It’s normal for people to get an upset stomach every once in a while, but can cats experience this too? It turns out they can. Nausea in cats causes tummy troubles and poor appetites that may require treatment. Here’s how to tell if your cat needs to see a vet and how to make them feel more comfortable.
To the untrained eye, the Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky might seem to be one and the same, with dogs of both breeds touting fluffy coats and appearing best suited for freezing temperatures. But while the breeds share some attributes, there are several differences new dog parents might want to know when deciding to get an Alaskan Malamute versus a Siberian Husky. Here’s what to know about the two breeds.
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting—but it can feel a bit daunting, especially if you’ve never had a dog before. A little advance preparation to ensure all the essentials are in place, however, can make for a smooth and enjoyable homecoming. Below you’ll find our New Puppy Checklist to help you welcome your new puppy into your home and family.
Guinea Pig Names Alvin OK, so the famous Alvin is a chipmunk, not a guinea pig. But if your guinea pig loves to sing just like Alvin does, feel free to repurpose his name for your pet. Andes If you have a Peruvian guinea pig, name them after these mountains in the country of Peru. Amazon Part of the Amazon Basin rainforest is in Peru, making this an appropriate name for a Peruvian guinea pig. Bacon No, you shouldn’t feed bacon to your pet, but you can give them this moniker that references the “pig” in their name. Blaster In the film “G-Force,” Blaster (voiced by Tracy Morgan) is part of the G-Force team of animals trained for special missions like stopping an evil billionaire from taking over the world. Buck A reference to guinea pigs’ ever-chomping buck teeth. Bugsy In the 2008 film “Bedtime Stories,” Bugsy is a guinea pig with large, animated eyes who belongs to Skeeter’s niece and nephew. Cashew This long-haired black and white guinea pig belonged to Gavin Orsay in the TV series “House of Cards.” Chatty If your guinea pig is a talker, give them this name. Chico For Peruvian guinea pigs, this name meaning “boy” also references the Norte Chico civilization dating back to 3500 BCE in Peru. Chirpy Some guinea pigs make a chirping sound to communicate. Chomper Your guinea pigs’ teeth (aka their “chompers”) keep growing throughout their lives. Chubbs For a girthy guinea pig. Coco A play on chocolate for brown guinea pigs, or a nod to Coco Chanel, for effortlessly chic furballs. Cottonball Perfect for white guinea pigs who might be mistaken for clouds of fluff. Darwin In the film “G-Force,” Sam Rockwell voices Darwin, another guinea pig on the specially trained animal squad. Dawn Guinea pigs are typically most active around dawn and dusk, so if your furry friend has fur the color of the sunrise, give them this name. Dusk If your guinea pig is more gray or black, on the other hand, opt for Dusk as a name. Ellis American writer Ellis Parker Butler’s story “Pigs Is Pigs,” which tells the story of a railway agent and customer arguing over the correct rate for shipping two guinea pigs, was turned into a Walt Disney cartoon in 1954. Farrow This English boys’ name stems from an old English word meaning “young pig.” Fluffy For the guinea pig with extra soft, fluffy fur. Furball For the fuzziest guinea pigs. Gabriella A classic and beautiful Italian name that’s sounds great when you pair it with your pet’s species: Gabriella the Guinea Pig. Bella, Ella, Gab or Gabby work as nicknames. Gizmo For the guinea pigs who never seem to run out of energy, just like their namesake in the movie “Gremlins.” Guinness Perfect for the guinea pig owner who loves beer. Hamlet With “ham” right there in the name, Shakespeare’s famous play also happens to be a punny reference to your “pig.” Inca This ancient empire originated in the Peruvian highlands, making it a historical name for Peruvian guinea pigs. Juarez Voiced by Penélope Cruz, Juarez is a secret agent guinea pig trained to complete special missions along with his squad in the film “G-Force.” Lima A nod to the capital of Peru for Peruvian guinea pigs. Linny In the Nick Jr. series Wonder Pets, Linny is a superhero guinea pig. Milky This name is especially apt for cavies with milky white fur. Miss Piggy For female guinea pigs, this name shared by a famous Muppet fits the bill. Oinker Your guinea pig is unlikely to oink like a pig, but they do make wheeking sounds and hey, that’s close enough. Old Major The prize boar from “Animal Farm,” this is a good guinea pig name for piggies with a rebellious personality. Olga In the “Olga da Polga” series of children’s books, Olga is a guinea pig who exaggerates the events of her life when she tells her friends about them. Oreo Perfect for a black-and-white guinea pig—but sorry, no dunking this cutie in milk. Pancake Sweet, fluffy and golden brown—just like your guinea pig, perhaps. Patches For guinea pigs with differently colored patches of fur. Peanut Give your brown cavy this name and you can call them Little Pea for short. Piglet Too cute to pass up—and an adorable reference to the world of Winnie the Pooh. Pisolino Italian for “nap,” which your guinea pig will be enjoying throughout their days. Popcorn Those little jumps your guinea pig does have a name: popcorning. Poppy A cute nickname that references those popcorn hops. Pork Chop Pork chops should’nt be on the menu for your guinea pig, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them this quirky name. Porky The name of a classic Looney Tunes pig works just as well for your pet guinea pig. Purrfect Did you know that guinea pigs can purr? It’s just one detail that makes your pet, well, purr-fect. Purla For female cavies, it’s another take on their tendency to purr. (Try spelling it “Pearla” if your cavy has pearl-white fur.) Purrsula A punny revision of the name Ursula, this name is for female cavies who purr. Quechua The language of the Incas, a civilization that originated in the Andes mountains (like guinea pigs). Rodney In the 1998 film “Dr. Dolittle,” Chris Rock voices a guinea pig character named Rodney. Roosevelt President Theodore Roosevelt’s family had several guinea pigs, many of which were named after famous historical figures. Rosita The pig from your favorite animated movie, “Sing.” Siesta Cavies don’t sleep for long periods, preferring to take short naps, aka siestas. Sir Oinks-A-Lot In “The Simpsons,” this is the pig mascot of Springfield A&M university. Snuggles It may look like snuggling, but if you see your guinea pigs rubbing their chin or cheeks across things in their cage, they may be marking them with their scent. Spider-Pig In a memorable scene in “The Simpsons” movie, Homer pretends his pet pig can walk on the ceiling while singing a song about “Spider-Pig.” Toothy Your guinea pig’s teeth will grow constantly throughout their lifetime. Tribble One of the best guinea pig names for Trekkies, this name references the guinea pig-like aliens that first appeared in a 1967 episode of “Star Trek.” Tuppenny In “The Fairy Caravan” by Beatrix Potter, a young guinea pig named Tuppenny leaves home and joins the circus. Wilbur The famous pig in “Charlotte’s Web.”,Are you the proud parent of a new small pet? A ferret or guinea pig, perhaps, or a chinchilla, mouse or hedgehog? Congratulations! Now, it’s time to decide what to call your new furry friend. That’s where our A-Z list of 300 names can help. Will Ferret or Julius Cheesar? We’ll let you decide.
Because of their lack of hair, the Sphynx needs to be bathed regularly from an early age on and as a result, often likes being in the water, said Joan Miller, chair of outreach and education for the Cat Fanciers’ Association. A high energy, acrobatic breed, the Sphynx loves entertaining its people and craves human attention. Well-behaved and intelligent, the Sphynx does best as an indoor cat and can get along well with both dogs and other cats. While the Sphynx requires regular interaction with the water to keep their oily skin in check, exposing any breed of cat to water from an early age on will help them be more comfortable around it, Miller said. “Whether cats like or love the water is a matter of how they’re raised as kittens,” she said. “If they’re bathed early, it makes a big difference and they may like to be in the bathtub [as adults].”,Cats’ fascination with dripping faucets and leaky hoses is well documented among pet parents, but what about the breeds that take it one step further? From their history as hunters and travelers to their curious and eager temperaments, some cats love both swimming in and being around water.
It might be difficult to believe that cats can get stressed. After all, they get bottomless bowls of dry cat food, spend most of the day sleeping and, well, they don’t have to hold down a job. Who hasn’t looked at a dozing cat on their way to work and thought, “I wish I was you?” Cat behavior helps us understand the cat signs and cat symptoms of a scared cat and helps us calm his anxiety. Cats are creatures of habit, and if something is amiss, they don’t have the words to tell you they’re worried. Situations you might not consider stressful–such as an influx of people into your home for a party–can be incredibly anxiety-inducing for animals. “Anything new that’s outside the ‘normal’ of a cat’s lifestyle can be a stress factor,” says Dr. Robert Trimble, DVM, Head of Veterinarian Services and Lead Veterinarian at Yourfuzzy.com. “Even down to as something as insignificant as the type of cat litter in the litter box.” “One of the first things we look for when cats are stressed are behavioral symptoms,” Dr. Trimble says. Here are some cat symptoms that any concerned pet parent needs to be on the lookout for: Inappropriate urination or defecation outside of the litterbox Excessive vocalization Excessive, compulsive grooming Heavy, open-mouthed breathing So whether your scared cat is exhibiting any of the above cat signs or anxiety or you’re trying to preemptively treat stress (especially if you have a veterinary visit or a move coming up), we’ve gathered some expert-approved solutions to make a scaredy cat feel at-ease. SHOP CHEWY: Best Cat Stress & Anxiety Products
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It’s a jungle in here! Sharing your home with a pet bird is more than a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. Because our birds have such sensitive respiratory systems, we must be extremely careful when choosing cookware and other kitchen appliances. Nonstick coatings contain polytetrafluoroethelyne (PTFE), a polymer that deteriorates when overheated. The resulting fumes (gas and minute particulate matter) may kill pet birds. Humans sometimes report flu-like symptoms after exposure to these fumes. Teflon is a brand name. Nonstick surfaces containing PTFE are marketed under many different brand names. Just because a product does not say Teflon, it does not mean that it is free of PTFE. Manufacturers disagree about the temperature levels that nonstick surfaces must reach to emit harmful fumes. Some place it at 560 degrees Fahrenheit while others somewhere above or below that figure. Past research showed that products actually begin releasing such fumes at the beginning of the heating process, and some people reported that pet birds died when nonstick products were heated to temperatures below 560 degrees Fahrenheit. A few manufacturers, like Corning Revere, print warnings in product instructions against using nonstick cookware around pet birds, but you must read the fine print to find it. Instead of nonstick cookware, try: Stainless steel Copper-clad stainless steel Copper Corningware, the classic, white oven-to-table ware Glass Aluminum Cast iron A stove, heated the first few times, might emit fumes from components treated with chemicals intended to inhibit rust and deterioration. A self-cleaning oven might also give off toxic fumes, perhaps from parts treated with nonstick coatings. Emissions are often strongest when appliances and cookware are new. (This does not mean that older nonstick products are safe for use around birds.) When moving into a new home, run the stove/oven at a high heat level for several hours in the days prior to moving, before you and the birds are in residence. Open the windows for ventilation during this process. Use a range hood that vents to outdoors, as opposed to ventless hoods that blow pollutants back into the room. It’s difficult to say which stove would be safe, as models change frequently. When considering the purchase of a new stove or appliance, contact the manufacturer prior to buying. You’ll usually find an address or telephone number on the label or packaging. Ask if the products include polymers containing PTFE or other potentially harmful chemicals. You can follow the same procedure for any cooking appliance or tool. If you are told they do not, insist on written assurance of that fact. Of course companies cannot guarantee that any product is absolutely safe for use around birds because most products are not routinely tested on birds, and manufacturers do not have control over how you use the product. By: Susan Chamberlain Featured Image: Via Joseph_Fotografie/iStock/Thinkstock
Cats are typically self-cleaning creatures, and many kitties can go their whole lives without needing a bath. But some cats require them, either on an occasional or regular basis. Pro Tip: Use positive reinforcement and clicker training to help your cat become acclimated to taking a bath. Here are a few instances where you may need to know how to give a cat a bath: You have a hairless breed. Hairless cats need regular baths with medicated shampoo to remove excess oil from their skin. You have a long-haired cat. Even if you keep your cat well-brushed, long-haired breeds might struggle to keep themselves clean. Your cat can’t clean themselves thoroughly because they are obese, arthritic, or elderly. Your cat has fleas, lice, or another parasite. You may need to bathe your cat with a special shampoo. Your cat has a bacterial, yeast, or fungal (ringworm) skin infection. Your vet may recommend a bathing program with a medicated shampoo. Your cat gets into something. Cats tend to get into sticky situations—sometimes literally! If your cat is sticky, smelly, oily, greasy, grimy, or otherwise dirty, they’ll need your help to get clean. If your cat dislikes water, only bathe them if you absolutely have to. It’ll save stress for both you and your kitty.,Picture this: Your kitty has rolled in something sticky or stinky and needs a bath ASAP, but the groomer can’t get you in right away. What do you do? Bathe your cat at home, of course. You don’t need a pro to wash something gross off your cat. You just need the right cat bathing supplies and clear instructions. Here’s how to bathe a cat.
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