ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

My little dog became terrified of going potty at nine years old. It didn’t take long to figure out what was going on. On Friday and Saturday nights, about 10:00 p.m., a group of men race their motorcycles on our round-about, down to the end of our pass, then back up the street.

The noise scares the heck out of her. She is OK ...Read more

Dogs make some of the best hiking partners imaginable. They’re enthusiastic, adventurous, and—unlike many humans—never complain about steep climbs. But the right gear can make a good hike even better, ensuring safety, comfort, and hydration for both species. Whether you’re trekking along a gentle trail or tackling alpine switchbacks, ...Read more

Every dog scratches now and then, but a persistent head shake is more than a quirk—it’s often a cry for help. Ear mites, tiny spider-like parasites invisible to the naked eye, thrive in the warm darkness of the canine ear canal. They feed on skin debris and wax, leaving behind waste that triggers inflammation and unbearable itch.

Mason, a ...Read more

The wag of a tail is often dismissed as pure instinct, but recent studies suggest something deeper humming inside the canine mind — a flicker of memory that looks suspiciously like ours. For decades, scientists assumed dogs lived mostly in the moment, responding to stimuli without reflection. Yet researchers at the Family Dog Project in ...Read more

Every household with pets runs on an unspoken code. Dogs learn not to steal food off the table; cats figure out which furniture is off limits—most of the time. What makes this quiet social contract work is a remarkable blend of observation, repetition and emotional intelligence. Without ever mastering a single word, our companions learn to ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Have you seen the Savitsky cats? How did they train them to do those tricks?

— Elizabeth, Garden City, New York

Dear Elizabeth,

Yes – the Savitsky Cats, the Ukrainian mother/daughter team from America’s Got Talent, are a masterclass in positive-reinforcement cat training. Their secret isn’t force; it’s trust. ...Read more

Dear Cathy:

My wife and I have adopted a 90-lb. male GSD (German Shepherd dog) that was picked up as a stray in a Texas shopping center parking lot. He is a healthy, four- to five-year-old dog. The day he was scheduled to be killed a friend's daughter saw him on the internet and adopted him from 1,000 miles away. He stayed with her family, ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Our four-year old Tabby cat, Yuma, is living his dream, sleeping cozily in our bed at night and hunting outside during the day. He can be quite cuddly in the morning before going outside. He likes to lay on my chest and rub his face on my face, often followed by gentle nibbles on my chin. However, this affection usually takes a ...Read more