From a frisky feline to a hyperactive hamster

HE is on a mission to assist our pets  . . . and is right here to reply YOUR questions.

Sean, who’s the top vet at tailor-made pet meals agency tails.com, has helped with homeowners’ queries for ten years.

He says: “If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”

Q: MY cat Mick retains bringing a feline good friend home.

I get up and there’s all the time one other white cat there in the home with him.

I like that Mick is a sociable animal — however isn’t this uncommon for a cat?

I believed they have been meant to be territorial?

How can I remedy it?

Emma Hollick, Basingstoke, Hants

Sean says: Good previous Mick, the women’ man.

Or man’s man, all cool!

Although we’re informed that usually cats are fairly anti-social, they will additionally develop pleasant bonds with different cats.

If you need to exclude his new playmates, then I like to recommend a microchip-operated cat flap which is able to permit Mick in however not his mates.

And sure, I’d think about one other cat good friend for those who can, there are such a lot of in rehoming centres needing good houses.

Q: I’VE bought a hyperactive hamster. Sometimes Brian runs so quick on his wheel, he flies out.

Is he an adrenaline junkie?

Seriously, is there anything I can do to expend his power, as a result of I need him to be as pleased as potential?

He has three ranges in his cage, and many tubes to run in.

I additionally deal with him lots.

Sophie Stuart, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Sean says: This is customary hamster behaviour, and a sign of maybe some of the critical mismatches for the way we are inclined to maintain sure pets.

Hamsters within the wild roam massive distances each night time, scurrying about discovering and stockpiling meals for leaner occasions, and in search of mates within the breeding season.

They cowl a variety of floor.

Of course, after we place them into usually fairly tiny cages, all that power has to return out someplace and this may typically be on the addictive, high-reward thrill-ride of an train wheel.

My advice is to hamster- proof a room and let Brian out to discover every night and work off a few of that power in a extra advanced atmosphere than his cage.

Supervised, in fact.

Q: WE have a ten-year-old Shih Tzu canine known as Ralph and for the final 4 years we’ve lived with my accomplice’s daughter and her husband and their two Shih Tzus.

As Ralph spends a variety of time with them, is he going to have the ability to alter to life with out them after we transfer quickly to a brand new home?

Graham Dutty, Southport, Merseyside

Sean says: In brief, sure he’ll alter over time to being a solo canine.

Will he take pleasure in that course of?

Probably not, initially.

Will he be lonely at occasions? Yes.

It appears a good time to contemplate whether or not you could possibly assist one other canine, ideally a rescue in search of an excellent home.

If you don’t suppose it’s time to develop into a two-dog household, I’d attempt to discover some buddies he will get together with you could go on walks with, or have over for play dates.

Q: WHY are cats petrified of cucumbers? I put one subsequent to my cat Fergus and he ran off.

I’m puzzled. Are there every other fruits and veg I must be cautious of?

Bryan Downs, Crayford, South East London

Sean says: It’s bizarre, eh? I’ve seen these movies too. My interpretation is that it have to be an instinctive concern of lengthy objects, which might have protected their ancestors from snakes.

It may be startling to have a weird-shaped object positioned beside you with out realising, when you find yourself alleged to be a stealth predator.

So possibly it’s not the cucumber itself and only a social media development that went viral.

Star of the week

TED the cat likes nights out on the tiles a lot his proprietor has constructed him his personal devoted SHED to snooze in till she wakes up.

Julie Bow, 56, of Plymstock, Devon, mentioned her 13-year-old puss gave her a morale increase when she was made redundant following Covid – however then he used to wake her yowling at 4am wanting to return in from late-night prowls.

So she kitted out her backyard shed with a cat scratching publish, raised camp mattress and cozy seating and known as it Ted’s Cat Cave so he can nap till morning.

Julie mentioned: “Now we’re both getting our beauty sleep.”

The canine ate my lingerie and socks!

DOGS and cats have been gobbling up their homeowners’ underwear and socks – main to large vet payments and pet insurance coverage claims.

Tesco Bank has revealed it had 1,250 claims final 12 months for pets consuming objects they need to not, which blocked their abdomen or have been poisonous.

Puppies have been answerable for 41 per cent of those claims final 12 months, with a median worth of £1,215.

Adult dogs have been much more mischievous, accounting for 51 per cent of claims final 12 months, averaging £1,561.

Although cats are far much less more likely to eat issues they ought to not, it really works out rather more costly in the event that they do – with practically 100 claims, averaging £12,936.

Other objects eaten by pets embody golf balls, hen bones, toys and stones.

Alex Cross, Insurance Director at Tesco Bank, mentioned: “Anyone with a canine will know that the previous excuse ‘My dog ate my homework’ is way nearer to the reality than one may suppose.

“Our inner claims reveal that some pets are tempted to eat no matter they will get their paws on, which may result in sudden payments.

“It serves as a reminder that pet owners should take care of where they leave their things in case they’re in reach of their mischievous pups or curious cats.”