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Cat Behavior Expert Weighs In: How to Reduce Your Cat’s Stress Level

Posted on February 7, 2018December 17, 2020 by Above1 Support

Stress. We hear that word often as it relates to humans but it can be a big problem for cats as well. While stress can’t be totally avoided in life and a certain amount is necessary to help us all survive (Acute stress triggers fight or flight response), we can limit how much cats endure.

Types of Stress in Cats

Acute stress:

This is something cat parents more easily recognize in cats. Just picture your cat on the veterinarian’s exam table or remember the day you brought home a second pet or moved to a new house.

Chronic stress:

This can easily be overlooked. This is the day-to-day stress that a cat may experience from any number of causes. Behavior may change so gradually that cat parents miss things such as change in activity level, appetite, grooming habits or litter box usage. Short-term stress is something the body is equipped to handle but long-term, chronic stress can play a major role in the onset of behavior problems and even disease.

A Veterinary Check-up Comes First

Granted, a trip to the veterinarian is often stressful in itself, but if you notice a change in behavior, weight, appearance, litter box habits, appetite, or water consumption, have your cat checked out. Don’t skip this all-important first step.

Reducing Your Cat’s Stress

Here’s a list of 10 tips to guide you on ways to reduce some common stress triggers.

1. Maintain Your Cat’s Health

Don’t skip annual veterinary wellness visits. Catching a potential medical problem in the early stages increases the odds of successful treatment and maintenance. Also, keep up at-home health routines such as good nutrition, parasite control, dental care, grooming and nail care.

cat at vet

2. Less-Stressful Veterinary Visits

Stress is one of the most common reasons cats don’t see the veterinarian as often as dogs do. You can reduce that stress in a few easy ways. First, get your cat comfortable with the carrier. Leave the carrier out and periodically toss treats near it. This helps take the fear out of the carrier’s presence. When going to the veterinary clinic, bring an extra towel which can be used to cover the carrier opening to give kitty more privacy. When sitting in the waiting room, hold the carrier on your lap or on the seat next to you. Avoid placing the carrier on the floor since that can be more stressful. If you have a carrier where the top can be detached from the bottom, during the exam you can let your cat remain in the bottom part.

3. Consistent Cat Training

Reduce stress by making sure everyone in the family is on the same page with training. For example, if kitty isn’t allowed on the table by one family member but is permitted by another, it sends a confusing and stressful mixed message. Train with kindness and consistency.

4. Create a Peaceful Mealtime

It starts with feeding a high quality food that’s appropriate for your cat’s age and health. Next, create a peaceful mealtime setting by keeping the feeding station clean and inviting. Use a food bowl that’s a comfortable size and shape and doesn’t cause your cat’s whiskers to get squished. Locate the feeding area in a quiet place that’s free from sudden noises. Place food and water a little distance apart as many cats don’t like water right next to food. In a multicat household, give each cat an individual food bowl because cats aren’t social eaters. You can discourage one cat from nosing another cat out of the bowl if they each have their own separate dishes. If necessary, feed cats in separate rooms to reduce stress.

To encourage successful mealtimes, add a grain-free topper like CORE Simply Shreds to your cat’s meal.

5. Your Cat’s Social Interaction

Never force your cat to interact. Let kitty set the pace of how much he wants to engage. Don’t insist on holding or petting your cat if he doesn’t want it. If he doesn’t mind being held, always put him down before he starts to struggle. Keep the experience positive. You can give him incentives to be more sociable, such as offering a treat or playtime, but always let it be his choice of whether to accept or decline.

cat socializing

6. Happy Litter Box Set-up

Make sure the litter box is the right size and type for your cat. It should be 1 ½ times the length of your cat from tip of nose to base of tail. As for litter, most prefer soft, sandy, scoopable litter. Texture is important to cats. Scoop the litter box at least twice a day to ensure there’s always enough clean area for elimination. Locate the box in a quiet spot that’s convenient and comfortable to access. In a multicat home, provide numerous litter boxes scattered throughout the house so one cat doesn’t have to cross another cat’s area. The general rule is to have one more box than number of cats.

7. Environment and Resources

Cats live in a vertical world. Provide cat trees, perches or other elevated locations to create security and comfort. Cats also like to alternate between being hidden and being visible. Offer hiding places for those times when kitty wants to watch the household goings-on as an undetected spectator. Indoor cats have to share overlapping territories so reduce stress by making sure each cat has comfortable places for napping, hiding and resource availability within their preferred area. This can go a long way in increasing multi-cat harmony.

cat on cat tree

8. Cat Communication

Cats are masters of communication and just their body language alone can tell you so much about what’s going on inside their heads. Observe your cat’s body language and become educated about whether he’s saying I’d rather not be disturbed now or please play with me.

cat hiding

9. Stress-Reducing Playtime

Playtime is more than just fun and exercise. Playtime releases good brain chemicals and helps a cat develop positive associations with their environment and people around them. Playtime is beneficial to reducing stress on an everyday basis as well as when you’re dealing with a particularly stressful event. Engage in interactive playtime daily and also create fun activities for your cat for when you aren’t home. This can involve puzzle feeders, tunnels and other activities to keep your cat stimulated.

10. Less-Stressful Life Transitions

Cats are creatures of habit but unfortunately, life is full of changes. Some changes are unavoidably sudden but if there’s an upcoming anticipated change, ease your cat through it gradually. Whether it’s the addition of a new baby, new cat or any other disruption in his normal routine. Go at a slow pace and let him take small steps through the adjustment. Your cat will appreciate the extra effort made to help him through life’s surprises.

This Valentine’s Day, How Far Will These 10 Cats Go For Wellness Kittles?

Posted on February 5, 2018July 6, 2026 by Above1 Support

This Valentine’s Day, how far will cats go to get a taste of their favorite crunchy, savory, lip-smacking treats? Here’s an idea how far…

1. They’ll guard them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 1

2. They’ll snuggle them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 2

3. They’ll defend them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 3

4. They’ll socialize for them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 4

5. They’ll stretch for them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 5

6. They’ll steal them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 6

7. They’ll pose with them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 7

8. They’ll paw them

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 8

9. They’ll whisper sweet nothings to them

. Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 9

10.Cats just LOVE their Kittles!

Wellness Kittles Cat Treats 10

So treat them!

Pick up a bag of Wellness Kittles at PetSmart, Petco or your local pet store, or online at Amazon.com or Chewy.com. Then tag your cat enjoying their Kittles haul with #wellnesspetfood for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

How to Choose a Professional Dog Trainer You’re Comfortable With

Posted on January 24, 2018December 18, 2020 by Above1 Support

*By Stephanie Du Preez, Great Dog Rescue*

The start of a new year can mean a fresh slate and a chance to improve the relationship you have with your dog. One great way to do this is by signing your dog up for professional training. If you’ve ever sought professional training for your dog in the past, you may have experienced conflicting perspectives between trainers. It can be overwhelming. Most importantly, know that not all training methods work for all dogs, so it’s important to find a training program that both you and your dog are comfortable with. What works for your friend and their dog might not be the right program for your situation.
With that being said, there are some things that every pet parent should research when choosing a dog trainer. Follow these tips to prioritize your dog’s safety and set you up for the best chance of success with dog training:

Listen to Your Gut

It’s often best to find a trainer who uses positive reinforcement and emphasizes communication between you and your dog, nurturing ways in which you and your dog can read one another better.

Since dog training is an unregulated industry, when searching for a trainer, it is important to keep in mind that you are your dog’s advocate. If anything makes you uncomfortable, speak up, say no, or step out. It’s okay to walk out of a class for any reason, if an instructor is asking you to do something you are not comfortable with, wants you to use potentially harmful equipment or is degrading to you or your dog.

As the Behavior Consultant at Great Dog Rescue New England, I often get asked how to find a good trainer─ one who uses the most up-to-date methods. This can be tricky; it is up to us to do our due diligence in selecting who we work with, and how we want to treat our dogs. No one ever goes into training with hurting their dogs as a goal, but putting our trust in the wrong people can inadvertently do so. You can turn to friends, family and your veterinarian for a referral, but you’ll still need to do your own research.

Practicing “paw” command.

Do Your Research

So, what should you be looking for?

Certifications:

CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed)
CPDT-KSA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge & Skills Assessed)
CBCC-KA (Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed)
KPA (Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program)

Terminology

Positive Reinforcement
Relationship Based
Clicker Training/Reward Marker

Organizations they belong to:

Pet Professional Guild- The Pet Professional Guild is a membership organization representing pet industry professionals who are committed to results based, science based force-free training and pet care
IAABC- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Equipment:

You’ll find that some trainers only use flat or martingale collars and harnesses, while others may incorporate electronic collars or prong collars into their programs. You need to decide which equipment you’re comfortable with and which equipment you’d rather not use. Equipment alone will not bring dog training success. The key is to develop a positive relationship with your dog through training, and the equipment just supplements this relationship, serving as a tool to communicate more clearly with your dog. Without improving the bond you have with your dog, equipment is not so useful.

Detail:

Do they require you fill out an application/behavior questionnaire?
Do they have a liability form/insurance?
Do they offer a written behavior plan after one-on-one lessons?
Will they share contact information of prior clients they’ve worked with so you can get a referral?

Working on the “come” command.

Tips for Finding Potential Trainers

Many local Shelters and Rescues have excellent, modern, relationship-based training classes.
Your local branch of the SPCA is a good place to start when searching for a trainer.
Ask your veterinarian
Ask your family, friends and neighbors for recommendations

If you are looking for specific behavioral training for a problem behavior, the same rules as above apply, but you may also want to get a referral for a Veterinary Behaviorist. These are veterinarians who specialize in behavior. They can write out a behavior plan for you, prescribe medication if needed and set you up with a local trainer to help you follow through. Many trainers may also be able to help you with behavior problems and modification, but again, make sure they are experienced enough to be doing so, and handle the dogs and the behavior in a way you are comfortable with, and that won’t potentially harm your dog or make the problem worse.

We all love and want to help our dogs, while being able to live with them in a way that fits our lifestyle. Our dogs are always there for us, they love us unconditionally, and we owe it to them to slow down, breathe, educate ourselves and make sure we are doing the best for them we can.

Steph Du Preez is an Adoptions, Behavior, Returns and Local Intake Volunteer at GDRNE as well as, BS, CPDT-KA of Great Dog Rescue NE and Ohh, Sit! Pet Services.

Why Does My Cat Do That? Decoding Common Cat Behaviors

Posted on January 19, 2018December 18, 2020 by Above1 Support

Most cats are beloved furry members of the family but even though they are adored, they can also leave the human members of the family frustrated and confused by behaviors that don’t seem to make sense. What we label as misbehavior or random behavior is just miscommunication between the cat and human. All behaviors make sense to the cat! Let’s decode a few commonly misunderstood behaviors.

Why Does My Cat Like to Hide?

Cats need hiding places.

If your cat likes to hide, it isn’t because he doesn’t like you. If you’ve been trying to get your cat to be more sociable by dragging him out from under the bed, it’s only going to backfire. Being able to have hiding places provides security and allows the cat to feel invisible. If the hiding place gives the cat the opportunity to have his back up against something it also provides extra safety because he’ll feel that no one can sneak up on him from behind. If you set up comfy hiding places such as cave-type beds or boxes turned on their sides, you’ll give your cat a chance to remain hidden while still being in the room with you. As he feels more comfortable and has the choice of whether to engage or not, you may find him spending more time out in the open.

Is My Cat Asking for a Belly Rub When She Rolls onto Her Back?

Relaxed cat exposing that hard-to-resist, soft tummy.

You’re probably familiar with the image of a dog rolling over on her back for a good belly rub. What does it mean when your cat exposes her belly and looks as if she wants the same thing? If you’ve obliged in the past, chances are your hand was met with claws and teeth. Is it a trap? What is she telling you by this confusing behavior? In a secure, relaxed environment, a cat may stretch out on her back to sleep or enjoy a sun bath. It’s a sign she feels completely trusting about being in a vulnerable position. Don’t mistake this posture for an invitation to rub her belly because it will likely result in her grabbing your hand. Touching the bellies of most cats triggers this reflex behavior. The reflex is based on the fact that when threatened, a cat may take a defensive posture of rolling over to let an opponent know that she doesn’t want to engage in battle but if pursued, she will engage all weapons – teeth and claws.

Why Does My Cat Knock Things Off Tables?

Cats often love to explore objects on tables.

Many people may describe this behavior as cats just being jerks or deliberately knocking things over to be annoying. For cats, this behavior makes perfect sense and certainly isn’t motivated by a desire to annoy. Cats use their paws to investigate. It’s safest for a cat to explore an object with his paw before he puts his face close to it. Cats will also touch objects to test for potential movement during play, especially if they’re bored. Certain objects that fall to the ground and roll may spark play behavior. Cats may also knock things off the table as an attention-seeking behavior. This behavior gets repeated when it gets a response from you. The perfect example is if your cat knocks something off your nightstand by the bed in the early morning hours. If you get up and put food in the bowl to quiet him you’ve just taught him that this attention-seeking behavior was a success.

Why Does My Cat Scratch the Furniture?

The ability to scratch is a natural and important part of cat life.

Furniture scratching isn’t done just to sharpen claws and it certainly isn’t done to be destructive. So why does your cat choose the sofa instead of the scratching post? Typically, cats look for objects that are tall, sturdy and covered in a claw-appealing material. Objects also need to be located where the cat likes to scratch. Many scratching posts are too short, covered in a soft material and not very sturdy. To understand what a cat needs, you must understand why they scratch. First, it removes the outer dead nail sheath to expose the new growth. Scratching is also a marking behavior. In addition to leaving a visual mark, it leaves a scent mark from scent glands in the paw pads. Scratching is also how a cat stretches her back and shoulder muscles. Last, but not least, it’s an emotional release. These are all much needed functions in daily cat life. If you’ve tried to convince your cat not to scratch, you’ll only frustrate her. Cats need to scratch. Provide a tall, sturdy post and place it where your cat is currently scratching. Sisal-covered posts are often most appealing to cats. If you give your cat a better option than the sofa, she’ll use it.

Why Isn’t My Cat Affectionate?

Cats show affection in many different ways.

Actually, cats are affectionate, but we often expect them to show it in the same way as dogs. You may be missing signs of affection from your cat. A common sign of affection is when a cat rubs his cheek against you. If you thought that behavior was just marking, you’re missing the good part. It’s associated with affection, friendliness and familiarity. Another sign of affection is head bunting. This is where your cat touches or butts his forehead up against you. Kneading is another affectionate behavior. It’s a throwback to kittenhood where kittens would milk tread with front paws to stimulate the mother’s release of milk. Many adult cats engage in the behavior on soft surfaces (such as our laps) when feeling content and happy. There are many other affectionate signs from your cat as well, such as an upright tail flick when greeting you, displaying a vulnerable posture, slow eye blinks (also known as cat kisses), touching you with a paw or sitting close by. Your cat may even lick you or “groom” you, known as allogrooming, which is a clear sign of affection as well. This is how the cat mixes his scent with yours. And of course there’s always the magical, mystical purr! Although purring is complex and can be displayed in a variety of situations, chances are, the cat that’s curled up next to you is purring out of love and affection.

What Else Can I Do to Understand my Cat?

Learn to Think Like a Cat

Decoding a cat’s behavior is easier than you realize if you take the time to look at the environment from their point of view. Rest-assured that every behavior, no matter how puzzling it may seem, always makes sense to the cat.

Keep an eye on our blog for future articles and tips on how to better understand your feline friends! You can also sign up for our newsletter to receive insider content and savings!

My Small Dog Conundrum

Posted on January 9, 2018December 18, 2020 by Above1 Support

Meeting My Doggy Soulmate

Last year I walked into a dog rescue organization looking for a doggy soulmate and jogging partner. I wanted to be “that guy” running through the canyons of Los Angeles with a big dog galloping by my side. But, fate is a fickle mistress and decided my future would entail a two pound three legged teacup chihuahua. Oh how the gods must have laughed at me! But the moment I saw her at the shelter, I knew we were connected. From that moment, all thoughts of running the canyons went up in smoke and were replaced with images of being “that guy” that dresses up his little one in the latest doggy fashions. And to this day, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Sure my doggy clothing budget is a bit higher than expected, but dang she turns eyes while walking down Hollywood Blvd.

“I work fine on three legs!”

What should she eat?

One thing I underestimated was finding a proper diet for my little Frida. See, I grew up as a child of the eighties and during that time period what we feed our dogs was drastically different than the products available today. Back then we just bought the most affordable dog food on the supermarket shelf. What did it matter if it was Brand A or Brand B? It was all the same, we didn’t read the ingredients we just trusted the brand. Well, it’s twenty five years later now and I have my first dog of my own and one of my main concerns revolved around making sure she is on a proper healthy diet. The way I looked at it, I don’t feed myself fast food seven times a week, why would I feed my Frida the dog food equivalent of fast food?

“Please don’t drink the Frida!”

Wait, My Dog is a Wolf?

So, I went where most people go today for knowledge, Google! And I was inundated with confusing and conflicting information. One theme that seemed to be used by multiple brands was that “your dog is wolf, they should eat like wolf.” So I took that info to Frida’s veterinarian and asked her to confirm my research. She laughed at me and asked if I considered myself a neanderthal. She said, “Of course you don’t and you wouldn’t base your diet on what a neanderthal would eat, so why would you base your dog’s diet on what a wolf would eat?” She informed me that my little Frida needs more than just meat, she needs a diet, balanced by including high-quality sources of fat and fiber as well.

No, Frida is #NotAWolf!

Armed with veterinarian backed information, I continued my search for Frida’s food. And I landed on CORE RawRev by Wellness. First of all and most importantly, Frida loved the taste and devoured her first meal. And for her, that was important first step. She tends to be a very picky eater.

But what really confirmed my choice was the changes I observed in Frida. I immediately witnessed her energy levels perk up─ she was more active and playful. I noticed a massive change in her coat. Not only did she seem to shine more, but I swear she actually grew more hair! And finally and most important for Frida (seeing that she is missing a leg and all), she lost weight and gained lean muscle.

“I hear everything!”

Balanced Diet, Happy Frida!

Frida is my first dog, or you can say she’s my first child. I spend endless hours enjoying her company and companionship. And now, knowing I have found the right diet for her, a healthy diet backed by her veterinarian, I’m confident that I will have a long and healthy journey with Frida. It turns out, she’s #NotAWolf. And a noteworthy side-effect of choosing CORE RawRev by Wellness, is that I’m actually saving money. Which in return, has increased her clothing budget!

“One of my favorite outfits!”

Create Your Own Custom Pet Treat Tracker – With Video

Posted on January 8, 2018December 16, 2020 by Above1 Support

Why Make a Treat Tracker?

The idea of creating a “treat tracker” came about for two very important reasons─ my dogs Zoey and Jack. Aside from feeding my dogs a healthy diet, I’ve always loved giving them treats. For me giving my pups a treat is not only rewarding to them, but it’s rewarding to me as their pet parent. Treating helps me feel more connected and bonded to them.

But, as Zoey and Jack have aged, their bodies have changed. Both of my dogs are now seniors and their activity levels have begun to slow a little along with their metabolisms. Zoey started to put on some weight and Jack became diabetic. Having these changing health concerns caused me to take a step back and look at what I needed to do to ensure both of my dogs stayed healthy. I started to monitor and track how many times each day I was giving a treat, and it was pretty eye opening for me. Doing this helped me adjust the amount of treats I was giving them.

For Jack, insulin is now a part of his daily life, along with a regimented feeding schedule. He can still have treats, but I need to be thoughtful of when and how many he gets to help ensure his blood sugar remains stabilized. For Zoey, I have added more “play time” and exercise into her daily routine and I closely monitor how many treats she is getting each day and week. Since each dog has different health needs, they have their own treat tracker jars which have really helped me get their health back on track. The jars are also a great way for me to ensure other family members are aware of how many treats each dog is getting to ensure they are not getting an excessive amount.

With this new tracking Jack has been doing great and has remained his fun-loving self, and Zoey has maintained a healthy weight and loves all the extra play time!

Check out our step-by-step video, then keep reading for more detailed instructions & ideas on alternate ways to use your custom treat jar!

What You’ll Need / Supplies:

Jar/Canister
Chalk Labels
Chalk Marker or Chalk
Metallic Marker
Your Pet’s Favorite Wellness Treats
Ribbon (Optional)

Instructions:

Step 1:

Choose a Chalk Label size that best fits the size of the Jar you will be using

Step 2:

Determine where you want to place the Chalk Label

Step 3:

Peel and Stick the Chalk Label in the desired location

Step 4:

Use the Metallic Marker to customize your jar with your pet’s name or with paw prints or other desired designs. We labeled our jar with “Treat Tracker”

Step 5:

Use the Chalk Marker or Chalk to write on the chalk label and customize your treat jar. We labeled our jar with the day of the week and are using to track how many treats we are giving our pup each day. This will help track calories, and let other family members know how much we are all treating.

Step 6:

Fill the jar with your pet’s favorite Wellness Treats. We used Wellness CORE Pure Rewards.

Step 7: (Optional)

Use the ribbon to add a custom touch around the lid of the jar.

Make sure jar stays tightly closed for freshness!

Ideas for the Chalk Label:

“Treat Tracker” to help keep track of how many treats your pet is getting each day
“Activity Tracker” to keep track of how many times your pet did certain activities or tricks each day
“Daily Reminder” to keep track of any important upcoming appointments for your pet
“Helpful Tips” for your pet sitter or dog walker

Wanderlust With Your Pet: Our Top Pet Travel Safety Tips

Posted on January 2, 2018December 18, 2020 by Above1 Support

If you’re a pet parent who also loves exploring, then you’ve probably thought about or have traveled with your pet. When you do travel with pets—be it in the car, on a plane or elsewhere, safety should always come first. Jan 2 is National Pet Travel Safety Day; we’re celebrating by sharing some of the top pet safety tips to ensure you and your pets stay safe while traveling.

Airplane Pet Safety Tips

dog travel in airplane

Flying with pets can cause pet owners a lot of anxiety; this is because pets of a certain size have to go into the plane’s cargo area, and no one wants to be separated from their companion on a flight. To ensure safe travel, in addition to reviewing the airline’s regulations for traveling with pets, there are additional things you can do when flying with your pet.

In the week or so before traveling, make a visit with your vet to ensure your pet’s vaccinations are updated and that she’s in great health. Get a certification. The recommendation from the ASPCA is 10 days for the wellness certificate.
Use a well-ventilated USDA-approved shipping crate large enough for your pet to stand, sit, and turn around. Line the crate with bedding for comfort. Depending on the length of the flight, if your pet might get hungry, attach a dry food supply to the outside of the crate, so those attending to your pet can feed her during layovers.
Label your pet’s crate with her name, photo, your name, your address, and your phone number, as well as the words “Live Animal”. Make sure you have a photo of your pet accessible in your bag or on your phone, so you can ID your pet if she escapes her crate.
Notify employees that you have a pet in the cargo hold area, so if there is a layover someone can check on him.

Pet Safety Tips for Car Trips

cat travel in car

One advantage of road trips with your pets is that your four-legged BFF is right there with you the whole time. A disadvantage is that you need to be able to focus on driving and your cat or dog can become a distraction depending on the circumstances. Safe car trip pet tips include:

Get your pet acclimated to car travel prior to a big trip by taking short drives around town.
Bring necessities for your pet’s well-being in the car with you: food, bottled water, toys, a scoop for potty breaks, medication, identifying papers, collar and ID tag (or microchip), leash and harness, etc.
When you stop, don’t leave your pet in the car. Take the carrier with you wherever you go or take your pet in on a lead.
Keep pets out of the front seat as they can get on the floor and under your brake pedal.
Put your pet in the carrier or on a leash before opening the door. Anxious pets are likely to bolt when you get out somewhere.
Don’t let your dog hang his head out the window; eye injuries can occur this way.

Train, Bus, & Boat Pet Safety

While airlines have policies for traveling with pets, Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses do not (except for service dogs). Some cruises are a little more flexible, so before you buy your ticket for this kind of travel, check the guidelines. Otherwise, the same safe practices for car and air travel apply here.

Take the anxiety out of traveling with pets and make it fun by following safety best-practices. When you’re safe and traveling with pets is allowed, there’s no reason to leave your four-legged family members at home.

Surround your pets with familiar things while traveling. Don’t forget your pet’s favorite toy, pillow or blanket and food.

Photo via @shehasmoxie

Familiar things reduce anxiety. Wellness Pet Food is dedicated to making sure your pet’s emotional, mental, physical, and nutritional needs are met, which is why all of our pet foods are made using natural, quality ingredients.

How a Therapy Dog Spreads Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 18, 2017December 18, 2020 by Above1 Support

Hey everybody, Kono here!

I am a 2-year-old Golden Retriever who lives in Orlando, Florida. My curiously confident and affectionate nature helps me to be a great Therapy Dog, spreading love and happiness to everyone I visit. And that is just what I love to do this holiday season!

The holidays can be a difficult time for many humans, but Therapy Dog visits (or “Animal-Assisted Therapy”) can offer numerous and significant physical and mental health benefits for patients and residents in various settings.

Here I am with a new friend at an assisted care facility.

For example, interaction with a gentle pet has been found to release hormones (i.e. serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin – all hormones that have important roles in boosting moods) that provide an automatic relaxation response in the body. This positive response offers a plethora of physical and mental health benefits such as:

Mental Health:

lowers anxiety
provides comfort
decreases loneliness
lessens depression
reduces boredom
increases mental acuity
provides a happy distraction or “escape”

Physical Health:

lowers blood pressure
improves cardiovascular health
provides a calming effect
diminishes pain
slows down respiratory rate in anxious individuals

With my fluffy powers in tow, I strut into nursing homes, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities; watching every room I enter light up with smiles at the first sight of me. Sometimes, I even go on Therapy visits with my brother Jack, who’s also a Therapy Dog!

Here I am getting ready to visit kids at the Florida Hospital for Children.

Depending on the environment, I typically do a combination of visiting people in common areas as well as private rooms. I spread love to patients and residents in the nursing homes and hospitals and their friends and family. Having a loved one in the hospital can be taxing. While the patients and residents are usually my main focus on visits, there are other people in the room in need of my healing paws.

Here I am at an assisted care facility spreading joy to one of the residents.

When my parents and I enter a room, they introduce us and walk towards the patient or resident. Sometimes they are in the bed, other times in a chair or wheel chair. I do not immediately go up to every person we visit, as some people want me to visit them, but maybe not come too close, or do not wish to pet me. Even my presence can bring relaxation and a happy distraction.

Most of the time, humans can’t wait to pet me! When we get the okay, I’m given my “Go Say Hi!” command; this means I have permission to approach the person. I calmly walk towards them–my wagging tail at work–showing everyone in the room just how important this job is to me. If there’s a request, I’m permitted to put my front paws on the bed so the patient can pet me. My command for this is “Paws Up!” which differentiates between my normal “Up” command, for jumping on something with my whole body, versus just two paws. (To keep both the patient/resident and myself safe, I do not ever put my whole 75-pound body on patient beds.)

Once I’m in the best position and settled close to them, they’ll begin to pet me, ask questions, share memories, talk to us about their families and share thoughts and feelings with my parents and I.

Everyone loves my Christmas reindeer antlers and light-up Christmas necklace I wear on visits around the holidays. Sometimes, I even show off my party tricks when we’re in common areas. I love the attention so entertaining with my fun tricks is something I’m always excited to do!

As a Therapy Dog team, my parents and I cannot forget some of the most important people that keep these facilities and health care institutions running! Many employees in the facilities are in need of a smile and are very grateful to get their spirits lifted by some time with me. Petting, hugging and cuddling me is an uplifting respite in the middle of a long shift or tough day.

Whether they’re patients, residents, friends and family or nurses, social workers and doctors I pass in the hallways I can help ground people from all walks of life, no matter their current struggles.

Here I am greeting some new friends at the Florida Hospital for Children.

My fluffy head, big golden smile and eyes brimming with unconditional love provide companionship for those who need it most. Whether it’s a few moments or an hour with me, my parents and I have seen just how powerful Therapy Dogs are in helping others open up, enabling them to find comfort, peace, and happiness in the most difficult times of their lives. There is an undeniable wave of joy that fills each room as all eyes lock on me, and ear-to-ear smiles spread like wildfire.

10 Cats in Christmas Trees, Just Because

Posted on December 18, 2017December 16, 2020 by Above1 Support

Our cats really know how to get a rise out of us during the holidays. But who can blame them? Sometimes, they need an escape from the holiday excitement, too. And when they do, they head straight for the tree.*

*Safety first! Although cats might sometimes find their way into the Christmas tree, it’s important to closely supervise your pets around your decorations. You can review our full list of Holiday Pet Safety Tips for other potential holiday threats to dogs and cats.

1.

Photo via Andrea N.

2.

Photo via “barkingb”

3.

Photo via “maurinek”

4.

Photo via “entgrty”

5.

Photo Via “lakesidens”

6.

Photo via “pdnitram”

7.

Photo via D. Young

8.

Photo via D. Nolan

9.

Photo via Katrina S.

10.

Photo via “laurene”

Let’s see how many cats love hanging out in the tree! Tag your cat in the tree via #wellnesspetfood #catinatree and post to Facebook or Instagram & we might feature your photo on our website!

15 Pets That Are All of Us This Holiday Season

Posted on December 13, 2017December 18, 2020 by Above1 Support

These dogs and cats are our spirit animals this holiday season.

1. The familiar feeling of exhaustion only the holidays can bring.

Photo via Olga O.

2. When your sweater “shrinks” after all the dinner parties.

Photo via “angeleyes”

3. Combing through HomeGoods for a wreath, like:

Photos (top to bottom) via Courtney R., “jfk”, and “DHinels”

Forty-five minutes later…found the perfect one!

Photo via “vmorales”

4. When you find out your house guests are staying an extra week.

Photo via “juno”

5. No matter how hard you try to keep them untangled, the lights always end up like this:

Photo via “spittz”

6. That one friend at the holiday party…

Photo via “mwenjerr”

7. Hmm, looks like I’ll be working from home today.

Photo via Samantha B.

8. When my friends ask me what my Saturday plans are…

Photo via Anna D.

9. No such thing as going overboard on the decorations.

Photo via “beckikeighs”

10. That moment of peace amidst the bustle when you admire all your hard work.

Photo via J.L.C.

11. Like we said, all the activity of the season can make us a little sleepy.

12. ‘Nuff said.

Photo via “msl”

13. Too many cooks in the kitchen.

Photo via “mlhomishak”

14. Even with the stress, there’s nothing like spending some quality time with your whole crew.

15. And last, that feeling when it’s all over:

Photo via Penny M.

Happy Holidays! Which photos of your pets best reflect your holiday moods? Share them on our Facebook page or tag us with #wellnesspetfood and we’ll be sure to see your post!

About This Page

Pet Type:

CAT DOG

Topic:

Seasonal Tips

Date:

13/12/2017