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Pet Wellness Advocate
If you share your life with a cat (and I assume you do, otherwise why would you be here?), there’s something important you need to understand—something most people aren’t told early enough: Your cat will almost certainly develop kidney disease as they age. That sounds alarming, I know. But it’s not a reason to panic—it’s... Read more »
We talk endlessly about behavior in dogs. We talk about what they’re doing wrong. What they should be doing. What needs fixing. What needs managing. But how often do we talk about their outlook? There’s a word I’ve come to love: Dogsitivity. Not forced cheerfulness. Not endless tail wagging. Not “easy.” But something more meaningful... Read more »
Okay, it’s not really a living hell… but it sure can feel like a mental burden to have a dog who’s disinterested in eating. Your rational mind knows he won’t starve to death. You tell yourself he’ll eat eventually. But your emotional mind — the one channeling an Italian mama saying “Mangia! Mangia!” — keeps... Read more »
I recently sat down with my dear friend Marc Bekoff to remember someone who shaped how so many of us understand animals, compassion, and our responsibility to the planet: Jane Goodall. Marc knew Jane personally. They worked together. Traveled together. Shared ideas, laughter, and a deep belief that animals matter—not as concepts, but as individuals... Read more »
Living in a city apartment doesn’t mean your cat has to live a small, boring life. On a recent episode of Cat Chat, I talked with cat behavior expert Stephen Quandt about how to help indoor cats — especially apartment cats — thrive through smart environmental enrichment. Stephen lives in New York City with multiple... Read more »
As the founder of the NY Dog Film Festival and the NY Cat Film Festival, I’ve spent more than a decade curating animal films in every imaginable style—hand-drawn animation, stop motion, documentary, experimental shorts, and deeply personal stories that took years to complete. This year, something new happened. For the first time, I received angry... Read more »
Why “aggressive” dogs are usually just dogs we haven’t listened to yet You can listen to the full Dog Talk® (and kitties, too!) episode with Mark Bridger-Prescott here: 👉 A Growl Is a Wonderful Noise When British dog trainer and canine behaviorist Mark Bridger-Prescott said to me, “A growl is a wonderful noise,” I practically... Read more »
I have a soft spot for veterinary behaviorists. They’re the rarest birds in veterinary medicine — there are only about a hundred of them in the entire world — and they sit right at the crossroads of medicine, behavior, and the human–animal bond. One of my favorites is Dr. Lisa Radosta, who joined me on... Read more »
If you’ve ever tried to take your cat farther than the vet’s office, you already know—it’s not always a joy ride. Between the meowing, the hiding, and the occasional “accident,” it can be stressful for everyone involved. But with a little preparation, traveling with your cat doesn’t have to be a nightmare. I recently spoke... Read more »
Every so often, I receive an email that reminds me why I do this work. A listener named Michael wrote me after hearing a recent episode of Dog Talk (and Kitties, Too) on WLIW.FM, the only NPR station on Long Island (that has carried my show every week since 2005!). Yes, people do still listen... Read more »