PETS
Even Cats Get Lonely
Many people buy or adopt a cat as company and but forget that it works both ways. If you’d miss your cat if they aren’t there, remember they’ll miss you too. However, unlike dogs you don’t usually take a cat with you, so prepare well in advance for times when you are away from home.
For short breaks – whether a day at work or a weekend away – our feline friends are quite independent, especially when given access to a cat flap and timed feeders. However, some animals will express feeling lonely by behaving out of character. For example, they could start urinating in the house or spending long periods of time away from home.
The easiest way to address this is to find a friendly neighbour to pop in once a day. Even five minutes fussing and attention can be enough to make your pet feel calmer. But if you are often away, a professional pet sitter might be a better option. Either way, do make sure you have introduced them several times before they attend to your cat without you being present.
For longer trips away, it’s more likely you’ll need to opt for a cattery. Cats can be sensitive to the pre-holiday stress though, so rather than dropping them off last minute, build in an extra day to give them chance to settle – plus you’ll have one less thing to worry about as you rush out the door.
For short breaks – whether a day at work or a weekend away – our feline friends are quite independent, especially when given access to a cat flap and timed feeders. However, some animals will express feeling lonely by behaving out of character. For example, they could start urinating in the house or spending long periods of time away from home.
The easiest way to address this is to find a friendly neighbour to pop in once a day. Even five minutes fussing and attention can be enough to make your pet feel calmer. But if you are often away, a professional pet sitter might be a better option. Either way, do make sure you have introduced them several times before they attend to your cat without you being present.
For longer trips away, it’s more likely you’ll need to opt for a cattery. Cats can be sensitive to the pre-holiday stress though, so rather than dropping them off last minute, build in an extra day to give them chance to settle – plus you’ll have one less thing to worry about as you rush out the door.
Dog Dieting
Your dog isn’t starting the month worried about zipping up their jeans. But if a check on their waistline shows that they are carrying a few extra pounds, it’s time for to you to address the problem for the sake of their health.
Studies have shown that overweight dogs don’t live as long and are more prone to illnesses that spoil their quality of life. All those little extra treats you’ve been giving them could mean there’s a genuine risk of killing your pet with kindness.
There’s no BMI chart for dogs, so you need to look at body shape and assess body fat. Viewed from above, does your dog have a waist where their body tapers after the ribcage? Can you feel your dog’s ribs or do they have a potbelly?
Increasing exercise will not be enough on its own, so you should plan a trip to the vet. Not only will they assess how overweight they are, they’ll check if any medical conditions are causing the extra pounds or will prevent weight loss. Furthermore the vet can provide a special calorie-controlled food.
Keep a note of everything – including table scraps and treats – that your dog eats for a few days. A dog that does not seem to eat much dog food probably still has an appetite for sausages and biscuits!
If you’ve reached the stage that your pet actually looks plump, it’s going to take quite a while to reach their target weight, so stick with it.
Studies have shown that overweight dogs don’t live as long and are more prone to illnesses that spoil their quality of life. All those little extra treats you’ve been giving them could mean there’s a genuine risk of killing your pet with kindness.
There’s no BMI chart for dogs, so you need to look at body shape and assess body fat. Viewed from above, does your dog have a waist where their body tapers after the ribcage? Can you feel your dog’s ribs or do they have a potbelly?
Increasing exercise will not be enough on its own, so you should plan a trip to the vet. Not only will they assess how overweight they are, they’ll check if any medical conditions are causing the extra pounds or will prevent weight loss. Furthermore the vet can provide a special calorie-controlled food.
Keep a note of everything – including table scraps and treats – that your dog eats for a few days. A dog that does not seem to eat much dog food probably still has an appetite for sausages and biscuits!
If you’ve reached the stage that your pet actually looks plump, it’s going to take quite a while to reach their target weight, so stick with it.