Animals Unfolded

Conflict and social tension amongst family cats is a problem that is all too common and can upend a household, leading pet owners to do whatever they have to do to keep the peace. Manifested by behaviors like  passive blocking, staring, minor skirmishes or exchanges that escalate into fighting, it can at times  necessitate the need for cats to spend time in separate parts of the house.  “Cats are the number one pet: there are 81.7 million owned cats versus 72 million owned dogs. More cats are relinquished to shelters and disharmony between pets is a common reason for relinquishment," says  Theresa DePorter, a veterinary behaviorist at Oakland Veterinary Referral Service (OVRS) based in Bloomfield Hills. Last year, DePorter lead a study t o see if a synthetic pheromone diffuser from  Ceva Animal Health  would be effective in decreasing aggression amongst household cats. Pheromones are chemical signals produced naturally by an animal — in this case, c...

There are countless ways that we can help the pets in our midst live better, even if they have special needs.  I've shared life hacks for aiding dogs in their mobility , and in creating an elevated feeding platform for them to make it easier to eat.  Cats can use a little help when it comes to having success in the litter box department, and as I've illustrated , not all litter boxes are created equal. Dependent on a feline's size, age and how able-bodied they are, a shift in size or slope can make all of the difference and keep both of you happy.  Another species isn't so different. Though most bunnies do fine learning to use a traditional litter tray made to fit in the corner of their enclosure, they can also benefit from a bit of consideration as they age or have mobility issues at other stages of life. In this case, thinking outside the box a little bit might just do the trick.  A feeding tray, like one designed by  Marchioro, is a viab...

Quite often in my daily adventures, I'll see a lost pet roaming the streets and you guessed it — I'll stop and see if I can somehow help get them back to their people. And judging from the numbers of pets that I see on the Humane Society of Huron Valley's Lost and Found page and Facebook pages like Michigan Lost Pet Lookers , a lot of other folks do as well. That, somehow can be easy or difficult and is dependent on a few variables, but two are crucial: the dog's willingness to approach and what kind of identification they are wearing. Pet ID tags are a boon in facilitating a fast reunion, so long as they are easy to read and have the right information on them. Ideally, there's a telephone number, address and name of both the owner and pooch. Some folks also include the vet's information on the tag, and I'm always happy to see a rabies and/or a microchip ID tag. In the past, I've broached the topic of what to do when you find yourself in ...

One of the things that people ask when they find out that I'm a caregiver to so many animals is, "What's your favorite animal to care for?".  That's a hard question to answer as I really have no "favorite", but I do love the variety of animals that I might be responsible for.  Since I care for so many species — mainly dogs, cats, avians and some reptiles — there is always something different and knowing how to keep each animal happy and agreeable is paramount, not to mention keeping things on track.  Parrots, by their nature, are social creatures and in captivity that trait is magnified. It's important to be sensitive to that, and in doing so helps one understand why the following scenario plays out: you're preparing to leave the house for work (or in my case to my next appointment) and your feathered friend, who you have let out of their enclosure, is reluctant to go back in. This is the scenario in many homes and I often experie...