Whilst catching a mouse or a rat may be a natural activity for cats and in some cases dogs, eating rodents can have undesirable consequences. These can include contracting intestinal worms, the disease toxoplasmosis and secondary rat bait poisoning.

So is it ok to feed your cat or dog milk or milk products?

Answer:
Similar to humans, dogs and cats can suffer from lactose intolerance and unfortunately for our companions it is a very common problem. Lactose intolerance is essentially the absence of the beta lactamase enzyme which assists in the breakdown of sugar found in milk. Without this enzyme, the undigested sugar builds up in their intestinal tract, leading to diarrhoea and vomiting. 

You have heard cats can be taught to walk on their lead, but is it true?

We all know that smoking harms your health, but how about your pet? Will cigarette smoke harm your pet?

Answer?

What is the best age for sterilising your cat?

Answer:
Desexing can be performed at anytime throughout a cat's life. However there are major health and behavioural benefits of having this procedure done at 5-6 months of age.  As well as reducing the number of unwanted kittens, desexing prevents pets from roaming, fighting, spraying and night prowling, particularly common in male cats.

Learn more about sterilisaiton here

Whether it's the bedspread, carpet or a companion, kneading is a very common behaviour for cats. But why do they do it? 

Answer:
Well there are all kinds of theories, some say kneading originates from treading down grass and foliage to make a temporary nest, or from stimulating a mother's teat to secrete milk. In fact, whilst kneading is a very common behaviour for cats, no one has determined why they do it.  Like people have their habits, it appears kneading is just that.  One thing researchers do know, is that when a cat is kneading it is relaxed and comfortable.  If you are on the other end of the kneading, just think your cat is relaxed and happy to be with you!

How do I know which litter is best for my cat's litter box?

Answer:
The best way to identify which litter and litter box suit your cat is to try a variety of types and styles. If your cat is struggling with toileting issues leave more than one box out, trying different litter types in each box. If you are still having problems, then adjust the cat box size or even add a lid using the most favoured litter type.

In recent studies, researchers found that cats prefer clumping litters and litters with activated carbon. They also found when selecting a fragrant litter, cats prefer cedar scents to other scents, and they also caution the use of citrus based scented litters.

 Does a cold, wet nose mean my pet is healthy?

Answer:
A cold, wet nose is just one sign of wellness in cats and dogs and should not be considered in isolation as an indication of overall health. On occasion you will find a healthy pet with a warm dry nose, and on the other hand a sick pet with a cold, wet nose. If your pet has a dry nose and is showing signs of illness or pain (check the links below for other signs you can look out for), they should see a veterinarian. Similarly, unwell pets with cold, wet noses should also have a veterinary check-up.

How do I tell if my dog is in pain?

How do I tell if my cat is in pain?

My cat has fleas, is it safe to treat him with my dog's flea treatment?

Answer:
The safest answer is no. We strongly recommend to carefully read the instructions of any product you intend to apply to your pet, as many supermarket dog flea treatments are extremely toxic to cats. These treatments can contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats. Permethrin poisoning causes ataxia, tremors, tachycardia, salivation, dilated pupils and seizures, which can be fatal.  Effects start between 1-12 hours after exposure and last up to 3 days.