Jack Byrnes would be proud. The uptight character played by Robert De Niro in Meet The Parents made us laugh at the very idea of toilet training his cat, Mr. Jinx. In one comedic turn, Byrnes popularized something all cat lovers universally wish they could do: rescue their furry friends from the evils of litter - the odor, the clean up, the cost. Now, a quirky new gift book arrives in stores to offer felines a nine-step program for leaving litter behind.

Combining ironic humor with an utterly practical guide, ‘KiCK LiTTER: Nine-Step Program for Recovering Litter Addicts’ (November 2008, CDA Press) follows the adventures of two cats, Moxie and Cooper (and the big guy who feeds them), taking their message of recovery from litter addiction to the masses.

Will you be traveling with your pet this year?

According to a survey of pet owners by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), more than 53% of dogs and cats will travel with their owners this holiday season.

Did you know that of the 4 major travel choices that Americans have, pets are not allowed to travel on half of them. It turns out that pets are prohibited from traveling by bus or train in most states.

Actually….I prohibit myself from traveling by bus or train in most states.

Anyway….it looks like …

By Marilyn Orillion
Most potential raw feeders ask, “How much will this diet cost?” The answer isn’t simple. If raw feeders buy only prepared, prepackaged raw foods, it is more expensive than preparing it at home. Buying in bulk is considerably cheaper.   
 The amount of raw meaty bones needed is determined by a dog’s weight and activity level. As a rule of thumb, multiply a dog’s weight by 16. Multiply the result by 2% to get the average amount of raw food needed per day. Of this amount, the majority should …

Do you get lost in some of the terms related to vaccination for pets? Here are a few of the common terms you need to know:
Vaccine Protocols – Recommended series and frequency of vaccinations by Veterinary Associations
Required by law – a vaccine required by state; varies from state to state; Rabies is the only vaccine required by the State of Texas; every three years with a 3-yr vaccine
Titer – measurable level of immunity
Recombinant Vaccine – Contains a bacterial or fungal protein used to mount immune response (virtually no chance of …

 by Dr. Mark Silberman, Southwest Animal Clinic, 4570 Bissonnet
Bladder stones (uroliths) are rock-like structures that form in the urinary bladder.  Comprised of minerals, they can take many shapes from a single large stone to multiple lobulated stones to sand-like grit. 
 Cats with bladder stones show the typical signs of a urinary tract infection.  They strain to urinate, produce small amounts of urine and experience an increase in frequency of urination (perhaps outside of the litter box).
 There are several different types of uroliths.  It is important to determine the mineral type when …

It’s vacation time and you’re excited about the prospects of skiing for a week but your enthusiasm is curbed by your anxiety over what to do with your Beagle, Bailey. Pets Are Inn, a new pet care franchise in the Houston area has an innovative solution…a sleepover with a “host” family!

Pets Are Inn places pets in carefully screened, private homes where they are treated as one of the family. This home away from home allows pets to bring their favorite toys, blankets and treats to keep them comfortable while interacting with their host family.

Come vacation time, Patty Herbert dreaded asking relatives to take care of Molly, the family dog. “I hated imposing on them,” says Herbert. Herbert’s worries disappeared when she called Pets Are Inn and discovered how they carefully match pets to care-takers.

The shopping season has officially made its “mark” on retail stores and as you make your list and check it twice

Adding a new cat to the family can be tricky business. Here are some tips!