Category: Behavior

You can calm your dog’s anxiety naturally by ensuring your dog gets plenty of exercise, extra playtime, and massages. How well the natural remedies work will depend on the severity of the anxiety and will vary by dog.

Natural Anxiety Remedies

Whether your dog suffers from separation anxiety or behavioral anxiety, finding a solution that calms your pet is a must. No good pet owner wants to see their dog suffer, but reluctance to start your dog on prescription anxiety medication is understandable. If you prefer a natural way to calm your dog’s anxiety, here are a few things to try:

• Exercise: Make sure your pet is getting plenty of exercise. Take him on at least two 30-minute walks each day. If he’s an active pup, make sure he has the opportunity to run off some energy every day as well.
• Keep His Mind Busy: Dogs get bored, and that can contribute to anxiety. Keep him occupied by committing to teach him a new trick each week. This not only provides mental stimulation, but it’s also a chance to spend more quality time together.
• Play Calming Music: Music can be as calming to dogs as it is to humans. Try playing some classical music when you’re away.
• Calming Products: Calming collars, shirts, and diffusers provide relief for many pets. These products can be found at most pet supply stores. 

Other options, such as oils and massages are also natural alternatives to medicine. If none of these methods work for your pet, talk to an animal behaviorist who may have additional solutions to try before medication becomes necessary. 

It can take several weeks to several months for a cat to get used to a new kitten—and even longer for them to become “friends.” Some cats will learn to tolerate a newcomer, but may never be interested in playing or napping together. In other cases, the cat will take to the kitten right away. Each cat’s personality is different, so it’s hard to know what to expect when a new pet is introduced to the home.

Proper Introductions: The Best Chance for Success 

Putting two cats together and expecting them to get along can actually have the opposite effect. Instead, you’ll want to take the time to broker a proper introduction. Doing so gives you the best chance of the cats learning to get along.

To properly introduce cats, you’ll want to implement four steps:

• Isolation: Put the kitten in a room with their food, litter, and toys. That will be the kitten’s home for a few days. Place the resident cat’s food bowl just outside the door.
• Introduce through Sight and Scent: Swap the cats blankets, so they get used to each other’s scents. Prop the door open so the cats can see each other, and put one cat in a carrier and put the carrier in a room with other cat.
• First Meeting: Place your resident cat in the room with the kitten. Stay close by to break up a scuffle, if necessary. Limit the first few meetings to 10 minutes or so.
• Increase Length of Time Together: Slowly increase the amount of time the cats are spending together. If the older cat gets aggressive, give it a day or two before going back to the prior step and trying again. 

To further increase the chances of success:

• Don’t expect your current cat to share—it’s not a strong suit of felines. Instead, purchase more litter boxes (the standard is one per cat plus one additional box), another set of food bowls, bed, toys, etc…for the new kitten.
• Spend lots of time playing with the cats together and giving them treats and attention.
• Don’t rush things. It can take some cats months to warm up. If they are tolerating each other, consider that a success. 

Several foods, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, turkey, oily fish, and whole brown rice may help in calming dogs down, but those foods alone will not fix the problem of an anxious dog. That being said, maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet is important to your dog’s health and mental wellness, so you should discuss your dog’s diet with your vet if you’re not sure you are providing all the nutrients your pet needs.

Calming An Anxious Dog 

A change in diet won’t be the cure-all to your dog’s hyperactivity or anxiousness, but there are other things you can try to calm your dog such as:

• Increasing Exercise: Some dogs need plenty of exercise, and will be uncomfortable and anxious if they don’t get it. Provide the opportunity for at least two 30-minute walks per day on average. If your schedule won’t allow it, consider hiring the services of a dog walker.
• Calming Products: Some pet owners find success in the use of calming shirts, collars, and diffusers.
• More Playtime: Many dogs are social, so they need lots of interaction with their people. In addition to walks, toss a ball around for a bit or find other ways to play and interact with your pet.
• Background Noise: Playing classical music or keeping the television on can help to calm dogs. 

If your best efforts don’t bring the desired results, or if the anxiety is severe, contact your vet or an animal behaviorist who can work with you to help your dog be happy, healthy, and calm.  

You can calm an anxious cat by using calming products, providing more playtime, giving him a quiet space that he can have all to himself where he won’t be bothered by any people or pets like inside a nice closet or a spare room, and offering interactive toys to keep your cat’s brain busy. Some are surprised to learn that cats experience anxiety. Some cats may be naturally anxious, while others may develop anxiety following an injury or a change in routine or household dynamic. Since it can be hard to read cats, the only way to recognize their anxiety is typically through their behavior.

Why Your Cat May Be Anxious 

Even the slightest change can cause anxiety for your cat. Common reasons for a cat to feel anxious include a new family member (either human or pet), rearranging furniture, moving to a new house, or other things that are new. When possible, offering slow introductions can help reduce anxiety.

Signs Of An Anxious Cat 

Some cats spend most of their day snoozing under the bed, and that is not necessarily a sign of an anxious cat—although hiding can be a symptom. Others spend hours darting back and forth from one end of the house to other. Again, that doesn’t necessarily mean your cat is anxious, but it could be a sign. The following behaviors are signs your cat may have anxiety:

• Failing to use the litter box
• Aggression towards other household pets or people
• Excessive meowing
• Hiding
• Excessive cleaning (often resulting in bald spots)
• No social interaction
• Destructive behavior 

Note that these behaviors can signal something other than anxiety but, no matter the cause, they shouldn’t be ignored—especially if the behavior came on suddenly.

If you suspect anxiety, the first stop should be to your vet to rule out an underlying medical cause. Once that’s ruled out, you can move on to finding a way to help your pet overcome their anxiety. Methods that may bring success include:

Spending More Time with Your Cat

If your cat is a social cat who enjoys interacting with you, spend time each day brushing your cat, playing with him, and cuddling him. This quality time ensures your cat is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation—both of which may help with anxiety. 

Improve The Cat’s Environment

Does your pet have a kitty condo and other place to escape to either up high or under something, and plenty of escape routes from rooms so he doesn’t feel cornered or trapped? Does he have lots of toys, and his own litter box (rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one additional box)? If not, adding these items can help with anxiety. 

Calming Products

Many pet owners have had great success with calming collars and diffusers, which can be purchased at most pet supply stores.

Medication

In extreme cases and when nothing else works, your vet may suggest a medication to help alleviate your cat’s anxiety.    

You may need to involve your vet or an animal behaviorist, but the good news is that with a little patience and some trial and error, you’ll likely be able to find a solution that works for your pet. 

Studies have been done that concluded that dogs can detect cancer, but only anecdotal evidence exists that cats can smell cancer.

How Is It Possible For A Cat To Smell Cancer?

If it turns out that cats can actually detect cancer, it will likely have to do with their sense of smell. While dogs have a far superior sense of smell than cats, a cat’s sense of smell is nothing to sneeze at – it far surpasses that of a human.

One theory is that this keen sense of smell allows them to detect changes in the body. Some experts believe cats could be trained to detect cancer and use their powerful noses in other useful ways as well.  

My Cat Keeps Pawing At A Spot On My Body – Should I Worry? 

Probably not, but if your cat (or dog) seems particularly interested in one side of your chest on more than one occasion, it wouldn’t hurt to mention it to your doctor. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a cat helped save their owner’s life by alerting them to a tumor. 

You may be allergic to your cat if you notice symptoms such as swelling and itching around your nose and eyes, congestion, or a rash on your face, neck, or chest. An allergist can diagnose a cat allergy with a skin test. While it is bad news for a cat owner to be allergic to their pet, the good news is that, in most cases, there are simple treatments that will allow you to keep your feline friend in your home.

It’s Not Just The Fur 

You could be allergic to your cat’s fur, but that’s not the only thing that can cause cat allergy symptoms. Your symptoms may also be triggered by:

•  Cat Dander
• Saliva
• Urine 

It doesn’t take a lot of exposure; breathing in or touching pet dander may be all it takes to set off your allergies.

I Think I’m Allergic: When to See a Doctor 

Self-diagnosis is never a good idea, and Dr. Google has led many people astray with either misinformation or improperly applied information. The symptoms of a cat allergy are very similar to those of a cold or other allergies. Rather than rushing to judgement and blaming Fluffy, make an appointment with an allergist. If you are allergic to your cat, the doctor can likely prescribe something to bring you some relief.

If the cat isn’t to blame, the allergist will be able to help you pinpoint what is making you miserable.

Common treatments include:

• Antihistamines
• Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays
• Cromolyn Sodium
• Allergy Shots 

DIY Treatment 

Many people are opposed to taking prescription medication. If your symptoms are fairly mild, it’s possible to treat your cat allergies by rinsing your nasal passages with saline water or taking over-the-counter decongestant sprays.

If you suspect an allergy to your cat, don’t panic. Visit your doctor to be sure that’s what you’re dealing with, and then work on treatments that allow you to keep your pet without suffering with allergy symptoms. For more help, check out Tips to reduce allergies to pets on our blog. 

Offering to pay an extra deposit or a non-refundable cleaning fee may help to convince your landlord to let you have a cat. If you live in a rental with several units and a no-pet policy, you may have a harder time convincing the landlord than if you lived in a single-family rental. That’s because if he lets you have a cat, he may feel he needs to allow everyone to have a cat. Still, there are some things you can try.

Ways To Get A Pet Waiver

Getting a pet waiver in a no-pet property is tough, and it really depends on the mindset of the landlord more than anything else. Understanding the reasons landlords don’t want pets on the property can help. They are usually trying to avoid:

• Noise (less of a problem with cats than with dogs)
• Odor
• Damage
• Fleas 

When you go to present your case to the landlord, be prepared to alleviate his concerns by telling him that as part of the agreement you will:

• Ensure the cat always has effective flea treatment
• Pay a non-refundable cleaning deposit
• Keep the litter box clean
• Address any odor complaints immediately 

Cats As An Emotional Support Animal

If your cat is an emotional support animal (ESA) or service animal, your landlord must legally allow you to have your cat in the house with you. You’ll need to get a letter from your therapist or other medical professional to present to your landlord in this scenario.

What NOT To Do 

As much as you want a cat, you should never sneak a cat into the rental. If you get caught (and you’ll probably get caught,) you could be faced with the decision of having to immediately rehome the cat or move. That’s not fair to the cat and would be heartbreaking for you. 

 

Dogs do not get tired of barking necessarily, but a tired dog may bark less. All dogs bark, and there are many different reasons that a dog uses his voice including fear, alarm, as a form of greeting, and even boredom. While you can’t expect a dog to be silent, excessive barking is a problem. A dog who exhibits this behavior is not likely to stop just because he grew tired of barking. Instead, you’ll have to pinpoint the cause for the behavior and work on ways to address it.

Reasons for Excessive Barking

If your dog barks incessantly, it can be a problem for you, your neighbors, and the dog. The good news is that most excessive barking issues can be resolved if properly addressed. Some reasons your dog may bark nonstop include:

• Separation Anxiety: Separation anxiety is a condition that cannot be ignored. Some pet owners hope it will go away on its own, but it doesn’t. Instead, if left untreated, the condition gets worse over time. Treatment options vary based on the severity of the anxiety, but a good first step is to talk to your vet. You can also read more about separation anxiety here.
• Loneliness/Boredom: Dogs are pack animals, and they aren’t meant to be alone. A dog that is left alone in the yard or house all the time may bark just because he is lonely and bored. In such cases, spending lots of time with his humans, getting a dog sitter while you are out for the day, or taking him to doggy daycare may be all it takes to correct the problem.
• Stress: There are many reasons a dog may feel stress, and all of them can lead to excess barking. Calming collars, shirts, or diffusers may provide a solution for mild stress. More severe cases may require medication or behavioral therapy. 

As mentioned above, dogs won’t get tired of barking, but a tired dog may bark less. Make sure your pet gets plenty of playtime and exercise as this alone could help to curb constant barking. 

Cats may poop on the floor because of a medical condition, stress, or because the litter box is dirty. If the behavior started suddenly, have a vet rule out a medical problem first and then take note if anything significant has happened in the cat’s life, such as a new pet entering the home or the loss of a companion. Whatever the cause, most litter box issues can be solved, but it may take time and patience.

Common Reasons for Litter Box Issues 

Reasons your cat stops using the litter box generally fall in three categories: medical, stress, and environmental.

Medical

Diabetes, intestinal problems, and thyroid issues are common medical issues that can cause litter box issues. Any time your cat starts going outside of the box, it’s a good idea to schedule a visit with the vet to rule these and other conditions out.

Stress

While most dogs are more equipped to go with the flow, cats get stressed out very easily. Stress can be triggered by a small change, such as rearranging the furniture or by a significant event such as the death of a companion cat. As the stress is alleviated, the behavior often stops on its own. If not, you may have to ask for advice from an animal behaviorist.

Environmental

Cats don’t like using a dirty litter box, and many don’t like sharing. Try adding additional boxes (a good rule is one per cat plus one additional box), and always make sure the boxes are clean. You can also try adding additional boxes in new locations and removing the lids from covered boxes. 

Sadly, some pet owners rehome their cats over a litter box issue rather than searching for a solution. There are many possible ways to curb the behavior from resolving a medical problem to changing the environment. It may take time to find what works for your pet, but it’s worth the effort.  

If your dog is lying down while eating, it could be due to a medical condition that makes it painful to bend his neck down to the bowl. If it’s a tall dog, it could simply be uncomfortable to stretch his neck down to reach a bowl on the floor. If the behavior started suddenly, you should schedule a visit with your vet to rule out an underlying medical condition.

What To Do Next If Your Dog Eats Lying Down 

As mentioned above, if your dog suddenly starts to eat lying down, you should bring him to the vet to rule out problems such as arthritis or joint pain. If you suspect discomfort may be the issue, you can try to curb the behavior by purchasing a raised bowl that makes it easier for your pet to eat standing up.

If there is no medical condition, is it really a problem if dogs eat lying down? Not usually. In the wild, dogs are often seen lying down why eating prey and domesticated dogs often enjoy a treat lying down.

While eating meals in that position isn’t common, it’s not necessarily cause for concern once a medical condition is ruled out.