Is your problem pet driving you mad? Are you worried about how to best care for your dog or cat? Here we answer the most commonly asked questions to help you solve the problem and put your mind at rest. However, it is essential that you contact your vet immediately should any health problems arise, and as vet bills can be costly, make sure you have comprehensive pet insurance cover in place.
• My cat ignores the lovely scratching post we bought her and insists on scratching our brand new sofa. Help!
Put the scratching post in front of the sofa. Then gently take your cat's paws and run them down the post. Not only will this get her used to the idea, but it will draw out the scent from between her paw pads, which will make her want to use the post again. Persevere if she doesn't immediately grasp the new rules!
• I'm pregnant and concerned that our current 'baby', our lovely but lively dog, will be too boisterous around me and the new arrival and may be jealous. How should I prepare the dog for the changes to come?
Before you give birth, start carrying a doll around the house with you. Your posture is a key factor in communicating new rules to a dog. When you are holding a baby your posture will change, and you must practice giving commands to your dog while holding the baby doll to stop him jumping up on you. Practice sitting, walking and lying down with the doll and carrying it in your new baby carrier or sling. Teaching your dog how to behave around you while holding a baby is vital and if you do this before the baby arrives your dog will be far more responsive to the change, and you'll avoid creating a negative association with the baby.
• We've recently bought a delightful kitten but even though she is now five months old she’s still biting. She nips at hands and feet and it hurts! Why do cats do this and how can we stop her doing it?
This is a common problem, and aside from situations in which a kitten is scared and bites out of fear, it is rarely an intentional attack but innocent playing. This is called ‘play aggression’. Your kitten is simply replicating instinctive hunting ‘catch the prey’ behaviours - even though you are providing all her meals!
In your playful kitten’s mind, your hand or foot moving towards her triggers an instinct that this is a small bird to be caught. All small moving objects can trigger this instinctive response. So, never play with cats or kittens with your hands, and don't allow anyone else to either. Otherwise, how else can they possibly understand why sometimes it is OK, but other times not? All kittens must have toys to play with, such as little fake mice and small soft balls they can bite into. Play with her with these toys not your hands and the problem biting should stop
• My dog keeps jumping up whenever someone comes in the front door. He’s friendly, but it scares people. What can we do?
Tell your guests to ignore him until he is calm and has all four paws on the floor. Then they can pet him, or even better, give him a little treat. This will take some practice, but keep repeating this behaviour towards the dog until he understands the new rule and what wins him a reward!
• My cat is constantly scratching himself. My home is spotless and my cat is well looked after but I’m very worried that he could have fleas? What should I do?
Check your cat's fur for tiny brown specks or small browny/black insects. If you can see insects moving in its fur and if you or the rest of your family have also suffered from unexplained insect bites then chances are high it is fleas. But there’s nothing to be ashamed about as this is a common problem even for clean pets from well-kept homes! But you must act swiftly – visit your vet to get treatments for the cat and follow their instructions carefully- and treat your home to stop re-infection. Wash all linens with treatment products and thoroughly vacuum, and bin all hoover bags after doing so.
• We've got a holiday home in France where we'll be staying for most of the summer and obviously want to take our dog with us. What do we need to do and what are the rules for taking pets abroad?
Anyone who wants to take their pet abroad – either a dog or a cat – needs to get a pet passport. The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), allows pet dogs and cats (including guide and hearing dogs) that are resident in the UK to enter or re-enter the country without quarantine. However, all animals must meet with regulations to qualify. Visit the Defra website (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), for full details of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) and how to apply.
Halifax offers a complete range of pet insurance including cat insurance and dog insurance. Whatever you're looking for at Halifax we aim to give you a little extra. We can even provide home insurance and travel insurance cover too.
