ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

My dog has zero interest in toys. He doesn’t fetch, chew, squeak, or even look at them. I’ve tried balls, stuffed animals, and ropes. He won’t play with anything. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong?

— Ashley, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Dear Ashley,

You’re not alone. Some dogs love toys, some tolerate them, and others...Read more

Creating an indoor garden is a wonderful way to bring the beauty of nature into your home. However, for pet owners, it's crucial to ensure that the plants you choose are safe for your furry companions. Many common household plants can be toxic to pets if ingested, leading to harmful consequences. To strike the perfect balance between greenery...Read more

California wildlife authorities are urging residents of a small Central California town to lock up their pets and secure livestock following a series of mountain lion attacks.

Multiple animals have been killed in the Monterey County hamlet of Corral de Tierra, about 12 miles east of Monterey, officials said.

Residents have claimed that family ...Read more

Australian shepherds are not subtle dogs. They are fast learners, relentless problem-solvers, and creatures of motion whose idea of a good day involves both physical exhaustion and mental satisfaction. Bred to herd livestock and make independent decisions at a distance from their handlers, Aussies bring intensity into any household they join. ...Read more

By any outward measure, the modern pet lives a life of abundance. Heated homes. Soft beds. Specialized diets. And yet cats still wedge themselves into cardboard boxes, dogs still sprawl on cool tile floors, and both will abandon expensive bedding for a patch of sunlight or a well-worn couch cushion. Comfort, it turns out, is not about luxury. It...Read more

By now, most pet owners have asked some version of the same quiet question while locking the door behind them: *Do they know how long I’ll be gone?* The answer, like most things involving animals, is stranger and more interesting than a simple yes or no.

Pets do not experience time the way humans do. They don’t count minutes, anticipate ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My wife and I have a wonderful companion in Julia, a loving, playful four-year-old King Charles Spaniel. There are two situations that are concerning.

The first occurs when one of us leaves for the supermarket and the other stays home. We’ve read your advice column (“Series of small steps can defeat separation anxiety”) and ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Five months ago we adopted a two-year-old year rescue that looks to be a German Pinscher and Dachshund mix. The veterinarian feels he was abused but has adjusted fairly well living with us.

The problem is he gets anxious and barks and snaps when my adult son comes to visit. My son comes over about three times a week. My son has ...Read more

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry "sat on the floor" when their beloved dog was having surgery.

Professor Noel Fitzpatrick - the star of the British TV show The Supervet - has reflected on how he operated on the royal couple's beagle Guy in 2017 when the pooch was hurt.

Fitzpatrick, 58, told The Times newspaper: "Meghan rang me from ...Read more

ATLANTA — The 67 dogs were on heavy chains, many without food, water or shelter, on a sprawling 17-acre property in South Georgia, according to federal prosecutors.

Many had wounds and scars from dogfighting, and some were aggressive to the other dogs. There was evidence Dun Bradford had been breeding the pit bull-type dogs for fighting for ...Read more

If you’ve ever watched a dog tear through the house like it’s possessed, or a cat ricochet off furniture as if chased by invisible bees, you’ve witnessed a phenomenon pet owners know well: the zoomies. The technical term is FRAPs — Frenetic Random Activity Periods — but that clinical label barely captures the joy, chaos, and mystery of...Read more

Traveling with pets used to be a niche endeavor reserved for the determined or the desperate. Today, it is increasingly mainstream. More hotels advertise pet-friendly policies, airlines have refined in-cabin rules, and owners are less willing to leave animals behind. Yet the romantic image of a dog with its head out the car window or a cat ...Read more

By the time many pet owners realize something is wrong, the symptoms are already familiar: a dog pacing at dusk, a cat yowling at night, chewed furniture, shredded paper, sudden clinginess, or withdrawal. The first response is often to add stimulation — a new toy, a puzzle feeder, a longer walk, a different treat.

Sometimes that helps. Often,...Read more