Purr-fect Enrichment: A Guide to Spoiling Your Senior Kitty

Today we're diving into the wonderful world of feline enrichment, with a special focus on our wise and whiskered senior companions. Our senior cats have given us years of love, purrs, and countless moments of joy. Now, it's our turn to give them the best in return!

The Golden Years of Kittyhood

Just like us, our feline friends experience changes as they gracefully age. But fear not, for the golden years of kittyhood can be just as joyful and fulfilling! To make these years truly special for your senior cat, let's explore some enchanting ways to enrich their lives.

Cat Castle: A Palace Fit for Royalty

Every feline deserves a castle, and our seniors are no exception. Create a cozy and regal sanctuary for your cat with plush beds, soft blankets, and a variety of textures. Senior cats often appreciate warm and comfortable spots where they can snooze the day away, so don't be shy about pampering them with the finest feline furnishings.

Fishing for Fun: Interactive Playtime

Engage your senior cat's playful spirit with interactive toys. Wand toys with feathers, strings, or crinkly materials are purr-fect for light play sessions. Encourage gentle exercise to keep those joints nimble and that heart healthy. And don't forget to shower them with praise for every pounce!

Garden of Delights: Indoor Greenery

Bring the outdoors in by creating a little garden haven for your senior cat. Cat-friendly plants like catnip, cat grass, and spider plants provide a touch of nature and stimulate your cat's senses. Just make sure the plants are safe for feline friends, as some can be toxic. A vet consultation can help you select the safest options for your senior.

Culinary Concoctions: Gourmet Dining

Spoil your senior cat's taste buds with a culinary adventure. Consider trying a variety of wet and dry foods to keep mealtime exciting. Specialized senior cat diets are designed to support their changing nutritional needs. And, of course, don't forget to include treats – because every cat deserves a little indulgence!

Birdwatching Bliss: Window Perches

Give your senior cat a front-row seat to the captivating world outside with a comfortable window perch. Watching birds, butterflies, and passing clouds can provide endless entertainment. It's a low-effort, high-enjoyment activity that keeps your senior cat mentally stimulated and content.

Spa Day Extravaganza: Grooming Galore

Senior cats may appreciate a bit of pampering, and what better way to spoil them than with a spa day? Gentle brushing helps keep their fur sleek and reduces the risk of hairballs. Plus, it's a delightful bonding experience that reinforces the love between you and your fur baby.

Love and Attention: The Ultimate Enrichment

Above all, the most valuable enrichment you can offer your senior cat is your love and attention. Spend quality time together, offer gentle pets, and engage in quiet conversations. Your presence and affection are the true treasures that make your senior cat's golden years truly magical.

So there you have it, a guide to purr-fectly spoiling your senior kitty! I hope these enchanting ideas bring joy and fulfillment to the golden years of your feline companion. After all, our senior cats deserve nothing but the best – because they've given us their best every day.

If you have a senior cat and are looking for a pet sitter in the Naperville, Elmhurst, Villa Park or Lombard communities, give us a call or contact us here.

Littermate Syndrome

This may be something you are not familiar with, as was my case.  I actually heard this term mentioned on another podcast and had to look it up.  Littermate syndrome can occur when two puppies adopted from the same litter grow up together in the same home.  In some cases, these sibling puppies will form such a deep bond with each other that they fail to properly socialize with people and other dogs.

Two dogs can be twice the fun for us! But when those puppies are adopted together from the same litter, problems such as littermate syndrome can occur.  When dogs suffering from this are separated they will exhibit classic signs of separation anxiety.  You can learn more about separation anxiety in episode 21. Most experts agree that pet parents should get one puppy at a time and wait a year or two between bringing the dogs into their home.  This can be the best way to avoid littermate syndrome.  One of the worst aspects of littermate syndrome is that your pups do not properly bond with you.

Puppies typically are separated from their mothers around eight to twelve weeks.  At this time they begin to navigate their independent lives.  If siblings are kept together after twelve weeks they may become each other's “security blankets”.  As a result, they may miss the crucial phase of social development, resulting in stunted socialization skills and even anxiety when separated.

Littermate syndrome is not a diagnosed disease, and bringing in two puppies from the same litter does not guarantee they will develop this, but it does increase the chances of poor socialization.  The most common symptoms are:

• Extreme Codependency: When two puppies experience littermate syndrome they become so dependent on each other for security that they resist anything outside of their comfort zone.  This includes other people, dogs, locations or activities.

• Separation Anxiety: The result of codependence can be anxiety that occurs whenever the two puppies are physically separated. They can become so overwhelmed that they have a meltdown.

• Fearfulness: When two puppies are codependent, they fail to interact with people, dogs and things around them.  They may not develop the confidence that forms from learning and exploring their surroundings.  Because of this, they develop a fear of anything new.

• Poor Social Skills: Just because two pups are social with each other, does not mean they are good with socializing with anyone else.  Puppies need the opportunity to interact with other dogs and humans during the formative stage that develops good social skills.  When dogs are experiencing littermate syndrome they just rely on each other, and there is a possibility that they may not have equal status - one may be more dominant - which can lead to aggression.

• Aggression: While not always present, aggression can arise when one pup is more dominant than the other.  The bullying by the dominant sibling can become more intense as the dogs grow.

Littermate syndrome does not go away on its own.  The behavioral issues that arise from the puppies being raised together can be addressed however.  It may take a lot of effort, but you can help your dogs to achieve proper socialization skills and good behavior.  If you have already adopted littermates, please note that there is no guarantee they will develop littermate syndrome.  But you should be helping each individual pup be comfortable without their sibling.  Take puppies on individual walks, take them to separate training classes and have them crate trained separately.  Overcoming the behavioral issues associated with littermate syndrome is a huge task.  If you want your dogs to become confident when separated from each other and disciplined when they are, be prepared to invest significant time, but it will be worth it. I promise!

Tips for Conducting a Pet Sitter Interview

Just as much as you are interviewing a potential pet sitter, they are interviewing you as well.  You always want to make sure to thoroughly vet your pet sitter and make sure they will be a good fit for your pet and for you.  Each pet sitter and pet sitting company probably operates a bit differently from each other, as there is no right way to run a pet sitting company, but there are some basics that should be in place when selecting a pet sitter.

There is no one size fits all for pet sitters, as some specialize in just cats or just dogs, or even provide care to exotic pets and livestock.  With the boom of on demand pet sitters through apps like Wag and Rover, you will need to be more prudent than ever in your search to find a reliable pet sitter.  You must set aside time and realize that it may take time and even a few phone interviews until you find someone or a company who would be a good fit.

Before leaving your pet in the care of a pet sitter or dog walker there should always be an initial meeting, called a ‘meet and greet’ or ‘consultation’.  This is as much an opportunity for you to interview the potential pet sitter as well as an opportunity for them to interview you and your pets.  This also gives the pet sitter a chance to meet your pets in their home and interact with them.  There are many times I arrive at a meet and greet and I hear ‘Wow, Fifi is connecting with you more than the other person we interviewed’.  For me this is a good sign, not only does it indicate to me that the dog is a good fit, but the owner is too.  They are taking the time and putting in the effort to find the right fit for Fifi.  While The Pet Lady provides a free meet and greet for all potential clients, it is not uncommon for a company or person to charge for a meet and greet or consultation.

We will discuss a few important questions you should be asking your potential pet sitter or dog walker next, but please note that Pet Sitters International has a great free download checklist of the top seven questions you should be asking your pet sitter in an interview on their website, www.petsit.com.  

The first one I will touch on is a combination of two of PSI’s most important questions to ask.  Licensing, insurance and bonding.  Sounds fun, right? Well, it is important to ask these questions, fun or not, as you need to know if you, your pet, or the pet sitter is covered in an emergency.  Things happen and we need to be PUPared for them.  Also, certain states, cities and jurisdictions require different business documents, so you should familiarize yourself with what may be required in your area.

The second one I will touch on is can the person or company provide references.  For example, The Pet Lady asks our clients for feedback on Google, there many companies will get reviews and these are viewable to the public.  If there is a negative review, how does the person or company handle the situation?  Beyond that, can the person or company provide current clients who can provide references.  

Another thing I get asked a lot: is there a contract we need to sign.  The Pet Lady does have all clients sign a service contract.  This lays out what the duties of the company are in terms of care of pets and the client's home as well as what the expectation of the client is.  This is an important thing to ask, so the person or company can provide you with all details.  For example, if you want your pet sitter to arrive at dinner time to feed Fluffy, for one company that may be 4pm and another may be 6pm.  Contracts and service agreements lay out the time frames for those services.  The Pet Lady provides our dinner visits between 4pm and 530pm. 

A great thing to bring up in your pet sitter interview is if the person or pet sitter has any specialized training or is a member of an educational association.  I am a Certified Professional Pet Sitter, this means I have taken the time to learn and study all aspects of the industry from the business side to the pet side and have completed a course and test.  This also means I am committed to continued education to keep my certificate active.  This is a great way to learn more about your pet sitter and their passions within the industry.  Hiring a pet sitter who is a member of an organization such as Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters demonstrates the pet sitter’s commitment to the job and industry at large.  These professional organizations provide educational resources and business tools to help their members provide the best possible services to pets and their owners.

Other considerations to take into account would be things like how much notice the sitter needs in order to schedule a service request from you.  Some sitters will take last minute bookings, while others require a specific notice.  Does the pet sitter have office hours and when will emails, texts and messages be answered? Most sitters and companies, while they work long hours, only are available to answer questions during specific hours of the day.  

One of the most important things I mention to all clients are our emergency policies and this is something I highly recommend you ask your potential pet sitter.  What if they are sick or their car breaks down? What if your pet needs medical attention? Or depending on the area you live in, what if a natural disaster occurs? While each sitter and pet sitting company is different, they should all have policies in place for if emergencies happen.  The Pet Lady employs staff who pride themselves on working as a team when emergencies arise.  

While a lot of these questions can sometimes be answered on the sitter's or company's website, it is good to review these things during your interview.  The potential pet sitter will have questions for you regarding care of your pets and your home as well.  According to PSI “When you engage the services of a professional pet sitter, [...] make sure all your questions are answered to your satisfaction.  This ensures that you can leave your beloved pets with the peace of mind knowing that they will be well cared for.  That’s a win-win-win situation for you, your pets and your pet sitter.

If you are in need of pet care, consider hiring a professional pet sitter in your area.  If you are located in Naperville, Elmhurst, Villa Park or Lombard, IL, we would love to meet your furry friends! You can contact The Pet Lady here or call 847.802.9534

French Bulldogs

For the first time in 31 years, the US has a new number one most popular dog breed and you guessed it, it's the French Bulldog or Frenchie.

French bulldogs are one of a kind with their large bat ears and even-keel disposition, it is no wonder they are now the most popular dog breed in the US.  The Frenchie is playful, alert, adaptable and is irresistibly adorable.  The French bulldog resembles a small bulldog with the exception of the breed trademark -  their tall, large, erect ears, lovingly called bat ears.  They have a large, square head, with heavy wrinkles leading to a short nose.  They are known for their compact, muscular bodies underneath a smooth coat.  Frenchies are dogs of only a few words, as they are not known to bark very much, but they do make great watch dogs as they are always alert.  French bulldogs are known to be great in many family situations as well as with companion animals as they are easy going and usually do not need much exercise.  This breed is very popular in cities as they are good apartment dogs as well.

Now that we have had a brief overview of the Frenchie, let’s dive in and go back to where this breed originated from. In the mid-1800’s, a toy sized bulldog found popularity in some English cities, including Nottingham, a then epicenter for lace making. The toy Bulldog became a bit of a mascot for the lace makers in Nottingham.  This was during the height of the Industrial Revolution in England and trades such as lace making were increasingly threatened.  This caused many lacemakers to make the journey to northern France, and of course, they had their toy Bulldogs in tow.  These little pups quickly became popular in the French countryside where the lacemakers settled.  Over the span of decades, the toy bulldogs were crossed with other dog breeds such as terriers and pugs and somewhere along the way developed their infamous bat ears.  This newly emerged breed was named Bouledogue Francais or French Bulldog.

This new breed quickly found its way to Paris and this is where the Frenchie’s reputation as a city dog began.  The breed became associated with the Paris cafe life.  Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec were known for adding French Bulldogs into their paintings of the Paris demimonde.  By the end of the 19th century the Frenchie’s popularity spread all across Europe and America, however the French Bulldog was a tough sell in England as the Bulldog was a national symbol. The American Kennel Club or AKC recognized the French Bulldog as an official breed in 1898.  

According to the AKC “Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility.  They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more.  When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.” This is knowing about the breed you are bringing into your home.  Always make sure to do your research and make sure any pet is a good fit for your lifestyle.

Let’s dive in and talk about French Bulldog breed specifics and how this breed might be a great addition to your family.  Let’s begin with family life breed specifics.  French Bulldogs are known for being great family dogs.  They are friendly and happy when with their family.  Being a great family dog also means they are good with children.  When socialized properly they are great play companions to children.  Frenchies are also known for being a good companion pet to other dogs and in general this breed likes other dogs.  Frenchie’s are a breed who may enjoy dog parks and daycare, but also enjoy spending quiet time at home.

We will talk about the physical characteristics of the Frenchie next.  Frenchie’s average about 11-13 inches in height, so they are a small breed dog and they should be no more than about 28 pounds.  This breed has a life expectancy of about 10-12 years, which is a bit shorter than some other small breeds. They are moderate shedders, so sweeping and vacuuming regularly will be necessary.  However, they are low on grooming needs with their short and shiny coats.  As all Bulldogs, Frenchie’s are known to be moderate droolers and sometimes messy drinkers. Frenchie’s breed standard colors are Brindle, Brindle and White, Cream, Fawn, Fawn and White, Fawn Brindle, White, White and Brindle, Fawn Brindle and White, White and Fawn.  There are Blue Frenchie’s out there according to the AKC, but that is not a standard breed color and somewhere down the line a French Bulldog was bred with another breed to create the Blue coloring.  This is just one more reason why responsible breeding practices need to be regulated.  Ticked markings in the coat are another trait that is not standard, but we are seeing within the breed.  Other standard markings are Black, White, Brindle, Piebald and Black mask markings.

Social breed characteristics are important to consider when selecting a breed.  Frenchies are known to be very social and open to strangers and new people.  They have a high playfulness so you need to be sure to make time everyday, sometimes multiple times per day, to play with your pup.  While their even demeanor may not make them the most protective of breeds, their alertness makes this breed great watch dogs.  They are also highly adaptive pups and introducing them to new places, people and things is very exciting to this breed.

French Bulldog personalities, while all slightly different depending on the dog, are fun.  They are fairly easy to train and with their moderate to high energy level, they are a fun breed.  French Bulldogs are not big barkers either.  Frenchies require a moderate level of mental stimulation throughout the day to remain content.  A puzzle feeder or treat toy is a great way to get your Frenchie to use their brain power.

Like any pure breed pups, there are some health concerns with the French Bulldog.  Because of their front-heavy stature, Frenchies cannot swim.  They should never be left alone near a pool, in the tub or near any body of water.  Frenchie’s are brachycephalic, or a flat face breed.  Because of this they are prone to breathing issues and do not do well in hot, humid weather.  This also makes them a breed that is more sensitive to anesthesia.  French Bulldogs occasionally have eye issues such as juvenile cataracts, cherry eye; skin allergies and autoimmune skin disorders are also known to occur within the breed.  A responsible breeder will take advantage of the tests that are available to screen for these conditions that can ultimately affect the breed.

We mentioned the low grooming needs and short hair before, but a good weekly brushing with a medium bristle brush to remove shed hairs will keep your Frenchie looking their best.  Brushing helps promote hair growth and like with many pets, brushing helps to distribute skin oils throughout the fur, keeping it healthy.  Frenchie’s facial folds should be kept clean and dry.

We mentioned French Bulldogs are playful, but that does not mean they need a lot of exercise.  A short walk or outdoor play session everyday will be enough to keep your pup happy and in shape.  Frenchies enjoy participating in canine sports such as obedience, agility and rally.  

While Frenchies are fairly easy to train, you want to start puppy training and socialization early to ensure your pup develops into a well adjusted adult dog.  Puppy training class is a great way to begin the socialization process and they help to promote good behavior.  While they are easy to train, because Frenchies have big personalities they may need a fair amount.  They are also known for being a bit stubborn, but at heart they are people pleasers.  French Bulldogs are known to be food motivated and this helps the training process.

Like all pets, French Bulldogs require a high-quality food that is age appropriate (puppy, adult, senior).  Frenchies are prone to obesity, which can damage their structure and puts them at higher risk for some of the breed’s health issues, so it is vital to monitor their weight.  

We hope you have enjoyed learning a bit more about the US’s new favorite dog breed.  At The Pet Lady, Dog walking and Pet Sitting, we have seen an uptick in the number of Frenchie clients we have.  I can attest, they are a fun, spunky breed.  They are model four legged clients as well.

If you are in Naperville, Elmhurst, Villa Park or Lombard, IL communities and are in need of dog walking, pet sitting or cat care, give The Pet Lady a call at 847.802.9534 or contact us here.