Care
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Have someone drop by twice daily to feed and clean the litter box if you live close to family.
This provides human companionship and maintenance.
- Works best if you live close to family.
one person who lived it
Lay a towel or non-slip mat in the tub base to give pets grip and reduce fear from slipping.
Animals dislike slippery footing; better traction aids gripping and makes getting out simpler.
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Shift your pet's feeding times by 5 to 10 minutes per day for a week or two before Daylight Savings Time changes.
This makes the time adjustment more manageable than an abrupt hour-long change.
one person who lived it
Do not chase a cat that is about to vomit.
Scaring them may cause them to run while vomiting, dousing more of the house.
one person who lived it
Use cat wipes instead of full baths for older cats who groom poorly, as baths can be too exhausting.
Baths are too exhausting for some older cats.
one person who lived it
Install an automatic timer on an outdoor water outlet to fill a dish daily as a backup water source for pets.
It provides water if owners are unable to return home.
one person who lived it
Fill a small pot with water instead of using a bowl if your dog paws water out of its bowl.
One person found this prevented their dog from pawing the water out.
one person who lived it
Bring a duplicate of your pet's home water bowl on outings to encourage drinking in public places.
Familiarity with the bowl helps pets drink when away from home.
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Use a small, white water bowl for your dog.
The white color makes it easy to ensure cleanliness, and the small size ensures it is changed more often.
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Add a rock or object for reptiles to climb on or wrap around during bathing to increase their sense of security.
It helps them feel more secure.
one person who lived it
Gently dip a misbehaving cat's foot in water to trigger grooming and distract it from chaos.
It triggers grooming behavior that lasts for approximately 15 minutes, causing the cat to forget its previous actions.
one person who lived it
Sprinkle parmesan cheese on dog food.
It makes the food instantly fancy and appealing to the dog.
one person who lived it
Use a pie dish or shallow container for pet water to prevent spilling if knocked over.
Pets may knock bowls over when upset.
one person who lived it
Use heavy-bottomed glasses with wide tops, such as rocks glasses, for cat water if cats refuse to drink from standard bowls.
One person reported that their cats stopped drinking from bowls entirely after switching to glasses.
one person who lived it
Place a towel under the cat before bathing to help it maintain stability and reduce panic.
It helps the cat stay stable and prevents it from freaking out.
one person who lived it
Use household items like boxes, bricks, or wood blocks to elevate pet dishes if commercial stands are unavailable.
Achieves the same effect as proper stands.
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