Quirky, derpy, snuggly, aloof, playful, lazy, fuzzy, and frisky are all words that are often used to describe one of mankind’s favorite pets, Felis catus, the domestic cat. While each cat is wildly different with its own personality and unique features, these animals are a delight to live with and a wonder to care for.

Pets can be fairly destructive in our homes, and cats scratch for a variety of instinctive reasons like maintaining healthy claws, helping them stretch, marking their territory, and just because it seems to feel good.

It’s normal for all dogs to lick their paws from time to time, as a part of their regular self-grooming routine. If yours, however, always seems to be licking or biting at its paws, it could be an indication of something deeper going on, and our veterinarian at Compassion Animal Hospital in Woodland Park can help you get to the bottom of it.

Choosing food for your dog or cat, however, isn’t always as simple as choosing healthy food for yourself. Thankfully, there are lots of great pet food formulations available ready-to-go, complete with all the calories and nutrition your pet needs.

In the summer, pets can become overheated quickly which puts them at risk of suffering heat exhaustion (heatstroke). If not addressed promptly, heatstroke can cause permanent organ damage and even be fatal.

June marks the height of kitten season, which means there are loads of litters just waiting to be adopted. So, that’s why the month of June has also been designated Adopt-A-Cat Month to encourage cat ladies, cat guys, cat people, and cat families to visit their local animal shelters and bring home a kitten, an adult cat, or two (or more).

With their graying fur and quiet temperaments, senior dogs and cats often get overlooked in animal shelters. However, deciding to take a chance and adopt a senior pet is often one of the most rewarding choices prospective pet owners can make.

Stress in pets is common, it’s something that pet owners should be aware of and able to recognize the signs so they can provide comfort and corrective training to help their pets relax and be happy.