Pets | ArcaMax Publishing

Dogs coming from breeding situations sometimes haven’t learned typical household routines, even if they were described as “house-trained,” writes Cathy M. Rosenthal. (Dreamstime/TNS)

My Pet World: What to do with not so house-trained dogs, and cats doing bunny-kicks

Pets / My Pet World / Apr 29, 2026

Dear Cathy,

I recently adopted a four-year-old Boston Terrier, Marcie, from a breeder. I chose an adult dog to avoid house-training and was told she was fully house-trained, with only one prior crate accident after being left 12 hours.

I understand there’s an adjustment period. In the past 26 years, I have adopted two other adult Boston ...Read more

Dogs hear far more than we do, so what seems like “no reason” for barking may actually be a response to subtle sounds, like appliances cycling on, distant noise, or high-pitched electronics, writes Cathy M. Rosenthal. (Peter Mayer/Dreamstime/TNS)

My Pet World: Sudden barking in dogs and cats who won’t use the scratching post

Pets / My Pet World / Apr 22, 2026

Dear Cathy, Our dog, Ginger, is an almost five-year-old mini-Labradoodle. In the past year, her personality has changed. She has become overanxious and barking at certain times of the day for no apparent reason. This can happen after she’s eaten or gone out for a walk. It comes out of the blue. It’s almost like she’s complaining to us.

We...Read more

If a cat becomes anxious or uncomfortable using the litter box for any reason, she may look for the softest, most familiar place instead, writes Cathy M. Rosenthal. (Dreamstime/TNS)

My Pet World: Helping a cat get back on track

Pets / My Pet World / Apr 15, 2026

Dear Cathy,

My two-year-old Siamese Cat has decided she no longer needs to use the litter box to poop. She seems to think it is perfectly acceptable to use our bed instead. She has been doing it for about a month. Our vet ran tests and found her to be healthy. We honestly can't think of anything that could have upset her.

The vet put her on ...Read more

With earlier intervention, positive associations, and desensitization work, an anxious dog can learn to handle stressful moments with more confidence, writes Cathy M. Rosenthal. (Juan Jose Tugores/Dreamstime/Tribune Content Agency)

My Pet World: From submissive to startled — Helping a dog who feels overwhelmed

Pets / My Pet World / Apr 08, 2026

Dear Cathy,

My best friend, Zoey, is a two-year-old English Setter and the sweetest little girl. She’s on the smaller side at 35 pounds, compared to my previous setter at 65 pounds and the typical 55-pound average. She had quite a bit of anxiety when I adopted her, though she’s improved over time. Still, there are two situations I’m ...Read more