Lab-Grown Meat – Should It Be Used in Pet Food?
Once you get beyond the “ick” factor, lab-grown meat may have profound ethical and environmental advantages. But will it be good for our dogs and cats (and us) and should it be used in pet food? Lab-grown meat? It sounds like something out of a science fiction story, but it’s a concept being explored by a growing number of companies. This article takes a closer look at lab-grown meat and how it’s made – and more importantly, whether or not it should be used in pet foods. How Is Lab-Grown Meat Made? Also known as...
Adults 65 and Older Who Own Pets Score Higher on Memory Tests Than Non-Pet Owners
According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, adults over the age of 65 who owned a pet for more than five years scored better on memory tests than non-pet owners. This adds to the plethora of evidence pointing to the mental and physical benefits of pet ownership already out there. Photo: Pixabay/StockSnap The Power of the Dog Dogs and cats are the most plentiful among household pets but pet ownership, in general, can have the same impact on our health. For this particular study, the group assessed data...
It’s National Cuddle Up Day! Who Will You Be Cuddling Up With?
Happy National Cuddle Up Day to all! In case you’re unfamiliar, it’s a day for cuddling and snuggling with someone you want to be close to. It can be a pet or a human, but pets get the lion’s share of the attention. Cuddling releases oxytocin, a hormone with tremendous health benefits that include warm, fuzzy feelings and pain relief. Oxytocin also aids in reducing heart disease and lowers blood pressure, stress, and anxiety. What other excuse do you need to cuddle on January 6? Most Affectionate Dog Breeds According to...
Can Cats’ Paws Suffer Damage from Snow or Other Winter Elements? How Harsh is Too Harsh?
Cats are generally averse to cold, snowy conditions but good luck getting them to willingly don protective wear of any type or keep it on even if you manage to wrangle them into it. And you can forget about booties. Have you ever seen a cat get tape on their paws or cellophane? It’s a frantic and peeved herky-jerky dance until it’s removed. So, what can pet owners do for indoor/outdoor cats come winter if they live someplace where it snows? Photo: KK Snow & Cats First off, let’s clarify that some cats will allow their...
Foods that Support Your Dog or Cat’s Kidneys
If your dog or cat has been diagnosed with kidney disease, don’t despair. These kidney-friendly foods and supplements will help support his health and well-being. Kidney problems are common in dogs and cats, especially as they get older. Let’s take a look at how these conditions manifest – and how certain foods and supplements can help support your dog or cat’s kidney health. Signs of Kidney Disease If your animal companion is drinking more water than usual (polydipsia), or urinating more frequently (polyuria),...
Bonded Cuties Irwen and Elenor are a Sweet Pair to Draw to — Adopt Them Now!
Check out two of the sweetest girls you’ll ever meet, bonded pair Irwen and Elenor! Both cats love to play, greet, and cuddle with their human at every opportunity, and they’re hoping that person will soon be you! In the meantime, they’re waiting for you and their together furever home over at Purrfect Pals Sanctuary in Arlington, Washington. Like all of the rescue’s felines, Irwen and Elenor are spayed, microchipped, viral tested, and vaccinated. In other words, they’re ready to roll! Photo: Purrfect Pals...
Sweet Siamese and Snowshoe Mix Wants to Move in With You Now!
Meet Shere, a gorgeous tortie point Siamese and Snowshoe girl who’s been spayed and weighs approximately 11.28 lbs. The shelter staff at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) in Tucson, Arizona, believe sweet miss Shere is about 6 years old. Regardless, she’s an exceptionally good girl who wants very much to find her forever home so she can get out of the shelter. Animal Rescue Shelters and rescues, no matter how well-equipped and/or maintained they are, create high levels of stress in animals. That’s why it’s so important...
From Preparing for New Year’s Eve Noise to Avoiding Lost Pets
It’s almost upon us! Yes, Christmas is behind us and New Year’s Eve is on its way. If you’re looking forward to the parties and fireworks displays, you’re not alone. But not everyone shares your enthusiasm. Dog and cat owners across the globe both dread and curse NYE because of what it does to many animals and pets. If you’re the parent of a dog or cat that does not handle loud or rumbling noises well, you can relate. Photo: Pixabay/nck_gsl Microchips To begin, if your pets aren’t chipped, they should be....
The Wisdom of Gifting Pets to Kids and Whether You’re Up for the Challenge
Pet ownership comes with all sorts of rewards. Animals can bring love and joy into our lives and even contribute to our living longer, healthier lives. They are known for reducing stress and anxiety and for helping millions cope with emotional and physical setbacks through the use of service animals. Children can benefit greatly from pet ownership, too. Recent studies show kids with dogs are calmer and become less worrisome adults. But before getting a dog or cat for your kids, ask yourself whether you’re up for it. Photo:...
The History of the Cat Flap is Not Necessarily What You’d Think
We often associate inventions of convenience as having arrived in our lives no earlier than, say, the 1950s — especially those involving pets. Where our fur buddies are concerned, most of us probably assume nothing really life-changing came along in connection to them until perhaps the 1980s or later. Well, one of the most convenient inventions for pet owners came along far earlier than either of those decades. Photo: Pixabay/Nennieinszweidrei Cat Flaps Call them cat flaps or doggy doors, these scaled-down entrance/exit flaps for...
