ArcaMax

It usually starts small. A nudge at the same time each morning. A stare that lingers just a little too long near the treat cabinet. A quiet refusal to go outside in the rain. These moments feel incidental at first — quirks, habits, personality — but over time they form a pattern. And before long, the pattern becomes routine.

What many pet ...Read more

Big dogs and little dogs share the same designation — “man’s best friend” — but anyone who has lived with both knows they operate on entirely different wavelengths.

The divide isn’t just about size. It’s about expectations, behavior, physical presence and the way humans respond to them. A 10-pound dog and a 70-pound dog may both ...Read more

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — In neighborhoods where suburban calm meets a touch of the wild, a familiar figure slips between worlds: the indoor/outdoor cat. One moment it is curled in a sunbeam, the next it is padding across a fence line, alert to every rustle of leaves and distant call of a hawk. For many cat owners, this dual life offers a compelling...Read more

Dear Cathy,

We got our two tabby cat sisters when they were three months old. They’ve always been very close – snuggling, sleeping and grooming each other. Two weeks ago, they were sitting together in our basement window around 11 p.m. when my son heard them hissing and slapping at the glass. There must have been a cat or raccoon outside ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

I saw your column in the Albany Democrat Herald and have a question. In March of last year, we adopted two-year-old male brothers from a foster home. Five weeks later, we adopted a three-year-old female from the same foster home. We were told they used to snuggle together, but honestly, we feel there were things we weren’t told �...Read more

Dear Cathy,

We rescued a dog several years ago. He was about two years old at the time and is now 10. He’s part Lab and Shepherd and is a great dog – very calm, friendly, and affectionate. His name is Charlie, but we call him Charlie Romeo because he loves everyone. He has never shown aggression toward people and even allows strangers to ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

I was moved by your response to “Bob, Greensboro,” that I wanted to thank you immediately. As a long-time reader, I’ve always appreciated your kindness as much as your wisdom. It may surprise you to know that your response to a very opinionated “Bob” has made such a difference in my life.

For a long time I’ve been ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Our five-year-old dog barks at everything and even things my husband and I can’t hear, which makes me think it’s anxiety. Lately, he will start to bark, then it goes higher in pitch, and then ends with high pitch loud howling. At first, we were scolding him by yelling at him and then decided to ignore it and he eventually would ...Read more