ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

About four years ago, we started domesticating a young cat we named Grey. We installed a cat door with a plastic flap and placed a barrier over it at night. Grey comes in to eat and sleep and sometimes spends the night indoors. While she would occasionally bring in a dead mouse or bird, this spring the hunting has ramped up.

What ...Read more

As a syndicated pet columnist, I usually spend my time writing about everyday animal issues – litter box avoidance, anxious pups, and barking dogs.

But this week, I’m writing as a resident of Kerrville, Texas.

My hometown is grieving. A catastrophic flood tore through our community, claiming the lives of young girls at a summer camp, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- Julie Koch has seen 31 dogs come and go from her Minneapolis home over the last four years. She’s a foster for Ruff Start Rescue, which cares for animals across Minnesota.

Right now, she’s caring for a lovable 6-year-old white German Shepherd named Stone. He came to her from Texas in 2021 and was adopted in 2022. But in ...Read more

Few characters in the Superman mythos carry as much emotional resonance as Krypto the Superdog. Introduced in the Silver Age of comics, Krypto has been everything from a whimsical sidekick to a deeply symbolic anchor of Superman's heritage. As a superpowered canine from Krypton, Krypto’s story has consistently paralleled the Last Son of ...Read more

By the time a cat reaches 10 years of age, many owners begin to notice subtle changes. Slower movements, longer naps, and a certain contemplative look in the eyes all signal the passage from adulthood into the feline golden years. As more cats live well into their teens and even twenties thanks to advances in veterinary care and improved ...Read more

By day, they’re sleeping on sun-drenched windowsills. By night, they’re tearing through hallways as if possessed. The average indoor cat may appear to lead a life of indolent luxury, but behind that stoic expression and rhythmic purring lies a surprisingly complex set of behaviors. Whether you live with a curious kitten or a senior feline ...Read more

Enrichment isn’t just for zoo animals—our cats and dogs benefit from it too. Providing mental stimulation helps prevent boredom, reduces anxiety and can even curb unwanted behaviors. But pet owners don’t need to spend a fortune on store-bought gadgets. Many of the best enrichment toys can be made at home with common household items, a ...Read more

Anyone who has ever watched their cat tear through the hallway like a racecar or seen their dog suddenly bolt around the yard in manic circles has witnessed the phenomenon known as “the zoomies.” These sudden bursts of frenetic energy are entertaining, puzzling and sometimes concerning. But according to veterinarians and animal behaviorists,...Read more

For pet owners, choosing between wet and dry food can feel like picking sides in an age-old debate. While both forms of pet nutrition offer benefits and drawbacks, the best choice often depends on the pet’s age, health status, lifestyle and—perhaps most importantly—their personal preferences.

Nutrition and moisture content One of ...Read more

Taking in a feral cat can be a deeply rewarding experience, but it requires patience, preparation and a clear understanding of the difference between feral, stray and domesticated cats. While stray cats may have once had human contact and can readjust to indoor life more quickly, feral cats are typically born and raised outdoors with little or ...Read more

Mouse patrol with whiskers and claws

Long before they became pampered companions sprawled across sunlit windowsills, cats held a more rugged role. They were workers. On farms, in factories, and lately—even in tech offices—cats have earned their keep by keeping pests at bay, providing stress relief to employees, and even building ...Read more

If you’ve ever walked barefoot across your living room only to be ambushed by a furry little missile with claws, you’re not alone. Countless cat owners have found themselves the target of ankle assaults, toe nibbles, or sneak attacks from under furniture. While the behavior may seem cute—or at least tolerable—when your kitten is small, ...Read more

From silent companions in royal courts to viral sensations in the age of memes, cats have captivated human hearts for centuries. While thousands of felines have played a role in myth, art, and media, a few stand out as icons whose influence transcends their nine lives. Three such cats—Trim the Sailor Cat, Felix the Cat, and Grumpy Cat—each ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

We got Kasey when he was two, many years ago, from my daughter who passed away. He’s now a healthy 14-year-old tuxedo. Kasey is afraid of me and avoids all men. He connects with my wife on a limited basis, sometimes sitting near her or briefly on her lap, but only in the evening, near her lounge chair, and only if I’m not in the...Read more

DENVER — A new dinosaur species unearthed from the famed Morrison Formation in Colorado has been identified, according to a journal article published last week in Royal Society Open Science.

Scientists have named the speedy, dog-sized dinosaur Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae, according to the article. Its skeleton, or what fossil hunters could ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My daughter's dog is a 12-year-old Border Collie/Aussie mix. He's the best dog, except when it comes to thunderstorms, or even gentle rain. When she's home, he will stand shaking with his head down. With thunder, he'll find someplace to hide, but if she's not home, he becomes destructive, even to the point of clawing the hose from ...Read more