HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ 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.”
Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, promises he can ‘help keep pets happy and healthy’
This week a reader’s cat is timid around people but likes to nose around their homes Credit: Getty
Q) MY cat Emma is really timid around people, yet she likes to nose around people’s homes.
If she gets spotted she runs. Is this why there’s the old adage curiosity killed the cat?
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Are cats really nosey creatures?
JANET DALE, Sevenoaks, Kent
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Sean says: Cats are wonderfully contradictory creatures. Emma may be shy around people but that doesn’t stop her being endlessly curious.
Exploring neighbouring houses offers new smells, warm sofas and perhaps the occasional neighbour willing to hand out treats. The moment she’s spotted, her cautious side takes over and she retreats to safety.
If you’d rather she kept her adventures closer to home, enriching your own garden with climbing shelves, hiding places and interactive play can help satisfy some of her inquisitiveness. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Good old cardboard boxes will often do the trick.
Q) I HAVE a two-year-old rescue dog, Willow, and his nails are getting long.
He just doesn’t want me to clip them. What do you advise?
He’s a husky-cross and he gets very dramatic.
SIMON JONES, Birmingham
Sean says: Huskies do have a reputation for being rather theatrical, let’s say, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Willow behaves as though you’re attempting major surgery when you produce the nail clippers.
Don’t try to do all four paws in one heroic session. Start by touching his paws and rewarding him, then gradually introduce the clippers without actually cutting anything.
Once he’s relaxed, clip one nail and stop. Build up very slowly. A good groomer or vet nurse can also show you how to do it safely, particularly if his nails are very long.
Please don’t wrestle him into submission, that can turn a dislike into a full phobia.
Q) HOW do I stop my Labrador-cross Mylo begging at dinner time?
It started when the kids were young and he would hoover up anything dropped. He’s a gentle soul and has never tried to take food from hands.
I don’t want to put Mylo out of the room but he looks at me with sad eyes and I want to encourage that behaviour to stop. Should I try licky mats or a bone? If I feed him at the same time, he gobbles his meal up and is straight back to the dinner table.
KATE CLARK, Newcastle
Sean says: Those Labrador eyes should come with a warning. Mylo isn’t being naughty, he’s simply repeating a behaviour that’s paid off handsomely over the years.
Instead, give him something far more exciting before you sit down. A stuffed Kong, long-lasting chew, snuffle mat or licky mat in his bed can keep him occupied while you eat.
If he does wander over, guide him back without eye contact or conversation. Everyone needs to stick to the same rules, because one dropped chip can undo a week’s training.
Q) MY cat Britney has a large pouch that swings under her and makes her look pregnant.
It doesn’t bother her but is very noticeable. Should I be concerned?
DAVID HUGHES, Stafford
Sean says: It sounds like a primordial pouch, which is a perfectly normal flap of loose skin and fat found on many cats. It protects the abdomen during fights and gives extra flexibility when running and jumping.
As long as Britney is healthy, maintaining a sensible weight and the swelling feels soft and symmetrical, there’s usually nothing to worry about.
STAR OF THE WEEK
Milo the Chihuahua-cross is an honorary staff receptionist Credit: Supplied
MILO the Chihuahua-cross is an honorary staff receptionist at the Elfordleigh Hotel in Plympton, Devon.
The 12-year-old works alongside his owner, Samantha Chambers, though he can often be found taking naps.
Samantha, 49, said: “Milo is a friendly face to all of our visitors and four-legged guests who come to the hotel.
“He’s a very much-loved member of the staff team too, but he does have a habit of snoozing on the job.”
While Samantha has worked at the hotel for 25 years, Milo is a relative newbie, having been behind the reception desk for a year. Samantha added: “Instead of a salary he gets plenty of his favourite chicken dog treats.”
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SOMETHING SMELLS OFF WITH CAT OWNERS
The reason cats give their owners the cold shoulder when they return from holiday has been revealed Credit: Getty
AS cat owners return from their holidays, many are given the cold shoulder from their pets – and the reason has been revealed.
An expert says they are not trying to punish us, it is actually just down to how we SMELL.
Daniel Warren-Cummings, senior behaviour engagement manager at Cats Protection, said: “Cats rely on smell and sound for a sense of security.
“When you return after travelling through airports, hotels and taxis, your personal scent is buried under a layer of strange odours.”
But he explained that it resolves after a shower and being in home surroundings.
Daniel added: “It’s natural to feel a pang of remorse when you close the door and see your cat watching you leave.
“Our pets are central to our lives, so the thought of them feeling abandoned and confused while we’re away can be tough.
“Understanding that cats are creatures of habit and view our absence through the lens of routine, rather than emotional rejection, can help owners enjoy a break without guilt.”
For more information on leaving your cat to go on holiday, and other pet help, see cats.org.uk.
