Pet Training and Behavior

Traveling with Cats: Accommodations

If you'll be traveling overnight and plan a hotel stay, keep the cat confined to the bathroom.  There generally aren’t as many nook and crannies in there to hide in.  Make sure you keep the toilet seat cover down or cover it with a suitcase.  Leave the crate door open too.  Most cats will go in because its soft, familiar and a snuggly fit.

Set out a litter box on one end and his food and water at the other.  I like to use disposable litter trays called Kitty’s Wonderbox.   These make it much easier for me when I’ve been traveling and they are affordable enough to buy as many as I’ll need for each day when traveling. When I leave the hotel, I can just pitch the whole thing. *Bonus: these trays are bio-degradable! Go Green! 

Now, when you arrive at your final destination your cat may need a few days (or more) to really acclimate to his new surroundings.  Use your Feliway spray again (you might even consider a Feliway diffuser too) Let him adjust at his own pace. 

For more tips on acclimation to new surroundings visit petvideo.com and watch the "Welcome Home" segment in the cat section.

Traveling with A Cat: Stress Relief

If your cat seems stressed or is yowling you might want to use some Feliway to help. Even for cats that seem to travel well, I like to spray a bit of Feliway on the inside of the crate about 20 minutes before I use it. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with Feliway, it's a synthetic pheromone which helps alleviate your cats stress when traveling (not to mention the other behaviors that it works really well on). 

For more information visit drsfostersmith.com or visit your local pet supply store – it's easy to find just about everywhere.

Traveling with A Cat: Carriers

Traveling with a cat isn't quite the same as traveling with a dog – at least for most cats.  Generally speaking – they really don't enjoy the experience!  Over the next few days, I'll share some advice if you have to travel with your cat. 

First, you'll need a carrier for your cat.  For short distances consider a soft carrier – sort of like a large kitty cat purse.  For longer distances, or if you have a cat who will chew and claw his way out of a soft carrier (I've seen it happen!) use an airline carrier and place a soft towel or thin bedding along the bottom.  I'm not a big fan of the cardboard containers, though it is an option if you would prefer. I've just seen way too many cats get out of them, so they aren't for me. 

The size of the carrier should be large enough for your cat to lay comfortably in.  If you have a super sized kitty, upgrade to a small dog crate.  You should plan on using only one carrier per cat.  The exception to this is kittens – I prefer two together for cuddling.

Now, if you have some advanced notice that you'll be traveling – try to get your cat acquainted with going into a crate or carrier.  Each day, place him in his carrier for a few minutes or so at first and gradually increase the time he's in there.  You can place a favorite toy or tasty treat inside to help out.  Even if he doesn't eat the treat it's okay.  Doing this on a daily basis will help your cat learn to relax in the carrier.

The Sleepypod by Meowme is a popular choice for a cat carrier or check your local pet stores for other options.

Visit petvideo.com for more cat tips.

Quick Tips for Kids

Here are some more tips for parents of small children to help your child become good pet caregivers:

1. Running and screaming can frighten some dogs and may entice other dogs, especially herding breeds, to chase and nip in play.  Encourage calm, quiet activities with your children and your dog.

2. As tempting as it is to want to hug your dog, dogs don't always enjoy it – many feel trapped – if your dog doesn't enjoy being hugged how about a belly rub or a gentle rub along his side -- most dogs love that! 

3. It's also very important to recognize the signs that your dog's scared or upset and wants to be left alone.  Teach your child these signs too. 

Some of these signs include:  Eyes widening, excessive panting, growling, ears pressed flat against their head, tail tucked, their bodies in a crouched position, hiding or trying to get away. 

4. Kids are curious! Make sure they understand that a dog's crate or dog-safe area is a part of his own personal space and is off limits. Consider using a gate to section off  an area for your dog that will keep younger children away from the crate while still allowing your dog to have full access. This will help give your dog his own private place when he needs a break.

For more tricks, visit petvideo.com .

Senior Pets: Jumping

The joys of a car ride may challenge your senior dog.  Larger dogs will benefit from a ramp that can prevent them from hurting themselves when jumping in and out of the car.  There are lots of choices out there -- check out this telescoping ramp. 

Speaking of jumping – senior cats may not be able to jump as high as they used to.  Make sure food and water dishes are at lower levels that they can easily reach.

Our pets are a part of our family.  Timely veterinary treatment, plus love, patience and a few minor daily adjustments, can give your aging pet extra quality time plus a fuller, happier life.

For more tips, visit petvideo.com.

Senior Pets: Mobility Issues

Senior dogs may have trouble getting up or even walking across certain types of floors like wood and tile.  Add some non-skid carpet runners or area rugs to help him maneuver through out your home. 

Senior cats may have difficulty getting to their litter boxes.  Phase in a new one with lower sides so it's easier for him to get in and out.

If your pet is having difficulty climbing stairs try using a harness to assist him going up and down. Something like the Walkabelly Harness is a good choice.

Another alternative is to gate off the stairway and set up a comfortable area for him on just one level of your home.  Again there are several gates out there with a variety of styles to choose from.  Choose one that will suit your pets senior needs.  Look at you’ll find a few ideas here.

Arthritis is an issue for many aging pets so provide soft bedding to help them be more comfortable.  Make sure it's located away from any drafts – a warm comfy place is a must!  For more tips on choosing an orthopedic bed for your pet visit Olddogpaws.com.

For more pet training tips, visit petvideo.com.

Senior Pet Care

Even though pets are living longer than ever, there are some things you should know about caring for an aging pet. Try to keep your senior pet active and make sure he still gets a *moderate* amount of exercise. Exercise will help him retain muscle mass and improve his heart and lung function.      

Pay attention to what he eats and look for changes in his appetite.  Many seniors have special needs so you may need to adjust his diet.  Senior pets may benefit from supplements that can aid or maintain health and mobility. Check with your veterinarian for his or her suggestions. 

Many older pets will experience a gradual loss of appetite. You can enhance the taste of their food by adding small amounts of wet food, boiled chicken, or even a bit of low sodium chicken broth - only small amounts to avoid an upset tummy!

Check back the rest of this week for tips on mobility issues and product suggestions that may help your senior pet live a more comfortable life during the Golden years.

Favorite Products: Undercover Mouse

The undercover mouse!  Sounds a bit like a children's book but it's actually a great new toy for your cat.  Just as it's name suggests there is a fake mouse underneath a cover that moves around in random speeds even reversing direction at times.  Think of the hours your cat will spend trying to catch his nemesis. It's great for rainy days or when you might be away for awhile and want to make sure your cat is entertained.  You can find it at your local pet supply store or check it out online at Panic Mouse!

Favorite Products: Cat Wands by Kong

Cat Toys!  I am thrilled to see some great new toys that are just for cats.  The Kong Company has just come out with a new cat toy line.  I've tried them all out on a variety of cats from my local shelter and they were a huge hit! 

Every cat found a toy that suited their needs - big cats, little cats, playful cats, not so playful cats, young, old -- you name it!  The cats went crazy for them.  Even the toys that I looked at and said "A cat will want to play with this??"  The answer was a great big Yup! 

There are new wand toys, cat nip toys, textured toys, fuzzy toys … Kudos to the Kong Company for coming out with a super variety of feline toys. 

Favorite Products: Pet Sunscreen

If you are like me, then you like to spend a lot of time outdoors.  Now, I live in Florida  – which means lots of sunshine and I wear sunscreen every day. 

A lot of us don't think twice about making sure our dogs have access to fresh clean water when we are out and about.  You should also remember that the pavement can get hot, really hot!  If the blacktop is too hot for you to walk on barefoot, don't make your dog do it.  Keep your walks to grassy areas as much as possible. 

One thing we haven't been able to protect them from until recently was the sun exposure on their skin.  Dogs, especially those with short, light fur are susceptible to sunburn.  Those cute pink noses and ear tips are also a prime target. 

There is a pet skin treatment line called Epi-Pet which makes a sunscreen for dogs (and horses).  I was impressed with all the research they had done to ensure that this is a safe and effective product for your pet.  They really seem to have done a great deal of due diligence and taken all of the concerns that I brought up into question already! 

So before the weather starts to get so nice that you forget … take some time to check out their products for yourself and protect your favorite furry friend from those damaging sun rays.