On the road again

Dog pets and cat pets run away for different reasons. Boredom, the drive to find a mate, frequenting another home where snacks are available and abusive owners are all reasons for a dog or cat to venture off. Then there is the “Squirrel” syndrome, the thrill of the chase. Both of these super pets have acute senses of direction and do not necessarily get lost however there are plenty of situations and environments which make these ventures dangerous and worthy of taking precautions. If you are planning to buy pets for your apartment or house, here are a few things I have personally observed which I believe prove the point.

Dogs need to run. Especially the bigger, leaner dogs. I had a friend who owned a retriever. He had a yard but it was never enough for the dog. After several incidents and because they lived near many busy streets the dog was usually confined to a leash. Once my friend got older, social and school activities began to take up much more of his time. His parents were a bit older too. This meant less walks for the dog and more time on the leash. After a while the dog became unhappy and would inevitably try to escape at every opportunity. This began to happen more often as the dog became more skilled at the art. One day he escaped, ran onto one of the busy streets and was hit by a car and injured. The dogs back was broken which cost the owners hundreds if not thousands of dollars not to mention the guilt and heartbreak of seeing their life long friend in such agony.

I do not own a dog but I am planning to get one. If I don’t my daughter will continue to torture me until I either give in or lose my mind and get hauled off to the loony bin. My biggest concern is the amount of available space for the dog to run. We have a medium sized yard and there are several parks nearby so my one condition is that the dog be small. We have decided to get a Doxie. These little guys don’t need a whole lot of room in order to run and if they do run I could definitely catch up. A bigger dog would not be happy. Some of the bigger breeds need acres to roam free in order to be happy. If confined to a smaller range it may difficult to keep them there making pet supplies like GPS dog collars necessary.

Cats on the other hand don’t usually run away. Cats are territorial and tend to monitor their claimed space, venturing out for whatever reason but always returning to familiar ground.

When I was in college I lived in a house with several other students one of which owned a male cat, Spike. Rent went up and we had to move to a more affordable apartment which was about half a mile away. We brought Spike along of course. The next day the cat was nowhere to be found. We searched everywhere, twice. Then we had a revelation, we decided to go back to the old house and look there. Guess what, there he was, in his usual spot under the trees in the lot next to the house. We grabbed him and hauled him home. Next day, same thing. When we tried to keep the cat in-doors in a feeble attempt to help him get acclimated to the new living situation he was obviously miserable. He did not eat and actually got sick. We had to let him go.

We worried because winter was approaching and no animal should be submitted to a New England winter without proper shelter. We visited the new inhabitants of our old house and let them know our situation. Fortunately they were delighted and agreed to take care of our cat. We gave them $100 to pay for food and visited often. In retrospect we were very lucky it turned out so well for him, the folks who moved into the house and for ourselves as well.

Dog pets and cat pets are awesome, they enhance any living space with their attitude, good nature, and unique personalities. However, if they are not treated well or if their environment does not suit their needs a good thing can turn bad. When deciding to get a dog or cat it is natural to consider the ramifications to your lifestyle, your environment, and routines. It is another thing to take into consideration the impact your lifestyle, environment, and routines will have on the animal.

1. Food and water bowls – For every type of pet, having food and water is absolutely necessary. Dog food and cat food is something that will be given to your pets every day and will most likely be the object used most. Do not be afraid to spend a little more on the bowls than other items. Try and find a stainless steel dish or something that is sturdy, easy to clean on a regular basis and will last awhile.

2. Pet Beds – Many folks may not consider a pet bed an absolute necessity, however having a separate bed for your pet is a good idea on many levels. If your dog or cat has a bed, they can claim it as their own. This is a place where they can sleep, somewhere they can go when they are scared or a place for them to just get away for a while.

3. Grooming supplies – Just like people, pets nails and hair grow. Your job as caretaker is to maintain your pet and keep them healthy and happy. By researching and shopping around, you can find the best shampoos for your pet, what types of brushes to use and what size nail clippers to use. Yes, they usually hate the entire process but in many cases cleanliness is closely related to their health and well being.

4. Traveling supplies – Having a proper attitude towards pet supply when you travel is essential. Some things you can bring with you that you use at home, such as bowls for the dog food and cat food, the leash and possibly the bed. However, it is worth investing into a kennel, especially if you are flying your pet to a different location. You may want have a separate suitcase just for your pet. Considering hair and smell its probably a good idea to keep all of your pets toys and grooming supplies together and separate from your own stuff.

5. Pet Toys – You should bring along a few toys for your pet to play with. However, notice how I said a few. There is no point in buying your pet a hundred toys because this will only clutter your house with objects that will not get used. Giving your pet a few different pet toys so they have options will be sufficient enough.

The types of things you purchase will vary depending on the pet you have and this is just a starter to get you into the mindset. Fish need aquariums and aquarium supplies, dogs and cats need food bowls and toys, and there are other aspects to consider such as whether your cat is an indoor or an outside cat. Regardless, it is important to empathize with your pet when it comes to their health, their personal needs and their pet supply needs.

Having a cat is a two way street. The higher the level of cat care you provide, the more energetic, affectionate, and well behaved it will be. Proper care will also make your feline more inclined to respond to training and behavior modification techniques. This does take effort. Start by creating a routine that you can both live with, set time aside for grooming, play and training if need be. Onve you are settled into the routine you will see that it really takes the headaches out of pet ownership. Excellent cat care often translates into a well behaved cat that responds more willingly than an attention deprived cat. The healthier your cat is, the stronger the emotional bond between you and your pet will be, and that bond often serves as the core of their training.

By educating yourself about cat behavior and practicing tested cat care techniques, you can make sure that your cat is as happy as possible. The happier your cat is, the happier you will be. A cat that is well cared for is a cat that will be interested in active playtime as well as in calm relaxation. Great cat care provides a strong foundation for your bond with your cat by making sure that he or she is always up for spending time with you.

Owning a cat means that you have taken on the role and responsibilities of being it’s caretaker. If your cat isn’t getting the right kind of care, from a proper diet to an ideal grooming routine, your cat will probably develop behavior issues that can make him or her feel like a problem child. On the other hand, conscientious and responsible cat care can help your cat overcome issues ranging from constant meows to over weight or skinniness to destructive behaviors. Proper care results in a healthier, happier cat, and any cat who receives enough of the right kind of attention can become a pleasant companion.