Pets

/

Home & Leisure

/

ArcaMax

Cats and hairballs are simply a fact of life... if you're a cat

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Cats are often praised for their elegance and independence, but pet owners know they come with a few less glamorous realities. One of the most common and messy of these is the hairball. While the sight and sound of a cat hacking up a hairball may be unpleasant, the issue is natural and usually harmless. Still, understanding what hairballs are, ...Read more

Ask The Vet: Loud Noise Can Damage Dog's Hearing

Pets / Ask The Vet /

Q: My husband began taking Winchester, our 5-year-old Labrador retriever, hunting with him this season. Win seems too young to be going deaf, but I'm convinced his hearing isn't as sharp as it was before hunting season. Could the gunfire have damaged Win's hearing? Can it be tested?

A: Yes, any loud noise can damage a dog's hearing. Hunting ...Read more

My Pet World: Friendly, floppy, and full of life -- Training tips for social dogs

Pets / My Pet World /

Dear Cathy,

Our adorable and lovable great-grandson Labradoodle, Franklin, has a rather unusual behavior. This past weekend, our daughter and son-in-law brought Franklin along for a fundraising walk around our local fairgrounds.

At one point, he suddenly flopped down on the pavement – head and paws down. At first, I thought he was just tired...Read more

What to do when your dog does the booty scoot

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

When a dog suddenly scoots its rear end across the floor, many pet owners respond with laughter, confusion, or mild horror—especially if it’s happening on a freshly cleaned carpet. The behavior, commonly referred to as “boot scooting,” may look comical, but it often signals that something is bothering the dog’s backside. While an ...Read more

'Organs-on-a-chip' is one of many alternatives to animal testing

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

There’s one area of surprising agreement in the often adversarial relationship between conservatives and the scientific community: the need to phase out animal testing in biomedical research.

The new leaders of both the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration have said they plan to reduce their use in federally ...Read more

Ask The Vet: Cats See Well in Dim Light

Pets / Ask The Vet /

Q: What can you tell me about feline vision? I've heard that cats see well in the dark, but I still think we should leave a nightlight on so our cats can find their way to water bowls and litter boxes in the dark. My partner disagrees.

A: I'm with you; we've placed night lights in strategic locations for our pets, too. Still, your partner's ...Read more

My Pet World: Helping a clingy dog feel safe when left alone

Pets / My Pet World /

Dear Cathy,

I have a friend with a two-year-old miniature schnauzer he’s had since puppyhood. He installed a camera in his room to check on the dog while he’s away, but no matter how briefly he leaves – even just to run to the store – the dog starts crying and won’t stop until he returns.

As a result, he takes the dog everywhere, ...Read more

This entrepreneur has scientific approach to a better cat toy

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

In the basement of a ranch-style home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Allison Zank is hard at work in her laboratory.

Oils are being heated in a water bath. Botanical substances are awaiting extractions and infusions. There’s a white board diagramming the molecular makeup of pheromonal compounds such as actinidine and civetone.

Elsewhere in ...Read more

Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS

Expert in Karen Read retrial testifies John O'Keefe's injuries are dog bites

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

DEDHAM, Mass. — A medical doctor testified in the Karen Read murder trial that she believes wounds to John O’Keefe’s arm were “inflicted by a dog.”

“There are multiple groupings of wounds,” Dr. Marie Russell said as she used a laser pointer to indicate on a photograph of O’Keefe’s arm each wound grouping: to the upper arm, to ...Read more

Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Why cats are orange (and tortoiseshell and calico)

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Nine thousand years ago, humans began domesticating cats. Nine hundred years ago, before the advent of intentional cat breeding, a genetic mutation gave rise to the first orange cat. Days ago, Stanford Medicine researchers revealed exactly which gene created the fuzzy fodders for Garfield, Puss In Boots and Toulouse from "The Aristocats," to ...Read more

Ask The Vet: Head Tilting More Common Among Smart Dogs

Pets / Ask The Vet /

Q: I recently adopted Sophie, a 1-year-old standard poodle, who has an endearing trait. Sometimes she tilts her head when I'm talking, as though she's trying to understand everything I'm saying. None of my other dogs did this. Why does she?

A: In a recent study, researchers concluded that especially smart dogs more often tilt their heads than ...Read more

Cat's Meow

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

New research suggests some cats may actually have what it takes to serve as therapy animals.

An international research team found that certain cats possess specific behavioral traits that make them suitable as therapeutic companions.

These cats tend to be more social with both humans and other cats, more attention-seeking and more tolerant of ...Read more

My Pet World: Could air fresheners and other scented products be making our pets sick?

Pets / My Pet World /

Dear Cathy,

We currently do not have pets, as we’ve been traveling, but many of our friends and neighbors do, especially small dogs. While walking, we often stop to pet them. Many smell strongly of air freshener, and the scent even rubs off on our hands.

We can’t imagine what it must be like for them, given their heightened sense of smell....Read more

Helen H. Richardson/THE DENVER POST/TNS

Turning to animal communicators to talk to pets -- both dead and alive

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

DENVER — Josh McGirk was skeptical about animal communicators.

The south Denver resident loved his four-legged family members and was at his wits’ end after adopting a new cat, Amelie, who his two other cats were terrorizing.

He heard mixed reviews about people who claimed to be able to communicate with pets, but Amelie’s separation ...Read more

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi mourning death of beloved rescue dog

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are mourning the loss of their rescue dog.

The former talk show host and her wife's beloved Beagle-Chihuahua mix, Augie, sadly passed away on May 15.

The couple took in the pooch more than a decade ago.

Sharing a series of photographs of Augie chilling around their home, Ellen wrote on Instagram on May 16: ...Read more

Ask the Vet: Pet Chewing on One Side of Mouth Needs Dental X-rays

Pets / Ask The Vet /

Q: Penny, my middle-aged indoor cat, chews her dental treats only on the left side of her mouth. Is this normal?

A: I confess that I've never observed my cats or dogs closely enough to know whether they chew on one or both sides of the mouth. Nor have I heard this topic discussed at veterinary conferences. So, I consulted two renowned ...Read more

My Pet World: When love hurts -- What to do when your dog’s aggression is directed at you

Pets / My Pet World /

Dear Cathy,

After helping my beloved Cavalier King Charles find peace from his battle with heart disease and cancer, we brought home a male toy poodle. He is beautiful, intelligent, funny – and violently aggressive.

From the beginning, I worked hard to socialize him. He went to puppy preschool and attended day camp twice a week for over ...Read more

Julia Roberts' beloved dog dies

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Julia Roberts' beloved dog has died.

The 'Pretty Woman' actress adopted Myrtle from a rescue centre as a pup in 2006 but she revealed on Friday (16.05.25) that the pooch, who she hailed a "legend", had passed away.

Sharing a photo of her dog on Instagram, Julia, 57, wrote: "Our Myrtle. A Legend. 2006-2025 [crown emoji] (sic)"

Jennifer Aniston...Read more

Taking the Kids: And the Pets

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

The VIP was greeted effusively by the hotel staff and found special amenities and treats in her hotel room.

But at the newly renovated Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, this VIP was our 12-pound rescue pup Loni, who found a dog bed, toy, dog biscuits and ...Read more

The Transylvanian Hound continues to captivate

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

The Transylvanian Hound, known in its native Hungary as the Erdélyi Kopó, is a storied breed with deep roots in the Carpathian Basin. Once a prized hunting companion for the nobility of medieval Europe, this ancient scent hound is renowned for its agility, endurance, and keen nose, making it an exceptional hunter across rugged terrain.

The ...Read more

 

Related Channels

America's Test Kitchen

America's Test Kitchen

By America's Test Kitchen
ArcaMax Chef

ArcaMax Chef

By ArcaMax Chef
Ask The Builder

Ask The Builder

By Tim Carter
Ask The Vet

Ask The Vet

By Dr. Lee Pickett
Celebrity Travel

Celebrity Travel

By Jae-Ha Kim
Dear Monty

Dear Monty

By Richard Montgomery
Do It Yourself Or Not

Do It Yourself Or Not

By Gene and Katie Hamilton
Eric's Autos

Eric's Autos

By Eric Peters
Everyday Cheapskate

Everyday Cheapskate

By Mary Hunt
Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family

By Jim Daly
Georgia Garvey

Georgia Garvey

By Georgia Garvey
Jeff Rugg

Jeff Rugg

By Jeff Rugg
Lenore Skenazy

Lenore Skenazy

By Lenore Skenazy
Living Space

Living Space

By Kathryn Weber
My Pet World

My Pet World

By Cathy M. Rosenthal
Problem Solved

Problem Solved

By Christopher Elliott
Real Estate Matters

Real Estate Matters

By Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin
Recipes by Zola

Recipes by Zola

By Zola Gorgon
Rick Steves' Europe

Rick Steves' Europe

By Rick Steves' Europe
Taking The Kids

Taking The Kids

By Eileen Ogintz
Travel & Adventure

Travel & Adventure

By Various authors
Travel Troubleshooter

Travel Troubleshooter

By Christopher Elliott

Comics

Steve Kelley Peter Kuper Mother Goose & Grimm One Big Happy Strange Brew Shrimp And Grits