If your cat is like most, you often find him perched atop the refrigerator, wardrobe or other lofty places. He may be fully domesticated, but your feline’s affinity for heights stems from his natural instincts. Climbing, prowling and even napping in high places gives your cat an advantage over his surroundings, providing him with a vantage point from which he can spot predators as well as prey.   Unlike humans, who like to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground, cats prefer viewing their surroundings from up high. This allows them to scan for predators— or rowdy children or dogs, as the case may be— and ensures they won’t be disturbed. Providing enough vertical spaces is important, then, to helping your cat feel safe and secure at home. In multi-cat households, having varying vertical spaces also allows your cats to display their social status without leading to feline frays. The cat occupying tallest space also holds the highest spot in the pecking order, meaning your pets don’t need to duke it out to display their rank. Another benefit to providing cats with vertical territory is that it may help remedy boredom that is common in housecats. Although indoor felines are safer than their outdoor peers, they are far more likely to become bored and get up to mischief. Vertical perches give your pet a place to explore, battling both boredom and weight-gain that are endemic in housecats. Finally, cats may simply prefer being up high because it puts them in some of the warmest spots in the house, making the top of the fridge an especially appealing spot for an afternoon nap. You can accommodate your cat’s acrobatic antics by providing vertical spaces such as a cat tree, but there’s no need to spend a load of cash satisfying Kitty’s need to climb. Household furniture such as the tops of refrigerators, bookshelves, and wardrobes can be made cat-accessible by keeping a few things in mind. Shelves should be large enough for your cat to stretch out and lounge on, for example, and need to have a non-slip surface. Make sure you provide enough surfaces at various vertical heights, especially if you have an elderly cat that struggles with agility. Perches with a good view out the window will prove especially enticing for your cat, as windows provide both entertainment and warmth. If you do own a cat tree and it seems unstable, secure it by attaching a large piece of plywood at the base to ensure your cat feels safe exploring the heights in your home.

People tend fall into two camps when it comes to dog kisses: Some come home, swoop down and let Fido lavish them with slobbery smooches, while others are repulsed by the very idea of pet saliva. Similarly, research is ambivalent when it comes to the health hazards of your dog’s kisses. While numerous parasites and bacteria might lurk in your pet’s saliva, some studies suggest his smooches could also boost your immune system and even ward off allergies and asthma.   One thing to keep in mind when deciding how far to let your canine’s kisses go is that, contrary the old wives’ tale, your dog’s mouth is not cleaner than your own. This makes perfect sense when you consider some of the things your dog sticks in his nose in. Your pet could be breeding more than bacteria in his mouth, too: Parasites such as hookworms and roundworms can also pass from dog to human through licking. People with weakened immune systems, young children and the elderly should especially consider staying away from their pet’s kisses, as their bodies are less able to fight off infections. That being said, some studies posit that pet saliva also increases the amount of good bacteria we’re exposed to, potentially boosting humans’ immunes systems. Others cite the wound-healing properties of dog salvia, which may inhibit bacterial growth and shorten the time it takes wounds to heal.   While licking can be a sign of submission and respect, excessive kisses from your canine can indicate something’s wrong. One common cause for excessive licking is anxiety or stress, caused by moving house or introducing someone new to the household, for example. Illnesses or other health problems can also cause a change in behavior, so pay close attention if your dog has suddenly started licking and call your veterinarian for advice. If, on the other hand, your dog’s excessive licking is a behavior that’s built over time, you can try simple techniques to curb his kissing, such as replacing your face with his favorite peanut butter-filled Kong. You can also try basic obedience training to demonstrate to your pet that you are not pleased with his behavior. Remember, puppies offer up face and lip licking as an appeasement gesture to their elders, so comes naturally to dogs. That means it’s important to curb the habit of excessive licking early on, before it becomes a problem. If you do choose to let your dog lavish you with kisses, be sure to regularly deworm him and treat any parasites that show up in his annual veterinary exam.

A dog may be man’s best friend, but it doesn’t always feel that way when you come home to find he’s destroyed your favorite pair of shoes or gnawed the arm of the sofa. There are several explanations for Fido’s fixation on chewing, however, ranging from separation anxiety to boredom, and identifying the underlying cause can help lead to a solution.   Dogs are most likely to chew your prized possessions as puppies, when they lose their baby teeth and turn to teething to alleviate pain as their adult teeth grow in. The good news for owners of gnaw-happy puppies is that most will outgrow this phase. Chewing comes naturally to dogs, however, and some will continue chomping away at your Italian loafers well into adulthood. Often, unwanted chewing is the product of pent-up energy that your pet needs to expel. You can prevent this boredom-relate behavior by making sure you give your pet plenty of exercise, playtime and mental stimulation. If, however, you’re sure your dog is getting enough exercise, you should pay attention to when he’s munching away at your personal possessions to determine the underlying cause. If Fido’s chewing mostly takes place while you’re away from home, it may be a sign of separation anxiety. If, on the other hand, his chewing starts suddenly, it could be a symptom of nutritional deficiencies or other gastrointestinal problems and you should seek veterinary help. Other causes could be hunger, attention-seeking or even fear.   If your puppy is chewing up the household, remember this is a phase that will likely pass and in the meantime, puppy-proof your home by moving objects you don’t want chewed out of reach. You should also take this time to establish yourself as the alpha in the relationship so you can better control unwanted behaviors as your dog grows. Remember, even after his puppy years, your dog’s natural instinct is to chew, so establishing a pack order will help lay boundaries for what is and isn’t okay to eat. If your adult dog has made a habit of snacking on your favorite slippers, focus on redirecting him to his own toys. These should be things like a Kong filled with food or rawhide bone, which won’t easily be confused with your own socks and shoes. Correct bad behavior immediately — by giving your dog a treat in return for dropping your work file, for example — because even a few minutes after the fact, he won’t remember what he did. You can also discourage chewing by “claiming” the object your dog is gnawing, using body language and assertion to show your dog that the object belongs to you. If all else fails, invest in bad-tasting sprays to deter chowing. With some effort and consistency, you should see your dog’s chewing behaviors redirected to his own toys. If you’re struggling, however, you can consider seeking professional help to rewire Fido’s fixation on mastication.