Guides
Plain, practical guides to the everyday jobs of living with a dog or cat, from measuring for a harness to lifting hair out of the carpet. For anything about your pet's health, ask your veterinarian.
-
Guide
How to Get Rid of Dog Smell in the House: Find the Source, Then Clean It
Dog smell lives in what your dog lies on, rubs against and drips on. Work through the house room by room: beds and blankets, the couch and carpet, a damp coat, bowls, toys and collars, then fresh air and a weekly reset, plus the signs that the smell means a vet visit.
-
Guide
How to Stop Cat Litter Tracking: The Box, the Litter, the Exit and the Paws
Litter leaves the box two ways: kicked over the rim and carried out on paws and toe fur. Fix it in order: the floor and the box, litter depth and type, a trapping mat at the exit and long toe fur, then a two-minute daily sweep and an easy way to empty a honeycomb mat.
-
Guide
How to Get Dog Hair Off a Couch: Methods by Fabric, and How to Keep It Off
A barely damp rubber glove lifts dog and cat hair from most couches. See what works on microfiber, woven cotton or linen, velvet and leather, which cleaning code to check first, and how brushing, a throw and a bed of their own keep the hair off.
-
Guide
Are Cat Backpacks Safe? Backpack vs Carrier, and How to Use One Kindly
A balanced answer on cat backpacks: the welfare concerns behind bubble designs, which cats suit one, what to check before you buy, when a carrier is the better choice for vet visits and car rides, and the heat and stress signs that mean it is time to head home.
-
Guide
How to Travel With a Cat in the Car, From Vet Trips to Long Road Trips
From a ten-minute vet run to a two-day move: where the carrier goes, how to practice, what to pack, and how to handle rest stops, hotels and moving day without giving your cat a chance to bolt.
-
Guide
How to Get a Dog Used to Car Rides, One Short Step at a Time
Turn the car from a worry into a dull, pleasant place: a six-step plan from sitting in the parked car to a short drive somewhere fun, how to bring a new puppy home in the car, and the signs of motion sickness or panic that need your veterinarian.
-
Guide
Dog Seat Belt vs Booster Seat: Choosing, Setting Up and Keeping Your Dog in the Back
A seat belt tether keeps a dog of any size in one spot; a booster seat gives a small dog a raised, cushioned seat of its own. See which suits your dog, how to set each one up, why neither is crash protection, and how to stop a dog climbing into the front.
-
Guide
Road Trip with a Dog Checklist: What to Pack for the Car, the Stops and the Night Away
What to pack for a road trip with a dog, grouped the way you'll use it: a harness and tether for the back seat, ID and records, water for every stop, a clean-up kit and a familiar bed for the night away, plus a plan for holiday traffic and early dark.
-
Guide
Indoor Cat Enrichment Ideas: Hunt, Scratch, Hide and Forage Every Day
Simple ways to keep an indoor cat busy, one idea per need: short chase games, a scratcher in the right place, high and low hideaways, a window seat and hidden kibble. Plus what to leave out on a workday, what to put away, and how to rotate it all.
-
Guide
New Kitten Checklist: What to Buy and Set Up Before Day One (Adult Cats Too)
What to buy and set up before a kitten or adult cat comes home: a printable supplies list, a safe room with the litter box and scratcher in place, kitten-proofing for cords, string and plants, the ride home, the first vet visit and a calm first week.
-
Guide
How to Trim a Cat’s Nails When They Won’t Let You: Clippers, Grinders and the Towel Wrap
A cat who fights nail trims can often learn to accept them. Start with paw handling, trim one or two claws a session, use a towel wrap or a helper when you need one, and choose small clippers or a quiet grinder to suit your cat.
-
Guide
How to Groom a Long-Haired Cat at Home, Mats Included
Long coats knot where you can't see them. Learn how often to brush a long-haired cat, where mats start, a section-by-section grooming routine, how to work out small mats without scissors, where nails fit in, and when a mat needs a groomer or veterinarian.
