Central Coast Magazines Home and Lifestyle Winter 2024

You don't raise puppies. You raise dogs E veryone has the same dream, to wake up with warm feet, enjoy a hot coffee with a warm lap, go to the beach and enjoy the waves with a warm heart. But what gives us this magical warmth? Our dogs do! The little mischief makers have worked their way into our lives, and we absolutely adore them. And sometimes it can be a little too much adoration that gets these little movers into trouble.

10 Fascinating facts about cats that you may not know! W hisker Fatigue: Cats' whiskers are highly sensitive. They can detect even the slightest change in the environment, helping them navigate and hunt. However, this sensitivity can lead to whisker fatigue if they're constantly brushed against objects or if the whiskers are too long for their surroundings. Purring Purposes: While cats are known to purr when content, they also purr in other circumstances, including when in pain, stressed, or during birth. Purring may stimulate the production of endorphins, which can relieve pain. Walking Like a Camel and Giraffe: Cats have a unique walking pattern where they move both right feet first, then both left feet, similar to camels and giraffes. This method of walking is called "pacing" and is believed to help keep noise to a minimum and improve stalking capability. Third Eyelid: Cats have a third eyelid called the haw, which is a thin cover that closes from the side and appears when the cat is sick, sleepy, or relaxed. It helps to protect the eye and keep it lubricated. Toe Beans: The soft pads on a cat's paws, affectionately referred to as "toe beans," are not just cute—they provide extra cushioning to absorb impact, protect bone structure, and help them silently stalk their prey. They Can Drink Seawater: Unlike humans, cats have kidneys that can filter out the salt and use the desalinated water for hydration. This ability likely evolved from their ancestors, who lived in arid regions where fresh water was scarce. Landing on Their Feet: Cats have a unique skeletal structure that allows them to right themselves during a fall and land on their feet. This ability, known as the righting reflex, is observed in kittens as young as three weeks old. Cats and Humans: Domestic cats have been associated with humans for about 9,000 years. The relationship likely started when cats began hunting the rodents that frequented human settlements. Territorial Vocalization: While cats are known for their meows, they rarely use this vocalization with other cats. Instead, meows are primarily used for communicating with humans. Among themselves, cats rely more on scent, body language, and other vocalizations, like hisses and growls. Jacobson’s Organ: Cats have a special organ called the Jacobson’s

During puppyhood everyone wants to give a pat and introduce their own dog. Then adolescents begins and our dogs go through a new developmental stage, now they are realising that there are scary things in the world. Things like people, who might pat too hard, smell odd, move differently. Now, with those teenager hormones firing, they start to react to those situations. And now we have a revolving door of problems that we cannot undo. They start to pull due to the overexcitement, from their frustration and fear. They bark at people and dogs. When adulthood sets in, we start to see a big social shift in our dogs. They may even become stand-offish or grumpy. The constant frustration of not being able to predict when they get attention and when not can spill over to reactivity. What if there was another way? Well, no matter the age or breed of dog, you can do this: Take your dog’s food, put them on lead and sit on the back deck or front porch with them, basically somewhere quiet. Every time they appear to notice something – it doesn’t matter what it is - say “Yes” then show them you have food. Give them a random amount of food. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Do this when they reach the end of the lead too. They should come to you freely for food. If not, they need time to relax before returning to the exercise. You will notice that your dog becomes more relaxed and less interested in those distractions. As you get better at this Liberty exercise you can start to go further away from home to use this exercise. www.barefootpaws.com.au Phone: 0412 926 830

organ or the vomeronasal organ, located on the roof of their mouth. This organ detects pheromones, which are chemicals responsible for communication between members of the same species. Cats use it to "taste-smell" pheromones, which helps them in social interactions, hunting, and territory marking.

Luxury Cat Lodge www.luxurycatlodge.com.au 387 Central Coast Hwy Erina Heights NSW 2260

25 Home & Lifestyle Magazine | Winter 2024