Other animals
Miniature horses as pet therapy animals
Dear Cathy, We wanted to tell you about a new pet that is making the rounds in the pet therapy world – miniature horses. We have 30 minis and have been working with them for 25 years. Miniature horses live about 25 years, but many of ours are into their 30’s. We believe the minis […]
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Don’t get a rabbit just because it’s Easter
Dear Cathy, I have four pet rabbits of my own and am always looking for ways to spread education about rabbit care, since it’s not as simple as people realize. I don’t know how familiar you are with rabbits, but I have more of a request than a question: Could you talk about why it’s […]
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Recycle fish tank water for your garden
Dear Cathy, When I change the water from my fish tank, I toss the dirty water onto the lawn, not into my sink. The question is, will this water be good for my indoor plants? – Bart Varacchi, Holbrook, New York Dear Bart, Absolutely! If you have a filter on your fish tank and the […]
Read MoreWild rabbit population increase
Dear Cathy, In my daily walks in my neighborhood, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of wild rabbits. They are especially numerous early mornings and evenings. Is there an explanation for the rise in their population? — Andy, East Northport, New York Dear Andy, I checked with Volunteers for Wildlife in Locust Valley, New […]
Read MoreThe message is, “Adopt, Don’t Shop,” for your next pet
Dear Cathy, I read your recent article about research showing people are not more likely to return pets acquired during the winter holidays. I work for a rescue group, and our concern has always been with potential stress for a newly-adopted animal caused by large family gatherings, travel, visitors, unusual schedules and foods during this […]
Read MoreCanary has stopped singing
Dear Cathy, My seven-year-old white canary hasn’t sung in over a year. It used to be beautiful. I’ve not made any significant changes to his routine. His diet is the same, a combination of commercial canary bird seed, long seed, egg treats, and fresh greens and fruit. I play two different CDs of canary song, […]
Read MoreGot allergies around a rabbit? Look at the rabbit’s food first
Dear Cathy, I just read your piece on adopting rabbits. Another issue worth mentioning which my family encountered is allergies to Timothy hay. My husband had to wear arm-length rubber gloves when handling the hay, and the dust kept us sneezing. Rabbits eat a ton of hay, so if you’re sensitive to it, think twice. […]
Read MoreDon’t buy a rabbit- adopt from rabbit rescue groups or shelters
Dear Cathy, I read your column about rabbits and whether families should buy them for Easter. There are many rabbits languishing at the Animal Care Centers in New York City (ACCNYC). It would be so much better to adopt than to buy. They have a whole room full of rabbits that people can go and […]
Read More5 questions to ask yourself before getting this pet
The description on the website reads: “Alana and Andrina are a bonded pair. They must be adopted together. They are somewhat shy…and are very sweet and playful. They are litter trained (excellent litter box habits) and neutered. Prefer experienced adopter. Indoor housing only.” While this may sound like a description for two cats or kittens, […]
Read MoreAs popular as a green iguana
According to Reptile Magazine, “Leopard geckos have increased in popularity and are probably the most widely kept reptile pet next to the green iguana.” While the average age of a domesticated gecko is ten years, with some male geckos living more than 20 years, poor petkeeping can cut their lives short. If you have a […]
Read MoreFor birds, there is no 100% safe house paint product
Dear Cathy, I was very interested in your answer to Michelle from Naugatuck, Connecticut, about painting the house with birds in the home. I took my birds to my daughter’s house to avoid fumes from roof coating. It was so stressful for them. I will never do it again. But my house needs painting. If […]
Read MoreHousehold fumes dangerous for birds
Dear Cathy, You mentioned the dangers of using Teflon pans with a bird in the home. Another thing to keep in mind if you have a bird is that self-cleaning ovens emit fumes the same as Teflon pans, and birds should be removed from the area too. – Cynthia, Long Island, New York Dear Cynthia, […]
Read MoreKeeping your birds safe when painting in the home
Dear Cathy, We would love to have the interior of our home painted professionally, but we have two birds. One is a Cockatoo that we’ve had for 32 years, and the other is a parrot that we’ve had for three years. I’ve done research on using low VOC paint, but I still don’t trust what […]
Read MoreMocking bird sings for a mate day and night
Dear Cathy, A mockingbird moved into the tree outside my bedroom window. He/she starts singing around 3 a.m. During the day, he/she sings on top of the light pole in the yard, and every so often he/she jumps straight up in the air, lands on the pole, and continues singing. Is this going to continue throughout the […]
Read MoreFoiling squirrels at bird feeders
Dear Cathy, I have recently put out a bird feeder for a family of Cardinals that visit. I first put the feeder in a tree until I caught a squirrel batting the feeder to knock out the seed. I then moved the feeder to a free-standing post in the yard thinking that feeder would be […]
Read MoreBirds may be brainier than you think
Polly wants a cracker. And while you are at it, listen carefully to see if she says “please” and “thank you,” too. If you ever wondered if animals could talk, I certainly believe they can, but not the way you think. Animals communicate with each other through sounds and body language and are skilled at […]
Read MoreWho defines humane treatment for farm animals?
While this column focuses on companion animals, my background includes time on Capitol Hill, where I worked on companion animal, wildlife and farm animal issues. So I am going to step off the curb and address an article by Mike Barnett, publications editor for Texas Agriculture Talks, a publication of the Texas Farm Animal Bureau, […]
Read MoreHow long do parakeets live?
Let’s say you just bought a parakeet for your 9-year-old child. How long will this bird live? What do they like to eat? And how can you tell if the bird is a male or female? Parakeets can live 7 to 15 years, which means your bird could live until your child is 24 years old. […]
Read MoreLucky the elephant’s story
I live in San Antonio and write a pet column and blog for the San Antonio Express News. A reader sent me this link about a lonely, 49-year-old elephant in our local zoo who certainly deserves to live out the remainder of her days in a sanctuary that has already agreed to take her — […]
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