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Cat lovers who want their cats to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and the ambiance of trees, bushes, and plants, often feel guilt by confining their cats to the indoors. This was the mindset in previous generations: that cats were free and independent creatures and should not be confined. That they cannot be healthy, happy, and active, if not allowed to experience all the glories of the outdoors. Today, we understand the hazards of allowing cats to roam freely, either by personal experience, hearsay or through the media, including the Internet....

A harness is fitted around a dog’s torso, instead of around their neck like a collar. By distributing pressure from a leash across your dog’s body, a well fitted harness provides several advantages. A dog in a harness is less likely to pull on a leash and easier to control during a walk, which makes them ideal for training, running, hiking, and walks in high-traffic areas. Our favorite dog harness is the Blue-9 Pet Products Balance Harness, which fits better, on a wider range of dogs, than any other harness we’ve considered....

Chinchillas have specific nutritional needs and sensitive digestive systems, so it’s essential to select an appropriate food to keep them healthy. Our favorite chinchilla food is Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food, which is high in fiber and protein, and has consistent pellets. Our favorite hay, which should also be provided to your pet chinchilla, is Kaytee All Natural Timothy Hay. “Chinchilla food should be pellet-only, no added ‘extras’ like sunflower seeds, dried vegetables, etc....

Bearded dragons are popular pet reptiles for both beginner and experienced reptile enthusiasts. Some people opt to care for one bearded dragon while others decide to have two or more. But regardless of how many bearded dragons you have, if one of them is a female, you may one day suddenly discover eggs in the enclosure. Can a Bearded Dragon Who Lives Alone Lay Eggs? Yes, even a female bearded dragon that lives alone can lay eggs....

Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA Test Easy to use Information was accurate (it matched results from our vet) User interface is interesting and intuitive Other kits share more extensive results Can only provide information up to three generations back You have to pay extra for health reporting Wisdom Panel’s Canine DNA Test works best on dogs with pure-bred parents and grandparents. Since it can only test as far back as three generations, it may not be the best option for really mixed-breed dogs....

With just a few tools, it’s possible to make a DIY dog house. Dog houses are fairly simple and budget-friendly projects and can be usually be completed by someone with just basic building skills. They’ll take anywhere from half a day to a few days to complete and can easily be done for under $100. Before using these free dog house plans to build your dog’s dream home, make sure that it will be the right fit for the size of your full-grown dog....

Polydactyl cats are born with more than the usual number of toes on their paws. While most cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws, polydactyl cats can have six (or more) on each paw. Polydactyly is a genetic abnormality that results in extra digits and is more common in certain geographic regions of the world compared to others. It can affect any cat breed, male or female, big or small....

While there’s no such thing as a no-maintenance bird, some pet bird species are easier to care for than others. These birds are on the smaller side, which means they typically make less of a mess than large birds do. They also require smaller enclosures, which results in less cleaning for their caretakers. And while some prefer ample socialization with their favorite humans, others are happy entertaining themselves with toys or other bird friends....

The orange pigment dye called acriflavine, also known as euflavine, gonacrine, neutroflavine, and trypaflavine, is also both an antiseptic and a protozoacide, meaning that it kills infections caused by the overgrowth of parasitic protozoans (single-celled organisms). History of Use Initially developed in 1912, acriflavine was a byproduct of coal tar; it was first introduced as an antiseptic when it was used during WWI to combat the parasites that caused sleeping sickness....

Reptiles can make excellent pets, but sometimes inexperienced owners are overwhelmed when they realize how expensive and difficult some reptiles are to care for. Unfortunately, many owners go home from pet stores with incomplete and even incorrect information on the proper care of their chosen reptiles. This leads to a surprised and unprepared owner when they find out what it takes to care for their pets. Unmet expectations and poor advice about reptile care can result in a bad experience for the owner and can ultimately be fatal for the reptile....

Keeping up with your pet’s health care is one of the most important parts of owning an animal, but it can be expensive. In fact, a single routine canine vet visit costs, on average, $145, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Still, you want the very best for your beloved furry friend, and a pet wellness plan can help keep your nonhuman family member in tip-top shape—and save you money at the same time....

Collecting Your Own Tropical Fish is a 7 part series that details how to collect your own tropical fish, including collection buckets, hand nets, collection nets, capturing fish, decompressing fish and transporting fish. Below is a list of the separate articles to read in this series. Also included in this series are several true stories of underwater encounters with sharks. 01 of 11 Introduction to Collecting Marine Fish The first article in this series by your guides Debbie and Stan Hauter is an introduction to collecting saltwater fish, from their own perspective and experience of having done so for 10 years....

Fear of going to see the vet is a common anxiety in dogs. Even the most happy-go-lucky canine may cower and tuck its tail as you try to coax it through the door of your veterinarian’s office. While your dog might never learn to love a trip to visit the veterinarian, there are steps you can take to assuage some of the anxiety your pet feels when it senses a vet visit is imminent....

Foods That Are Toxic to Cats Other Foods When to Call the Vet Some cats will beg and plead for human food, especially when they see you eating. Giving your cat any table scraps or tidbits of human food is a dangerous practice that should not be encouraged for multiple reasons. First, cats need the nutrients that are specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any “extras” that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals....

Riding a horse is just sitting right? Nope! Staying on and controlling a horse requires the same sort of muscle strength and coordination that many other sports require—like ballroom dancing, martial arts, downhill skiing, and others. You need to learn how to use your body and balance to make your ride more comfortable, safe, and easier for your horse. However, it’s easy to pick up bad riding habits, especially if you don’t regularly work with a trainer....

Cats are fastidious animals, and they groom themselves several times a day. Yet you may have always wondered why cats lick their front feet after every meal. Even though they have not touched any food with their feet, all cats tend to do this. Food-related grooming may be a throwback to a cat’s live prey hunting rituals in the wild. Grooming the Head and Face After Eating Cats may groom themselves for multiple reasons....

Top Names Naming Tips Girl Names Boy Names Unique Names Funny Names Adorable Names A to Z Names Naming a new pet is both an exciting and, oftentimes, difficult task. You want the most suitable name for your new, little friend but may be having some trouble in picking one out. If you need help coming up with a name—something funny, adorable, or unique—take a look at these 100 hamster names that might spark an idea or be just right for your new pet....

Doug the Pug is one of the most famous pets on the internet. Even if you don’t follow Doug on Instagram or Facebook, you’ve likely seen him in celebrity photos, music videos, and award shows. The pug from Nashville, TN, first became popular on Instagram because of the adorable photos his owner posts of him in precarious situations. Doug now has 4 million followers from across the globe. His is one of many lovable pet accounts on Instagram as pet photos are rapidly gaining popularity....

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy A familiar sight in Australia, the Australian king parrot is a somewhat rare pet in the United States and other parts of the world. They make relatively calm and quiet pets if hand-raised. Their striking colors make them ideal for a bird enthusiast looking for an unusual specimen. These parrots are not cuddlers or fans of petting, but with consistent training, they can learn to say a few words....

Vanilla is an ingredient that is used in a wide variety of foods, but is it safe for your dog to eat? Read on to find out more. What is Vanilla? Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus of the same name. The vanilla orchid is a vine-like plant that grows up trees. The plant part that is used is the pod, commonly referred to as the bean....