A harness is one of the first things most New Zealand puppy owners buy, and for good reason. Spreading the pressure of the lead across the chest rather than the throat is… read more
Cat biscuits, or dry food, are the pantry staple in most New Zealand homes. They are convenient, they keep well, they suit free-feeders who like to graze through the day, and good… read more
If your older cat has started serenading you the moment you head for the kitchen, you are far from alone. Many cats become noticeably chattier around mealtimes as they age, calling, trilling… read more
Treats are one of the simplest joys in an older dog's day. A small reward for ambling over when called, a shared moment on the couch, or a little something to make… read more
Older dogs often eat a little differently to how they did in their younger years. Some become slower and more deliberate at the bowl, some get fussier about texture, and some quietly… read more
If your older cat has started following you from room to room, claiming your lap more often, or curling up against you at night, you are not imagining it. Many cats grow… read more
You have probably watched it happen on a cold morning. Your older cat wakes, lifts their head, and then takes their time. The long, leisurely stretch you know so well is slower… read more
As cats get older, the evening tends to become the gentlest part of their day. Many seniors slow down after their last meal, look for a warm spot to settle, and sleep… read more
One of the quieter parts of getting older for a dog or cat is the slow fade of the senses. A pet who used to come running at the rattle of the… read more
A few extra kilos, or a few too few, can creep up so slowly on an older dog or cat that we barely notice. But of all the things you can do… read more
The grey muzzle, the slower mornings, the longer naps in a favourite sunny spot. Watching a dog or cat move into their senior years is one of the quietest, most tender parts… read more
Older dogs and cats often look like they are doing just fine, right up until they are not. Pets are skilled at hiding discomfort, and the changes that come with age can… read more
Most dog owners want to keep their dogs happier and healthier for longer, and what goes in the bowl plays a big part. Dry and canned pet food can be convenient, but… read more
As dogs move into their senior years, the floor gets harder and mornings get slower. Joints that once sprang up off any old cushion now ask for a bit more. A good… read more
On a cold morning, a bowl of fridge-cold wet food can be a hard sell for an older cat. Senior cats eat far more with their nose than with their eyes, and… read more
There comes a point with most older dogs when the walk quietly changes shape. The pull on the lead softens. They stop more often, sniff a little longer, and turn for home… read more
Your puppy is chewing everything in sight, and a sturdy Nylabone seems like the obvious answer. It is one of the most recognisable chew brands on the shelf, so it makes sense… read more
Older dogs are quiet about discomfort. They rarely make a fuss, so the signs that your senior dog is feeling the cold tend to be small and easy to miss: a slower… read more
Older cats spend even more of their day asleep than they used to, and where they choose to rest says a lot about how comfortable they are. As cats age, they feel… read more
As dogs get older, they feel the cold more than they used to. A leaner body, a thinner coat, slower circulation, and stiffer joints all mean an older dog can shiver on… read more
Some Kiwi dog owners feed once a day. Others split the daily ration into two meals. Both camps are pretty firm about which is "right", and somewhere in the middle is a… read more
You're spooning yoghurt onto your muesli and a pair of hopeful eyes is locked on the bowl. It's a pretty common moment in Kiwi kitchens, and the question that follows is fair… read more
A good biscuit is more than a snack. It's the satisfying crunch at the end of a walk, the quiet reward for sitting nicely, the brisk crackle that helps scrape teeth between… read more
You're brushing your dog or scratching under your cat's chin, and you spot tiny black specks scattered through the coat. They look like pepper, or maybe a sprinkling of soil from the… read more
The years with an older dog feel different. Walks are slower, mornings are softer, and the silence between you starts to mean more than the noise. The everyday moments you used to… read more
A senior cat's coat tells a quiet story about how they're getting on. The soft, glossy fur of their younger years gradually becomes a little drier, a little finer, sometimes a little… read more
A senior dog's coat tells a quiet story. The shine that used to bounce back after one brush now needs a little more help, and the skin underneath can feel drier, thinner,… read more
A senior dog's day is mostly soft. Long sleeps, slow stretches, quiet watching, a wander out for a sniff, and back again to the favourite spot. Where your younger dog needed bursts… read more
One day your cat ate anything you put in front of her. The next, she's standing in front of a perfectly nice bowl of food, sniffing it like you've offered her a… read more
If your Pomeranian is scratching more than they used to, you're not imagining it. Pomeranians have one of the lushest double coats in dogdom, which looks beautiful but creates a microclimate against… read more
If you've recently brought home a kitten and noticed a tiny tooth in the carpet, a chewed-up shoelace, or a sudden urge to nibble your fingers, congratulations, you've hit teething. Just like… read more
The first night with a new puppy is the moment most new owners suddenly remember they signed up for a creature who, until 24 hours ago, lived in a warm pile with… read more
If you've found yourself watching your Pug scratching away at the same spot for the third evening in a row, you're not alone. Pugs are one of the most itch-prone breeds in… read more
Senior dogs don't want a four-kilometre power walk anymore. What they want, and what they'll thank you for over and over, is the long, slow, sniff-led wander where they get to read… read more
Senior cats don't make a fuss. They don't bound around the lounge announcing their joys. They quietly choose the warmest patch on the rug, the same sunny windowsill, the spot on the… read more
Your older dog hasn't stopped having favourite things. The puppy chaos is gone, the teenage zoomies have eased off, and what's left is a dog who knows exactly what they like and… read more
The first week with a new puppy is one of the loveliest weeks you'll have together, and one of the most disorienting. They're meeting a whole new family, a whole new house,… read more
Older dogs settle into their own rhythm. The sprint is replaced with a steady mooch, the rough-and-tumble is replaced with a long happy stretch on a sunny rug, and the gear that… read more
There's something lovely about a senior cat. They've earned their soft spots, learned exactly which sunbeam to chase through the lounge, and turned napping into an art form. As they get older,… read more
Cats are brilliant at finding the warmest patch of sun in summer, but a cold, damp NZ winter is a different proposition. The house is colder, the floor is colder, and the… read more
Winter walks in NZ are a different game. The footpaths are wet, the grass is muddy more often than not, the wind picks up a chill that finds the bits of your… read more
Bringing a kitten home for the first time is one of the best feelings going. It's also slightly overwhelming. There's a tiny new creature in your house, you've got bags of food… read more
Bengals are athletic, busy, and almost always doing something. They climb cat trees, run laps of the lounge at midnight, hunt invisible prey from the back of the sofa, and have plenty… read more
As dogs head into their senior years, their heart works just a little harder to do the same job it always has. Most healthy older dogs do brilliantly with it, especially when… read more
If you've lived with a cat for any length of time, you'll know they have a relationship with the floor that involves the occasional hairball. It's something most owners file under "normal… read more
A previously house-trained older dog leaving puddles on the kitchen floor is one of those changes that catches owners off guard. It feels like a regression, or a behaviour problem, or worse,… read more
You've noticed your cat's water bowl is barely going down. Maybe it's the same level today as it was yesterday. Maybe you've watched them walk past it for a couple of days… read more
The digestive system in a senior cat is doing a quiet, complicated job, and it doesn't always tell you when it's struggling. Cats hide gut problems better than most pets, partly because… read more
The gut does a lot of quiet work, and like everything else in an ageing dog, it slows down a little. Digestion takes a bit longer, nutrients are absorbed slightly less efficiently,… read more
You're stroking your cat one evening and your fingers land on something that wasn't there last week. A small bump near the shoulder, a soft swelling under the chin, or a hard… read more