Cats seem so chill, but the phrase “scaredy cat” was coined for a reason. Would you know if your cat was experiencing stress? Where does feline stress come from, and how can you recognize the symptoms? Most importantly, what can you do to help?

What is feline stress? Where does it come from?

It’s a silent killer that has no cure, but it’s easily prevented. We may think of heartworm disease as a dog problem, and while more dogs than cats contract heartworms, mosquitoes find cats just as tempting of a meal as they do dogs. One shelter found during a year-long study that 26% of cats had been infected with heartworm larvae at some point in their lives, with 10% of heartworms making it to adulthood.

When it comes to animal cruelty, we would certainly all agree that dog fighting rings and animals neglectfully hoarded in inhumane conditions would top the list. A certain YouTuber has been in the news recently after she accidentally posted an unedited video which some say crossed the line. In it, the YouTuber pushes, hits, and even appears to spit on her Doberman Pincher. 

If you grew up in the 80’s or 90’s, then you know the highlight of staying home from school sick was watching “The Price is Right.” For over 30 years, Bob Barker signed off with, “Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.” For those who have grown up in the 2000’s, Drew Carey has continued the mantra. But besides the fact that Bob or Drew said so, just why should you spay or neuter your pet?

There are many reasons to spay (female pets) or neuter (male pets, though sometimes this term is used for both genders) your dog or cat that benefit you both! 

Imagine a doctor that diagnoses medical conditions and dispenses medical advice for FREE! You don’t even have to leave the house! Where do we sign up, right? BUT, the doctor is never available for an appointment to follow up on what he told you; he won’t even pick up the phone when you try to call with additional questions! In fact, he doesn’t really care if you follow his advice or not—or if his advice actually causes harm. We are, of course, talking about “Dr. Google.”

True or False: Dogs and cats will only eat until satisfied. Therefore, free-feeding, or simply leaving a bowl of food out at all times, is the best way to make sure your pet is properly fed.

So, you’ve been driving around St. Pete and you’ve seen signs for a low-cost vaccine bus. Seems like a pretty good way to stretch the dollar and still make sure your pet stays healthy, right? Let us explain why that’s so very wrong.

A previous blog post focused on keeping your pets safe around pools. This time we want to share what you should do if your pet does manage to fall into the pool, despite your best safety measures.