Nora the Cat: Part Two

You've seen the original; now check out the amazing sequel! Nora the Cat does it again!

Rainy day? Looking for a fun family activity? Just enjoy stoking the age-old controversy between dog-loves and cat-lovers? Pull up a seat and please enjoy this round-up of the ten best Dog and Cat Movies of All Time. Popcorn not included.

1) Milo and Otis
2) The Truth About Cats and Dogs
3) Cats versus Dogs
4) Lady and the Tramp
5) All Dogs Go to Heaven
6) Best In Show
7) Garfield
8) Homeward Bound
9) White Fang
10) Cats

Question: I have heard about your heated pet beds, but am not sure if I should get one for my stray cat Sophie. Sophie is a very high-maintenance kitty and though she has a very low tolerance for being cold, she also despises being too hot and will howl and scratch until i bottle-feed her water (so spoiled, i know.) We live in Seattle where it's cold and wet about nine months of the year, but don't want to spend money on a bed that's going to drive her crazy the remaining three months. Need something not too hot, not too cold...help me find a pet bed that's "just right" pretty please :)

Sincerely,
Goldilocks of the Evergreens

Dear Goldilocks,
Answer: Sounds like your Sophie would love our DuoTemp pet bed. This one-of-a-kind heating/cooling bed keeps your kitty at an ideal temperature year round. Plus we have a feeling such a discerning feline as yours will appreciate the sleek mocha and tan design. This "just right" bed is available on our site now, so feel free to check it out.

Let me give you some perspective on our situation. We call our pet rotweiller Pavarotti, because he’s a Rottie and because of the elaborate doggie opera he used to put on every time we went for a car trip. We couldn’t even drive to the park across town without ear-splitting arias of howling and scratching rising from the backseat, shattering our concentration and making adult conversation impossible.
We tried everything. Dog bones. Soothing chew toys. Books on tape. Nothing worked at calming our little neu-rottie-until the ColdHeat cargo bed. Its like finding the perfect crib and having that first blessed moment where your baby sleeps all the way through the night. Suddenly, the whole world looks brighter. You no longer fear getting behind the steering wheel. The Cargo bed works like a charm to help keep your pup peaceful and happy, even on long car rides. After a seemingly endless encore, the doggie opera is finally over.

There are many joys associated with bringing home a frisky pet pup-long days of Frisbee chasing, bone fetching and snuggly tv-watching, to name a few. The downside of pet ownership is that as dogs get older, many of the bigger breeds develop arthritis. According to Placervillevet “Most large dogs develop arthritis as they age. Although there are no miracle cures, much can be done to make old dogs with arthritis more comfortable and improve their lives.” While arthritis in dogs is painful for pet and owner, now is the time to reward your faithful friend for all those fun, active years by making your old dog as comfy as you can in their new, more sedate condition.
Though you may not be able to completely prevent the loss of mobility afflicting your pet, there are several important things you can do to help significantly reduce your pet’s joint pain and discomfort, and make the arthritis a little less oppressive for your Fifi or Fido.
The first order of business is a heated dog bed. According to the article “Your dog's bed should be as comfortable as your own. Soft foam rubber at least four inches thick is good. “ One possible choice for this might be a portable Dolce Vita heated pet bed. These particular dog beds provide therapeutic heat that help dogs with arthritis. I use mine to bring my baby out grilling or gardening and not have to keep her inside and hear her howling.
The second important thing for your pup is gentle, regular exercise. It may seem counter-intuitive to make an aching dog exercise, but it actually helps them keep up their strength and vitality, and feel like a normal pup! But we’re not talking about races after squirrels through the park. Placervillevet recommends, “Once around the block two or three times a day is about right. Avoid strenuous activity on the weekends alternating with little or none during the week.” Getting your dog out of the house is important to alleviating arthritis affects; just make sure not to overdo it! Remember, the more weight on the joints, the more strain on the joints.
Which brings me to my final point, your doggie’s diet! Diet actually has a big affect on the level of discomfort your dog feels during arthritis. A good metric to use is whether you can easily locate each or your dog’s ribs when you feel for them, suggests Placervillevet. A lighter diet contributes to this ideal canine body weight. Iam’s Weight Control, Science Diet Oral Care, and Hill’s Rx t/d Canine are all recommended brands. Hill’s in particular is known for relieving joint pain in arthritis dogs.
The bottom line is that proper care for your arthritis dog can make his old age infinitely more comfortable and ensure many more pleasant pastimes for owner and pet. Follow these instructions for caring for an arthritis dog and your pet will repay you with face-licking, tail-wagging and plenty of puppy love.