Being a pet parent is so rewarding and the joy our pets bring to our home is priceless, but we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t difficult at times, especially during those early stages. That’s when a lot of us turn to the internet for advice.
To help you out we’ve compiled a few answers to some of the most common questions on both cats and dogs! From why cats knead to why dogs love eating grass so much…
Why do Cats purr? 🐈
Why do cats purr and what does it mean when they do… Cats purring can mean a number of things, mostly it used to communicate their feelings mostly of contentment and happiness or to self soothe if anxious.
You can tell if your cat is happy if they purr with their eyes closed/closing and their tails remain still and peaceful looking.
If their purr is accompanied by a mew (high pitched meow) they may be hungry!
Why do pets make us feel happy? 🥹
We love this question because it’s true the positive effects pets have on our lives are amazing.
Some of the reasons pets make us happy and improve our mood are because they offer companionship and help us feel less lonely which is known to benefit us.
They also encourage us to partake in physical activity which positively affects us and releases endorphins, as well as introduces us to new people.
Why Do Cat Knead? 🍞
The kneading movement cats make is often referred to as making biscuits and who doesn’t love a biscuit? Our cats could give the world’s best Bakers a run for their money. Why do cats knead everything including us? It’s an ingrained behaviour from when they were kittens and would knead their mothers to stimulate milk flow. This familiarity creates comfort, and when they knead you it often means they’re comfortable around you!
It can also be used to stretch, make their bed comfortable for sleep, mark their territory through the scent glands in their paws and show they’re ready to mate.
Fascinating.
How to introduce new pets to the family🐾
Introducing new pets to the (fur) family can be difficult, it’s rough being the new kid on the block.
Advice that works for both cats and dogs, include preparing a dedicated space for your new pet, allowing them to explore their new home alone first before introducing scents (e.g. bedding) from other pets for them to familiarise themselves with. Where possible let them meet through a barrier first.
Our friends at FirstVet have a whole article dedicated to introducing cats and Battersea’s article is great for introducing new dogs.
Why does my dog eat grass? 🌾
An odd behaviour that can be alarming to new owners, especially when their dog throws up afterwards. This behaviour, if sustained long term, is called Pica, which refers to a disorder that encourages the eating of things that aren’t food.
When pets eat grass it could be a sign of either boredom or nutrient deficiency. This can be helped with more exercise and play, and fibre in their diets.
It could also mean they simply like the taste of it! This is usually not a major concern unless the eating and vomiting become more frequent or blood is present.
This was just the beginning, there are so many common questions we’d love to answer! Let us know the pressing questions you have that you’d love to have answered, send us a message over on our socials.
Whilst you’re here why not take out a pet insurance quote with us today and find out how we can help you keep your furry friends protected no matter what pickles, and wonderfully bizarre situations they get themselves into.
For more pet information and facts, check out the other news on Pets in a Pickle. To find out more about the range of policies, get in touch with the team today. Call them now on 0800 044 1111, or contact the team online here.