Each one of us pet lovers has gone through a spell/spells of sudden desire of getting a/another pet. Some of us went with the flow and got one while the others just drifted through the phase with unsuccessful attempts to get one of our own. This article won’t tell you to listen to your gut and give way to your temptations, but instead it will fill you with certain situations explaining when getting a pet can be a blunder, i.e. ‘when not to get a pet’. Let the blunder games begin!

Before/After relocating residence

Getting really desperate to bring home a mutt or a cute kitten while still in the process of moving to another place? Just don’t. Getting yourself a pet right before moving out of a place can be as bad as getting one right after moving into a new place. The workload of wrapping and packing would disable you to pet your pet once brought home. Health and care products accompanying your new affection can add up to the load to be transferred, even demanding extra care. The sheer amount of dust engaged from bringing your old stuff to light would pose a threat to the wellbeing of your young at life pet and even the hygiene of its meal.

Similar reasons persist after once you have shifted to your new pad. Cleaning up your pet’s loo will only delay the setup of furniture. It will also take extra efforts from your end to keep your mutt off the new furniture. Hence, it is always suggested to give yourself some time and not let your pet be the victim of the mess relocating makes.

While mending a broken heart

Nothing is more comforting than having your pet up close when undergoing emotional turmoil of during a break up. But don’t let this craving for emotional support be the reason for bringing home a young one. For it would demand responsibility and whole heartedness from you. It anyway won’t be long before you would be done with your melancholy. If the desire to pet a pet is hard to give up for you, consider adopting an adult pet.

When you or your S/O is expecting

It is hard to understand why would one desire to bring home a pet when they are already on their way to bring home a new life. Yes, a pet might be just the best thing to humour your living barrel of hormones of a wife at keep her at ease but nothing would be worse than her stepping into a pool of urine or seeing poop on her favourite rug. It would also split your attention from where it should be at the moment.

Though having an infant and a dog in the same residence is a widely debated topic, I personally have never found it wrong but having an infant and a puppy in the same residence changes the whole deal. No, a little mutt is not likely to harm your baby, the care a puppy demands is what makes it a tough job. A newly born pet requires similar (if not more) attention from your end as in case of an infant. There are regular trips to the vet, a lot of precautions, hygiene troubles as a pup is not potty trained and a not so handy meal to prepare. It is better to cross off the idea of bringing home a pet during the said delicate times.

Under conflict of interest

Living with an arch nemesis of pets? Don’t get one. We often plan to bring home a pet not considering how much the ones we are living with (parents, S/O, pets) dislike having a pet in the house under the assumption that they will adjust. Well, some don’t! The story usually ends with abandoned pets on streets or adoption centres. So if you live with someone who just won’t tolerate the presence of a pet, save them and your pet from cruelty and just don’t bring one home in the first place.

When all you are looking for is a wing man

If the pure purpose of you getting a pet is to have your own personalised wing man then it is just for you. Yes a handsome dog can attract girls for you… along with hours of playtime, poo to clean, fleas to pluck, showers to give and vets to visit. If you find yourself not in the position to take these fraction of all the responsibilities then it is better suggested to get your own Barney Stinson but not a pet.

When the road is your first home

If you live alone and travel for work/fun very often, then considering bringing home a pet might not be best for either you or the pet. Your frequent trips will disable you to train your pet when the time is right or play with your pet when its mood is high. You will be greeted by an overly enthusiast pet while you would be overly exhausted. The pet nannies out in the market may sound like a good idea but frequent use of their services will not only burn a hole in your pocket but also expose your pet to their unreliable practices.

If you are unfortunate enough to land in any of the brackets mentioned above, do learn to harness your desires. As it is not a mere play toy you want to bring home, it’s a life.

The post When Not to Get a Pet appeared first on Pet Attack.

No matter how much we try to believe, cats don’t understand a peanut of the words which come out of our mouth, irrespective of how emotionally moving or full of affection our words are. Hence, the easiest way to express your feelings towards your pet is to pet! Unlike dogs, which, you can have your way with, and be as frank as your buddy from the fourth grade, cats are more like mistress. You either go their way or you maintain your distance. And if by chance, you dare to take things in your hand, make sure you have enough bucks to treat the bleeding scars your cat leaves you with. Yes, cats are very specific with their likes and dislikes especially when it comes to touching them. All you need to do is to harness your urges, turn your mobile phone or any other distraction away and keep the steps mentioned below in your mind. The mistress shall be all smitten if done right!

Getting started-

• Find the right opportunity

Petting your cat is not a thing to be dealt with haste. Make sure you have time at hand and relaxed state of mind. It is best if your cat itself picks up the time to get cosy. Your kitty will let you know by gestures like curling next to your leg or calmly gaining your attention with touch. If your kitty approaches you by rubbing its head over you, yes your pet wants it! If you find yourself desperate to initiate, study your cat’s routine and pick the time to approach her when your little friend is calm and resting.

• Approach

Let us first know what all to avoid while approaching your cat for some petting time.

Cats love their freedom, hence they dislike being restrained or put on leash. Also forcing your hand on them would only draw them away from you. Avoid sudden or desperate movements if you don’t want to end up chasing them.

Then what is the right way? Learn to approach gently, with a smooth movement of your hand bring it at the eye level of your cat, close enough for them to sniff and record your scent. If your kitty is in the mood, she will give you her accordance by rubbing either her head, chin or side of her body on your hand. Hurrah!

The tricks!

•  Give gentle strokes on the middle of the forehead of your cat ranging from between the eyes. Doing this not only relaxes your pet, but also affects its nerve function.
•  After soothing your cat using a gentle touch on her forehead as mentioned above, you can go for a tricky one. Once having your cat in a mood to be pleased, brush the back of your hand gently alongside the face of your kitty. Provide a transition by simultaneously stroking the cat’s whiskers with a gentle touch as well as petting her between her ears at the very same time. This shall provide your cat with some exclusive pleasure if executed with gentle and patient approach.
•   A soothing caressing stroke with your open palm, growing slowly from their throat to chin can impress your cat very well!
•  It is one of the oldest tricks in the book, one that we have seen English women do to their kitties involuntarily in decades old cinema flicks. Yes! It involves running your palm across the entire length of your beloved cat’s back. The trick is to work your open palm from neck till the very beginning of the tail of your cat. Iterate the same procedure maintaining a gentle pace yet increasing the pressure gently with each turn up to a comfortable limit. Avoid any contact with the tail and save your hand from wandering and you shall do just fine. Keep your eyes on your pet for response and adjust accordingly. Avoid experimenting with patting or reaching the sides unless you know the cat very well.
•  Massaging in small circles around the cheeks of your kitty can be pleasing to them. It also positively affects their digestion! Make sure to enroll this trick in your routine.
•  Using your fingers, lightly caress the head of your cat. Limit your area to between the ears, often scratching gently behind the ears too. Most of the cats relish this feeling, especially scratching them from back to front and hardly anything can go wrong with it. If you are well familiar with the cat, you can risk petting the cat under the chin as most of them thoroughly enjoy the sensation.
• Avoid their tummy, no matter how much you think your cat is asking for it. Yes, majority of the cats don’t like being caressed on their belly. Though, some may get in a playful mood when done so but that aggressive act of playing will leave you with scratched arms scarred memories.
•  Some cats can enjoy their feet being given attention, yet some don’t. Start by touching just one foot, if there is no sudden repulsion you may pet your cat’s feet with a finger, going with the flow of fur.

If your cat withdraws itself from your petting, digest it, you were not good enough. Do not try to amend yourself by pulling back your pet, polish your skills for the next time instead. Pulling ears back or cowering is another sign by your cat that your pet is just not into you or at least what you are doing. Your cat may express satisfaction by purring occasionally. Quite opposite to us sapiens, the ultimate achievement of pleasure for a cat by petting still lies in the outcome where your cat falls asleep while your hands are still doing their job. That is the right time to bid farewell with a wide grin and a pat on your own back.

The post Pet your Pet Right! – Cats Special appeared first on Pet Attack.

All of us have been there or still are where only dogs or cats emerge in our heads while thinking about a pet. The west has already opened its arms for peculiar, out of the box pets though we still struggle to think beyond the conventional choices. Lizards, wolf-dogs, hippos and even giraffes are being domesticated in various parts of the work and it is time for us to advance in the same. Here is a brief list of some peculiar potential pets suitable for Indian aspirants with some efforts.

Bengal cats

Have always looked up to Duma with an aww? A Bengal cat shall satisfy you well then. No, it is not a tiger but the result of crossing regular domesticated cat with an Asian leopard. The resulting kitten may look wild with its majestic spotted coat and physical traits tending towards its parentage but a Bengal cat is of gentle domestic cat temperament and can form an adorable playmate posing no threat to your throat. In fact their behaviour tends a lot more towards that of a domestic cat.

Rats

Rats have usually been synonymous with dumpsters, found scaring the living soul out of by standers at Indian railway stations. With such memories it becomes unimaginable to think of a rat as a potential pet for many of us. To break through these stereotypes, no one asks you to pick up a rat from filthy alleys, that will probably get you sick. Fancy domesticated rats can be obtained from a reputed pet shop and they do have their pros too!

Once you are able to get over the stigma about rats and diseases, you can find a great range of fancy rats varying in colour, spots, coat or body type. Rats do come in adorable kinds and can charm you or your kid with their loyalty and intelligence. Being brainy means that you can train your pet rat some tricks worth flaunting. Their adorably compact size enable you to take one with you wherever you go. Playing with them does not require vigorous activity. Hence, it does give them an edge over the larger options out there.

The greatest downside of having a pet rat is their life span. With their playful personality and affectionate temperament, 2-3 years can never be enough with them. Don’t let that stop you and get your kid his own Stuart Little.

Guinea pigs

Just like rats, guinea pigs too can be the ideal mate for your kids! They are small, adorable and delicate ball of fur which are fun to play with. Though these traits also make them susceptible to rough hands of preteens. Just like rats the intellect of guinea pigs make them a quick learner. Build them a hamster like play station and enjoy limitless amusement for both you and your pet.

Emperor Scorpion

It was about queer pets, wasn’t it? Treat your gothic side with a pet scorpion. Scorpions are feared to be fatal which does stand true but certain relatively calm and non-lethal species of scorpions can be the part of your decorations. Cuddling is not a viable option with them but you can surely device a fancy home, replicating their desert like habitat in a glass casing. Emperor Scorpions though non-lethal can sting like a bee or even send a person with venom allergies into anaphylactic shock!

Hedgehog

These little cute pets come heavily guarded with spines to protect themselves from overly attached pet-owners! Weighing less than half a kilogram they are of a gentle temperament holding no high demands. Their nocturnal nature makes them a perfect mate for those of us who spend their nights in front of a screen and the engineering students. Hedgehogs live for about 10 years can definitely contribute in your pleasant memories.

Potato

This pet needs no introduction. We all have seen it, felt it and most of us have even tasted it and its time for some special pet owners to realise that a potato is probably the best pet for them. Who are those special chosen ones? Those who lock their pets out to get baked and suffocate in a car under scorching heat with windows rolled up, those who leave their pets for days alone and locked playing ignorant of their needs, those who buy because they have money but no time, those who place their pet in a cage barely fitting their size, those who think their kids have the right to mangle a delicate life, those who see their pet as investment and not as a living soul. Those of us who want to own a pet yet not live with one, should forget all the other options and get themselves a potato to own and play their will on.

The world of pets is vast and magnificent and picking up one’s companion should require certain considerations. Temperament, diet, care and lifespan are few of the key categories to see if the pet fits you. It is also on your shoulders to evaluate your means, available time and preferences etc. to see if you are fit enough for your desired pet. Go on, find your match!

The post Peculiar Potential Pets! appeared first on Pet Attack.

Having an adorable pet along brings with it mental bliss and pleasure paralleled by no other company. A canine, man’s best friend tops the list of most petted animals and takes no time to make us realise its place in our hearts along with the sense of responsibility which comes as part and parcel of having a pup’s luxury. How adorable is it to find our pet glaring at you with those huge glistering eyes overflowing with innocence. It is only when you see the pale yellow puddle next to your dog on your once posh rug, you realise it was the stare of guilt your pet just shared with you! Expensive care products, a trail of crap all around your house marking your pet’s indigestion and chewed up USB cables are but a fraction of seemingly impossible to solve issues we pet owners have to face. Here is an attempt to compile inexpensive yet tested life hacks to elevate you and your beloved pet’s lifestyle with simple amateur tricks to deal with the mentioned issues and many more!

Beat the heat with homemade ice lollies

Dogs savour a pile of ice in the heat just as popsicles leave us with welled eyes. Help your pup quench thirst and deal with the heat by treating him with ice cubes with a twist. Mix tiny apple slices or chicken broth in the ice trays and surprise your pet.

Troubled with upset belly?

If the queer poo of your canine smells fishy (figuratively), give your pup a diet of chicken and rice for a couple of days and look for any positive transition. In case of upset belly, let your dog stay void of water and food for 12 hours. If the symptoms still persist, contact your vet.

You can even help your mate fight constipation by providing a diet of pumpkins without any spices.

Your pet eats like Schumacher drives?

Leash your gobbler by simply placing a ball in your pet’s bowl. It will restrict their access slowing their pace to eat, enabling them to take their dinner in a healthy time!

Stop your nasty pup from chewing your chords!

Tired of your replacing chewed up chords and cables just to see them get preyed on by your dog again? Here is a simple hack to prevent it. Frequently coat the reachable parts of your chords and cables with bitter lime juice. Your canine won’t make an attempt after the first few licks.

Damage control for your precious rug

It is not a surprise to find your dog peeing on your rug or carpet. Though the guilty stare of your beloved pet may calm your anger that still won’t clean the rug for you. Either pay for the dry cleaning or learn to live with it. Here is a simple hack to get your rug habitable till your pet again soils it. Simply pour some baking soda over the spot as soon as possible, let it sit for a while and then vacuum it. You would be amazed to find how much this little trick can control the toll taken.

 Make your own natural pet care products!

Your canine requires frequent attention towards its health and hygiene and buying products for the same can be an expensive affair. Break through the ordeal with the following tips on making two of the most important pet care products!

• Toothpaste

The hard to endure breathe of your dog while yawning is not the only reason why you should brush your pet regularly. Serious health issues including heart problems in dogs at times result from plaque build-up in arteries. The best preventive measure being getting our dog professionally cleaned which can burn a hole in your pocket and proving to be a hassle too! Save yourself from it with this homemade toothpaste remedy.

Thoroughly mix 1 tsp water, ½ tsp salt, 1tsp fresh parsley or mint, 6tbsp baking soda. Add desired water to turn the mix into a paste and store it in an airtight container. To use this mix apply some of it on a play rope, or your finger and do the trick. Bribing your pet with a snack later will help you in maintaining the routine. Avoid using human toothpaste on dogs at any cost, for the contents include fluorine and other chemicals which may lead to liver failure if ingested.

• Shampoo

Yes! Now you can even prepare the shampoo for your mate with everyday ingredients. Blend a cup of dish soap, ¼th cup of warm water and a cup of vinegar to formulate a natural shampoo which effectively works to make your pet clean and handsome.

Store your dog’s food in a smart, handy way

Get rid of those oversized plastic food bags and store your pet’s kibble in an airtight plastic container or capped pitcher. It will even keep it fresh and handier to use. Enabling you to store it alongside your products in kitchen.

Got a report to finish or a sitcom to watch but your dog demands attention?

Go old school and hang a tennis ball with the help of a rope and a sock low enough for your playful dog to reach. Allow your pet to fight off its flying arch nemesis while you make the most out of the time in hand. Do make sure that the sock doesn’t stink if you want the trick to work!

These are but a tiny share of how ingenious yet simple ways can solve the worrisome responsibilities a pet can bring alongside. So next time before complaining, look into your home made inventory and find your own trick. Don’t pay ruthlessly for your pup’s responsibilities, hack them instead!

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