We all understand the simple pleasures of sharing our homes and our hearts with animals. Coming home after a long day at work to be welcomed by a feline friend weaving around our legs, purring in delight, wipes out the day’s stresses in an instant. The sight of a wagging tail at the window as we pull into the drive, of a rabbit stretching languidly in a pool of sunlight fanned across the living room floor – these are the simple pleasures that pets bring.

Your pets may live indoors permanently (leaving aside those essential, and always enjoyable(!) trips to the vets as required). In some cases this is through your choice, in others it is out of necessity. There is debate about the pros and cons, rights and wrongs, and to an extent it depends on the species and individual animal in question.

Regardless, if you share your home with an indoor pet, it is essential to do what you can to keep him/her happy and healthy. We have put together some top tips for anyone with a house rabbit, cat or dog, which we hope you will find useful:

Rabbits

• Keeping rabbits indoors means that you and your family get to interact with them much more. There’s also the added advantage of keeping him or her safe from predators.
• Rabbits can be litter trained, and you will find that this is easier if they have been neutered.
• Neutering your house rabbit will also reduce spraying and territory marking.
• Provide a safe and secure place where your rabbit can sleep and rest. You may choose a hutch or cage with the door left open so that your rabbit can come and go, otherwise a box or designated corner of a room with plenty of clean hay is just fine too
• Bunny-proof your home! Rabbits will naturally chew and dig, so keep electrical cables out of reach and provide a tray or box filled with hay for them to scratch about in
• Rabbits are sociable animals and company is recommended. Another rabbit is best, but rabbits will also tolerate cats and well-behaved dogs

You can also find lots more advice and information on keeping rabbits indoors for example at this and this site.

Cats

• Adapting to life indoors is easier if it is the norm from kittenhood – it is not really fair to keep a cat inside if he or she has previously been used to exploring the great outdoors
• Consider providing a feline friend for company, especially if you are out during the day
• Keep the litter tray clean and emptied regularly – cats are fastidious creatures and will typically not use a dirty tray – at least not happily. Always provide separate feeding and water bowls if you have more than one cat, along with one more tray than the number of cats (so three trays for two cats)
• Provide plenty of stimulation – lots of toys, scratching posts and access to a variety of places for cats to explore and rest
• Monitor your pet’s weight – indoor cats can be prone to weight gain
• Keep your cat’s vaccinations up to date. Many viruses and diseases can be spread on our shoes and passed on by other pets who may go outside. Moreover you never know when you might need to put your cat in a cattery unexpectedly.

You can find lots more advice and information on keeping cats indoors at the Your Cat and RSPCA websites.

Dogs

• Many people believe that dogs should not live solely indoors. However, with careful consideration of practicalities such as your own lifestyle and the size of your house, as well as the size and condition of your dog, it is possible for dogs to live happily indoors.
• Clearly there is a huge benefit to an indoor dog being small – the amount of exercise and stimulation needed for larger pets to thrive is very difficult to achieve without regular access to the outdoors.
• **It is recommended that indoor dogs are still taken out for regular walks.**
• Scatter-feed dry food and treats in order to provide stimulation and exercise. Hide food around the house and use activity feeders to keep your dog’s mind active. There are several in our shop, along with treats and pastes to go inside.
• Provide a safe place for your dog to rest that he or she knows is only for him/her. Crate training your puppy from the start will help your adult dog feel comfortable and behave well indoors. There is much more detail on this positive training technique on the RSPCA’s website – search for ‘crate training’

As mentioned, keeping pets entirely indoors is contentious and some people feel very strongly one way or the other. If your pet is indoors then with planning and patience, indoor pets can live alongside you and your family, making your house truly feel like a home.

Until next time best wishes,

Shailen

The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of trying to help you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Those of you with rabbits will no doubt already know that Saturday May 9th marks the start of Rabbit Awareness Week 2015 – an annual focus on all things leporine created by coalition of experts, organisations and welfare charities from the rabbit community.

To mark the occasion, many vets, rescue centres and pet stores across the UK are holding special events; ranging from free health checks to food sampling and rabbit education workshops. You can find out what’s happening near where you live HERE.

One Small Hop – What Will You Change?

The RAW focus for 2015 is ‘One small hop – what will you change?’ A rabbit’s quality of life can be greatly improved by making just a few small actions, and RAW suggest that all rabbit owners consider making at least one on-going change this May, such as:

• Ensuring that good quality hay / grass makes up the vast majority of the diet
• Providing permanent access to a large run
• Choosing a hutch that allows your rabbit to make at least three continuous hops from one end to the other, and which is tall enough for him / her to stand on the back legs without the ears touching the roof
• Encouraging foraging, to mirror natural behaviour – hiding food under straw and inside toys for example
• Cleaning the toilet area every day, and the whole hutch at least once a week
• Providing company – rabbits are very sociable animals and should be kept in friendly pairs or family groups. Of course, neutering is advisable if your pairings are not same-sex and you do not wish your rabbits to breed! Contrary to popular thinking, rabbits and guinea pigs should not be kept together – the different needs and characteristics of each species are not compatible, and can thus cause stress
• Interact regularly with your rabbit, ideally at ground level where they feel safest
• Vaccinate your rabbit against the potentially fatal diseases Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease
• Check your rabbit regularly for fleas, ticks and evidence of flystrike. The latter is a nasty condition, caused by flies laying their eggs around the rabbit’s bottom. Maggots then hatch and feed on the animal and the situation can quickly become life threatening

Why not give your rabbit friends a little treat to celebrate their very own week?! You’ll find plenty of ideas in our shop – our favourites include this, this and this.

Thanks as always,

Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

When is the right time to bring home a new pet?

The honest answer is that there isn’t one simple response to this question.

Some people are so distraught by their previous bereavement and accompanying grief that they never want to have to go through the process of losing a friend again. Others may feel that they still have so much love to give, and by welcoming a new pet into their lives they are able to honour the memory of a much-missed friend.

Grief and loss are incredibly powerful, personal experiences that cannot be defined or explained. None of us will ever know how we will cope, and indeed the level of ‘coping’ will vary hugely from day to day. That’s why the best advice is to wait a while before deciding on a new pet; and only you can decide how long this time needs to be.

Some factors to consider might include:

• What else is going on in your life? If you are about to undergo a period of change or stress, such as moving home, switching jobs, taking a holiday or undergoing an operation, it would be sensible to delay bringing home a new pet until such a time as you are able to commit the required time and resources to helping him or her settle in.
• Your general sense of positivity. Whilst none of us ever forget the much-loved friends we have lost, a time does come when we are able to think about the predominantly happy memories of our time with them, rather than dwelling on the more recent time without them. Once you have reached this point, you may feel that it is appropriate for you to move on with a new friend.
• Fostering or looking after pets for friends and family. It can be difficult to know for sure if you are ready to take on a new pet, and so fostering for a local rescue centre can be a great way to enjoy some time with a new friend, without the enduring commitment. Similarly, offering holiday care for a dog or cat known to you is another good way to test out how you are going to feel about having another animal in your life.

There is no ‘right’ time that is the same for everyone.

Often we may feel guilty if we bring home another companion – it can seem as though we are trying to replace a friend, attempting to fill a pet-shaped hole with another pet. Of course this is not the case – those of us who care for pets are drawn to the individual personalities and traits of each. We don’t simply ‘get a new pet’; we choose to share our love and our lives with a unique character. Nor do we just ‘get a dog’, we welcome George, or Spot, or Snowy into our home and our heart.

So whilst we can’t tell you when is the right time to bring home a new friend, we can tell you that you shouldn’t ever feel guilty about doing it. You will know when the time is right, and it won’t matter what anyone else says. Sharing your life with a furry friend is both a privilege and a joy, and denying yourself the opportunity to love and be loved again would be such a shame.

If you would like more practical information and advice, you’ll find plenty of food for thought at The Ralph Site, here.

Thanks as always,

Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

With warmer weather on the way, this is the time of year when many pet carers become aware of the persistent problem of parasites. Because no matter how clean your home is, or how fastidiously your pet grooms, at some point fleas and worms invariably rear their bitey little heads!

Fleas

If you see your pet scratching excessively, notice small scabs and spots on their skin, or find small brown specks of flea dirt in their fur (particularly round their bottoms), then you may have a flea problem. Fleas live and feed on pets – females lay eggs on the host animal, which then drop off into your pet’s bed or favourite resting spot. Therefore it’s important to treat your home with a thorough vacuuming, followed by the application of specially formulated flea spray, in addition to treating your pet.

Fortunately, there are a number of highly effective flea treatments available, so you’re sure to find one that works for you and your pet. The safest and most effective products can be obtained from veterinary practices and pharmacies and it is very important to make sure that you only use the right products designed for your specific pet:

Every year vets treat many cats that have been inadvertently poisoned by being treated with dog products.

DO treat pets for parasites. DON’T use dog products on cats!

Worms

Rabbits do not tend to suffer with worms, whilst the most common in cats and dogs are:

Roundworms:

Looking like strings of spaghetti or elastic bands, they are picked up from the environment, as well as being passed from animal to animal, and possibly on to the two-legged members of the household! Roundworm eggs are almost invisible to the human eye, so can be difficult to spot.

Tapeworms:

You may find segments of these worms excreted in your pet’s faeces (they look like flattened grains of rice). Tapeworms are transmitted by an intermediate host, such as a passing flea, and therefore it is advisable to treat your pet against both worms and fleas.

However, no worm control will prevent re-infestation; the products only kill worms already present rather than providing protection against future problems. Therefore it is recommended that you treat your pet regularly, especially if he or she hunts or scavenges.

And don’t forget, if you need further advice on any aspect of parasite control, your vet will be only too happy to recommend solutions that suit your pet’s lifestyle.

Thanks as always,

Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

One of the most valuable things about The Ralph Site is the sense of community that exists amongst our friends. Anyone who has experienced the pain of losing a pet will naturally empathise with those currently going through the accompanying maelstrom of emotions, and will share the nagging sense of loss felt by those slowly adjusting to life without their best friend.

The Ralph Site exists to provide support to all those who have lost, or who are preparing for the loss, of a beloved companion.

We do this in two ways:

• The main site features a huge amount of practical advice for carers at every stage of the grieving process. It also hosts a number of members-only forums for those who have registered (you can do this by visiting HERE) and provides a caring and sensitive space for memorials to be posted.
• Our Facebook page allows individual stories to be shared, as well as facilitating personal interactions with others who have lost a much-loved pet.

You might like to know that we have also created a closed Facebook support group to complement our main Facebook page. This group currently has over 400 members so by joining you’ll have access to people who can share a wide range of experiences and coping techniques. As you may be aware, Facebook groups work differently to pages – allowing people who may be struggling to create on-going supportive links with others in the group. Notifications alert members when others have posted or commented, developing a mutually beneficial support network to help with the heartache of pet loss.

Our experience is that some people may be reluctant to share how they feel about their pets on an open public page, and therefore we have created the closed group to be private.
If you would like to join the group, all you need to do is click on the link here and leave a request to join.

And if you aren’t already Facebook friends with us, why not join the 40,000 others who have ‘liked’ our page? As well as featuring a daily memorial, we also post news and items of interest to pet carers; regularly sharing inspirational quotes and heart warming pet pictures and encouraging friends to do the same.
Because after all, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Thanks as always,
Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.