The A'cat'emy

Meow Mix, a cat-food manufacturer, is starting the world's first feline-centred school (above) dedicated to teaching pet parents how to think like a cat. Based in New York, the school will feature a wide range of guest speakers and interactive courses that promise to cover everything from reading a cat's mind to studying the fine art of catnap. There is even a cat-cuisine segment!

Among the visiting faculty are "experts on walking the catwalk; authorities on singing like a cat" and other catty personalities. The fees? Mum... I mean, meow is the word. » Continue reading

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Scratch Those Allergies

Does cuddling your kitty make you sneeze?
No need to get rid of her, says allergist Clifford Bassett, MD. Take steps to ease symptoms:

• Ban pets from your bedroom, and get an air purifier.
  
• No pet is completely hypoallergenic, but those that shed more trigger more symptoms, says Shirlee Kalstone, author of Allergic to Pets?.
  
• Vacuum and dust often to eliminate sneeze-inducing dander and fur.
  
• Bathe and brush your pet often, especially if he sheds. If your symptoms are sever, have someone else do it for you.
  
• Getting a new cat? Consider a light-coloured female. One study found that dark male cats create more allergic reactions.

» Continue reading

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Help for pudgy pooches

Even for our pets, losing weight isn't easy. To slim down a plus-size puppy, you must do away with table scraps and significantly increase her running or walking time. But more help is on the way: The [US] FDA recently approved Slentrol, the first canine diet drug. The prescription drops are administered once a day, either directly into the mouth or with food, and work by suppressing appetite and fat absorption.

It's no quick fix, however: Dogs typically have to take the drug for six to ten months, and follow a diet and exercise program, to see results. Weight loss will differ form pooch to pooch. Slentrol is recommended for dogs that are at least 20% over their ideal weight. (And don't try it yourself or give it to a fat cat.)

Fancis A. Kallfelz, a professor of veterinary nutrition, is taking a wait-and-see approach with the drug but says initial data look promising. Slentrol will be available soon. Meanwhile, it's not too early to cut the treats, grab the leash and get moving -- it'll do you both good. » Continue reading

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Meow if you hate smoke

Smokers and nonsmokers alike have had their consciousness raised about the effects of secondhand smoke on humans. But, until now, no one had considered cats.

A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that cats living with a smoker are twice as likely to develop lymphoma, the most common cancer in cats, as are those in smoke-free homes. Felines living with two smokers face four times the risk.

Cats may be particularly affected by household smoke (including fireplace smoke) because they spend so much time indoors and because, when grooming, they ingest particles that have fallen on their fur.

Aside from quitting, smokers can minimize risk to their cats by keeping them out of rooms where people light up. Brushing or bathing the cats may also help.

» Continue reading

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Pet Poison Control

To prevent a life-threatening situation for your pet, be aware of these common house-hold hazards:

• Chocolate. In dogs, it can cause irregular heartbeat and seizures. Just 85 grams of chocolate can even kill a 10-kilo dog. Other paws-off foods: onions, onion powder, yeast dough and mouldy foods.
  
• Plants. For dogs and cats, ingesting common plants can cause depression, tremors, even death. Among poisonous plants -- both indoor and outdoor varieties -- are castor bean (seeds), sago palm, dieffenbachia, rhododendron, azalea, oleander, hyacinth, lily and tulip. Also read Pets are at risk outside too for the symptoms of consuming poisonous outdoor plants.
  
• Chemicals. Cleaning agents, lawn chemicals, rat poisons and automotive products should be kept completely out of reach. Just one teaspoonful of automobile coolant could kill a cat; less than one tablespoon could be lethal to a 10 kilo dog.
  
• Medications. Administer pet medicines exactly as prescribed. And keep your own medications safely away.

» Continue reading

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Purr-ly White Care

We wouldn't dream of not brushing our own teeth. So why aren't more of us brushing our pets' choppers? According to the veterinary scientist, oral disease is very common among older dogs and cats. It can lead to serious health problems, as well as painful tooth loss or gum disease. Yet it is easily preventable with home and vet care.

Start by dipping a baby toothbrush in warm water or in a vet prescribed mouthwash before brushing. Or you could dip a piece of cloth in salt and rub it over your pet's teeth. If the pet doesn't let you do either of these, hold a brush and allow it to chew on its bristles. Keep changing the direction of the brush at interval's.

Vets recommend that you clean your pets' teeth at least once a week. » Continue reading

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Pets are at risk outside too

If you suspect your cat or dog has eaten one of these toxic plants, call your vet right away.

Oleander: Symptoms include upset stomach, hypothermia (cool paws, ears and stomach).

Azalea: Vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness.

Lilies: In cats, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetitie.

Sago palm: Vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures. » Continue reading

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Cat walk on the keyboard

Cats and computers don't mix. Any cat owner will tell you kitties like to walk, jump or sprawl on keyboards in just such a way as to uninstall software or even crash your computer. "For some cats, keyboards are like New Age sandals with rubber nubs pointing upwards onto their soles. Shiatsu for cats, maybe," says computer programmer Chris Niswander, inventor of PawSense, a program that can sense when a cat depresses multiple keys. One or two paw steps are enough for the software to block access to computer and emit anticat sounds -- a variety of annoying noises performed by Niswander. You can also record your own message such as "Bad kitty!"

You might also be interested to read:

• Interpreting the dog tail wag.
  
• Can dogs watch TV?
  
• Social networking for cats and dogs!

» Continue reading

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Can dogs watch TV?

Many people contend their dogs watch TV. But don't run out and buy Lassie to entertain your pooch just yet.

A dog's eyes are specially designed to pick out motion. At the level of a single cell in the eye, a moving target appears as a flicker. The average human doesn't see flickering above a speed of 55 cycles a second (55 Hz). The image on a television is redrawn at a rate of 60 Hz. Humans don't see this flicker, and the image appears continuous. However, because many dogs can resolve images at higher speed, the TV screen probably still appears to them as a rapid flicker, making the images look less real. Thus, many dogs don't direct much attention to what's happening onscreen. Some dogs ignore the flickering and respond to interesting images on screen. These dogs often follow the images, even looking behind the TV to see where something went after disappearing from view. However, since a dog's dominant sense is its sense of smell and objects onscreen have no scent, most dogs will quickly lose interest and wander off. This might be a blessing. Imagine Rottweilers defending their owners from the criminals in a police drama!

By Stanley Coren in PETS Magazine » Continue reading

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Why of the Wag

How to interpret some common dog tail wags.

Perhaps the most common misinterpretation of dog behavior is the myth that a dog wagging its tail is happy and friendly. While some wags are associated with happiness, others can mean fear, insecurity or even a warning that if you approach, you're apt to be bitten. Here's how to interpret some common tail wags:

A slight wag, usually seen during greetings, is a tentative "hello there" or a hopeful "I'm here."

A broad wag is friendly: "I am not challenging or threatening you." It can also mean, "I'm pleased" - the closest to the popular notion of the happy wag, especially if the tail seems to drag the hips with it.

A slow wag with tail at "half-mast" is less social than most other tail signals. Generally speaking slow wags with the tail in neither a particularly dominant (high) nor a submissive (low) position are signs of insecurity.

Tiny, high-speed wags that give the impression of the tail vibrating are signs the dog is about to do something -- usually run or fight. If the tail is held high while vibrating, it's most likely an active threat.

Stanley Coren, PETS Magazine » Continue reading

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Social networking for cats and dogs!

Fluffy has the latest, most fashionable collar, more toys than some kids do and his very own bed. But have you given your pet a home page? Yes, animals are going online in droves. Dogster.com is a free social networking site for dogs, while sister site Catster.com is for cats. Check out the intriguing statistics of Dogster here and Catster here.

These technologically savvy animals, with a little help from their humans, are sharing photos, diaries, travel tips and more. Owners use the forums to schedule play dates and discuss topics such as grooming, training and bereavement. When Little Bit, a terrier mix, was diagnosed with lymphoma, the owners stumbled upon Dogster. The site has given them a place to show pictures, keep friends updated on Little Bit's condition and reach out to others in their position. What's next? Doggle, a canine search engine? » Continue reading

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