keep this type of product off the ground and out of reach for pets. If there's a spill, clean it immediately and rinse the area with lots of water. If you think your pet has ingested antifreeze - even a small amount - call your veterinarian or the closest pet ER at once.

A: A vast majority of humans have become urbanized, and it's happening to the dogs too. Eclipse for instance, is a two year old black lab in Seattle who has learned to take the bus to the dog park - on her own. Image from cctv.com It all started when Eclipse's owner was too slow for her liking and she decided to get on the bus by herself. She got off at the dog park where her human caught up with her. Since then, she's been doing it every time he's too slow. He calls her a bus riding, side-walk walking urbanized dog. One bus stop is right by their home and the other right by the dog park. The bus drivers and regular passengers all know her. She just needs to sit by a window so she can see when it's time to get off. //youtu.be/Bz4XEpK6INU

A: Dog lovers trust in their dogs for almost everything, but this faith in pooches is rarely expressed in official environments. At least until a sheriff's office in Pinellas County in Florida got a misprinted rug for their lobby.  The rug was supposed to say, "In God we trust" - this is the official motto for Florida. Instead, it said, "In Dog we trust." It is an understandable typo and many would agree with the statement, but it's still not what the office intended to say. The rug has been replaced and will be sold for charity. Several dog lovers have already asked to buy it.

A: Allergies are fairly common both amongst humans and dogs, and just like a human, a dog can develop an allergy at any age. The most common dog allergy is against flea bites, and the second most common is inhaling allergens such as pollen or molds. Dog food allergies come in a close third place. In order to develop dog food allergies, a dog must be exposed to the same food ingredient for a couple of years or more. Most dogs are between two and six years old when food allergies are first noticed. What causes food allergy? An allergy is caused by the immune system responding to something it believes is foreign. It is a defense mechanism that would normally protect the body, but instead causes an over-reaction to harmless substances met in everyday life. When it comes to dogs and food the immune system most often reacts to a protein, and the most common triggers are beef, milk and other dairy products, chicken, eggs, soy, corn, and wheat. What are the symptoms of food allergies? Symptoms of food allergy include excessive scratching and itchy skin. A dog with a food allergy can scratch until they lose all hair in an area, and the skin is often red and irritated. This is particularly common on the ears, groin, and belly. Some dogs with food allergies lick or chew on their paws, get repeated ear infections, and/or rashes. Stomach problems are also often connected to food allergies. How do you treat a food allergy? To treat a food allergy, the dog needs to stay away from eating the problematic ingredient. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find the problematic ingredient. The idea is to eliminate potential causes of the problem through feeding the dog something completely different from what he or she has eaten in the past. The new food - and nothing but the new food - has to be fed for two to three months to give enough time for the method to work. This means no treats or tastes of human foods, which can be frustrating for both dog and human. Once the dog is symptom free, one ingredient can be added back at a time to see if the immune system reacts.

A: A few days ago, Darky, a labrador and collie mix, became a hero. Darky was on a walk with his owner Arthur McGarvey along the fields near their home when Mr. McGarvey collapsed. Darky didn't lose any time - he ran to the road, barking and prompting drivers to come investigate. Darky's strange behavior made motorists pull over, and the persons who stopped quickly spotted the man on the ground. Without Darky no one would have seen Mr. McGarvey, but now the passers by could call for help, and keep him warm until paramedics arrived. Doctors say Darky's quick response, getting help in the minutes immediately following the stroke, might have saved Arthur's life and definitely boosted his chances to make a full recovery. The quicker help and necessary medications are given after a stroke, the better the chances of recovery. Most people who suffer a stroke have less evident symptoms than Mr. McGarvey. If you think that you or someone close to you has a stroke, call 911 immediately. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared - this is important for correct treatment. Common signs include: Face drooping. Ask the person to smile and see if the smile is uneven. Numbness or weakness of a leg, arm, or face. Ask the person to raise both arms and observe if one arm drifts downward. Speech difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Sudden confusion or trouble understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one of both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, loss of balance, loss of coordination, or dizziness. Sudden and severe headache without known cause Image of Darkey with family from mirror.co.uk

A: No matter how much we like dogs, most of us don't want to look like a dog. There are exceptions, of course, but the vast majority of humans want to look like a human. Still, everyone has seen someone with an uncanny likeness to their dog. Many dog owners even see something of their dog in their own face in the mirror. It would be easy to dismiss this as one of those things that aren't real, but when shown a photo lineup of random people and random dogs, test subjects are able to match owners and pets. It would be easy to dismiss that with people seeking out pets that have something in common with themselves. Maybe men would be more likely to have large dogs and women more likely to have toy breeds, or maybe women with long hair would be more likely to have dogs with long hair and floppy ears? The ability to match strangers with their pets remain even when these types of characteristics are ruled out. A Japanese scientist recently set out to solve the mystery. In prior tests he has proven that test subjects can match photos of owners and their dogs by looking at their faces - and see that arbitrarily coupled dogs and people were fake pairs. This time, 502 students were presented with 40 human faces and 40 dog faces. When shown the entire faces, 80 percent could pick the real life pairs. The interesting thing is that when shown only eyes of humans and dogs, 74 percent could still pick out real life pairs. The scientists ran the test again, and in a second group of test subjects 76 percent could pick out the pairs just looking at the eyes. Thus far, no one knows how this works, but there is something in the eyes of humans and dogs that can show to complete strangers that they belong together. Read more here.