Cat & Dog Behavior Blog

8 Ways to Keep the Holidays Stress-free for Your Cat | Comfort Zone

With thoughtful preparation, your home can be a happy place for your feline during the holidays.

Category: Cats & The Holidays | Comfort Zone

Should I Let My Indoor Cat Go Outside? | Comfort Zone

Should you let your indoor cat go outside? If you're worried, here are some safe ways your cat can have fun in the outdoors.

Category: Cat Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Tips to Solve Cat Spraying | Comfort Zone

cat walking through opened door tail and one leg showing

If you have a problem with cat spraying, it's time for more than just another round of furniture cleaning. You need a solution – fast.

Category: Urine Spraying | Comfort Zone

Helpful Tips to Reduce Cat Travel Stress | Comfort Zone

gray cat sitting in pet carrier outside with no door

Many of us like to take our furry friends with us when we travel. Whether by airplane, train, or car, any kind of travel can upset your cat and cause stress behaviors.

Category: Travel | Comfort Zone

Caring for Pets While on Summer Vacation | Comfort Zone

black brown and white long haired cat laying in suitcase next to folded clothes packed

From increased security procedures to extra fees for checking baggage, the logistics of airline travel have become more complicated over the years.

Category: Travel | Comfort Zone

Cat Scared of the Car? Tips for Traveling with a Cat | Comfort Zone

white and brown tabby sitting in closed pet carrier on wooden floor

As much as you might like to have your kitty join you on vacation, cats are creatures of habit and probably won't care much for the change of routine and change of scenery that a vacation offers.

Category: Travel | Comfort Zone

Cat Pheromones Help Cat Scratching & Cat Peeing | Comfort Zone

long haired white brown black cat stretching on back on couch

Bring up pheromones in casual conversation and the responses might range from puzzlement to musings about whether those “pheromone perfumes” can really make you irresistible to the opposite sex.

Category: Pheromones | Comfort Zone

Transitioning Your New Dog to Your Home | Comfort Zone

back of blonde hair woman wearing red and white checkered shirt holding small brown dog face

How exciting to bring a new puppy into the family! But no matter how exciting it is for you, remember that leaving the shelter or the breeder might be tough on your little guy.

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family | Comfort Zone

dad mom and young son petting golden retrieve laying on bed

Thinking about adopting a new furry friend? Congratulations! To make sure it's a great fit all the way around, ask yourself some important questions before you head to the shelter or breeder.

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

Supplies to Have When Bringing Your New Cat Home | Comfort Zone

white and gray kitten sitting on gray couch looking curious

Before bringing your new kitty home, you should be prepared with some supplies. It's best to have all supplies ready before the first time your new pet enters the house because he should be able to immediately begin exploring and get used to things.

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

Introducing a Cat to a Family Member or Pet | Comfort Zone

little boy laying on floor reaching hand out to brown kitten under coffee table

Are you having a baby and worried about how your cat might behave when you bring the baby home? Or, are you thinking about adopting a new pet and are concerned how your cat might respond?

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

Finding Your Dream Cat | Comfort Zone

brown haired woman sitting on couch petting a long haired gray and white cat

No matter where you decide to obtain your cat and whether you decide on a purebred or a moggy, it's important to ask lots of questions.

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

Bringing a Cat Home from the Shelter or Breeder | Comfort Zone

blonde boy looking at gray kitten looking through shelter cage

A new pet: What a wonderful moment for you and your family! But sometimes, it can be stressful for your sweet new cat.

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

Summer Survival Guide to Prevent Dog & Cat Stress | Comfort Zone

white orange and brown cat looking angry

It’s summertime, and the living’s easy…right? Bring on the beach vacations, road trips, and fun family visits! But be aware that, from a pet’s point of view, traditional summer activities can bring some new stresses.

Category: Multi-Pet Behavior | Comfort Zone

Are Dog Barking or Cat Meowing Signs of Stress? | Comfort Zone

gray cat sitting on kitchen chair next to golden dog face resting on kitchen table

Have you ever wondered what behaviors are normal for your cat or dog, and which ones indicate they’re under stress? Sometimes it can be tricky to identify which is which.

Category: Multi-Pet Behavior | Comfort Zone

Preventing Mean Cats & Dogs in Multi-Pet Homes | Comfort Zone

tabby cat laying on floor pawing at large brown and black dog with mouth open

Cats are naturally independent creatures that like to be in control of their environment, and prefer to have a certain structure to their surroundings.

Category: Multi-Pet Behavior | Comfort Zone

Easy Steps to Help Your Cats Get Along | Comfort Zone

There are straight-forward steps that cat owners can take to help eliminate aggressive behavior, improve environmental enrichment, and even help their cats like one another.

Category: Multi-Cat Tension | Comfort Zone

Helping Prevent Mean Cats in Multi-Cat Household | Comfort Zone

orange kitten and brown kitten play fighting

Millions of households in America have more than one cat. However, because cats are solitary creatures, they don't like to share or take turns with food, water, bedding, litter box time, and time with you.

Category: Multi-Cat Tension | Comfort Zone

Tips to Help Reduce Dog Trembling | Comfort Zone

small dachshund sitting on veterinary table being held by owners hands

Dogs have feelings, too, and respond to certain stressful situations by trembling, shaking, or shivering. It could be that he's happy (Yay! You're home from work!), or it could signal fear or stress.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Dog Calming to Stop Restlessness | Comfort Zone

young blonde girl sleeping in bed with arms around medium brown dog

Many breeds of dogs are high energy and never seem to calm down. But there's a difference between high-energy and restlessness.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Tips to Reduce Dog Barking | Comfort Zone

Barking is common in shelters and boarding kennels for exactly these reasons. Dogs are pack animals that, by nature, will try to seek comfort or a playmate if they are lonely or bored.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

How to Reduce Dog Anxiety During Thunderstorms | Comfort Zone

scared golden dog hiding under furniture

We all love a cooling summer rainstorm, but thunderstorms can be very stressful for dogs. Why? Because loud noises and changes in barometric pressure are felt differently by dogs than humans, and dogs with noise phobias tend to suffer the most.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

How to Talk to Your Cats About Moving | Comfort Zone

Moving is a stressful time. Your cats could be experiencing that stress right along with you.

Category: Cat Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Feline Pheromones Can Lower Your Cat's Stress | Comfort Zone

As loving cat owners, we want to do everything we can to optimize our cat’s happiness. Keeping a cat’s stress levels at a minimum means a happier cat, but also a cat with fewer stress-related behavior issues.

Category: Cat Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Why is My Dog Panting During Fireworks? | Comfort Zone

golden Labrador laying on floor in front of wooden door

Summertime often means fireworks, and that's a popular time for dog owners to seek help with their pet's sensitivity to loud noises.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Thinking of Declawing? Fed up With Your Cat? | Comfort Zone

gray tabby peeking over top of chair with paws

While there are so many things to love about our furry friends, fervent cat scratching can drive us up a wall. When a cat has whittled down its scratching post to a nub and has moved on to the living room furniture, many cat owners consider declawing.

Category: Cat Scratching | Comfort Zone

How to Reduce Dog Hiding | Comfort Zone

black dog face partially covered by blankets hiding under bed

Dogs are social creatures and like to be with a group. If your dog is not sick, but he's hiding in a corner, under the bed, or behind the furniture, chances are he's stressed out.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Calm Your Dog from Excessive Owner Seeking | Comfort Zone

blonde young woman petting a small black dog on couch with bright windows in background

Because dogs are social animals, puppies may become very attached to you or someone in your family, following you around the house, and becoming increasingly upset if they can't be near you at all times.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Tips to Prevent Dog Howling | Comfort Zone

Dogs are social animals, and don't like to be left behind — either from the pack of dogs (despite being domesticated, this is their natural instinct) or their new pack of humans.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Reducing Dog Panting | Comfort Zone

black and white dog hugging a teddy bear on the floor

Panting is a normal function for dogs. It's how a dog cools down and settles his breathing after exercise or being outside in the heat. Dogs also sometimes pant when they are nervous.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Why Is My Dog Cowering? | Comfort Zone

scared light brown and white puppy standing on bed near window ears down

Whether it's from improper socialization as a puppy or negative experiences prior to him joining your family, cowering (crouching down in fear) is something to be concerned about.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Minimize Cat Stress During Moving & Renovations | Comfort Zone

man and woman laying on petting tabby cat surrounded by moving boxes

Cats are territorial animals, and changes in their home can cause stress. Whether you're moving into a new home with your cat, or you're having renovations done on your current home, cats are territorial animals that like to have some semblance of control over their surroundings.

Category: Cat Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

3-Step Plan to Reduce Cat Urine Spraying | Comfort Zone

black cat rubbing up on women leg standing up

Much as we love our cats, it’s incredibly stressful to come home to find your cat urinating where he or she is not supposed to. How do you deal with the mess…and the smell? Why is it happening? And what can you do to stop it?

Category: Urine Spraying | Comfort Zone

4 Ways to Make Your New Cat Feel Right at Home | Comfort Zone

white cat sleeping with paws handing off table

Thinking about welcoming a new cat to the family? Your local animal shelter is a great place to start. You’ll not only be saving a life, you’ll also be rewarded with years of love, companionship, and fun.

Category: New Pet | Comfort Zone

How Visitors Impact Cat Stress | Comfort Zone

We all have visitors in our homes — sometimes just one or two folks and, other times, perhaps a party. While very normal for us, visitors can be very stressful for cats.

Category: Cat Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Decoding Dog Barking | Comfort Zone

brown Labrador puppy barking angrily on blue wall background

Dogs may bark, woof, or bow-wow in English, but other languages have other interpretations of the sound that dogs make, including waouh (in French), guau (Spanish), voff (Icelandic), wan (Japanese), and blaf (Dutch).

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Why Is My Cat Scratching? | Comfort Zone

black and white tipped cat claw nails digging into rug

Cats need to scratch. They have retractable claws, which means there is a sheath within their paws that the claws retract into.

Category: Cat Scratching | Comfort Zone

Vacuuming and Dog Stress | Comfort Zone

person in socks standing on rug vaccuuming

Loud appliances like a vacuum cleaner, blender, lawnmower, or even a loud television can be very stressful for a dog. Dogs that are sensitive to noise to begin with might start to panic at even the slightest increase in general noise around the house.

Category: Dog Stress & Anxiety | Comfort Zone

Tips to Solve Cat Scratching and Cat Clawing | Comfort Zone

tabby siting on top of couch with sunny windows behind

The evidence is everywhere — the sofa, curtains, and even your walls: Your favorite feline is a scratcher! For all the meows, purrs, and cuddles, there's still a red flag raised when it comes to allowing your cat to cruise freely about the house.

Category: Cat Scratching | Comfort Zone

Top 7 DIY Gifts for Your Cat-Obsessed Friend | Comfort Zone

A DIY gift can be the purrrfect way of showing your cat-obsessed friends that you care about them and their fur babies.

Category: Cats & The Holidays | Comfort Zone

BEHAVIOR BLOG

Categories

Most Popular

Recent Posts