One problem many cat owners are used to hearing about is excessive weight gain in their furry friends, largely due to overfeeding. But on the flip side, unexplained weight loss can be just as big of a problem. If your kitty is losing weight without being on a diet, it’s usually a sign of an underlying health issue.

The world of prescription medication for pets is complex and often misunderstood. Some pet parents might believe prescription medications are harmful to pets, while others may think they’re the only way to treat health ailments. Truthfully, medications can both be lifesaving and come with side effects that you should be aware of.

Most people are familiar with the idea of a happy cat positioned in front of a bowl of milk, lapping it up greedily. Despite this idea’s popularity, it’s one that is quite dangerous to cats around the world, because cats and milk are not a good combination.

Just like with humans, we expect our furry friends to slow down a little as they age. One of the most common contributing factors to our pets’ reduced activity in their senior years is osteoarthritis—a degenerative disease of the joints. But what about younger pets who appear to be experiencing mobility issues?

If you’re dealing with jet lag, insomnia or anxiety that’s interfering with your sleep, you might take a melatonin supplement to help regulate your sleep cycle. But did you know that melatonin can have a similar benefit for pets?

Most cat owners know how vocal cats can be about food. When it’s mealtime, your cat might turn into a furry alarm, meowing and crying and even climbing all over you to signal that they’re ready to eat. But what happens if after you feed your pet, their cries for food don’t stop? Or if they continue to beg for food, lounging near their bowl or food container all day?

Throughout their lives, we expect our dogs to remember a lot of things. They learn the location and layout of our homes, we teach them commands and tricks, and they remember their favorite toys, places, humans and even words! However, because dogs can’t speak, it’s not as easy to know what’s going on in their heads, or if they’re starting to have trouble remembering things.

With many people’s jobs prolonging work-from-home status, employees have had to grapple with the many distractions the home environment produces. Housework, loud neighbors and children all call for attention, but one less-expected distraction is your pets! Meowing, barking, eager to play or just excited that you are home, your pets might be what’s preventing you from staying focused during the workday.

A great number of things can make it hard for your cat to breathe. From everyday troubles like allergies and asthma to illnesses like pneumonia to serious conditions like tumors or fluid buildup, respiratory problems can affect your feline friend’s comfort and health. To get them the care they need, pet owners need to be mindful of the symptoms that respiratory distress create.