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Welcome to Petplan’s blog, a space where you can read up on the latest pet-news, find out interesting facts and tips about keeping your pets happy and healthy, and share your views on hot topics.

Are our pets’ personalities programmed at birth?

Are our pets’ personalities programmed at birth?
Posted on by Petplan
Rachael Garside investigates whether nature or nurture has the greater influence on our companions’ behaviour.

Mike Mullan is used to seeing people cross the street to avoid him when he’s out walking his dogs. He’s the proud owner of two impressive Rottweilers, Lazer and Ross, but admits that he gets frustrated when people assume his pets are aggressive and unpredictable.

What to do about pet toileting problems

What to do about pet toileting problems
Posted on by Petplan
You never know when your pet might become a toilet rebel. But what’s behind it, and what can you do? Deirdre Vine investigates.

‘Inappropriate elimination’ – two sinister words that strike fear into every pet owner – can happen out of the blue, even with the most domesticated, well-trained animals. It’s certainly not uncommon, but it’s vital at the onset to rule out any underlying medical reason for the toileting dysfunction.

Weight gain and upset tummies – what to do

Weight gain and upset tummies – what to do
Posted on by Petplan
Eating unusual foods or too many treats can be harmful to your pet. Vet and writer Alison Logan explains what to do if your pet has gained weight or is suffering from an upset tummy.

NEW FOOD If vomiting and diarrhoea occurs when you introduce a new food, then the food may not suit your pet. Dietary changes should be avoided for small animals in particular.

Spraying: everything you need to know

Spraying: everything you need to know
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat toileting spraying cats
Spraying is usually done by cats to mark their territory. But if your cat is spraying inside your home, or excessively, it could be anxious. Here's what to do about it... From the current issue of PetPeople magazine.What is? Spraying is normal behaviour for cats, but is a problem when it occurs in the home. Scent is incredibly important to cats.

Is your cat urinating on the carpet? Here's how to stop them

Is your cat urinating on the carpet? Here's how to stop them
Posted on by Petplan

Q: My cat has started urinating on my carpets. I use Feliway (a synthetic feline facial pheromone) to discourage scratching, but it doesn't stop her urinating. What can I do?

A: You say that your cat is urinating, but you need to rule out whether it might be spraying. Spraying is a marking behaviour which often occurs when a cat feels insecure and needs to surround itself with its own scent. Feliway would probably have helped if this was a marking behaviour as it reduced the cat scratching (which is another type of marking). This, along with the fact that you say your cat is soiling on the carpet, suggests it is probably urination. Talk to your vet and have a urine sample checked as your cat may be suffering from a urinary tract infection, which can result in a breakdown of toilet training.

Inga MacKellar, animal behaviourist

Why your pet rabbit may stop using the litter tray

Why your pet rabbit may stop using the litter tray
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: rabbit toilet training toileting
Q: My three-year-old dwarf lop house rabbit was perfectly house trained and used his litter trays with no any 'accidents' until he went into a rabbit boarding hotel for a weekend 18 months ago. After that, he continued to use his tray but occasionally urinated just outside it, too. Recently, he has
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