You may think that cats and dogs that live together are constantly fighting but millions of household have a cat and dog family. It’s best to raise them together so that both can live peacefully.  If that’s not possible, it’s usually easier to have the cat first.  This way, you could choose a gentle dog that does not have any hunting instincts. You can even choose a dog that has successfully lived with cats already. When you introduce the new member or your family whether it be the cat or the dog, the introduction must be made gradually starting with just the scent of each animal.  For the first several weeks, meetings must be supervised. Always keep the dog on his dog leash during this period. The cat should have an escape route to a safe place that’s completely inaccessible to the dog. With patience, and lots of rewards for good behavior the cat and dog can learn to live a peaceful, happy life together. Remember, your pets count!

Tail injuries are common in cats. These types of injuries can occur if a cat s hit by a car, gets his tail stuck in a door or someone steps on or pull on his tail. You may not think so, but tail injuries can be serious. Cats let you know that their tail is injured in a number of ways. Your cat may cry when you touch his tail, if his tail is broken, you may notice that it’s crooked or that there is a kink in it at the injury site.  If the tail s drooping or dragging or if your cat’ s suddenly incontinent, this could indicate nerve damage.  Other things to look for are lameness in the legs or a lack of sensation when the tail is touched. These things can also indicate nerve damage. Cats depend on their tails for balance and for communication.  If your cat’s tail injured don’t try to fix it yourself or give him any pet medication. Take him to the vet right away. Remember, your pets count!

Many cats enjoy licking their owners hands and faces. Are they giving you kisses or are they “buttering” you up to stay on the good side of their main food source? Cats are mutual groomers. It’s their nature to groom other animals and that includes people.  When your cat licks you, he is bonding with you. This is seen in many social animals. This reduces the stress levels in both you and your cat.  Your cat may lick you for similar reasons. It’s his way of relaxing, bonding with you showing affection and claiming you for his own. Maybe he enjoys the taste of the salt on your skin or maybe your cat believes that you aren’t as clean as he is. After all we don’t wash ourselves every hour throughout the day like they do.

Show some affection to your cat and buy her a brand new soft cat bed! Remember, your pets count.

Most pets are do not watch TV. Although they could perceive what’s on the screen, they often choose not to watch.Even though you’re glued to the TV for those reality shows, your pets could care less. DVD’s that are made for pets can entice them with vicarious outdoor pleasures. The best ones feature a variety of species and scenarios such as flying birds and scampering squirrels. Pets love the frequent jerky movements and natural soundtracks on these DVD’s.  These programs can be used as a special treat or to entertain your pet when you’re away. You may even think of using them to help speed your pets recovery in the event of an illness. Of course your dog or cat will never pass up  tasty  treats that are meant to be eaten.

Remember, your pets count!

If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pets. On Friday, the temperature  in New Jersey hit 108 degrees with the humidity just as high. I walked out of my air conditioned apartment and was nearly knocked over by the wall of heat that hit me. We have the ability to cool off by sweating, out pets don’t. That’s why in extreme heat,  keep them cool by keeping them in an air conditioned environment . When walking your dog, just take him out for a walk and that’s it. Hold the exercise and playing with dog toys for a cooler day. Always have plenty of water available at all times for your pets. Never ever leave your pet in a hot car not even for a few minutes. This spells disaster for sure! The inside of the car heats up more quickly than you think, to levels that are dangerous for most dogs and cats.  Even when the temperature is in the eighties on the outside, the inside will heat up very fast.  The temperature rises even with the windows cracked open. Here’s an example. If it’s 83 degrees outside and the windows are cracked open, after five minutes the temperature rises to 86, after ten minutes it’s now at 90, and after 30 minutes the temperature is now 100 degrees!  Imagine how high the temperature would have gotten with the extreme heat that we experienced last week. If you ever see a dog in a hot car with the windows shut on a hot day, I would have the owner paged if the car is at a store or go and find a police officer if the car is parked on a local street. Lots of people today are too preoccupied with their own lives to care about anything!

Remember – your pets count!

If you first see a Manx cat or kitten, you just may do a double take.  This cat is often born without a tail even if the mother cat has one.  The tailless gene is quite dominant, so one Manx litter can be very diverse.  Kittens may be tailless, bushy tailed or look like their tail was chopped off in some kind of accident. The story of why this cat is tailless is hundreds of years old.  The Manx was thought to originate off the coast of England on the Isle of Mann.  This breed was one of the first to be recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association.  The tailless Manx is the desired show cat but any Manx makes a great pet. Many times the Manx’s personality is compared to that of a dog.  This very active cat will run, play and even fetch cat toys.

Remember, your pets count!

If you love pets and would like to work with them, realize that Veterinarians and Vet. Technicians aren’t the only ones who work with pets. If you want a career working with animals, consider dog walking, dog sitting or doggie day care.  You may want to look into grooming or animal rescue. You could also learn how to train and handle dogs used for human therapy.  If you’re interested in wild animals, consider becoming a Park Ranger. Working in a zoo, marine park or wildlife center could also give you opportunities as a Keeper, Rehabilitator, or Outreach Educator. Talk to a working professional to learn more about a potential career path with animals. Internships can also help you find the career path that’s right for you.

Caring for pets is a rewarding experience whether it’s selling pet products like leashes, collars and dog clothing or rescuing pets and finding them a good home. Remember, your pets count!

When someone refers to their dog’s “papers,”  you might wonder what that means.  The papers mean that a dog is pure bred and has been registered with a recognized organization such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the Canadian Kennel Club. The papers will show the registration numbers of the dog and it’s parents, the names of the breeder and owner and the dog’s sex and birth date. A pedigree is a family tree. This should not be confused with registration papers. Remember that health and conformation are not considered for acceptance into the registries and that simply having papers is not an indication of quality.

Keep your dog healthy by feeding him right, tossing around his dog toys to give him exercise and lots of love an affection. Remember your pets count!

There are so many types of pedigreed dogs these days. Who gets to set the standards? Who says that a standard poodle must be 15 inches at the shoulders or that a miniature poodle should be shorter than 15 inches while a toy poodle is less than 10?  The American Kennel Club or AKC maintains the standards. This is done in cooperation with the national clubs for each dog breed. The AKC recognized about 159 breeds. There are another dozen breeds that are on the waiting list to be recognized by the American Kennel Club. One breed on this list is the Icelandic Sheep dog. Even these new breeds have standards The eyes of the Icelandic Sheep dog must be brown. No blue eyes are allowed.

Remember whatever breed you own, even if it’s just a regular mixed breed, show him lots of love, give him plenty of exercise, the right diet and dog treats and he’s sure to be your best friend for years to come. Remember, your pets count!

Cats sleep an average of 16 hours a day. They do have their  favorite places like a soft cat bed but they will sometimes choose the oddest places to rest their weary bones. I once found my younger cat Millie taking a nap on one of the branches of my Christmas tree. Just her two hinds legs were sticking out. My older cat, Mollie likes to get into the closet at my place in Delaware and sleep under the pile of blankets and comforters. Some cats like to sleep in sinks. One day, I couldn’t find my younger cat and then noticed that she was fast asleep on top of the refrigerator. My only advice is make sure that she is sleeping in a safe place. Remember, your pets count!