Friday, October 7, 2016

Adventure Pets

Zeddie 'working' at The Dundas Cactus Festival
When people think of whole health for their pets, the first thing that comes to mind is food. After all, health starts from the inside out, right? It's true, food is a major part, if not the most important part, to keeping a healthy pet. There are; however, many, many other factors that play a part in keeping your furry, feathered, or scaled buddy around as long as possible. 

Balance is extremely important. We know it for our lives, and the same is true for the critters we care for. As crazy as it sounds, little bits of stress is good for us...and our pets! It isn't uncommon to see dogs getting outside of their comfort zone. Many people choose to travel with their dog, take them out for the day, go to parks, and include them in as many activities as possible. But what about the rest of the critters?

I love to take my Savannah cat, Zeddie places. I leash trained her when she was a kitten. Her first trip was when she was 5 months old, and we went to Ottawa. She goes to pet stores, out for walks, chooses her treats and food, has gone to various cottages, ridden in boats, and even went on a very short ATV ride (it was up to a cottage and she was in my lap safe and sound). By exposing her at a young age, I made sure that whatever happened, Zeddie was ready for it. 
In comparison, I got my second Savannah, Jimmy, when he was a little over a year. At home, Jimmy seems like he's up for anything. He loves visitors and is a complete clown. Outside of the house, though, Jimmy is a big baby, and just wants his mommy to take him home. Little bits of exposure have helped him feel more confident outside of the house, but he prefers his adventures to be at home. 

These trips are an excellent way for cats (and other critters) to stay safe, get mental stimulation, and exercise. Little bits of stress also help reduce large amounts of stress when some things happen that maybe weren't a part of the plan. My cats feel confident going to stay with their auntie when I go away and can't take them with me. They are calm in car rides, and a breeze to take to the vets. As an added bonus, environmental exposure helps ensure a healthy immune system.

What adventures do you take your pet on? 

1 comment:

  1. When Superpet was open we used to take our birds to visit their favourite auntie, Faye, and all the lovely staff for a great hour or so of socialization and spoiling

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