The Home News
when they are near. She has plenty of energy for a “geriatric” cat, zooming around her brother (Mister Jameson) and sister (Bailey). She’s extremely loving and so easy to fall in love with. Just look at those eyes and try not to be starstruck!
Guinness is a 9-pound, 7-year-old Siberian Forest cat. She was rescued from an abusive home by her (now) Grammy, who adores her. Though she had a rough start at life, she has truly shown how much a pet can thrive in the right environment. She went from being very afraid of people to greeting us at the door with her fluffball tail wagging with excitement. She loves all of the attention she gets from her mommy and daddy and bows her head to demand a kiss from them
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ABOUT THE SIBERIAN FOREST CAT
Affectionate and loyal animals, the Siberian cat makes for a great companion. Besides their stunning looks, they adore cuddling, and the Siberian cat personality is so sweet-natured that you’ll love to have them around all the time. These cats are a larger, stockier breed, are slightly talkative, and require daily grooming. The Siberian cat is known to be the most cold-resistant domestic cat thanks to their thick and long coats, which are also water-repellent.
Fun fact: There’s a square in Tyumen, Russia, dedicated to Siberian cats. During World War II when the Hermitage, Russia’s main museum, got infested with rats, over 5,000 Siberian cats were used for eliminating the pest and protecting the valuable exhibits. Even today, there are still cats living in the museum and helping with pest control.
LOVE BITES: WHY THEY HAPPEN
What Are Cat Love Bites?
Love bites are when a cat gently places their mouth on their humans. While they typically don’t break the skin or cause harm, love bites may catch you off guard due to the sharpness of your cat’s teeth.
Some cats may gently lick or groom you before progressing to a nibble. These bites often occur during moments of petting when the cat appears relaxed and comfortable.
Why Do Cats Love-Bite?
There isn’t a straightforward answer to why cats give love bites. As the term implies, some cats give them as a sign of affection or bonding, expressing their fondness for their human companions. But cats may also engage in this subtle biting behavior to convey other feelings, such as when they are: overstimulated by petting, frustrated, seeking attention or displaying innate predatory or play behavior.
Understanding the rest of the cat’s body language and the context in which the love bite occurs is essential for knowing the motivation behind each bite. For instance, your cat may love-bite as a subtle request to end a lengthy petting session or as a plea for prolonged affection.
How To Respond To Cat Love Bites
If discomfort, frustration or boredom is the root cause, or if the bites become bothersome or painful, certain strategies can help reduce or eliminate the biting behavior.
Improves children’s
1. Know Your Cat’s Body Language
Understanding your cat’s body language is key to preventing love bites altogether. Pay attention to their tolerance for petting and heed warning signs that they’ve had enough, such as muscle tension, a twitching tail or dilated pupils.
In general, keep petting sessions short and avoid sensitive areas, such as the belly. Allowing your cat to initiate contact may also minimize love bites.
2. Teach Your Cat What’s Acceptable To Bite
Engaging your cat in mentally and physically enriching activities, such as play sessions, food puzzles, cat-safe plants such as silvervine, and climbing perches can also stop love bites. Do not encourage your cat to play with any human body parts, including your hands.
3. Know How To React
Reacting appropriately to love bites maintains a positive relationship with your cat. Ideally, redirect your cat’s attention by offering a toy or tossing treats to disengage them. If that’s not possible, then freeze and allow the cat to disengage before calmly moving away, as sudden movements may trigger hunting instincts that could lead to a deeper, more dangerous bite.
Physical retaliation or punishment, such as scolding, grabbing, squirting with water, or striking the cat, can cause them to escalate to aggression.
DEALING WITH DOG ATTACKS
petmd.com
What To Do If Your Dog Is Attacked By Another Dog
Try not to panic. If you panic, you make your dog (and the biting dog) worse. Try to stay calm and focused.
Don't try to separate the dogs yourself. It might be hard, but if you try to pull your dog out of harm’s way you could end up with some nasty injuries, too. You could also injure your dog further if the other dog hasn't let go.
Try to distract the other dog from a distance. Hopefully, the other dog's owner will also be doing this, but see if you can distract it with a loud noise like a clap. Don’t shout at or make eye contact with the dog as this can make them feel more threatened and make things worse.
Call your dog away. You may be able to call your dog away. The owner of the other dog may be able to do the same.
Report the incident. If your dog has been injured, you can report it to the police by calling 911 and report it to your animal control.
Collect details. Get the owner's contact details and a photo of the other dog (if you can) and note
or photograph any injuries your dog has. If you can, check if the other owner has third party or pet insurance for their dog as this may cover you for any veterinary care required. You may also want the contact details of any witnesses.
A number of factors influence the severity of a dog bite, and while it may seem obvious that a large bite that is bleeding profusely requires immediate veterinary care, you may not realize that a small dog bite can also pose a serious health risk.
It is a good idea to have all bite wounds, whether big or small, examined by a veterinarian as quickly as possible. (This is equally true if a cat bites your dog.) While infection tends to be the primary concern for any dog bite, other serious health issues can develop depending on the location and severity of the bite.
Be aware that dogs who suffer bites may exhibit behavioral issues following. In addition to physical care, behavioral care and management are important as well. It’s very likely that a dog will be fearful of whatever caused a bite, so he may be hesitant to interact with other dogs following a
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Dealing With Dog Attacks
Continued from Page 7
dog attack. He also might react aggressively to other dogs. In this case, it’s imperative to seek professional help. Don’t force interactions or socialization, because if reintroduction isn’t done properly, it could make the issue worse.
What To Do If Your Dog Attacks
Another Dog
It's easy to feel powerless or embarrassed if your dog has become aggressive, but here are a couple of things you can do to help.
Stay calm. If you become agitated, this may make your dog feel more worried.
Distract your dog from a distance. Try to avoid shouting at or making direct eye contact with your dog as this can make them more aggressive. Call them away if you can, or use their favorite toy to distract them. If you have a leash or a large coat you can throw this over your dog to help you distract them for long enough for the other dog to get away, and then get them under control. Hopefully the owner of the other dog will also be trying to remove their dog from the situation. Get them back on the lead. Be careful when you do this as they may be highly stressed and you don't want to get bitten yourself. If your dog is aggressive towards another dog, you need to take precautions for next time. If this was a one-off thing, it's possible something scared your dogpossibly the size or the way the other dog approached yours. Work with your vet to make sure there's no medical reason for the sudden aggression. If this is ruled out, it may be helpful to work with an accredited behaviorist. They can help to make sure your dog is able to cope with all the situations it might find itself in without feeling the need to use aggression.
SKUNK SPRAY, GO AWAY: HOW TO DE-SKUNK YOUR DOG OR CAT
By Home News Staff
Your dog or cat just got sprayed by a skunk; now what?! First thing’s first: remain calm. Keep your cat or dog outside until you’re finished de-skunking them, and before you do anything, check their eyes to make sure they are not red or irritated. If they are, flush them with cool water immediately. Before running out to the store to buy cans of tomato juice or over-the-counter products to remove the skunk odor, try prepping the following solution first.
Mix together 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. (If you do not have these ingredients, then try using vinegar diluted with water instead.)
Wash your dog or cat with the solution immediately after they are sprayed, and be sure to mix the solution immediately before washing them, as the solution could explode if left in a bottle or container.
It is very important to wear rubber gloves while washing your pet with this solution, and it is imperative to not get the solution in your pet’s eyes. Rub the solution throughout their fur and immediately rinse thoroughly as peroxide can bleach fur. Next, wash your pet with pet shampoo and rinse thoroughly. At this point they should be de-skunked. Thoroughly towel dry them and make sure they have a warm place to dry off!
If your pet rubbed any skunk smell onto you, simply wash your clothes with regular laundry detergent mixed with a half-cup of baking soda.
HOMEMADE PILL POCKETS FOR DOGS
boneappetreat.com
Ingredients
¾ cup instant oats (can sub rolled oats)
2 Tbsp. peanut butter (check ingredients label to make sure it does not contain xylitol)
1 Tbsp. fish oil (optional, can sub water)
Directions
Add oats to a blender and blitz into a fine powder.
Stir together all ingredients to form a dry, thick dough. If dough feels wet, add more oats.
Portion into teaspoon-sized pieces and roll into balls. Use a straw to make a small hole into the center of each ball.
Set on a parchment-lined plate on a single layer and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or container. Keep frozen until ready to serve.
Place your dog's medication into the hole and serve as needed!
The 3-3-3 Rule: A Guide To Acclimating Adopted Dogs To Their New Home
hsnt.org
The 3-3-3 rule is a set of guidelines for the first three days, three weeks and three months after adopting a new dog. The goal of the 3-3-3 rule is to help the dog adjust to their new environment and build a strong foundation for a long and happy life with their new family. It emphasizes the need for patience, consistency and positive reinforcement when bringing home a newly adopted dog. Dogs are creatures of habit and routine, and they need time to adjust to new environments and build trust with their new family.
The First 3 Days
During the first three days, it's important to give the dog plenty of space and time to acclimate to their new environment. They may exhibit behaviors such as fear, nervousness or confusion as they adjust to new sights, smells and sounds. Some dogs may be hesitant to eat, drink or play during this time. It's important to give them plenty of space and time to acclimate to their new environment. Keep them in a quiet, comfortable room with their bed, food, water and toys. Limit
their exposure to other pets, family members and visitors so they don't get overwhelmed. This time is called decompression.
During this time, take your new dog outside for potty breaks on a leash, but don't overwhelm them with long walks or trips to the park. This is a time for them to explore and get comfortable in their new surroundings at home.
The First 3 Weeks
After the first three days, gradually introduce your new dog to other family members and pets. Keep their routines consistent and give them plenty of positive reinforcement for good behavior. Use treats, praise and toys to reward them for following commands and exhibiting good behavior.
Start introducing them to new environments, such as walks in the neighborhood or trips to the park. Be mindful of their comfort level and keep them on a leash.
The First 3 Months
By the end of the first three weeks, your new dog should be comfortable with their new home and family members. During the next three months, continue to reinforce positive behavior and gradually increase their exposure to new experiences.
Consider enrolling them in obedience classes or training sessions to help them develop good habits and build confidence. This is also a good time to establish a routine for exercise, playtime and training.
Be patient with your new dog and continue to provide plenty of love and positive reinforcement. By the end of the first three months, your new dog should be fully adjusted to their new home and routines. However, it's important to remember that every dog is unique, and some may take longer to adjust than others. By the end of the first three
