Cats: Should we let them roam our Concrete Jungles?

It's been long debated whether or not cats should be kept as exclusively indoor pets.  I know that some people feel that it's cruel to keep cats, notoriously nocturnal hunters, locked inside all day and all night instead of roaming free as nature intended.

On the other hand, some will point out that a cat can only function as it would in nature if it exists in its natural environment.  That is, in the wild, without traffic and the other hazards of civilization.

As a cat owner, can we really be confident that our pet is street savvy enough to avoid the many pitfalls of our city?  Is it worth taking the chance?  Vehicle traffic is the biggest danger, but let's not discount poisoning, dog attacks, cat fights, cat napping (it happens, especially for laboratory testing), infectious diseases, parasites, extreme weather and many other dangers.

Also, if a cat is de-clawed (another debate entirely) and/or intact, there are even more potential problems.

Although I don't have all the answers, I will say this: as a pet sitter, I walk the neighbourhoods of downtown Toronto all day long, and every single day I see countless posters taped to poles by distraught cat owners in the hopes of recovering their lost pet.  And every day I see cats run in front of cars, often avoiding the tires by a whisker.

I also see dead cats.

Many dogs are just as street smart as cats, and every bit as naturally wild, so why don't we let them roam free?

Knowing that we can exercise and stimulate our cats indoors (or outdoors, with a leash and harness as many do), while keeping them safe....why would we do otherwise?

Stop Shaving Your Dogs!!!!

Ok, this is gonna be a bit of a rant.  They won't all be like this, I promise.

People, please stop shaving your dogs unnecessarily.  And groomers, stop doing it just because you don't want to turn away business - it's unethical.  Unless it's done out of ignorance, in which case that's just, ....well ......ignorant.  If you don't know better, you should not be calling yourself a professional groomer.

Here's what I want people to know:  dogs with beautiful, thick coats like Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Collies, etc., have them for a reason.  Aside from being naturally beautiful, these coats insulate and protect the dogs against HEAT and COLD.

On a hot summer day, regardless of your dog's breed or coat type, you should keep him in the shade as much as possible while outside, with access to plenty of drinking (or even better - swimming!) water.

So give your head a shake and stop shaving your Golden Retriever's coat every summer and putting him at risk of getting severe sunburn and heat stroke.  It's stupid and dangerous, and you should be ashamed.

If you don't like the tangles, dirt, smell or excess hair that comes along with dogs like these, I have a suggestion:  get a wonderfully hairless Chinese Crested.  Or one of the zillion hypo-allergenic, non-shedding breeds, like Schnauzers, Westies, Cairns, Poodles, Wheaten Terriers....the list goes on.

To reiterate my point;  if you are not prepared to properly care for a thick or long-haired coat type, please consider getting a different breed of dog.  There are so many choices:  make an informed one.

Fat Cats, Dumpy Dogs, & the Crap they're Fed

People will never stop overfeeding their cats and dogs, just like they will never stop overfeeding their human kids.  And the garbage masquerading as food that many pet owners are suckered into buying is half the problem.  I blame the pet food companies' slick marketing campaigns and extremely comfortable business partnerships with veterinarians for that.

What actually goes into most pet food and the animals that suffer in the development and production of many of these brands will be the topic of a future post, but for now, I want to briefly  raise awareness of two things:  1. the consequences of allowing your pet to become overweight and/or live on a diet of low-quality food; and 2. the fact that veterinarians probably know less about animal nutrition then you do.

While I am by no means an animal nutritionist, I do educate myself as much as possible, and I question everything and everyone.  And if I can change the habits of even just a handful of pet owners, I'll be pleased.

First off, I want to be clear on something.  If you allow your pet to become overweight, you will compromise his quality of life and reduce his life span.  Sorry, but it's true.  So all those extra treats you give him to make him happy and show your love?  You're doing him a serious disservice.  Think about it:  robbing your pet of months or years of life when he's only around for a few years to begin with?  Very sad.  Show your love by walking your dog or playing with your cat.

Secondly, while I have no intention of recommending any brand over another, PLEASE READ THE LABLE before you buy a bag of kibble or a can of wet food.  If the ingredient list has things like corn or soy at the top of the ingredient list, it's crap.  Look for chicken, beef, duck, etc. as the first ingredient.  And if the term 'by-product' or 'meat' is used anywhere, DO NOT BUY IT.

As a general rule, if you bought it at the grocery store or the corner variety store, IT'S CRAP.

Don't be fooled by multi-million dollar ad campaigns and fancy packaging; just read the label.

Here is a link to PETA's companion animal food guide; it has a list of companies that do not test on animals, and in most cases use better quality ingredients than the by-product-filled grocery brands.  http://caringconsumer.com/resources_foodguide.asp

The important thing to know is that if you allow your pet to become overweight, there's a good chance that in addition to reducing his life span, you are also putting him at risk of developing hip/joint problems and a host of other health issues.

Veterinarians love to push the Hills Science Diet brand of 'vet recommended' pet food.  That food is, in my opinion, C. R. A. P.  I will not going into more detail here, but I will say this:  read the label and decide for yourself.

There is HUGE money involved here, just like when human medical doctors push certain brands of drugs.  We're talking big business here (think $16 billion big), and everyone wins, except you and your pet.  The truth is, if you do a little bit of research into the pet food industry and pet nutrition, you will undoubtedly know more than your vet.  They spend about a day on pet nutrition while in vet school, and guess who gives that lecture?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Yup - the pet food industry.  See how that works?

If you really want an eye-opening look at the underbelly of the pet food industry, check out this CBC documentary, called 'A Dog's Breakfast':  http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/dogsbreakfast.html 

To really understand what the pet food industry is, and how to read labels. PLEASE read this:

http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359

Welcome to my blog!

As a pet care professional and animal lover, I have a lot to say about a lot of things.  People are constantly asking me my opinion on pet issues, so I decided to put it out there for everyone to read.

Many dog and cat owners don't know the first thing about animal psychology, pet nutrition, health & safety, etc., and since I spend a lot of time educating myself in this area, I thought it would be mighty nice of me to share what I've learned.  Also, sometimes my job is really hilarious so I might write about that, too.

In short, I'm going to write a bunch of Stuff about Cats and Dogs.