Blog
How to Bathe Your Kitten or Adult Cat
Cats are expert groomers, starting at about two to four weeks old—but a cat bath is beneficial because it can remove excess oil, stimulate the skin, and help your feline shed old hair. It also gets your cat accustomed to being handled or using gadgets such as an electronic cat door.
Supplies You’ll Need
The items you’ll need for a routine cat bath include:
- Grooming shampoo
- Rubber gloves (protect against scratches)
- Clean towels
- Water pitcher or spray nozzle
- Small cloth (for your cat’s face)
- Cotton balls (to clean its ears)
- Floating cat... read more
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
Our dogs love to explore and get themselves into all sorts of trouble. It makes them fun to have around, but it also means they can get a little messy.
If you’re tired of having a stinky pooch bound through your microchip dog door, here is everything you need to know about how often you should bathe your dog:
Why Is Bathing Your Dog Important?
No one likes a smelly dog in the house! Regular brushing and bathing can also help to:
- Lift debris from their coats.
- Check for ticks, fleas, and suspicious lumps.
- Alleviate irritation from skin conditions.
How Often You Should Bathe Your... read more
Harness or Collar: Which Is Better for Your Dog?
Harnesses are quickly becoming the preferred alternative to dog collars, but are they really worth the switch? The answer depends on your dog! Investing in a quality harness and a large dog door could be the ideal solution for your dog’s needs.
Collar Pros and Cons
Collars remain the most common pet accessory, but some recent backlashes have caused many dog owners to reevaluate using dog collars.
Pros
Dog collars are affordable, widely available, and make it easy to attach your dog’s ID tags. Plus, unlike harnesses, you won’t need to put a collar on your dog every time you let them outside or take them for a...
read moreWhich Dog Is Right for You?
Bringing a dog into your family can mean lots of memories and the opportunity to make special bonds, but so many breeds, sizes, and temperaments can make choosing the right one a challenge. Here are some things to consider, including the purchase of a pet door.
A Long-Term Commitment
A dog, or any domestic animal for that matter, should be a conscious decision you make with your family. Always be sure that this is something everyone will commit to for the rest of the dog’s life before making a final decision.
Puppy vs. Adult
Puppies are undeniably adorable, but, just like any other baby, they will need a lot of care and attention, as well as training and socializing. All of this requires a significant time commitment....
read moreDog Training 101
Bringing a dog into your home is exciting. However, it can be an adjustment for the pet and its owner. Fortunately, canines can be trained to behave properly. Using a microchip dog door can help (especially for outdoor potty training), but these basic training tips should help guide your dog towards good behaviour.
When to Start Training
House training should begin within a puppy’s first three months. Puppies learn fast and adapt quickly but can become aggressive and fearful if not properly trained now. Train your dog to walk on a leash, socialise with other dogs, or use a crate at a young age.
Basic... read more
How to Litter Train Your Kitten
Cats naturally seek to relieve themselves on soil or sandy, granular surfaces. Unless a kitten learns to use a litter box from its mother, it will need some encouragement. Aside from training your feline to use a cat door, you’ll have to train it to eliminate the right way.
Use the Right Litter Box
A kitten litter box size should be about one and a half times longer than the cat. The cat litter box can have a cover or not, depending on what your cat prefers. If your home has multiple levels, have a litter box on each floor.
Find a Suitable Location
When litter box training your cat, find a location your cat is comfortable with. It...
read moreCat Language (Ears and Tails)
We all know how expressive dogs can be, but cat behavior can tend to be more of a mystery. Felines do have their own language, and a lot of what they feel is expressed by their ears and tails. Here’s the scoop on cat body language.
Ear Emotions
Your kitty’s ears are wired for sound. Their design can pick up even the highest pitches, which helps cats find prey. Their ears can also rotate 180 degrees, which means many potential movements to use for communication.
If their ears point up and slightly forward, your kitty is feeling playful, happy, or relaxed. Ears pointing straight up means that something has caught their attention. Your cat may be frightened,...
read moreDo Hypoallergenic Dogs Really Help People Allergic to Dogs?
In recent years, hypoallergenic dogs have become very popular with people who are allergic to dogs. However, what most people don’t know and are surprised to learn is there no difference between a non-hypoallergenic dog and a hypoallergenic one when it comes to being allergic to dogs.
If you are allergic to dogs, you are allergic to ALL dogs, including hypoallergenic ones. So, why the big hype, then? The hype came about because hypoallergenic dogs are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction in someone with a dog allergy. However, depending on the extent of the allergy, the person could still have a reaction even around a hypoallergenic dog.
What Causes People to Have an Allergic Reaction to Dogs?
Allergens are the cause of allergic...
read moreFoods Your Dog Should Not Eat
Dogs and humans have a lot of biological similarities. However, each metabolizes food differently, which is why some human foods are toxic—even deadly—for dogs. Even if you’ve kept your canine safe with pet doors, these foods can put your dog’s health in serious danger:
- Grapes and Raisins: Contain toxic substances that, even in small amounts, can lead to rapid kidney failure and death. The toxic substance is unknown, so prevent your pet from accessing fruits you’re growing, even if a is used to go outside.
- Chocolate: Methylxanthines, theobromine, and caffeine cause vomiting and diarrhea, excessive thirst/urination, dehydration, tremors,... read more
Is Catnip Good for My Cat?
Feed your feline catnip and a positive response is likely. Genetically related to basil and oregano, the catnip plant, or nepeta cataria, contains a chemical stimulant called nepetalactone. It generally doesn’t put pet safety at risk. As for the ethical debate, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) supports using “reasonable amounts of high-quality catnip” along with keeping pets safe using products such as cat doors.
What Does Catnip Do?
The stimulant in catnip is said to produce a marijuana- or LSD-like “high.” Catnip can act as a sedative or trigger intense euphoria when eaten. Seen in about half of all cats, the catnip effect varies from one...
read more