The longhair group of cats is very easily recognized since their hair can be as much as ten times longer than the hair of shorthaired cats. It is thought that today’s longhair cats may be the result of mating the Persian cats from Iran with the Angora cats from Turkey.  Most of the pedigreed longhair cats are descendents of the Persian. The typical coat of a longhair cat has an outer layer of long coarse hairs.  Beneath this top layer, a layer of soft hairs can be found.  Longhaired cats are available in a variety of colorings.  However, despite the fact that longhair cats are good about... [continue reading]

They say that every dog has his day– here are five canines who’s fifteen minutes of fame have outlasted most: Rin Tin Tin: This rescued German Shepherd began his movie career in 1925 in the movie Where the North Begins. Rin Tin Tin went on to make 25 movies (wherein he always saved the day) and signed his own contracts with his paw. Snoopy: Created by Charles Schultz, Snoopy is still one of the most beloved of all the characters in the Peanuts comic strips. The beagle is forever chasing the Red Baron but never even comes close to catching him. Snoopy fancies himself a novelist who... [continue reading]

The semi-longhair group of cats is very easily recognized since their hair can be longer than the hair of shorthaired cats on specific areas of their body and much shorter than the hair on longhair cats. Some of today’s semi-longhair cats are the result of mating some of the various breeds of shorthair cats to develop new breeds of semi-longhair cats. The hair of a semi-longhair cat grows in a very distinctive pattern with specific features depending on the particular breed of cat.  For example, the Maine Coon Cat has inner ear tufts of hair as well as tufts of hair on their ears and a long... [continue reading]

Our canine friends have been the focus of many sayings and quotes over the years. Some are funny, some are silly, and some just make good sense. Let’s take a closer look: A Barking Dog Never Bites Okay, how many people believe this? Technically, a dog can’t bite someone while he or she is in the middle of a good, solid bark, but what’s to stop teeth from meeting skin when the dog is finished voicing displeasure? Call me crazy, but I’m betting that the barking dog is in fact the one most likely to bite you in the butt. Barking up the Wrong Tree How many dogs have you... [continue reading]

Dogs are pack animals and they want to be with their pack even when sleeping, so it is natural they want to be where we, as their human family, sleep. This may be discouraged by some trainers, but many dogs sleep with their owners or family members. If they snore it can be just as annoying as having a human making that noise in the same bed or room and may keep you awake. Dogs have similar sleep patterns to our own. When they are comfortable and feel safe and know they belong, they fall asleep more easily, and more deeply, the same way we humans do. When they enter REM , rapid eye movement... [continue reading]

Any conscientious pet owner and new parents understand the concern over how to have the two species co-exist. Most of the available information tends to apply to dogs, however, and it may leave cat owners wondering what to do to make their most finicky of pets feel at ease around baby. There are a few options for you. First, be sure you begin to make changes while you’re pregnant instead of afterward. Don’t let the first time you shut the door to keep the kitty out of the nursery be when you bring baby home from the hospital. It will only breed resentment – and probably a lot of scratchi... [continue reading]

Even when you do everything that you can for cats – adopting several, donating money to local shelters, etc. – you still wonder if there’s more that you can do to help. Thinking of all the homeless, stray cats and kittens out there makes you sad: what more, though, can you do? Here are a few ideas to get you started. You can go with these or come up with your own, unique things to do. The more each person does to help the cats in this world, the healthier and happier that population will be. Adopt a cat from a shelter instead of going to breeders. Sure, that purebred Siamese is gorgeou... [continue reading]

What can you do to ensure your Labrador Retriever stays happy and well mannered? Well, here are some easy ways to keep your wonderful dog happy, healthy and valued as an integral member of your family. With their good natured temperament, high intelligence and suitability for family life, keeping them properly fed, exercised, groomed, and shown plenty of affection, your Labrador Retriever will reward you by giving unconditional love and companionship. Here are some really great tips that you can use to achieve this. Labrador Retrievers have a wonderfully good natured temperament which makes th... [continue reading]

Your furry friend is coming home soon: a new kitten that the entire family can love and enjoy. Here are some tips to make the adjustment period easier both for you and the new family member. First, you should be absolutely certain that a kitten is welcome in your home. If someone is allergic to cats, there could be a serious problem. It’s not fair to adopt an animal and give him or her a home, only to discover a few weeks later that he or she can’t stick around. If you have young children, talk to them before the new kitten comes home. Explain that kittens are delicate and need lo... [continue reading]

Make this tasty and nutritious loaf on Sunday and have enough to feed your smaller dog for a week. 1/2 Cup Barley 4 Cups Chicken or Beef Broth 1 1/2 Pounds Ground Turkey 1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese 2 Eggs 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats (uncooked oatmeal) 1 Cup Shredded Veggies (carrots, zucchini, spinach) 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil In a large saucepan bring broth to a low boil. Add barley and simmer for fifty minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. In the meantime heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl combine ground turkey, cottage cheese, eggs, veggies and oats. Stir in cooled barley, ... [continue reading]