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Why Is My Cat Attacking My Other Cat?

There are many possible reasons why your cat might be attacking your other cat including lack of space, social maturity, a medical issue, or environmental changes. Fortunately, solutions can usually be found that allow the cats to continue to live together and to overcome their aggression.

Since you can’t just ask your cats what’s wrong, pinpointing the reason for aggression will usually be a process of elimination that involves simply trying various solutions. Note that if the behavior started after the cats had been together some time, a medical issue may be to blame. When a cat is in pain or uncomfortable, he/she may show signs of aggression, even if he is typically docile.

Once medical issues have been ruled out, there are other things to try to reduce cat to cat aggression.

Give Cats Their Own Space

Cats like to have their own space and can be quite territorial. Having to share a small space, food bowls, and litter boxes is a common reason for aggression. While you probably can’t expand your home, you can add space for the cats by providing additional perches, kitty condos, or even investing in an outdoor cat enclosure that allows cats to safely spend time outdoors.

Also, place food and water bowls and litter boxes (one litter box per cat plus one additional litter box works best!) for each pet, so the cats won’t have to share.

Provide an Escape

If one cat tends to be passive, install a collar-controlled cat door that leads to a quiet room. Only place the collar on the cat that gets bullied. This will allow him a way to get away from the aggressor and give the bully cat a cooling off period.

Pheromones

Many cat owners have had great success by using pheromones to stop one cat from attacking the other cat. These products, which come in spray and diffuser form, calm cats and are, in some cases, a very effective way to eliminate fighting.

Time Apart

Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Maybe not, but it will give you a chance to properly and slowly reintroduce the cats. Check out our blog article Introducing a New Cat or Kitten to Your Cats for more guidance.

If the methods above are unsuccessful, enlist the help of an animal behaviorist. The good news is that in the majority of cases, with time and patience, the issue can be resolved to the point that the cats will be able to live together peacefully—even if they aren’t the best of friends.

Why Is My Dog Peeing on My Bed?

Dogs may pee on your bed for many reasons including a medical condition, excitement, leaving their scent, or because they are anxious. While it’s frustrating, it’s important not to yell at or punish your dog, as that isn’t likely to stop the behavior. Instead, work to pinpoint the reason for the inappropriate urination so you can address it properly.

How to Deal With Inappropriate Urination

So you’ve had to strip your bed more times than you’d like this week, and you’ve considered buying stock in urine odor removal products. Whether a new puppy or a dog you’ve had for years, it’s just plain frustrating when your dog urinates where he shouldn’t—especially when it’s on your bed.

Here are some things to consider:

If your dog is a very young puppy, there is a good chance the behavior will stop on its own. Puppies haven’t yet learned to control their bladders, so they may urinate anywhere. As they grow and gain better control, it’s likely to stop.
If the behavior started suddenly, see a vet right away. When a housebroken dog suddenly starts peeing on the bed, there is a good chance a medical condition is to blame. Diabetes, urinary tract infections, and spinal injuries are a few examples. You’ll want to make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible.
Note what happened just prior to the accident. As mentioned above, there are many reasons a dog may pee on the bed, including anxiety and excitement. Did you come in the room and pay lots of attention to the dog just before he urinated? It’s probably due to excitement. Did something startle or frighten him just before? It was likely anxious or nervous urination.
Occasional accidents can happen with any dog. Even a very well-trained dog may have the occasional accident. If it’s just a one off occurrence, you probably don’t have much to worry about.

If the problem is ongoing, a medical reason has been ruled out, and you can’t find a solution, enlist the help of an animal behaviorist who can work with you to try and stop the behavior. In the meantime, consider locking the pet out of your bedroom, or only allowing the pet in your bedroom while on a leash or in a crate so he can’t get on your bed. This will protect your bedding and mattress until you are able to resolve the issue.

Where Can I Put a Shih Tzu Up for Adoption?

You can put your Shih Tzu up for adoption in many locations online and offline. The important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll always want to ensure that your dog goes to the best home possible, and this can take some work on your part. However, you’ll feel much better about the situation when you do.

No one imagines a scenario where they might have to give up their dog, but it happens. Perhaps you have to move to a location that won’t allow dogs– even a small, sweet dog like your Shih Tzu. Maybe you feel that you can’t take care of him properly any longer because of your health reasons or other issues. Regardless of the reason, you have no choice but to give up your dog for adoption. What’s the best way to go?

What Are Your Options?

The first option you’ll want to consider is family and friends. You may know someone in your family who has been talking about adopting a dog. Maybe they would like to adopt your Shih Tzu. This would be a great scenario since you already know whether they would be a good fit for your dog. It helps to provide you with some additional peace of mind.

You may not have anyone in your family or group of friends that can adopt your dog, of course, so you’ll want to find other options. The Internet can help to make this easier thanks to pet adoption sites. Be sure you’re using reputable sites and not classified ad sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Instead, choose Rehome. This is a platform from the largest pet adoption site in North America, Adopt-a-Pet.com. It’s a peer-to-peer pet adoption services that’s easy to use and that provides some features to ensure your dog gets the right new owner. On the site, you’ll fill out a detailed profile of your dog, which is then seen by potential adopters along with any photos or videos you add.

You must take the time to create a detailed profile that highlights all of the wonderful things about your Shih Tzu, as well as some of his “not so great” quirks and behaviors. For example, if he doesn’t get along with other small pets, this is something you’ll want to note. After all, you won’t want him in a home where he won’t feel comfortable and where the family might have to turn around and give him up.

Can Dogs Be Adopted from Shelters and Rescues?

Dogs are often adopted from shelters and rescues, but it’s never a guarantee. When you take your dog to a rescue, as long as they have available space for your dog, they’ll house him until he’s been adopted. However, there are not always enough people looking to adopt. With shelters, they’ll hold your dog for a certain period. After the period has passed, they may need to euthanize. Shelters try their best to find people to adopt, but it doesn’t always happen.
Always take the time to consider what’s best for your dog and help find him the perfect new home.

How Do I Find a Good Home for My Golden Retriever?

You can find a good home for your golden retriever by being patient and taking the time to find the right adopters before rehoming her. Golden retrievers are popular dogs because they’re fun, friendly, and always adorable. While this often makes it easier to find good homes for them, you’ll still have to put in some work to ensure that you find an ideal new owner. Let’s look at some tips on how you can make sure you find her a great new home.

Consider Whether You Could Keep Your Golden Retriever

Giving up your golden retriever is sad, and it’s probably something that you never thought you’d have to do. However, you might feel like you don’t have any other choice. Before you give up hope, consider why you need to give her up, and see if there are resources available that could help you keep her.

For example, if you have to go out of town for work for a month or two, rather than rehoming her, see if you know anyone who could watch her for that time. If she has some behavior issues, consider hiring a trainer. If you’re having financial trouble and worry about caring for her, you can reach out to animal welfare organizations in your area to see if they know of pet food pantries or have other programs for owners facing hardships.

Of course, if you’re in an inflexible situation and you know you cannot keep your golden retriever, you’ll want to put in the work to find her a great new home.

You Know Your Dog Best

You know your dog better than anyone else, so you’ll know the type of home where she’ll do the best. Does she need to get out and get a lot of exercise like most dogs? Does she love spending time in or near water? Does she have any health issues? Maybe she had a bad experience with a cat when she was younger.

Consider all of the facets of your dog’s personality as you look for a potential new home for her. You want to be sure that she’ll be happy and will do well with her new family.

Look to Family and Friends

If you know anyone in your family who might be looking to adopt a dog or someone in your friend group that’s mentioned it, talk with them. They might want to adopt your dog. Golden retrievers have a great reputation as being friendly and great family dogs, so you might have some people already in your life that would love to have her.

Try a Pet Adoption Site

You can also find a range of pet adoption sites that can help you find potential adopters. It’s important that you rehome_research the site you’re considering first, and that you choose an option that won’t require you to pay anything to give up your dog. The rehoming fees should only be charged to those who adopt her.

Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com is a reputable and easy to use option. The peer-to-peer adoption service is free to owners and will allow you to post your pet directly on Adopt-a-Pet.com for millions of pet seekers to see. You can create a profile for your dog with a bio, photos, and videos. This will let the potential adopters learn more about her before filling out an adoption application. Rehome allows you to review the applications and finalize the adoption contract, they’ll also provide tips along the way to help you determine whether an applicant is a good fit for your dog. You won’t be left will all the guess work and uncertainty of trying to rehome completely on your own.

Do You Have to Pay to Rehome a Catahoula Leopard Dog?

If you’re the owner, you won’t have to pay to rehome your Catahoula Leopard Dog. Instead, the rehoming fees are paid by the person who will be adopting your dog. The only time that an owner might have to pay when they’re giving up their dog would be when taking them to a shelter or a rescue. These organizations will often charge surrender fees. The cost of the fees will vary, but they generally start at $50.

Why Charge Rehoming Fees?

If you’ll be giving your dog to someone you don’t know, you’ll want to charge the new owner a rehoming fee. You might be wondering why you should charge a fee if you’re desperate and need to have someone take your dog quickly. Wouldn’t it just be easier to give your dog away?

When you give away your dog, though, you never know who will come to get him. Although most people don’t like to think about it, some people are looking for free dogs for nefarious purposes. They might want to sell the dogs to a lab. Others might be looking for fighting dogs. When you charge a rehoming fee, it can cut these types of people out of the equation. After all, they don’t want to pay for the animals they get. They’re looking for free options instead.

The rehoming fees are there to help keep your dog safe. If you feel bad about making money when you give up your dog, you can always donate it to a rescue or an animal charity.

Do Shelters and Rescues Have Rehoming Fees?

You’ll find that shelters and rescues that sell or let people adopt charge fees, too. They often call them adoption fees, but they’re the same thing and they serve much the same purpose. Additionally, the fees charged by these organizations are typically used as a way to help the facility stay afloat.

The cost of the adoption fees and rehoming fees can vary based on the shelter. They’ll generally start at $50, but they can be quite high for purebred dogs, particularly those that are still young. If you’re going to rehome your dog on your own, learn what the common rehoming fees are in your area and charge something similar.

Use Rehome to Make the Process Easier?

If you would like to make it faster and easier to rehome your Catahoula Leopard Dog, consider using Rehome. This is an online pet adoption platform that lets you have control over who adopts your dog. You can create a bio, add photos and videos, and upload them to the site. People who are interested in adopting can then check out the site and peruse the profile. If they feel they’ll be a good match for your dog, they’ll fill out an application that you can then review.
The site is free for owners to use, and the adopters only have to pay a small rehoming fee similar to what they’d pay at a shelter or rescue. This way, you aren’t responsible for collecting the rehoming fee. It’s fast, easy, and helps to keep your dog safe.

Photo credit: John

Why Is My Dog Peeing a Lot?

Common reasons for your dog peeing a lot include diabetes, urinary tract infections, and aging. Certain medical conditions can be treated, which will often alleviate the frequent urination. Other causes, however, such as aging, may not be resolved. The first order of business when you notice frequent urination, or any other change in your pet’s bathroom habits, should be a visit to your vet for a thorough exam.

Is Frequent Urination Dangerous?

On its own, frequent urination isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it could be, as mentioned above, the sign of a potentially serious medical condition. Your vet will know exactly what to screen for, so you’ll be able to quickly find out if a particular medical problem is causing the condition.

If it is, treatment may be able to help with the issue. Some conditions may require simple treatment, such as a round of antibiotics for a UTI. Others, such as diabetes, may require ongoing medication and other treatment.

What If The Problem Can’t Be Corrected?

Many pet owners live with aging dogs and those who suffer incontinence for various reasons. This alone isn’t necessarily impacting the dog’s quality of life, and it’s a pretty easy situation to handle. Solutions could be as simple as installing a doggy door so your pet can go out whenever he needs or just taking him on more frequent walks.

Another option that works for busy pet owners is to purchase belly bands for male dogs and diapers for female dogs. Both reusable and disposal belly bands and diapers are available. While it may take a little getting used to, this is a simple way to deal with living with an incontinent pooch.

Can An Aggressive Dog Be Rehabilitated?

In most cases, an aggressive dog can be rehabilitated. Even when the aggression stems from long-term abuse, there is still hope with the right treatment.

First Steps in Rehabilitating an Aggressive Dog

If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog, be hopeful—but don’t ignore the problem. Aggression isn’t going to go away on its own. You need to actively deal with the issue and find the right help from your vet or a skilled, experienced animal behaviorist.

The first thing you need to do is find professional help, and let them guide things from there. Look for someone who specializes in working with aggressive dogs. A general dog trainer may not have the skills to handle the needs of an aggressive dog.

Note that if the behavior came on suddenly, it’s likely a medical issue. In that case the aggression will likely cease once the medical problem is addressed.

Until you can get help, keep your dog away from the situations that trigger the aggression. Also, isolate your dogs from other people, children, and other pets. The last thing you want is for your dog to attack or bite someone. Protecting your dog from situations in which that could happen is the responsible thing to do.

Be patient with your dog, follow the advice and guidance of the animal behaviorist, and give your dog every chance at the happy, healthy life he deserves.

What Does It Mean to Surrender a Pit Bull?

If you can no longer keep your pet, you might be wondering: What does it mean to surrender a pit bull? Surrendering your dog means you’re giving up all your rights as the pit bull’s owner and transferring them to a rescue or shelter. Once surrendered, you no longer have a say in what happens to your dog, whether he is put down or adopted, or who adopts him. This can be difficult for anyone who loves their pet, so surrendering your pit bull should be a last resort.

Things to Keep in Mind

While animal welfare organizations do their best to provide the best care for the pets that come their way, your pet may not receive as much attention as you would like. Before you surrender your pit bull to any shelter or rescue group, do some rehome_research and be aware of the limitations some organizations face.

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a place to surrender your pet:

Does the organization euthanize: Some shelters have very high intake rates and low resources, which can cause them to run out of kennel space quickly. When organizations run out of space, sometimes even healthy adoptable dogs are put to sleep. Euthanasia rates are often available to the rehome_legacy. Be aware of an organization’s policies before you decide to drop off your pet.
Your Pet’s Personality: Even if you have the friendliest dog in the world, your pit bull may not feel like himself in a shelter. The loud and crowded shelter environment can make your dog become anxious or aggressive and he may be labeled unadoptable. Consider how you pit bull might react to this type of situation before surrendering.

Other Options

If you find that your local shelter may not be a safe place to surrender your pit bull consider other solutions:

Keeping Your Dog

Are you giving up your pet because of behavior issues? In many cases, these are easy to solve with the help of a vet or trainer. Many behavioral issues stem from a medical need that can be addressed by a veterinarian. Others can be remedied with the support of a qualified animal behaviorist. Give your dog every chance to stay in your family by trying to work through his issues.

Private Rescues

Reputable, privately run rescues are a wonderful option—if you can find one with a spot for your dog. This can be difficult, but excellent rescues will usually work hard to locate a perfect home, so it’s worth the trouble.

Rehoming Your Dog Yourself

This option will probably take the most effort, but it also lets you decide what happens to your pit bull. Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com provides valuable advice and tools to make the process easier and to ensure you find the best possible home for your dog. You can even post your adoptable pet for free to be seen by millions of pet adopters on Adopt-a-Pet.com.

]Knowing what it means to surrender your dog might make you change your mind about going through with it. If so, it’s good to know there are other options and resources to help you.

How Can I Find a Home for My Mastiff?

You can find a home for your Mastiff by talking with people you know and using adoption sites on the Internet. Of course, before you choose a home for your dog, you need to be sure it’s a suitable home and the owner can provide her with all of the attention and care that she needs.

When you’re looking for a home for your Mastiff, write down a list of the things that she needs. This could be a medication that she has to take, for example. Maybe she doesn’t do well when she’s left on her own or maybe she chases cats. Think about all of the things that your dog does or needs that a new owner will need to know so they don’t have an unwelcome surprise after bringing her home. Once you know what your dog needs, it becomes easier to know whether someone will be a good match for her or not.

Finding a Home with People You Know

Let people in your life know that you have to give up your dog. It can be hard to bring up this conversation with people because you never imagined that one day, you’d have to give her up. However, you want to be sure that she finds a great new home, so you need to be honest. You may find a friend or a family member that would like to adopt her from you. If they already know her and have bonded with her, this can be a good and easy way to rehome your Mastiff.

Of course, you still need to be sure that the new owner, even though you know them, will be capable of providing for her properly. Mastiffs are large dogs, and they’ll need to have more space than other dogs because of their size, for example.

Rehoming Using an Online Service

The Internet has helped to make it easier to find people who are willing to adopt your dog. However, if you’re advertising online, you need to be sure that the people who want to adopt have your dog’s best interests in mind.

A good way to do this is by charging a rehoming fee. It not only ensures they’re willing to invest in your dog, but it helps to reduce risk to your dog. Some people look for free dogs online that they then use for fighting or to sell to labs. They don’t want to pay, so the rehoming fee acts as a preventative measure.

You could also use a site like Rehome, which is a service geared toward helping owners and adopters come together. The site is free for owners to use and they only charge a small rehoming fee to the adopter. You’ll set up a profile for your Mastiff on the site that can include photos, videos, and a detailed bio. The adopters can choose to apply to become her new owner. You will review the applications and then determine who will be the best fit for your dog. It’s a safe and easy way to find a home for your dog.

Photo Credit: Marcia O’Connor

Do Cats Know When You Are Dying?

It has been noted that some cats may know when a person is dying, although this isn’t something attributed to every cat.

How Do They Do It?

Some feel a cat’s keen sense of smell would allow him to detect chemical changes within the body that signal impending death. A similar theory is applied to explain how cats have successfully detected cancer in their owners.

Can Your Cat Predict Death?

Probably not, but you never know. That being said, it isn’t something that has been studied, so few details are available. If you notice your cat hanging around you more than normal, don’t panic. It probably just means he’s vying for extra treats or snuggles rather than signaling your impending doom.