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Pet Wellness Advocate
There are moments when I look at a new pet product and think: who, exactly, was this made for? Because I am fairly certain no cat has ever sat around dreaming of a pink, watermelon-flavored, tofu-based litter experience. Cats are many things — mysterious, particular, opinionated, occasionally dramatic — but they are not usually looking... Read more »
I am a pet foodie. That does not mean I am anti-commercial pet food. Quite the opposite. It means I am fascinated by pet food, suspicious of pet food marketing, and deeply interested in helping pet owners sort actual nutrition from nutritional theater. Because let’s be honest: trying to choose a dog or cat food... Read more »
I’m going to confess something right up front: even people who should know better — yes, including me — can get momentarily seduced by a clever pet product. It starts innocently enough. A friend adopts a sweet, slightly timid cat — already a hero in my book for opening her home to a feline leukemia–positive... Read more »
As previously mentioned, Sky, my 18-month-old Vizsla, is really finicky about what and when he’ll eat. This could be his personality, his discerning palate or the fact that he is an intact male, something that not many pet owners outside the dog show world are accustomed to anymore (but for me will be the norm... Read more »
We tend to think we know our dogs inside and out. We notice when they’re hungry, when they want a walk, when they’re feeling playful. But pain? That’s the one thing they are wired to hide. And that’s exactly why arthritis in dogs is so often overlooked—or undertreated. It’s not that we don’t care. It’s... Read more »
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 »