Just like adult cats, kittens are naturally nocturnal creatures. They instinctively are more active at night.  This can create problems between you and your new feline friend that has not yet adapted to your preferred sleeping and waking schedule. If your kitten is extra vocal at night, here are some reasons why and tips to help stop the excessive crying at night. 1. Boredom and loneliness Kittens have much more energy than adult cats. If your kitten is bored or lonely, it may just be looking for someone to play with. Sometimes adopting two kittens can alleviate night time crying because they will spend the night playing with each other. 2. Hunting Your kitten may be practicing pouncing and hunting prey. Some kittens and cats are just noisy hunters. A kitten may vocalize when it sees movement or a toy that looks like prey, or meow when it catches and attacks its prey. 3. Chatty kitty Some kitties are just chatty, and more prone to verbalizing. This tendency is definitely cuter during the day. 4. Anxiety If you have just brought home your kitten, the crying at night may be anxiety related. Once your kitten starts to feel more comfortable in your home, it may quiet down. Providing your kitten with its own bed, scratching post, and toys can help it feel at home. 5. Uknowingly rewarding the behavior Think about how you are responding to the crying to determine if you are in fact rewarding and training your kitten to cry at night. For example, if you feed your kitten early in the morning as soon as the crying starts, then you are training your kitten to cry by rewarding the behavior. Instead of getting out of bed and immediately feeding your kitten, do something else first. This way your kitten will not associate you getting out of bed with food. More tips to stop a kitten's nighttime crying Re-direct your kitten's attention, so they will not have the time or inclination to cry. Making your kitten tired is one way to accomplish this so it will sleep more at night. Before going to bed, enjoy some play time. Get your kitten to jump, run, and pounce with a feather toy or laser light for 20 to 30 minutes before bed. This will make your kitten tired and ready for bed at the same time as you. Also, leave out new toys at night for your cat to quietly play with in another room, ideally a room far away from your bedroom. Lastly, for some kittens who are just nighttime talkers, you may need to keep them in another room at night so you can sleep in peace and quiet. Feature image credit    

Does this look familiar?   image credit Many cat owners are accustomed to cats licking themselves, but not so much the walls. The reason for this unusual habit is likely a medical or behavioral issue, and the best way to determine which is with a trip to the vet. Medical Conditions: Cats have been shown to lick non-food items due to a deficiency in their diet.  Diets low in iron, and other essential nutrients may lead to cat anemia. Besides an iron deficient diet, anemia could also be an indicator of more serious diseases such as feline leukemia. Thankfully, a simple blood test can determine whether or not your cat is anemic.   Boredom: Your cat’s unusual licking habit may simply be due to boredom. It’s possible your cat is just bored and seeking attention. Try providing your cat with new toys or a companion to make his environment more engaging.  image credit   Spraying Grannick’s Bitter Apple spray on an area of your wall your cat likes to lick could also help break the habit. This spray works as a taste deterrent, leaving an unpleasant flavor on the wall that is completely safe for your cat and walls.   Compulsive Behavior: If you’ve ruled out boredom and all medical conditions, it's possible that your cat’s odd habit has developed into a compulsive disorder. At this point, consider talking to your vet about an anti-anxiety medication. header image credit

Although maybe not as common as “sit” or “stay”, the “back up” command can be equally as useful. Think of all the instances that your dog has innocently gotten in the way; or the times your dog was investigating something you’d rather them not? By teaching your dog to back up, you’ll be able to have them back away from an open door, a busy kitchen, and other people or dogs.   As with any other trick, all you need to begin training is your dog and a handful of treats (and your clicker if you choose to train this way).   Step 1: Face your dog and take a few steps away from them. Step 2: Tell your dog to back up, and step toward them. Some dogs will naturally take a few steps back, whereas others may need more encouragement. If that’s the case, continue moving towards them and lean your body forward.   Note: If your dog is moving away rather than stepping backwards, try training in a narrow area, such as a hallway, so that your dog’s movements will be constricted with no other way to go but backwards.   Step 3:  Once your dog takes those few steps back, reward them with a treat and/or click. Step 4: Once your dog understands that stepping back equals a reward, try the command without stepping towards your dog.   Step 5: Practice makes perfect! Don’t forget to reinforce your dog’s cooperation with treats/clicks.   With the back up command under your belt, you’ll finally have room to load the dishwasher without your dog crowding the space!   image credit   feature image credit

As a pet owner it is important that you not only provide food, water, and affection to your pets, but also that you watch out for their general health and happiness as well. Like humans, there are many common illnesses that can strike your cat and lead to pain and suffering.   The following are 10 common illnesses that impact cats. In the following paragraphs you'll learn a little about each disease, and how to spot it before it gets any worse.   Conjunctivitis A common eye problem in cats, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the back of a cat's eyelids. You'll be able to spot conjunctivitis in your cat by their pink, swollen, or crusty eyes. You may also notice persistent squinting, discharge from its eye, or excessive blinking. Conjunctivitis is common in kittens because they have weaker immune systems.   Feline diabetes Feline diabetes is a serious problem. Cats tend to lounge around the home and receive less owner-driven exercise than dogs. At the same time, a cat's diet is never adjusted downward to compensate for lower energy levels. Overweight cats face the greatest risk of developing feline diabetes. Symptoms to watch for include increased thirst, urination, and appetite, as well as corresponding weight loss.   Lymphoma This is the most common form of cancer in cats. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates in white blood cells and has a direct impact on the animal's immune system. Symptoms of lymphoma can vary, but common signs include lumps, swelling, weight loss, skin infections, and bloody stool.   Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) FIV is a retrovirus that prevents your cat from developing a normal immune response. FIV is hard to catch because it can remain dormant in your cat for years and is slow-moving when it does become active. Signs to watch for include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, dental disease, decreased appetite, and wounds that won't heal.   Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) Feline Distemper is an extremely contagious disease that attacks your cat's blood cells. The virus often attacks the blood cells of the intestinal tract and bone marrow, opening the door to future infections and leading to anemia in many cats. You should be on the lookout for signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, depression, and lack of coordination.   Kidney failure This illness comes in two forms: chronic and acute. Chronic kidney failure often occurs as a cat ages and loses nephrons. Acute failure occurs rapidly as the result of exposure to toxins or as a side effect of an infection. The signs of kidney failure in a cat include lethargy, weight loss, increased drinking, and increased urination.   Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) FeLV is another retrovirus that impacts cats and inhibits the body's immune system, opening the door to numerous infections and illnesses. FeLV is tough to spot because infected cats may show no symptoms. Warning signs you can watch for include inflamed gums, poor coat health, seizures, skin diseases, and respiratory problems.   Cat flu The cat flu, also referred to as an Upper Respiratory Infection, results in a runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. You can catch the warning signs pretty easily by watching for sneezing, discharge from the eyes, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever.   Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD) It is not at all uncommon for cats to suffer from a Lower Urinary Tract Disease. LUTD impacts your cat's urinary tract and bladder, and can lead to symptoms such as difficult urination, blood in urine, and urinating outside the litter box. LUTD can also lead to other diseases such as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, urinary stones, or urethral obstructions.   Obesity Numerous animal welfare groups estimate that roughly half of the cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity can have many of the same serious health impacts on cats as humans. Obesity can lead to arthritis, respiratory issues, diabetes (as mentioned earlier), and many other problems. Aside from the obvious weight gain, signs that your cat is struggling with its weight include lethargy, trouble moving, and lack of body definition.

As dog owners, there are countless of times that you wish your lovable pooch could speak to you and tell you what they want or need. Needing to go to the bathroom is no exception. As much as we would love for them to approach us as say "excuse me, can you let me outside to use the bathroom," we just have to settle for them sitting by the door or barking as a signal that toilet time is approaching. But imagine if there was a clear cut signal you could teach your dog, so no matter where in the house you are you'd know your dog needs to go outside - and little accidents can be easily avoided. Well, there is. You simply teach your dog to ring a bell-and it's much easier to achieve than you think.   Introduce the bell Introducing your dog to the bell is the first step in training. Hang the bell from a hook or tack near the door frame on the opening side. You can also hang the bell from the doorknob, whichever approach works is fine. Introduce your dog to the bell by holding a treat next to it and ringing the bell at the same time.   Associate the bell with outside As you are teaching your dog to go outside to potty and which door grants access to the outdoors, associate the bell with this action. Every time you take your dog outside, show it the bell. Make sure to ring the bell (either yourself or using its paw) to associate the action and its resulting sound with going outside to potty.   Be consistent It is important that every time you are taking your dog outside you stop to ring the bell. If you don't ingrain this process in the dog's mind each time, it isn't likely to remember to ring the bell itself when it needs to go outside. With some consistency, you should begin to hear that bell as your dog needs to get outside. When you do, make sure to praise your dog for using the bell and let them out immediately.   Keep trying If your first approach to training your dog to ring the bell doesn't work, consider this alternative method. Begin by smearing some cheese, peanut butter, or other treat on the bell. If your dog notices the treat and touches the bell, praise it and offer more treats. Repeat this so your dog knows that touching the bell results in a treat. To transfer that positive association with the bell to the ability to get outside, you can move to the final step of opening the door.   With your dog watching, open the door and drop some treats on the ground outside while your dog watches. Then close the door and encourage the dog to ring the bell. If your dog rings the bell, open the door immediately and let it outside to retrieve the treats. With consistency and repetition, you'll be surprised how quickly your dog catches on to this trick. More importantly, accidents will become a thing of the past. Feature image credit

As a human being with a complex nervous system, you know exactly how annoying it is to have a constant itch. The incessant desire to scratch an itch is a great annoyance. While it can mean little more than having an itch at times, it can also be a sign of a skin condition or another disease. Likewise, if you own a cat that spends a significant amount of time each day itching, this excessive itching could be more than just a desire to scratch an itch.   Excessive itching in cats, known as pruritis, occurs when chemical reactions in the skin stimulate nerves that cause the brain to feel the itch. Your cat will start scratching itself to relieve the sensation, but in many cases that can stimulate an inflammatory reaction in the skin and make things worse.   Your cat is not simply itching itself constantly because it is bored. All cats have an itch threshold. There are normal, everyday triggers that can cause itching. However, your cat won't necessarily feel the urge to itch until those triggers pass this itch threshold and irritate the skin enough to stimulate the nerves, sending messages to the brain to scratch. When excessive itching sets in, your cat can end up scratching its skin until painful lesions develop. Those painful lesions can, in a worst case scenario, become infected.   There are numerous conditions and diseases that can lead to pruritis in your cat. Some of these conditions may lead to mild forms of pruritis, while others lead to severe pruritis and excessive itching.   Skin allergies Fleas are the most common source of allergic skin diseases in the United States. If your cat suffers an allergic reaction to fleas it will likely scratch its backside excessively, leading to lesions on its bottom, tail, belly, and hind legs.   Atopy is the term used to refer to an allergic reaction to airborne allergens in the home. These include allergens such as pollen, house dust, dust mites, and mold. Your cat would react to these allergens by scratching its ears, face, and paws. You may notice an uptick in atopy-related conditions in the summer months when mold and pollen levels are higher.   Food, insect, and contact allergies are less common, but far from rare in cats. Food allergies cause a reaction similar to that of atopy in cats. Insect allergies result in lesions that occur near the bite site, which most commonly affects cats on the ears and bridge of the nose. Finally, contact allergies are the result of interactions with irritants that come in contact with your cat's skin.   Skin parasites Scabies is the most prevalent parasitic skin condition in cats. This condition is caused by the sarcoptic mange mite and results in lesions on the ears, elbows, and hocks of your cat. Fleas can also cause excessive itching in your cat as a parasite, but the condition is less intense than it is for those cats that are allergic to fleas.   There are various other mites that can trigger different levels of parasitic skin conditions in your cat. Demodex mites cause demodectic mange, a condition which causes hair loss and dermatitis. The condition itself does not often lead to excessive itching, but the secondary bacterial infection it can cause in the skin results in itching.   The cheyletiella mite can lead to cheyletiellosis in your cat, resulting in lesions along the top of your cat's back. Ear mites, as the name suggests, can lead to excessive itching in and around the ears. However, ear mites have been known to cause itching elsewhere on a cat's body. Notoedric mange is a contagious skin condition in cats that is caused by a mite related to the sarcoptic mange mite. This disease is highly contagious in cats and is spread by direct contact.   Relieving the itch If you notice excessive itching in your cat that occurs over an extended period of time, you should bring your cat into the veterinarian. Treating the itch alone with any topical medication available from retail pet stores may not be enough to treat the underlying cause. For example, in the case of food allergies, providing itch relief requires a change in diet in order to solve the problem long term. Parasitic conditions require diagnosis and treatment from a vet to rid your cat of the cause of the itch, rather than simply treating the itch.  

  Cats can form strong bonds with other humans and other furry members of the family. You may not even realize the depth of this attachment until that friend is gone. With the loss of a loved companion, cats can become more aloof, lethargic, and even stop eating and drinking. In some cases, the cat's personality may seem to change. A once-aloof cat may suddenly become very affectionate. An otherwise quiet cat may become vocal, crying nonstop looking for their lost friend. Here are some ways to help your cat cope with its grief.   Get a full vet exam A cat that is acting depressed may be suffering from an illness. Lethargy, lack of play, and not eating or drinking are all also symptoms of many medical problems, such as bacterial and viral infections, and kidney and liver disease. It's important to first rule out a physical medical cause with a veterinarian's help before assuming that he or she is grieving. If the vet determines that your cat is healthy and it is grief, your vet may also be able to offer suggestions to help get through this tough time.   Spend more time with kitty Even if your cat was never the most affectionate, spending more time with your grieving kitty will help it not feel alone. By petting or playing with your cat, you will help him or her take an active interest in life again outside of the grief. Even if you just sit next to your cat, this will provide the companionship he or she is missing.    Play music Just as music can lift a human's spirits, it can have the same effect on a cat. Calming music can help relax the now over-anxious cat, whereas upbeat music may help the now lethargic cat. You may need to try different types of music to see what your cat responds to.   Get a new pet when you are ready If the grief is the result of a lost pet, a new pet may be just what you both need. Whether you adopt another pet right away or wait to give yourself and your cat time to work through some of the grief first is a personal choice - you should do what feels best. Of course, no pet will replace the one you and your kitty just lost. However, a new friend for your cat will get it moving again. At first, your cat may not agree that a new pet was a good idea, but even if he or she acts aggressive or aloof with the new addition to the family, this will get your cat moving and thinking about something other than his or her lost companion.   Know that it is normal for cats to grieve, and just like in humans, they will do it in their own way. Support your cat as much as you can, but recognize that it's a process that will take time.

  Medical doctors and governmental agencies are constantly reminding human beings to be aware of the signs their bodies are giving them about health and wellness. For pet owners, it is equally important to be aware of the warning signs that something is wrong with your best friend. You might even argue that it is more important to be aware of, and looking for, warning signs in your dog. After all, your dog does not share your language and cannot clearly communicate when it is in distress. If you own a pooch you should be aware of the warning signs that indicate your dog could be suffering from cancer. Rather than wait till it is too late, be on the lookout for these signs to try and catch cancer when it can be stopped (or suffering minimized). It's important to note that the following signs are quite general and just because your dog may be showing some of the below signs doesn't mean they are suffering from cancer. In the first instance, take your concerns to your local vet so any nasty medical conditions, including cancer can be ruled out.   1. Strong odors It can be difficult to tell with this one, because every owner is likely to believe that dogs have a few funky smells that humans simply are not accustomed to sensing. While "dog breath" is common in all dogs, it should not be immensely overpowering. Strong, foul odors coming from your dog's mouth, nose, or hindquarters could be a sign of a tumor.   2. Bumps & lumps Take a little time once each month to run your hands along your dog's body in search of any unusual lumps or bumps under their skin. Be sure to check behind the ears and around the face. When you do this for the first time, a bump could just be a bump. The key is to keep a mental note of where you noticed bumps or lumps, and look again in 2-4 weeks to see if they feel bigger and/or have noticeably increased in size.   3. Weight loss Your dog's weight should remain in a healthy range and not fluctuate too much. Of course, your dog's body weight will fluctuate from time to time. For example, the warm summer months might cause your dog to shed pounds if it eats less or sheds a heavy second coat. What you need to keep an eye open for are sudden, drastic dips in weight.   4. Loss of appetite Is your dog one of those pooches that simply cannot wait for you to put the food dish down before pouncing? A sudden loss of interest in food or lowered appetite could be a sign that your dog is sick. While this doesn't necessarily mean cancer is the culprit, it is a possibility and should be cause for concern in any case.   5. Lack of energy You've undoubtedly heard of the "dog days of summer," when everyone's energy levels dip because it's just too darn hot to do much of anything. There is, however, a difference between a lazy dog and a lethargic dog. You've probably had your dog long enough to know its activity patterns throughout the day. If you notice an extended, severe dip in its activity levels you should consult a veterinarian to ensure that cancer is not aggressively growing in your dog's body. Feature image credit  

  A cat suffering from asthma will noticeably struggle for breath. They will stop moving, breathe with their mouths open, and you may see their sides move in and out as they struggle for air. They may also have congestion in their lungs and cough up mucus. You may hear them wheeze when breathing. If the asthma is severe, the cat's gums and other mucus membranes may turn blue from lack of oxygen. As with asthma in humans, these symptoms will come and go. Cats will have an asthma attack and then may seem fine once the attack is over.   Allergies and Asthma Asthma caused by allergies is most common in cats versus other pets reports The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health.  This is usually a seasonal condition and more severe in the summer and when cats spend more time outside. When exposed to an allergen, the histamines released cause the lungs and airways to constrict, making it difficult for the cat to breathe.   Chronic Asthma Cats with chronic asthma will have asthma year round. In chronic asthma, more than just allergies will trigger an attack. Exercise and stress may trigger an attack. Sometimes cats with chronic asthma may struggle to breathe for no apparent reason. Usually cats are born with this condition and symptoms start when they are kittens or as young cats. It's most common in Oriental breeds, such as Siamese and Himalayan cats, and may be hereditary. It's rare for an older adult cat to suddenly develop chronic asthma.   Diagnosing Asthma in Cats Seasonal asthma due to allergies can be easier to diagnosed just based on symptoms. If the cat has reduced or no symptoms during the winter or when kept indoors, then a diagnosis can be made clinically. However, for symptoms that do not easily resolve and occur year-round, the veterinarian will need to perform more tests to determine the cause of a cat's breathing problems. This may include x-rays, cultures of mucus, and viewing the airways and lungs with an endoscope.     Treating Asthma in Cats If the cause of a cat's asthma is allergies, then avoiding the allergy is the best prevention. This may mean keeping your cat indoors. If this does not resolve the symptoms, then your veterinarian may prescribe a corticosteroid, such as prednisone, and/or inhalers similar to medications used in humans that help open the airways. For severe acute attacks, cats may need emergency treatment at the veterinarian's office.   If your cat has been diagnosed with asthma, know that it can be managed and your cat can live a long, active life. However, you will need to learn to manage your cat's condition with your veterinarian's help. Ask your vet how to best prevent asthma attacks and how to best treat asthma attacks when they do occur. Also, ask your vet how to determine if you can treat the asthma attack at home or if you should bring your cat in for emergency veterinary care. Feature image credit

  Every dog owner knows what it is like to return home to a pup that has been awaiting their arrival after a long day at work. The moment that door flings open, your best friend is sitting there with an anxious look on its face. Their tail might be wagging 100 MPH, the ears pinned back, and its front paws barely able to stay on the floor as it braces to jump up and give you a warm welcome. During this reunion with your pup, is it simply excited to see another person in its environment, or is this reaction uniquely for you as the owner because the dog recognizes your face? It begs the question: can a dog actually recognize human faces? A study conducted four years ago, and published in the journal Animal Behavior, found that dogs do have the capacity to recognize the face of their human owners in person. In the study, a dog was placed in a sterile room with no distractions or toys to excite the animal. The experiment began with the dog's owner and another individual entering the room, crisscrossing their paths several times in front of the dog, and then exiting the room through two separate doors. The scientists following the dog's head and eye movement found that most of the dogs participating in the study fixed their gaze on the movement of their owners. When the owner and the other individual had departed, the dogs were then allowed free movement in the room. Again, the vast majority of dogs would move toward the door their owner had exited through, sitting in front of (or near) it waiting for their owner to return. In order to establish the importance of facial recognition, the scientists had the owner and another individual repeat their movements through the room wearing a bag over their heads to disguise their faces. During this phase, the dogs involved in the experiment paid less attention to their owners. The eye and head movement of most dogs was random and, in many cases, the dogs spent equal time watching the movements of both individuals. The only question that remained regarding dogs and facial recognition was whether or not they could recognize their owners' faces when they did not see them in person. Could a dog recognize a simple image of its owner's face? A new study from December 2013 suggests that dogs can indeed recognize their owner's face in an image alone. The new eye-movement study was conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland. The study tracked the eye movements of thirty one participant dogs. The animals were shown images of human faces, as well as the faces of other dogs, on the screen in front of them. The scientists leading the experiment found that dogs would fix their gaze on the face of their owners for longer periods of time compared to the faces of strangers. Another not so shocking finding from the study revealed that dogs fixed their gaze for the longest period of time on the face of other dogs. The thirty one participants all gazed at images of other dogs, from the same house or unknown dogs, for longer periods of time than their human owners' faces. Then again, any dog owner knows how fixated their dog becomes when another dog has the nerve to waltz through the yard, so this fact shouldn't come as a surprise.