Pets

Be prepared to ferret-proof your house! These guys are smart and creative little explorers requiring serious adult supervision.

By Meg Sparwath

The Shar-Pei is one of the most unusual looking dogs around - that is, if you can find the dog under all those adorable wrinkles.

By Patty Rasmussen

Known as the dogs of the cat world, Maine Coons are intelligent, eager to please and love water.

By Laurie L. Dove

Guinea pigs are small, social and way better than hamsters.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

The ordinary housecat never seems to get the credit it deserves, even though 95 percent of cats in the U.S. are not purebred. Still these cats have distinctive markings to distinguish them from each other.

By John Perritano

Lovebirds make great pets either alone or in pairs and flourish when they're shown lots of affection.

By Laurie L. Dove

Kittens inherit their coats from their mothers, and no two calico cats look alike. Not even twins.

By Patty Rasmussen

These wee and fluffy creatures have a bad rap for biting, but you can nip that behavior in the bud with a little training.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

In rat-infested New York City, the Ryders Alley Trencherfed Society - R.A.T.S - is on the job and prowling the streets with dogs bred and trained to flush out and dispose of pesky rodents.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

That's mainly because they are low-maintenance and surprisingly lovable.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler & Mack Hayden

Scratching is a normal feline behavior. That's why many experts advise against putting your cat through a painful and unnecessary declawing procedure.

By John Perritano

Some Sphynx cats may look like mangled bags of brains, but these so-ugly-they're-cute-cats are among the friendliest of felines.

By John Perritano

The dog days of adolescence are tough on humans. But what about our four-legged friends? Do they deal with similar hormonal changes as they age?

By Meg Sparwath

Rabbits sure are cute - they're smart, curious and crafty, but they definitely need some special care.

By Jesslyn Shields

Some people believe dogs need a full complement of yearly vaccinations and some don't think they need any at all.

By John Perritano

To most people, dogs are sweet and cuddly, but for some, they're terrifying. However, there are treatments to get over this phobia and most involve hanging out with a dog.

By Jesslyn Shields

Humans experience a wide range of emotions, but what about dogs? Do they ever get embarrassed by things their humans force them to do?

By John Perritano

The American Association of Feline Practitioners wants you to know there's a better way to feed your kitty than just filling his bowl and leaving him to gorge as he pleases.

By John Perritano

If you walk your dog on a retractable dog leash, you need to read this article before you or your four-legged friend wind up hurt.

By John Perritano

People often hear if a dog's nose is dry, the dog is sick. If that's true, does a wet nose signal a healthy dog?

By John Perritano

Ceramic and plastic bowls, especially, have been shown to breed E. coli, salmonella and even MRSA.

By John Perritano

And the smellier the better. But nobody seems to be able to figure out why they do it.

By John Perritano

Slipping your dog a little human food once in a while is fine, but be aware that some human foods are toxic to Fido.

By John Perritano

Your dog might even 'trance' - and you have no earthly idea what he's doing. We assure you, he's not the only one.

By John Perritano

Ancient American dogs were decimated when the Europeans arrived. But these pre-Columbian dogs did leave behind a lasting legacy.

By Mark Mancini