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Cat owners may have noticed that their cats have an obvious obsession with shoes, whether that be sniffing them, batting at them, and even sleeping on, in, or near them. Why do cats love sleeping on shoes so much? Why do some cats even move shoes from their homes by the front door and hide them away elsewhere? Why Do Cats Sit On Shoes? There are legitimate reasons behind why cats find shoes so fascinating, and understanding these reasons can help curb any shoe-related issues in the future....

Tarantulas are a popular pet spider that has more than 800 species varying in color, size, and characteristics. They often tend to have docile personalities and are slow movers. The best beginner tarantulas are ground dwellers or burrowers. With proper care, many of these animals can live around 10 years or more in captivity. Here are 10 tarantula species that can make fascinating pets. Tip Tarantulas can bite, and their bites are venomous....

Bringing home a dog is a big step, and in addition to all of the ensuring your new dog has all of the care and attention it needs, choosing the perfect name is essential. But where do you even start? Golden retriever are known for being loyal, friendly, intelligent dogs, and this can help you start to narrow down potential names for your pup. Their own unique physical characteristics and personality are other factors you can consider when naming your dog....

A gelding is a castrated male horse, donkey, or mule. Unless a horse is to be used for breeding purposes, it should be castrated. Gelding can make horses more even-tempered and easier to handle. A stallion who is gelded later in life may retain more aggressive stallion-like behavior. Optimal Age for Gelding a Horse A colt may be gelded before it is one year old – as soon as the testicles descend into the scrotum....

Benadryl is often recommended to be given to dogs. It can be safely administered to most, but it is important to know what exactly Benadryl is, how much to give your dog, and when to know if your dog should take some. What Is Benadryl? Benadryl is actually the brand name for a drug called diphenhydramine. Benadryl is an antihistamine medication and does not require a prescription. It comes in tablets, capsules, and liquid gels in multiple strengths or milligrams....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The black Russian terrier is a large working dog breed from Russia with a medium-to-long coarse coat that forms a beard and eyebrows. This is a big-boned, muscular dog breed that stands quite tall. Yet it still can move with good agility. Black Russian terriers were bred to have both brains and brawn as a working dog....

Characteristics Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research Originating from China, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, this fish is known worldwide as the Chinese barb, but the species is naturally green in color. The gold-colored, captive-bred variant is highly popular in the aquarium trade, giving rise to the name gold barb, by which it is commonly sold. It is a flashy, peaceful fish for a community tank, but in the wild, this man-made shiny coloring would make it quick prey for predators....

Teaching a puppy not to urinate indoors isn’t always about house-training. Dogs use a wide range of communication strategies to signal deference, including submissive urination. Squatting and peeing is normal behavior used by puppies—and, sometimes, adult dogs—to “cry uncle” and proclaim the owner or another dog to be the boss. Because puppies are naturally at the bottom of the doggy hierarchy, they use these signals to diffuse situations in which they feel threatened....

Determining Soundness Addressing Lameness or Illness Checking Soundness at Home Keeping Your Horse Sound The term soundness or “a sound horse” does not refer to a horse’s whinny—it actually refers to the overall health of the animal. A sound horse is one that has no lameness or illness. When purchasing a horse, it is a good idea to have a veterinarian check the animal’s soundness. Determining Soundness A sound horse is considered close to perfect....

Before You Begin What You Need Get a Helping Hand Locate the Anal Glands Press Gently Clean Up Preventing Problems Expressing your cat’s anal glands may need to be a routine practice especially if your veterinarian has recommended regular anal gland expressions for your cat. You can learn to perform the procedure at home (assuming your cat is cooperative) and save some money. A cat’s anal glands naturally express a scent-marking liquid when they defecate....

Just like human babies, kittens do a lot of growing in the first year of their lives. The kind of food and how much a kitten consumes directly affects their growth rate and development. By making sure a kitten is on a proper feeding schedule, you’ll be able to monitor your kitten’s growth and ensure they are receiving appropriate nutrition. Week One Feeding Schedule A kitten typically weighs about 3 to 3....

Not all exotics have problems with their teeth, but hamster teeth can cause problems. Hamsters, like some other exotic pets, have the type of teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives. These teeth may periodically require tooth trims if your hamster doesn’t wear them down himself. Hypsodont Dentition Herbivores such as rabbits, and omnivores like chinchillas and hamsters, have long teeth that continuously grow, often requiring tooth trims. These teeth are called hypsodontal teeth....

Raising newborn kittens is both challenging and time-consuming; it can be intensely rewarding and heartbreaking, as well. If you don’t have the time or the emotional stamina to deal with the potential of losing kittens, you might leave the job to trained professionals. However, if your bleeding heart is ready to take on the challenge of stray babies, then go for it. Just make sure you can find a home for them all....

Why Do Cats Try to Escape? Prevention Protect Your Cat Indoor cats sometimes attempt to escape out of the house, and this can be especially frightening for their owners. Most house cats are not at all equipped to handle the sensory overload of being outside and come back inside immediately, but if your house cat gets out, they run the greatest risk of injuring themselves (or being injured by another cat, person, or car)....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions Shikoku (sometimes called Kochi-Ken) are medium-sized spitz dogs from Japan with thick fur, pointed ears, and short, upward-curling tails. These dogs were bred to hunt wild boars and prized as devoted companions. The Shikoku is rare, even in its home country, but more so in North America....

Even though a fish-only or FO system is typically described as a saltwater aquarium that contains just that, only fish, it is not unusual to also have some algae and detritus eating crustaceans and snails present. These animals are only included if they are compatible with the types of fish you are keeping. No live corals and other sessile or motile invertebrates, and what can be considered to be “live” rock are added, but instead, decorative type rocks, natural dried or synthetic pieces of coral, seashells, artificial plants, and other such items are used....

Behavior and Temperament Housing the Mud Turtle Heat Light Food and Water Health Problems Choosing Similar Species Native to ponds in the Eastern United States from Texas to New York, Eastern mud turtles are popular as pets largely because of their small size. Rarely growing to be over five inches long, mud turtles are aquatic turtles that are small and compact. Their care requirements are similar to other aquatic turtles, but unlike some of their relatives, they are semi-terrestrial....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Boykin Spaniel is a medium-sized sporting dog breed native to South Carolina with floppy ears, a sturdy body, and liver brown fur on its wavy, waterproof double coat. Once relegated solely to its home state (and in fact, the official dog of South Carolina), the Boykin Spaniel is growing in popularity nationwide as a breed that’s as loyal and lovable as it is intelligent and trainable....

Stables, typically wooden structures full of hay and straw, are at threat for fire. However, there are ways to make your stable more fire safe. Whether you are in the planning stages of construction or are looking for some ways to make your current structure safer, here are some things you can do to make it less likely to burn quickly, easier to access in an emergency, and safer for both horses and humans....

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Common Health Issues Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research Origin and History Species Overview The International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies this bird as an endangered species. International treaties now make it illegal to capture, export, or own wild-caught birds. Captive-bred birds can be legally sold and owned, though documentation is required....