Our blog

Q: My three-year-old Burmese yowls loudly at night, stopping us (and possibly our neighbours) from sleeping. What can we do? A: Burmese cats are a vocal breed. You mentioned that you shut him in for the night, but cats are crepuscular (twilight) hunters and he may want

Q: Our cat is anally incontinent. He is otherwise healthy and happy, and our vet has no idea of the cause. It's a real hygiene problem, especially as we have a baby in the house. What can we do? A: This is a difficult condition at the best of times but, with a baby in the house, a big problem. If your cat’s anal sphincter has lost tone suddenly, then it is probably the result of damage

Q: My dog won't stop chewing a small wart under his tail. He chews it constantly and makes it bleed. He's a grumpy old boy and can get obsessive. How can I stop him doing this?

A: There are some excellent inflatable collars, which will restrict your dog's ability to turn its head, but unlike the old lampshade collars, they won't restrict peripheral vision. Used for a few weeks with a course of antibiotics prescribed by your vet to clear up any infection, this may help to reduce your dog's wart and allow it to heal. However, surgery may be your best bet to remove it once and for all. Get a blood test first though, to check that your old dog is robust enough to undergo the anaesthetic.

Scott Miller, vet

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

Everyone knows that cats and dogs fight like - well, cats and dogs. But, by following our simple expert advice, you can make sure that they live in harmony together. From the PetPeople magazine archiveOn thousands of sofas across the country you'll find a dog and a cat, sometimes even nuzzled up together. Domesticated animals have adapted over many generations and are able to thrive in circumstances their wild cousins wouldn't recognise. So multi-pet households can be harmonious. However, it will take time and patience, and the first meeting is the key.