Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Cat’s Having Trouble Climbing and Jumping
Dear Critter Corner: My 11-year-old kitty has been having some issues jumping on the couch and climbing up her cat tree. Is this related to her being older or something else? If you’re noticing a change in your cat’s behavior, it’s a good idea to let your vet know and...
Helping Shy Kittens Adapt to Their New Home
Dear Critter Corner: I have recently adopted a pair of shy kittens from a local rescue and noticed that they have been a bit hesitant to use their litterbox in the base camp area that I had set up for them. The litter box is very spacious, with a wide lip and a cover...
Teaching a Puppy a Reliable Recall
Dear Critter Corner: We adopted a puppy over the weekend and have started working on some of the basics. Our last pup didn’t have a reliable recall, so we want to do it right this time around. Can you give me some pointers on making sure our pup listens? Teaching a...
How to Prepare for Fireworks
Dear Critter Corner: There were a lot of fireworks this year in my neighborhood, and my cats were really scared. Anything I can do to prepare for the next holiday? Fireworks can be very scary, loud, and abrupt for many animals, causing them to go into hiding indoors...
Newly Adopted Puppy ― Tips for Success
Dear Critter Corner: We just brought home our newly adopted pup. What are some tips you can give us on setting everyone up for success? Congratulations on your newly adopted pup! I am a big believer in having strict rules to start, which you can loosen up on later in...
Introducing a Dog to a New Baby
Dear Critter Corner: We are bringing home a new baby soon and are hoping that he and our dog will be best friends. We can’t wait to introduce them—any tips? Congratulations on your new addition! A great place to start here is with your expectations: set them...
It’s Chaos When We Get Home
Dear Critter Corner: My cats keep getting into a fight whenever my kids and I get home. It’s always chaos at the front door. Any ideas about what we can do to address this? Door thresholds can be a little tricky as there’s so much excitement, especially since it’s...
Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
Dear Critter Corner: After quite a few talks with my partner, we have finally decided that our children are old enough to understand the responsibilities that come along with adopting a new pet. They have been asking to expand our family over the past few years, but...
Reintroducing a Dog to the Crate
Dear Critter Corner: We will be flying over the holidays and want to take our pup with us. We tried to crate train our pup when he was younger, but he didn’t care for it, so we gave up the idea. How can we introduce the crate so that we can have him fly with us? When...
Newly Adopted Cat Hides and Hisses at New People
Dear Critter Corner: I recently adopted a shy cat named Ollie. He tends to hide when my friends come over and when they try to interact with him, he hisses. Is there anything I can do? Congrats on your recent adoption! For shy cats, slow and steady can be a good...