Cats

When treating your cat to a taste of pork, the pork should be: Lean: Always stick to lean cuts of pork (like tenderloin or loin chops). Eating a large amount of fatty pork can lead to digestive issues and pancreatitis. Fully cooked and unseasoned: The pork should be free of salt, onion, garlic, spices, sauces or marinades. For most cats, one to three small pieces (roughly the size of a pea or two) is sufficient for a treat. As for frequency, offering pork as a treat once a week or less is recommended. A general rule of thumb when giving your cat treats or human food, including pork, is the 10% rule: No more than 10% of your cat’s daily calories should come from these items. The other 90% should come from well-balanced cat food.,Jump to section How Much Pork Can I Give My Cat? And How Often? 5 Ways to Safely Treat Your Cat to Pork Benefits of Pork for Your Cat Risks of Giving Your Cat Pork FAQs About Pork and Cats

There are a few key reasons oranges are unfit for our whiskered pals.,Jump to section Why Are Oranges Unsafe for Cats? Signs Your Cat Has Eaten an Orange What To Do if Your Cat Eats Oranges Fruits Safe for Cats FAQs About Oranges and Cats

Jump to section How Can I Tell How Old My Kitten Is? Kitten Age Chart Kitten Stages and Developmental Milestones FAQs About Kitten Age

As our pets age, we naturally monitor aspects of their health more closely. One particularly important element of a senior cat or dog’s healthcare program is weight management. Nearly all ailments become worse when a pet is overweight. Because of this, it’s invaluable to be able to monitor how much exercise your pet is getting.,Jump to section Health and Safety Pet Gadgets Food and Water Pet Gadgets Bathroom Pet Gadgets Automatic Toys and Exercise Pet Gadgets Calming Pet Gadgets

Myth 6: A warm nose means your pet is sick. False again! A warm nose simply means your pet has a warm nose. Nose temperature is a reflection of the surrounding environment (such as room temperature and humidity) more than a measurement of health. If your pet has a warm nose and otherwise seems to be acting completely normal, there likely is nothing to worry about.,Myth 7: It is OK for pets to lick their wounds. This myth is wrong on several fronts. When pets lick their wounds, they deposit all of the bacteria living in their mouth directly into the sore, setting the stage for infection. Plus, the rough barbs on the tongue inflame and irritate the tissue around the wound, making the sore more painful. And, of course, because it hurts, the animal licks more—and a vicious cycle ensues. Some pets will take a tiny cut and make it several inches longer in just a few hours. As unhappy as it can be for all parties involved, pets with a wound should wear an E-collar to ensure that they cannot lick or bite the sore before it is totally healed.,There are so many commonly accepted myths that sometimes it’s hard to know what’s true and what’s not. You may even have “evidence” that these things are true or come across a blog that backs them up. That’s why we’ve put together some of the most common pet health myths you should not believe and explain the truth beyond the myth. Myth 1: I don’t see any fleas on my pet, so they don’t have fleas. This is a myth! Believe it or not, 95% of the fleas in your house at any given time do not live on your pet. The vast majority of fleas in an environment aren’t adult fleas, which is what you are likely to see when you’re looking for them on your pet. However, these problematic little creatures spend most of their time in the house as “babies”—eggs, larvae, and pupae. These stages of the life cycle are ones you will never see. Just one adult female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her short lifetime, so finding a single flea can be a problem. To make matters worse, many adult fleas are removed when your pet is cleaning, making it even less likely that you will see them. So even if you aren’t seeing fleas, they may very well be there. Check in the fur for flea dirt, which looks like tiny dark specks, as well as for excessive scratching and sores created from your pet scratching after fleas bite. The only way to ensure that your pet does not have fleas is to keep them on a prescription flea prevention year-round.

Bearded dragons are fascinating reptiles that naturally engage in a variety of behaviors—from climbing and digging to basking, exploring, and foraging.   As pets, beardies have a harder time exhibiting these behaviors due to their limited space and access to resources. That’s where bearded dragon enrichment comes in—structured ways to encourage natural behaviors, reduce stress, and improve your beardie’s quality of life.   Below are ways you can help your dragon stay mentally active and emotionally healthy.  

Most turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat a combination of plant- and animal-based foods, including commercial pellets. Their diet varies depending on their species—aquatic turtles eat different things from tortoises or box turtles, for instance. Dr. Doug Mader, MSc, DVM, a triple board-certified veterinary specialist in Big Pine, Florida, says it’s crucial to feed them appropriately to ensure proper nutrition for their species. The diet of a fully grown, omnivorous, semi-aquatic turtle, such as the snapping turtle, should consist of: Plant material: More than 50 percent Commercial pellets: About 25 percent Live food: About 25 percent If there’s any pet who’s mastered the art of adding color to their plate with healthy foods, it’s the turtle. Common foods to feed turtles include: Vegetables Live food Fruits Plants Flowers,Jump to section What Do Turtles Eat? What Do Baby Turtles Eat? Pet Turtles’ Dietary Needs How Much To Feed Your Turtle How Often To Feed Your Turtle Do Turtles Need Vitamins or Supplements? What Shouldn’t Turtles Eat? FAQs About Feeding Pet Turtles What do green turtles eat? What is a tortoise’s favorite food? What do box turtles eat as a pet? What types of food are safe for aquatic turtles?

People with depression experience persistent feelings of sadness and a lack of interest in life. When it comes to cats, it’s impossible to know if they experience the mental state of sadness, but we can observe their behaviors to determine whether they experience a lack of interest in life and may be suffering from depression. Here’s some helpful info and signs to watch for to help you understand your cat’s mental state. Can a Cat Be Depressed? Yes, your cat can get depressed. Some possible situations that lead to depressive signs in cats include: Loss of a family member Moving to a new house A change in the family’s schedule A change in physical health Loss of a Family Member Many people still think of cats as solitary in nature. However, cats can be more or less social, depending on their experiences and living situations, and they can experience loss and grief similar to people. When a family member moves out of the house or passes away, the family cat will experience a loss if they had a social connection to that person. It is also not uncommon for cats to grieve when a feline or canine housemate leaves or dies. Moving to a New House A change from the current living environment to something new can be stressful to both pet and pet guardian. Aside from the stress of the move itself, moving from a large house to a smaller house or apartment would cut down the amount of space a cat has to explore and may restrict their level of activity, leading to depression. In addition, when a cat that is used to having access to the outdoors moves to an apartment where they can’t go outside, they can become depressed. Changes in the Family’s Schedule When your work schedule changes and you’re absent for longer periods of time, your cat’s mental state may be affected. Also, when you go away on vacation and your cat is either left with a pet sitter or sent to a boarding place, your cat has no way of knowing that you will come back for them, so they may experience depression. Changes in Physical Health If an active cat starts to develop arthritis and can no longer jump up to their comfy spot on the couch, bed, or window, it can be depressing and lead to a loss of enrichment. As a result, your cat can become depressed. In situations when a cat experiences a sudden loss of a limb or an eye, or they start losing their sight, that would totally affect how they navigate in the world. Some cats may adjust really well, but an older cat may take longer to adjust and may become depressed. How Can You Tell if a Cat Is Depressed? Some depressed cats may exhibit very obvious changes in behavior, whereas other cats may only exhibit subtle signs that you need to carefully look for. Cats experiencing depression may show: Decreased appetite Loss of interest in playing with their toys Less interest in interacting with feline or canine housemates or family members Increased vocalizations Decreased interest in going outside (if allowed outdoor access) An increase in the amount of time spent sleeping A decreased in the amount of time spent grooming (they have an unkept coat or mats) Increased frequency of urination in the litter box House soiling or not consistently using their litter box. Whenever a cat does not consistently use the litter box, take your cat to your vet to be examined. Some of these signs can also be exhibited by a cat if they have an underlying health problem. Cats are predators to small creatures but prey to larger predators. As prey animals, cats have learned to hide the signs of any physical illness really well. Therefore, it is always important to have your cat examined by your veterinarian and diagnostic tests performed to rule out any underlying medical problems. Do Indoor Cats Get Depressed? It is easier to determine if an indoor cat is depressed because you see them more often. But outdoor cats can also experience depression. Remember that depression in cats is a state of mind that is reflected by an overall decrease in activity. Your cat is no longer engaging in activities they once enjoyed, and they are sleeping more and more. So instead of exploring the yard or neighborhood, your cat may stay in one area of the yard or may not even go out at all. How Do You Cheer Up a Cat That’s Depressed? Although cats can experience depression, there are many things you can do to help them improve their mental health. Spend Quality Time With Your Cat To help your depressed cat, you can spend more time with them. Just sitting with them and petting them can soothe to a depressed cat. Some cats may enjoy ear rubs, scratches on the side of their face or under the chin, or even being brushed. Introduce New Toys and Games You can also try to spark your cat’s interest in life again by engaging your cat in more activities or offering them new toys of different sizes, textures, and colors. Actively participate in playing, using fishing pole-type toys to entice your cat. You can also offer puzzle toys to encourage your cat to work for tasty treats, or provide toys that move around the floor in unusual patterns or make interesting noises. Download games made for cats to your mobile devices to engage your cat or subscribe to cat TV. Offer New Types of Food Some cats may show interest in different flavors or brands of food, or even human food such as boiled or roasted chicken, yogurt, or cheese. Other cats may respond well to meat-based baby food. Before feeding your cat human food, have your vet okay the type and amount of food. Play Calming Music There is soothing music designed specifically for cats that you can find on YouTube, such as a channel called “Music for Cats” that some cats may enjoy. The music contains underlying tracks of cats purring and other frequencies of sound that cats can hear. Try Supplements There are natural supplements that contain l-theanine and l-tryptophan that can increase serotonin in a cat’s brain to help combat depression. Serotonin is sometimes known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, and higher levels are connected to feelings of calm and happiness.

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If you’ve ever watched your cat leap effortlessly onto a windowsill or scale a bookshelf in seconds, you’ve likely wondered—why do cats jump so much?    Jumping isn’t just a fun pastime for cats; it’s an essential part of how they explore, stay safe, and stay active. From navigating their environment to satisfying their hunting instincts, cats rely on their powerful legs and sharp senses to take them to new heights—literally.