I am luckier than most; I have a cousin who loves my animals, and insists on staying at my house with them when I’m out of town! It doesn’t get much better than that. I have absolutely nothing to worry about; she even holds up the phone to them when I call and lets them hear my voice! Rather than upsetting them, it seem to give them comfort.

I know not everyone has this option, but if you can work out a way for your companions to remain at home when you can’t, I advise it strongly!

If you take care of your pet now, you will have much less trouble with his or her health later on. And of course for those of us who consider our pets part of the family, we tend to take care of our animals, no matter the cost involved. The economy might serve as a wake-up call to take better care of the health of your entire family.

They publish a magazine called Best Friends Magazine, and it is quite a publication! Very professional, and full of the best articles from animal lovers everywhere. And of course the latest updates on the goings-on at the sanctuary itself. I have never been there, but one of these days I shall make a pilgrimage to this wonderful home for the homeless animals. I may even be tempted to adopt one of the residents!

Amazingly enough, the feral cats around my house seem to take care of themselves alright. Perhaps they subsist on the lizards and snakes. I would imagine they must be pretty good hunters. And I think there must be a tender-hearted neighbor who feeds them on a regular basis. I do occasionally give them a bit of chicken or tuna, but not everyday.

Everyone has a different idea about this sort of thing, but this is how I handle it.

But really, guinea pigs should have room to exercise! Think of a wild cavy; even if they had a territory they remained within, surely it was bigger than a couple feet square! The best recommendations today are cages that are at least seven feet square, 10 feet being more optimum.  Animals do not want to share their living space with their litter area, which is what happens when a cage is too small.

Increase your guinea pig’s cage size and watch his or her temperament improve significantly. And with that, you will be able to enjoy the increased antics of your little friend.

But take heart. According to the experts, in another few thousand years cats will have adjusted more closely to our sleep patterns. Until that time, just be patient, and try to be amused rather than annoyed when you get head-butted at 4:00 in the morning!

If you are one of the unfortunate people who detests snakes, try looking at them as if you were an artist. Really, there is nothing more beautiful than a snake slithering through the flower garden.

A cats’s hearing is attuned to this sort of a sound. It is a survival mechanism. A hunting cat has to be able to hear the smallest of animals, and her hearing has evolved to allow for this. You can use this to your advantage in training your cat to come to you when you need her presence. I think a lot of cat owners have already discovered this behavior for themselves, but it’s nice to know it has been so cleverly researched!

Are tarantulas affectionate?

Funny question! Tarantulas are arachnids, and as such are not really known for affection in the normal sense of the word. In fact, you should keep handling them to a minimum. If they spook, squirm and fall from your hands they can be fatally injured. The other result of their skittishness could be injury to you! This can be from a painful bite or from the irritating fine hairs they can flick at you as a means of self-defense.