Small Animal Supplies

Did you know that we offer a wide range of food, treats, toys and supplies for our small friends too! Currently we stock Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Gerbil, Mouse, Rat, Chinchilla & Hamster supplies, including hay. If you are in need of something else just ask!

We also have multiple resources available to help with the feeding, care and enrichment of small animals!

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Tips to Boost Your Cat’s Water Intake

As a cat owner, you want to ensure that your feline companion stays hydrated and healthy. However, some cats can be quite picky when it comes to their water options, leading to reduced water intake. In this blog post, we’ll share some valuable tips to help increase your cat’s water consumption. From strategic bowl placement to choosing the right materials and incorporating running fountains, these suggestions will not only optimize your cat’s hydration but also improve their overall well-being.

Strategic Bowl Placement

choosing pet bowl for cat

Our expert team can help you choose the best bowl for your cat.

Cats generally prefer to have their water bowl away from their food bowl. Placing the water bowl on the opposite side of the room or in a separate area can encourage cats to drink more. By separating their food and water sources, you address their instinctual behavior and promote higher water intake. Try experimenting with different locations to find the one that suits your cat’s preferences best.

Offer Multiple Water Bowls

In addition to strategic placement, providing multiple water bowls throughout your home can further entice your cat to drink. This approach ensures that water is easily accessible regardless of which area your cat prefers to spend time in. It’s also helpful for households with multiple cats, as each feline can have their own designated water bowl. Consider placing bowls in various rooms or levels of your home to make it convenient for your cat to find water wherever they roam.

Choose the Right Bowl

The type of bowl you use can significantly impact your cat’s willingness to drink. Cats can experience whisker fatigue when their whiskers touch the sides of their bowl, leading to aversion to both food and water. By selecting wide and shallow bowls, you eliminate this discomfort and create a more inviting drinking experience for your cat.

Consider Running Water Fountains

You’ve likely seen adorable videos of cats drinking from kitchen and bathroom faucets. Many cats prefer running water, and a water fountain can mimic the appeal of a flowing stream. Running water fountains attract cats and encourage them to drink more. The continuous circulation helps maintain freshness and provides a sensory experience that entices even the pickiest of cats. Additionally, the sound and movement of the water can create an interactive and engaging environment for your cat, making hydration more enjoyable.

Expert Tip: Don’t be discouraged if your cat doesn’t drink from the fountain right away. Like most new things, your cat needs to adapt to the new fountain over time. It’s normal for a cat to take 4-6 weeks to begin using the new fountain. If you do not have success after 6 weeks, try moving the fountain to a different area of the house. 

Maintain Clean Bowls and Fountains

Tiny dust and dirt particles floating in stagnant water will deter a cat from drinking from it. Additionally, water bowls will start to grow bacteria in less than 24 hrs, so it’s imperative to take proper precautions for cleanliness and safety. Wash your cat’s bowls with hot soapy water at least once a day. Water fountains should be disassembled at least once every 7-10 days so that all parts can be cleaned thoroughly. Be sure to replace the filter every 4-6 weeks, or more often depending on your water quality. Fill with fresh, clean water. We recommend using room temperature water because cat’s don’t generally prefer cold water.

Feed a Moisture-Rich Diet

Cats naturally have a remarkably low thirst drive and have adapted over centuries to thrive in dry environments. Additionally, cats’ tongues are incredibly inefficient for drinking water because they cannot scoop the water into their mouth. For these reasons, their bodies have evolved to absorb moisture through food sources. Therefore, it’s imperative to offer your cat a diet high in moisture. Canned wet food or premade raw food options offer optimal nutrition with high moisture and minimal carbohydrates. Since most feline ailments result from dehydration, a high moisture diet sets your cat up for whole body health and longevity.

Conclusion

Ensuring your cat’s proper hydration is crucial for their overall health and well-being. By implementing these tips, you can help your feline friend stay hydrated and prevent potential health issues associated with inadequate water intake. Remember to strategically place water bowls away from food, offer multiple water sources, choose suitable bowl materials, and consider investing in a running water fountain. Additionally, don’t forget to change the water daily and keep the food and water dishes clean to maintain optimal freshness. By following these guidelines, you’ll promote a healthy and happy lifestyle for your beloved cat.

Kitty Corner: FUN FACT

Cats are supposed to have 18 toes (five toes on each front paw; four toes on each back paw). Cats having more than 18 toes are known as polydactyl.

A dog’s sense of smell is 1,000-10,000 times stronger than humans, leading them to do some amazing work!

Dogs can sniff out blood sugar for diabetics, detect chemical imbalances that cause seizures, detect cancer, alert to COVID-19 and MORE!  This on top of the jobs we already know them so well for – arson detection, finding drugs, lost people and even electronics and firearms!

VIDEO: Canines sniffing out COVID-19 5 days before symptoms appear

Dogs trained to detect the novel coronavirus began sniffing passenger samples at Finland’s Helsinki-Vantaa airport in a pilot project running alongside more usual testing at the airport.

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Why you need a Snuffle Mat

Does your dog turn into a vacuum at mealtime, sucking up his meal in seconds? Or maybe he eats treats in a single gulp, without taking the time to enjoy them.

A snuffle mat could be the solution you’ve been looking for!

These custom mats hide treats and kibble inside, causing mealtime to last up to 10 times longer!

 

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Kitty Corner – Want The Good Life? This Philosopher Suggests Learning From Cats

An uncertain fate awaits the most bracing and contrarian writers: Will the insights they offer still come across as stingingly original if the disillusion they so often recommend becomes commonplace?

I was thinking about this while reading John Gray’s peculiar new book, “Feline Philosophy,” the latest in a provocative oeuvre that has spanned four decades and covered subjects including Al Qaeda, global capitalism and John Stuart Mill.

Gray, a British philosopher, has long been one of the sharpest critics of the neoliberal consensus that emerged after the end of the Cold War. (He happens to share a name with an American self-help author, leading to some unintentional comedy whenever someone has to explain that the writer of books like “Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia” isn’t also responsible for the best seller “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.”)

 

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NorthPoint 2020 by the Numbers

We went through A LOT of raw…over 50 tons to be exact:

Raw Dog Food – 96,441 lbs.

Raw Cat Food – 4,413 lbs.

 

*Does not include frozen treats and toppers such a goat milk or bone broth!

The OTHER Pandemic: Pet Obesity – It’s Real and COVID-19 is Making it Worse

The majority of pet owners with obese pets don’t even realize their pet is overweight. The reason? Slow weight gain over a period of time is often undetectable, especially when you see your pet every day.

Sometimes it isn’t as easy as simply reducing calories or increasing exercise. The quality of food, and availability of nutrients, and your pets individual health status and metabolism all play a role too.

 

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If you need assistance with your pets weight please let one of our knowledgeable team members know …or book a consult here.

Majestic Dogs Photographed in Gorgeous Natural Landscapes Just Like Travel Influencers

For French photographer Audrey Bellot, animals have always had a place in her heart. She’s loved dogs ever since she can remember, and she’s even turned her passion for pups into her career. She’s an expert in dog photography, and focuses on showcasing the beauty of the beloved pets by photographing them in stunning landscapes. Bellot tells My Modern Met, “I sincerely believe that dogs bring a lot to our everyday lives: love, happiness, security, and much more.”

 

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