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An automatic cat feeder is a must-have for anyone looking to keep their cats fed while they’re away, whether during the day or during short vacations. They are also useful for doling out precise portions to cats on specific diets, or automating morning feedings, so your cats stop waking you up and instead start waiting by the feeder for breakfast. We tested and researched 13 different models to find the best automatic cat feeder for a variety of situations, evaluating them for accurate timing, portion control, software, and other features....

Handsome, athletic, goofy: these are the three adjectives we would use to describe Labrador retrievers. These pups make a great addition to every home, as they are excellent with kids, love to cuddle, and will do anything to make their owners happy. They are medium-to-large sturdy dogs with excellent balance, obedience through the roof, and an adorable face. Keep scrolling to see the cutest photos yet and discover mind-boggling Labrador retriever trivia....

Behavior and Temperament Housing Heat Light Humidity Substrate Food and Water Health Problems Choosing Similar Species There are several varieties of boa constrictors found in the pet trade, including red-tail boas (Boa constrictor constrictor) and northern boas (Boa constrictor imperator). These snakes are native to parts of North, Central, and South America. Their care is fairly similar, and they tend to do well in captivity. While boas are generally quite docile in temperament, it is important to respect their inherent strength....

The world is full of bacteria, in fact, our world would not exist as we know it without them. In 1884 a Danish physician, Christian Gram, discovered that bacteria could be separated into two distinctive groups, gram-positive and gram-negative. Using a particular staining process the bacteria could be determined either gram-positive or negative, depending on whether they retained (positive) or lost (negative) a violet color during this process. Most bacteria that cause disease in marine fish are gram-negative....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research The Buenos Aires tetra is extremely popular due to its hardiness and ease of care. These fish were once sold in large numbers, but due to their propensity for eating aquarium plants, they have become less popular over the years. Specimens are mostly captive-bred from commercial fish farms in Florida. Characteristics Species Overview Common Names: Buenos Aires tetra, diamond spot characin, red cross fish...

Cheese is a staple food item in most homes. In fact, it’s so commonplace, some pet owners may use it to hide pet medications in. Can cats eats cheese, though? Is Cheese Safe for Cats to Eat? Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need animal protein in order to get all their required nutrients. That doesn’t mean they only eat meat, though. In fact, one study showed that domestic cats, have a daily diet consisting of 52 percent protein, 36 percent fat, and only 12 percent coming from carbohydrates....

Most of us are thrilled when our dogs or puppies learn to relieve themselves outside. But then come the days when we stand out in rain, sleet, or snow waiting for our dogs to pick just the right spot to go to the bathroom. Or days when we’re running late and our dogs stop to smell every blade of grass before finally going. The good news is that once your dog or puppy is housebroken, you can avoid these frustrating scenarios simply by training your dog to go potty on command....

Hamsters are born to run and providing them with a safe hamster wheel (also known as running wheels) gives them the opportunity to do just that. In the wild, hamsters will travel several miles each night in search of food. Some hamsters in captivity have been reported to run up to eight kilometers a night on their hamster wheels, making them a necessity for all hamsters. Hamster Wheel Surfaces The best kind of hamster wheel has a solid surface that either attaches to the side of the cage or comes on a stand....

How do you know when your horse needs its teeth checked? Quite often they tell you, but you might mistake it for bad or odd behavior. You may discipline your horse or put on a noseband to make it mind the bit. Or, you may change bits, put on martingales or tie downs, or use other gear designed to keep your horse’s head where it belongs. You may change feeds, buckets, or other aspects of your horse’s environment....

With the greenest time of year dawning upon us this week, it’s the perfect time to consider celebrating with your pet in a number of festive ways. Even if no one in your household is Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is a great excuse for your fur friends to be even cuter than they normally are!If excessive drinking of Irish beer isn’t necessarily your thing, there are some great ways your furry friend can come along with you to take in the occasion....

Behavior and Temperament Housing Humidity Heat Light Food and Water Health Problems Choosing Similar Species The green anole is relatively small, inexpensive, and easy to care for, but they need to be handled gingerly or not at all. These little lizards are common pets and make a good reptile for first time reptile keepers. They are native to the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. It is fairly easy to meet their housing and dietary requirements, although some specialized equipment is required to set up a proper vivarium for anoles as they are quite active little animals....

Call it cycling, nitrification, biological cycle, startup cycle, break-in cycle, or the nitrogen cycle. No matter what name you use, every newly set up aquarium goes through a process of establishing beneficial bacterial colonies. Older aquariums also go through periods during which the bacterial colonies fluctuate. Failure to understand this process is the largest contributing factor to the loss of fish in new aquariums. Learning what it is, and how to deal with critical periods during the nitrogen cycle, will greatly increase your chances of successful fish keeping....

What Is Coronavirus? Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis Prevention Is Ferret Coronavirus Contagious? Slinky, mischievous, and intelligent, ferrets are members of the weasel family that love to play and socialize. Like humans and many other animal species, ferrets can be infected by various coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. However, the coronavirus most likely to strike your pet ferret is ferret enteric coronavirus, (FRECV) which causes an illness commonly called green slime disease, but properly termed epizootic catarrhal enteritis....

The fantail goldfish is a common variety of fancy goldfish, known for its double tail. Rather than having one standard tail with a top and bottom caudal fin, these goldfish have been bred to have two top and bottom caudal fins, with the top fin being fused along the top. Take special consideration when keeping fantail goldfish in order to accommodate their impaired swimming ability. Characteristics Species Overview Common Names: Fantail goldfish, double tail goldfish...

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Hovawart is a large working breed from Germany with a sturdy build, long fur, fluffy tail, and floppy ears. These dogs are often recognized by their solid black or black-and-tan coats, but Hovawarts with blonde fur also closely resemble the Golden Retriever. This beloved German breed has long served as a watchdog and guardian, and it was even named for these talents....

There are many ways to check your horse for good health. A CRT is just one of the tools you can use and takes no special equipment. A capillary refill test also called a CRT or cap refill, indicates how quickly the capillaries refill at the surface of the horse’s body. Why Capillary Refills Are Important The capillary refill test indicates how efficiently your horse’s circulation system is functioning. Reduced blood circulation can be an indication of a serious health problem....

Despite popular opinion, goldfish (Carassius auratus) are not “maintenance-free” or “trial” pets. They require and deserve just as much care as any other pet. Goldfish are hardy species and good at tolerating many beginner’s mistakes, but you will need to put in some effort to ensure their health and survival. They should not be kept in a fish bowl, but require an aquarium with proper water aeration and filtration. Types of Goldfish There are many different varieties of goldfish....

Deciding which fish to have in your freshwater aquarium requires you to explore the choices. Take a look at some of the popular types of fish and learn more about them. 01 of 09 Anabantoidei: Bettas and Gouramis Daniel Ahlqvist :An interesting subfamily of fish are the Anabantoidei, often referred to as the Labyrinth fish. These species have a special organ that allows them to breathe air directly. The popular fad of keeping a betta in a vase, came about because of this ability....

If you’re beginning to care for mushroom corals or disc anemones, this gallery of Order Corallimorpharia, Family Discosomatidae or Actinodiscidae, and Ricordeidae will help you identify which types of soft corals you may like best. These species have other names such as giant cup, elephant ear, hairy, frilly, spotted, speckled, metallic, fluorescent, umbrella, warty, forked tentacle, and Ricordea. With many colors to choose from, being solid or multi-colored, spotted, striped, or textured, and because they are easy to care for, one can see why these corals are among the most popular with reef aquarists....

Dogs spend a lot of time around their bowls—either eating, drinking, or hoping the bowl will be filled soon. The best dog bowl will be easy to clean, the right size to accommodate your dog’s appetites, made from a safe material, and look great wherever you have your dog’s feeding station set up. We spoke to multiple pet experts to hear about their favorite dog bowls. “It’s been trial and error, finding what works for dogs,” Judy Duhr, director of Speak Rescue and Sanctuary, told The Spruce Pets....