The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jun 4-10

For the first full week of June, here’s what Aimee and myself covered in the Pets Blog. Monday, June 4 Moose has got a special new trick (slipping out of his collar) that’s giving Aimee fits –and potentially a heart attack. Apparently it’s not enough he just slips his collar, he also thinks Aimee chasing after him to get him hooked back up is a fun game. Tuesday, June 5 The Great Cat Rehabilitation Project made even further progress. I got my Mr. Meow shower buddy back. This is a big step! Aimee and crew have had to make a … Continue reading

Mr. Meow vs. the Clippers

Not too long ago a debate raged in our household about whether or not to declaw Tabby. That debate has sort of died out ever since I “cowboyed up” and learned to trim Tab’s nails. I’ve had a couple more successful goes at Tabby’s toes. She doesn’t mind me touching her paws and clipping away one bit. All I have to do is catch her in just the right docile mood. I’ve even gotten pretty proficient and quick at it. So much so I’ve decided to direct my newfound talents on the other four-legged members of our family, like Murphy. … Continue reading

Oops! I Did It Again!

(With apologies to Brittany Spears for tweaking her title!) Today was spontaneously declared Toenail Trimming Day. I’ve only done the dogs’ toenails once since we moved back in the beginning of January… so those little piggies were long overdue for some snipping. You’re lucky my camera batteries died, or you’d have pictures of the horribly long clippings. My dear, sweet Moose is almost always the easier dog to do, so I did him first. He was sprawled out on the floor in front of the couch, so I stretched out next to him and grabbed a foot. Moose played along … Continue reading

Cats Who Won’t Groom

We’ve had guests at the cats-only boarding facility who can’t or won’t groom themselves. I started to wonder why. Looks like there are a lot of different reasons why a cat might not groom him or herself. Here are a few: Illness. A cat that doesn’t feel well might stop grooming. Many times, this is the first warning sign an owner will notice when their pet is sick. Maybe you’ll see mats, or just notice that your cat isn’t as clean as usual. It’s not a bad idea to talk to your veterinarian if your cat has stopped grooming. Hormonal … Continue reading

Tips for Saving Money on Pet Care

A recent trip to Costco had me taking a good look at how much I spend on my pets compared to how much I spend on myself. I do tend to be more frugal for my own stuff, mostly because I can’t explain WHY to my pets. They don’t know high gas prices or cost of living — they just know it’s time for a treat. Owning pets doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some tips to help you cut down on your pet spending (without denying your four-legged family members). Shop around for medical procedures. If your … Continue reading

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Kitty Pedicures

One of the services we offer at the cats only boarding facility is a toenail trim. Since I had never done one before (I’ve only done dog pedicures so far), my coworkers showed me how it’s done. It seems to work very easily with two people — one person holds and distracts the cat and the other does the snipping. If you are the person who is holding the cat, you want to be sure that he’s not able to wiggle away; pulling a paw away at the wrong time could mean that the nail gets caught in the scissors. … Continue reading