Skip to content

the whiskever blog.

Clear answers to the questions dog owners and cat owners ask most. Every article lists its sources at the end.

How long can a cat be left alone? Hours, days and what to set up first

7 min read, cats

one email a month.

New articles and new free tools, first. No spam.

Topic

106 more articles

How long can a dog be left alone? Hours by age, and the signs to watch

8 min read, dogs

How to find a good vet: what to check before you choose a clinic

9 min read, dogs and cats

Signs of pain in cats: what to look for, and how to score your cat's face

9 min read, cats

How long before boarding should my dog get the kennel cough vaccine?

8 min read, dogs

CareCredit vs Scratchpay for vet bills: how each one works

8 min read, dogs and cats

Cat euthanasia: what to expect, step by step

8 min read, cats

My cat hates going to the vet: how to make vet visits easier

7 min read, cats

Cat hiding after the vet: how long it lasts and what to do

7 min read, cats

Cat not eating but acting normal? How long to wait and what to write down

7 min read, cats

Cat won't use the litter box after moving: a first-week plan

7 min read, cats

Clocks go back: how to shift your pet's feeding and medicine times

7 min read, dogs and cats

Dog ate a sock: when to call the vet, and what it can cost

9 min read, dogs

Dog ate grapes or raisins: what to do now, and when signs show

6 min read, dogs

Dog dental cleaning cost: what is in the bill and how to plan for it

6 min read, dogs

Dog drinking a lot of water at night? What to check and when to call the vet

7 min read, dogs

How much does it cost to put a dog down? Clinic vs home visit

6 min read, dogs

Dog limping but not crying out? What to check today

7 min read, dogs

Dog panting at night when it is not hot: causes and when to call the vet

8 min read, dogs

Dog scared of fireworks: a plan for this season and next

7 min read, dogs

Dog shaking at night: dreams, cold, pain or a seizure?

7 min read, dogs

Dog won't take pills no matter what? A step-by-step plan

7 min read, dogs

Emergency vet cost for dogs: what each part of the bill is

7 min read, dogs

Found a stray cat? How to tell if it is lost, and what to do first

9 min read, cats

Found a stray dog? What to do in the first hour (US)

8 min read, dogs

Gabapentin for cats before a vet visit: what to ask your vet first

8 min read, cats

How to care for a senior dog: vet visits, weight, joints, mind and nights

18 min read, dogs

How to cope with losing a pet: from the last decision to grief, step by step

14 min read, dogs and cats

How to get a cat into a carrier, today and every time after

7 min read, cats

How to know when to put your cat down: signs, a scored scale and what to ask

8 min read, cats

How to pay for vet bills: every option, before, at the desk and after

9 min read, dogs and cats

How to take a cat in the car without the crying and the stress

7 min read, cats

How to take a cat to the vet: the complete guide, before, during and after

10 min read, cats

Lost cat flyer: what to put on it, and where to post it

7 min read, cats

Old cat yowling at night: dementia or something a vet can fix?

8 min read, cats

Older cat not jumping anymore: what it can mean and how to help

6 min read, cats

Pet cremation vs burial: how to choose, with costs and rules

7 min read, dogs and cats

Pet insurance or a savings pot? Work it out in 10 minutes

7 min read, dogs and cats

Pet sitter or boarding? A decision sheet for dogs, cats and pets on medicine

7 min read, dogs and cats

What to do if your pet is lost: find a lost dog or cat, step by step

9 min read, dogs and cats

What to do when your dog dies at home: tonight and in the morning

8 min read, dogs

What to do with your dog's ashes: 8 options and how to choose

6 min read, dogs

Cat losing weight but still eating? Causes and what to tell your vet

6 min read, cats

Signs of kidney disease in cats: what to watch for at home

7 min read, cats

Why is my cat drinking so much water? Causes and what to do

6 min read, cats

Can't afford a vet for your cat? What to do, step by step

7 min read, cats

Is pet insurance worth it for cats? Indoor cats, older cats and one simple sum

7 min read, cats

When to take your cat to the emergency vet: the signs that mean go now

7 min read, cats

Can't afford the vet bill? What to do, step by step

10 min read, dogs

Do vets do payment plans? What to ask, and what to watch for

8 min read, dogs

Dog hates baths? How to make bath time calm, one step at a time

8 min read, dogs

Dog hates being brushed? Why it happens and how to change it

7 min read, dogs

Dog scared of the harness? Why it happens and how to fix it

7 min read, dogs

Dog scared of the vet? What causes it and how to make visits easier

8 min read, dogs

Dog won't let you cut his nails? A calm, step-by-step plan that works

10 min read, dogs

How to brush your dog's teeth when they refuse: a slow, step-by-step plan

8 min read, dogs

How to trim black dog nails without cutting the quick

8 min read, dogs

Is pet insurance worth it for dogs? How to decide with one simple sum

8 min read, dogs

Why is my cat peeing outside the litter box but pooping in it?

10 min read, cats

Cat spraying vs peeing: how to tell the difference

8 min read, cats

Cat throwing up after eating: too fast, or something else? When to call the vet

10 min read, cats

Cat throwing up hairballs: how often is normal, and when is it too often?

10 min read, cats

Cat vomiting yellow foam or liquid: what it means and when to call the vet

11 min read, cats

Is a Christmas tree safe for cats? How to cat-proof your tree

9 min read, cats

Dog barking when left alone: why it happens and how to stop it kindly

9 min read, dogs

Dog chemo side effects: what is normal, what to watch, and when to call

9 min read, dogs

Dog dementia stages: mild, moderate and severe signs (2026 vet guidelines)

10 min read, dogs

Dog not eating after chemo: when to call, and how to help at home

8 min read, dogs

How to help a dog with separation anxiety: a step-by-step plan

8 min read, dogs

How to tell if your dog is in pain: 18 signs, and what to do next

10 min read, dogs

Old dog pacing at night: 6 causes, what to do tonight, and when to call the vet

10 min read, dogs

Old dog slipping on floors: 9 fixes, and when it is a sign of pain

10 min read, dogs

Questions to ask your dog's oncologist: a checklist for the first visit

8 min read, dogs

Why does my dog destroy the house when I leave? Causes, signs and what to do

8 min read, dogs

Why is my cat peeing on my bed? Causes and what to do

9 min read, cats

How to walk a reactive dog: routes, distance and what to do when a dog appears

9 min read, dogs

Why is my dog reactive to other dogs on a leash? Causes and what to do

9 min read, dogs

Cat missing for 3 days or more? The chances, and what to do now

7 min read, cats

Skin and allergies

Cat scabs on the neck: fleas, food or another allergy? What to check

7 min read, cats

Skin and allergies

Dog food allergy symptoms: the skin, ear and stomach signs, and what to do

7 min read, dogs

How far do lost dogs travel? What two studies found, and where to search

7 min read, dogs

Indoor cat got out? What to do now, and where to look first

7 min read, cats

Skin and allergies

Cat over-grooming and bald patches: allergy, fleas, stress or pain?

5 min read, cats

Why is my cat peeing outside the litter box? Causes and what to do

6 min read, cats

How to check if your dog's microchip is registered (and to you)

6 min read, dogs

My dog ate chocolate: what to do now

5 min read, dogs

Skin and allergies

Dog itching all the time? What to record for your vet, and why food trials take 8 weeks

5 min read, dogs

How to give a cat a pill: step by step, and why water after it matters

7 min read, cats

How to know when to put your dog down: quality of life signs

6 min read, dogs

Living together

How to introduce a cat and a dog: the steps, in order, and how long it takes

4 min read, dogs and cats

Lost cat: where to look first, and what to do in the first week

4 min read, cats

Lost dog: what to do in the first hours, step by step

5 min read, dogs

New kitten checklist: litter trays, a safe room and the first vet visit

4 min read, cats

New puppy checklist: the first weeks at home, from the first night to puppy class

5 min read, dogs

Food and safety

Thanksgiving foods dogs can and can't eat: a vet-sourced list

5 min read, dogs

What to pack for dog boarding: a checklist, and what to tell the kennel

6 min read, dogs

When is a cat a senior? Age, changes to watch and vet visits

5 min read, cats

When is a dog a senior? Age by size, changes to watch and vet visits

7 min read, dogs

Skin and allergies

Why is my dog licking his paws? Causes, when to see a vet, and what to record

7 min read, dogs

What to leave your pet sitter: the complete checklist for dogs and cats

6 min read, dogs and cats

Vet release form for pet sitters: what to include and why it matters

4 min read, dogs and cats

Pet emergency card: what to put on a "my pets are home alone" wallet card

4 min read, dogs and cats

Pet emergency go-bag checklist for dogs and cats

4 min read, dogs and cats

Who will care for my pets if I am in hospital? Make a plan in one hour

4 min read, dogs and cats

How to organise your pet's medical records in one place

4 min read, dogs and cats

How to never miss your pet's medicine: a simple daily system

4 min read, dogs and cats

Feeding a dog and a cat in the same house: how to keep meals separate

5 min read, dogs and cats