Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
First time kitten owner
Dear Critter Corner: My neighbor’s cat had a litter of kittens and I adopted a little female kitten named Miku that’s 8 weeks old. I’ve never had a cat before, where do I start with her care? Congrats on the new addition to your family and home! It’s an exciting time...
Hospice care for your cat
Dear Critter Corner: My senior cat Titan was diagnosed with kidney disease last year that has progressed into hospice care. How can I help him live out the rest of his days in the best way possible? I’m really sorry to hear that but glad that you’re able to provide...
Pup tinkles when he’s excited
Dear Critter Corner: My pup gets very excited and loves to say hi to people but we are having a problem with him tinkling with these greetings. It’s a rather embarrassing behavior, is there a way to stop him from tinkling on everyone and everywhere? I can’t tell you...
Cat coughing up more hairballs lately
Dear Critter Corner: My kitty Jiji has been coughing up more hairballs lately, sometimes two to three times a week. Are there any remedies for this? As the weather gets warmer during spring and into summer, some cats will experience an increase in hairballs. This can...
Barking and lunging
Dear Critter Corner: Our dog is a social butterfly and wants to say hi to every person and dog that we pass. If we don’t allow him to say hi, he pulls and is starting to bark and lunge too. When he was younger, we allowed him to say hi, but he is now 9 months and...
Keeping cat warm during cold days
Dear Critter Corner: It’s spring in my area but lately we’ve been having some very hot days and some very cold days. How can I help keep my kitty Mira warm during the cold days without worrying about leaving the heater on when I’m out of the house? Most cats...
Training dog with a variety of treats
Dear Critter Corner: We have started training with our new pup and are having a hard time finding treats that he likes to use in our training. He will eat them in the house but once outside it is hit or miss. Do you have any suggestions for us? This is a great...
Adjusting cat’s nocturnal schedule
My cat Fred has been waking up at all hours of the night meowing, running around, and creating a lot of noise. It’s been difficult to get a good night’s sleep, can you help? Most cats tend to be nocturnal animals, meaning that they rest and sleep during the day,...
Preparing dog for tense situations
Dear Critter Corner: We have a very shy pup and have been working on exposing him from a distance to people and dogs at our local park that requires all dogs to be on leash. The other day, another dog owner had their dog off leash and it charged our pup. As I called...
Catios and leash training your cat
Dear Critter Corner: My cat keeps running out in the yard and I think he just wants to be outside. Do you think I should try taking him outside? Cats gain a lot of mental stimulation and exercise from being outdoors, so it can be a sweet treat to let your cat into the...