10 Scientific Benefits of Being a Cat Owner

Calling all of our Walking Wetnoses Cat Parents! As you may or may not know we are Loudoun County Virginia's premiere pet sitting company and love our cat clients as much as our doggie ones! So to give a little love to the felines we are sharing this fun (and interesting!) article from Mental Floss entitled '10 Scientific Benefits of Being a Cat Owner.'  Here are a few to get you started, but be sure to visit the article link here to read more!

"1. OWNING A CAT IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

If you're worried about your carbon footprint, it’s better to own a cat than a dog. A 2009 study found that the resources needed to feed a dog over the course of its life create the same eco-footprint as that of a Land Cruiser. Meanwhile, cats—which eat less in general and are more likely to eat fish than corn- or beef-flavored products—only have the approximate carbon footprint of a small hatchback.

2. THEY'LL HELP YOU COPE ...

Losing a loved one is incredibly painful, but one of the best ways of coping is to own a pet. Cats have been shown to help people get over their loss more quickly, and show less physical symptoms of pain, like crying. Despite the fact that they are only animals, cats serve as a social support during difficult times. People in mourning report talking to their pet to work out their feelings, since it is often easier to talk to something that won’t respond and can’t judge than to another human being.

3. ... AND FIND A SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

If you’re a single guy and you can’t seem to get a date, get a cat! A British poll found that 82 percent of women agreed they are more attracted to men who like animals. And while having a dog will do wonders for your dating life, a whopping 90 percent of single women said that men who own a cat are “nicer” than other guys. Listing that you own a cat on your dating profile could do wonders for the number of responses you get—but remember, a cat is for life, not just until you find a partner.

4. CAT OWNERS ARE SMART.

A 2010 survey of British pet owners by the University of Bristol found that people who owned cats were more likely to have college degrees than their dog loving counterparts. In 2014, a researcher in Wisconsin surveyed 600 college students and found that cat owners were actually more intelligent as well. (But it's probably not the cat itself making the owner smarter: The researchers conducting the Bristol survey said that smarter people tend to work longer hours, and since cats require less attention than dogs, they are a better choice for the busy intellectual.)"

If you need help with your feline companion, be sure to contact us today! We are available for long-term pet sitting or daily house visits. We can work with your schedule to help make life easier!

 Phone: 703-951-PETS (7387)

Email: pets@walkingwetnoses.com 

Moving When You Have Dogs & Cats

Hi everyone!

Have you recently moved or re-located to another area for work, family or just because? "Few events in life can be as stressful as moving. Add pets into the mix, and everyone’s blood pressure, including your dog’s or cat’s, will most likely rise.

Your pets may understand a few words, but they will not comprehend, “Can you please be on your best behavior in the back seat as we drive 1,700 miles across the country to our new home?” That means it’s up to you to get them ready for the move and help them acclimate once they arrive."

Luckily, thanks to this article from The New York Times, author Matthew Haags has a few tips for you to think about when making the big move.

CLICK HERE to read the article to learn about finding your 'inner zen' and preparing your pets for the smoothest move possible.

If you are new to the Leesburg, Virginia area and are looking for some help watching your pets or helping them to acclimate to their new home, we can help! Whether it's a mid-day visit or a few overnights, Walking Wetnoses is the professional you can trust. Learn more by visiting our site at: www.walkingwetnoses.com 

Dogs Recognize Themselves in Test Based on Smell, Not Sight

Good afternoon!

Today we are sharing a really interesting article from The New York Times entitled 'Dogs Recognize Themselves in Test Based on Smell, Not Sight.' It has been a well-known fact that one of a dog's best attributes is their incredible sense of smell. We know that they can turn smell on and off and also recognize things such as a coming heart attack in a patient. (Dogs sense of smell really is incredible!) Today's article share just further adds to the wonder by acknowledging the fact that dogs recognizes themselves and other dogs by their sense of smell, not sight. To read this fascinating article and learn more visit the original article link here!

To learn about our professional dog walking and dog sitting services in Purcellville, Virginia visit us online at: http://www.walkingwetnoses.com/

5 Ways to Prevent Separation Anxiety

Good afternoon,

Maybe you are a pet owner who has a pet with separation anxiety or perhaps you have friends in a similar situation. A lot of times because we love our animals so much we can foster their separation anxiety without even realizing it. So today we are sharing an article entitled '5 Ways to Prevent Separation Anxiety' in which they talk about a few key points to fostering the anxiety and how you can help avoid it.

5 Ways to Prevent Separation Anxiety

Are you guilty of accidentally nurturing your dog’s separation anxiety?

If you believe your dog's anxiety is beyond repair or want help in keeping them company for some short visits throughout the day, then Walking Wetnoses is here to help! We offer full-service pet sitting for all kinds of pets in and outside of your home: dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, snakes, gerbils, birds and more! Walking Wetnoses is licensed in Loudoun County, based in Purcellville VA, and is insured and bonded by Kennel Pro Insurance.

www.walkingwetnoses.com

Unusual Dog Names

We love all dog names, especially those that are uncommon and fun! Today we are sharing a cute photo blog from 'Modern Dog' in which they held a photo contest for dogs with unusual names.
"In our Photo Contest and our day-to-day lives, we at Modern Dog know that there are many dogs who have similar names. And there's nothing wrong with that -- those names are popular for a reason! However, there are some names that are extremely creative or wonderfully fitting for some doggies, and we're featuring some of our favorites below."

To view these adorable pups and their creative names visit the article link here! 

Whether your pup has a household favorite or an off-the-wall fun name, Walking Wetnoses is here! We offer full-service pet sitting for all kinds of pets in and outside of your home: dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, snakes, gerbils, birds and more! Walking Wetnoses is licensed in Loudoun County, based in Purcellville VA, and is insured and bonded by Kennel Pro Insurance.

www.walkingwetnoses.com

Merlin

How to prepare your pets for a hurricane

Good afternoon all,

With the latest weather the United States seems to be experiencing: fires in northwest, Hurricane Harvey in Texas and now Hurricane Irma hitting Florida, we wanted to share this brief yet informative article about preparing your pets for an upcoming hurricane. As much as it's hard to think about, a lot of pets end up lost after a big storm ravishes an area. And now with Hurricane Irma coming for Florida this weekend, we wanted to share this article which gives 5 helpful tips to prepare:
 http://www.animalmedicalcenterfla.com/hurricane.html
Even if you aren't personally being impacted by these storms you may know someone who might be, so please share these tips with them so they can keep their pets safe.

Thinking of everyone who has been impacted by Harvey or going to be impacted by Irma <3

www.walkingwetnoses.com 

Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Pet Safety Tips

Hi everyone,

As you have probably heard, in a matter of hours here on the East Coast we will get to experience a solar eclipse...how cool! For those of you who don't know what one is, according to NASA "Sometimes when the moon orbits Earth, it moves between the sun and Earth. When this happens, the moon blocks the light of the sun from reaching Earth. This causes an eclipse of the sun, or solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the moon casts a shadow onto Earth." We all have been warned to not look directly into the sun or to wear special protection glasses. However, the big question that seems to be buzzing around is 'what about our pets safety?'

Thanks to the good folks at Chewy.com, they have written up a quick article that we wanted to share with some pet safety tips.

"Dogs and cats, just like us, are at risk for damaging their retinas if staring at the eclipse,” warns Dr. Alison Birken, owner and DVM of Victoria Park Animal Hospital who recommends that all pets stay safely indoors during the hours of the solar eclipse. And Dr. Stephanie Liff, DVM, medical director of Pure Paws Vet Care of Hell’s Kitchen and Clinton Hill points out, “In general, with strange phenomenons in terms of the weather and lunar cycles, we can see strange and anxious behavior increase in our pets.” While animals typically know not to stare directly into the sun, “I recommend putting pets inside for the total solar eclipse,” relays Dr. Liff. “I think it’s always better to be safe than sorry."

To read the full article, click here: https://www.chewy.com/petcentral/total-solar-eclipse-2017-pet-safety-tips/

Remember to keep your pets safe and enjoy the eclipse if you are able to!!