ArcaMax

Ever had this happen? You silently think about taking your dog for a walk. You don’t say the word “walk.” You don’t touch the leash. You don’t even move toward the door. And yet, there they are—already waiting by it, tail swishing like a metronome, eyes sparkling as if they heard your thoughts. It feels magical.

It’s not. It’s ...Read more

Cats have impeccable manners—at least, according to cats. They float into rooms like royalty, acknowledge their audience with regal restraint, and disappear without apology when they’re done. Humans, by contrast, often bumble into conversations like overcaffeinated golden retrievers.

Luckily, you can upgrade your social diplomacy by ...Read more

Cats may be small, but their social world is full of complicated etiquette—and most humans stomp through it like elephants in muddy boots. We hug when they want space, grab when they want choice, and talk too loud when they just want quiet companionship.

The result? Confused cats, scratched arms, and baffled humans wondering why their furry ...Read more

Cats have a flair for mystery. They’ll snuggle up on your lap one minute and launch a full surprise attack on your ankle the next. It’s no wonder so many people assume their cats are mercurial little chaos gremlins who just happen to like napping on warm laundry.

But here’s the twist: many of the oddest, most unsettling things your cat ...Read more

Cats have spent thousands of years perfecting the art of mixed signals. They can be aloof one moment and kneading your spleen with all eighteen claws the next. It’s easy to mistake their quietness for indifference, but beneath the cool exterior, most cats are whispering “I love you” in their own subtle, whiskered way. The trick is learning...Read more

Dear Cathy,

We’ve been having issues with our cat for years. She is aggressive with people. No one can pet her or go near her without her either swiping at them and scratching them or hissing at them. We have to lock her up when people come to our house.

We have put on a pheromone collar on her for a very long time. We change it every month....Read more

Dear Eric: My husband and I often go to an off-leash park near our home. There is one woman who regularly frequents the small dog area with her little doggo. We do not know her well, but we are polite and friendly.

Yesterday, while bringing in our dogs, she accosted me by loudly telling me about horrible medical procedures that were being ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Our children and grandchildren have a female golden retriever who is about 2-1/2 years old. She’s a sweet, normally friendly dog who has in the past greeted us quietly at the door with her tail wagging.

Recently, she has begun to walk away and cower when we arrive and has twice urinated when my husband tried to pet her. ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

I need help. I have a four-month-old male cocker spaniel who insists on biting and nipping. I’ve tried telling him “no biting” and “leave it.” He went to puppy school where the instructor said to give him toys and hard chews. I have been doing all that since he came home.

He’s sociable with both humans and other dogs....Read more