Why Cats Scratch

Scratching is a normal and necessary behavior for cats. Scratching allows them to shed the outer layer of their claws, mark their territory (cats have scent glands on the pads of their feet and when they scratch they leave their scent behind as their way of saying “this is my territory”) and provides a great way for them stretch out their muscles. Scratching is such an instinctive behavior in cats that even cats who have been declawed scratch on a regular basis.

Of course, knowing that scratching is a normal part of cat behavior is all well and good and does nothing to prevent you from tearing your hair out when your cat is using your couch as his favorite scratching post. Here are some tips for keeping your cat happy and your furniture and drapes intact. First, keep your cat’s nails trimmed to help blunt damage to the furniture. Second, provide your cat with a good quality scratching post (I’ll talk next time about how to choose a scratching post). And third, use a harmless deterrent like Sticky Paws on your furniture. These simple steps will save your furniture and greatly improve your relationship with your cat.

Tips for Flea and Tick Control

Ticked off by fleas? I am a huge believer in Frontline and Advantage for flea and tick control; here are steps you can take to maximize the effectiveness of these products. The natural oils on your dog’s skin help distribute the product so be sure to apply Frontline or Advantage no less than two days before or after you bathe your dog. You also want to choose a shampoo that leaves flea and tick control intact. Earthbath shampoos are my particular favorite.

When applying the product, find the spot between the dog’s shoulder blades and part the hair until you can apply the liquid directly onto the dog’s skin. Don’t put the whole amount in place however. A patch of skin can only absorb a portion of the liquid, the rest runs off onto the dog’s fur and does nothing to help kill fleas. Squeeze the liquid out slowly and, as soon as you notice it start to run off onto the skin, move the tip of the applicator to a spot 1/3 of an inch or so away (part the hair again until you come to skin) and continue to apply the liquid. These quick and easy steps will help both you and your dog have an itch-free flea season.

Keep Your Pet Cool This Summer

Summer days mean picnics, swimming in the lake, and playing frisbee with Fido. For Fido however, the hot summer sun can also mean sunburn, sunstroke, and heat exhausation. With the temperatures beginning to rise, you can make sure you have the coolest pet on the block by taking a few simple precautions.

Water, water everywhere – and lots of drops to drink!
Ensure that your pet has access to cool, fresh water at all times. Unlike humans who can drink Gatorade to hydrate quickly and replenish their electrolytes, animals must rely solely on water to keep themselves hydrated.

Do not leave your dog or cat in the car unattended.
The outside air may be a pleasing 75 degrees, but the car’s interior can heat up to 100 degrees in just 10 minutes. Leaving the windows partly rolled down will not prevent the car from becoming an oven. The safest course of action is to leave your pet at home.

Pick appropriate playtimes and places.
During the hottest months of the year, walk your dog or take him out to play in the early morning or evening. If you want to take Fido out in the afternoon, choose a place that has easy access to a lake or stream where your dog can cool off.

Have an idea for cool fun in the summer sun? Share them on my blog – I would love to hear from you!

What exactly is Petlane anyway?

Petlane is a direct sales company – if you’re familiar with the likes of Cookie Lee, Premier Designs, Mary Kay, Tupperware or PartyLite, you’re familiar with the direct sales model! The DSA (Direct Selling Association, you can see their website at http://www.dsa.org/) provides and excellent definition of Direct Selling. They explain that Direct Selling is the sale of a product or service, sold person-to-person rather than in a specified retail location (hence the direct sell – you buy directly from the representative as opposed to a 3rd party). The representatives for these companies go by a variety of names although representatives and sales associates are probably the most common. Petlane’s sales representatives are called “Pet Advisors” because they advise pet owners on how best to enhance their relationship with their pets. As with other direct selling companies, Petlane sells it products through in-home parties and private showings (one-on-one as opposed to a formal party). You can also purchase pet products via the web at anytime.

Hello and welcome to my Petlane blog! My name is Tara Nemeth, I am the proud mother of Jade the 6 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the Director of Field Development with Petlane. Petlane is a direct sales company (more about that in future postings) that works to enhance the lives of pets and their people.

I suspect some of you may be familiar with Discovery Toys and its founder Lane Nemeth (as you can probably ascertain from the identical last names, Lane and I are related – I’m her daughter). In 1978, Lane Nemeth founded Discovery Toys with the intention of providing the children of the world with the highest quality toys, books, and games available (at least that’s what she told me when I was growing up – I have heard her say many times recently that her true purpose was to ensure that all parents would raise perfect children so that I would have my choice of perfect people when I was ready to get married).

In 1995, Discovery Toys was bought by Avon who promised to take the company international. A short time later Discovery Toys was sold again (that story is too long for this blog) and Lane, though Discovery Toys was and is her first business love, began to look for different opportunities. When I brought home Jade, my puppy and her granddog, she decided to apply her love of direct sales and her passion of making the highest quality products available to a different breed of child. I invite you to visit our website at http://www.petlane.com/