ArcaMax

Dear Cathy; Our rescue Jack Russell pup “found us” through a humane shelter on the same day I tested positive for COVID two years ago. We had a few hard weeks, but Barkley fit right in with our other dog and has been the typical fun, high-energy guy we thought we were bringing home.

But a few months later, we began to get concerned. At what...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A Glastonbury, Connecticut, couple with a now-famous pig has brought their five pigs throughout the state and further to many schools, nursing homes, birthdays and private events over the last four years.

It’s for their business Gilbert the Party Pig which, despite delighting people everywhere, is probably most famous for ...Read more

The Irish wolfhound is one of those dogs people tend to remember after meeting one. Tall, shaggy and dignified, the breed has a way of filling a room without seeming to demand it. It is often described as a gentle giant, which is true enough, though that phrase can make the dog sound simpler than it is.

Irish wolfhounds are affectionate, ...Read more

By all appearances, the house cat should not be one of humanity’s most emotionally effective animals. Cats can be aloof, stubborn and deeply unimpressed by the routines of human life. Yet millions of people describe the sound of a cat purring as one of the most comforting noises they know — a kind of living white noise that signals warmth, ...Read more

Walking a dog in a city can feel like a balancing act between navigation, training, exercise and diplomacy. Sidewalk crowds, traffic noise, bicycles, delivery carts and other dogs all compete for a pet’s attention, while owners juggle leashes, schedules and unpredictable weather. Yet urban dog owners say city walks can become one of the most ...Read more

Bulldogs are among the most recognizable dog breeds in the world — wrinkled faces, stocky bodies and personalities that often swing between stubborn determination and couch-bound comedy. Their popularity has remained strong for decades thanks to their affectionate nature and distinctive appearance. But veterinarians, rescue groups and longtime...Read more

For many older adults, a dog can provide companionship, structure and a powerful sense of purpose. The right dog encourages daily activity, offers affection and helps reduce feelings of loneliness. But not every breed is equally suited to retirement living, fixed incomes or the realities of aging joints and changing energy levels.

The best dogs...Read more

Dear Cathy, Five years ago, we adopted a four-year-old Dachshund mix who was so afraid of everything we renamed her Skitter. She came from a hoarding situation.

What puzzles us most is that she is a “marker.” She has a set area around our house where we walk her – a few houses one way and a few the other – and that is her boundary. She ...Read more

DENVER -- When it comes to finding the right cannabidiol (CBD) product for your dog, even experts say that it’s a process of trial and error. And with the myriad tinctures and treats available, where do you even start?

Perhaps with a word-of-mouth ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — It was about 17 years ago that Hannah Shaw found a black kitten stuck in a tree in a Philadelphia park.

She didn’t know how to care for the little cat, which had one of its eyes sealed shut with an infection — but her friend advised her not to bring it to a local animal shelter, where it could be euthanized for its young age. ...Read more

Grumpy Cat never set out to become famous. She did not perform tricks, star in an animated series, or chase laser pointers with unusual enthusiasm. She simply looked as though she had grown tired of everyone’s nonsense and was prepared to say so without moving a muscle.

That expression — a permanent scowl combined with a tiny body and an ...Read more

For anyone who has attempted yoga in a home shared with cats, one truth becomes clear almost immediately: what humans call a wellness practice, cats regard as a participatory event.

Roll out a mat, sit quietly and begin to breathe, and within moments a cat will appear as if summoned by ancient ritual. It may step delicately onto the center of ...Read more

When cats take over a household, the signs are subtle at first: a favorite chair becomes permanently occupied, the kitchen schedule shifts to align with breakfast demands, and every cardboard box is immediately reclassified as feline property.

Then one day, you realize the truth. You are not the owner of several cats. You are the live-in staff ...Read more

When your dog suddenly freezes in the hallway and stares into the darkness, or your cat locks onto a blank section of wall as if witnessing the arrival of an invisible monarch, most people have the same thought: “What are they looking at?”

The recent film “Good Dog” leans hard into that deeply familiar unease. Like many animal-centered ...Read more

Dog walking may seem simple — leash, dog, out the door — but anyone who spends serious time pacing sidewalks, trails or neighborhoods with a canine companion quickly learns the small accessories matter. A good walk can become more comfortable, safer and more enjoyable with the right gear, especially for people who walk multiple times a day ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

I recently adopted a four-year-old Boston terrier named Marcie from a breeder. I chose an adult dog to avoid house training and was told she was already trained.

Since coming home, she has had very inconsistent bathroom habits. At first, she rarely went outside, even with frequent leash walks. We’ve since added a small, fenced ...Read more

The mailbox at the end of the gravel drive reads “Juniper Hill Farm,” though the woman who lives there admits she hasn’t grown anything successfully in years except cats.

“There’s always another cat,” she said, barefoot on the wide plank porch of her antique farmhouse outside Amelia, Virginia, silver rings clinking softly against ...Read more