ArcaMax

Anyone who lives with a cat has experienced the familiar scene. You settle into a chair or onto the couch, hoping for companionship. Your cat approaches, pauses, and then—rather than curling up in your lap—chooses a spot just out of reach. Close enough to share space, far enough to remain untouched.

To many people, this feels like rejection...Read more

Indoor cats live among us like quiet roommates. They nap in sunlit rectangles, request meals with impeccable timing, and observe human activity with a level of judgment normally reserved for Victorian aunts. Because so much of their day appears uneventful, it is easy to assume that indoor cats live small, repetitive lives—safe, yes, but dull. ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My son adopted a nine-year-old female cat this past October, after losing his previous cat to cancer. After spending the day in the bathroom to acclimate, she indicated she was anxious to come out. At first, she jumped on everything, including a tall armoire and the refrigerator. Each time, my son helped her down and said, “No ...Read more

Anyone who lives with a dog or cat knows that silence is rare.

Even the quietest pets produce a steady soundtrack of sounds: soft sighs when settling down, low groans when standing up, tiny huffs of impatience, contented grunts during petting, and dramatic exhalations that seem suspiciously theatrical.

These noises are not random.

They form a...Read more

Dear Cathy, One of your readers wrote to you about having trouble with an aggressive male toy poodle after many years with a King Charles spaniel. To me, this sounds like another case of people buying expensive “designer” dogs. In the foster/rescue world, we have strong feelings about the purchase of pricey purebreds, especially since poor ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My dog has zero interest in toys. He doesn’t fetch, chew, squeak, or even look at them. I’ve tried balls, stuffed animals, and ropes. He won’t play with anything. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong?

— Ashley, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Dear Ashley,

You’re not alone. Some dogs love toys, some tolerate them, and others...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My wife and I have a wonderful companion in Julia, a loving, playful four-year-old King Charles Spaniel. There are two situations that are concerning.

The first occurs when one of us leaves for the supermarket and the other stays home. We’ve read your advice column (“Series of small steps can defeat separation anxiety”) and ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Five months ago we adopted a two-year-old year rescue that looks to be a German Pinscher and Dachshund mix. The veterinarian feels he was abused but has adjusted fairly well living with us.

The problem is he gets anxious and barks and snaps when my adult son comes to visit. My son comes over about three times a week. My son has ...Read more