Pets

Begging at the table, scratching up the furniture. If only you could get them to behave! Well, it's not as hard as you think. Here are some tricks from Dr. Lynne Seibert, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Or in other words a pet psychologist. We found them in Good Housekeeping magazine.

• Your cat scratches up the furniture. Well, cats need to scratch to remove the dead outer layers of their claws. And they like to do it when they first wake up. So, get your pet a scratching post and put it next to his sleeping spot. If you already have a post and the cat doesn't use it, get a new one   he might prefer a different fabric. And rub it with catnip or attach a toy to it.
• If your dog begs at the table-Don't give in! Unfortunately you already have at least once, that's why he's begging in the first place. But from now on, make sure your dog has something else to do during mealtimes. Give him a toy, send him to bed or confine him to another area of the house. In time, he'll learn that mealtime doesn't include the 4-legged members of the family.
• If your cat is so active at night that he keeps you awake it's normal. You cat needs to expend energy before he can nod off at night. After all, he's probably been sleeping all day! So, play with him for a while before going to bed. Or, if you're considering getting a second cat, do it! The animals will probably entertain each other, which will take the stress off you!
• If the old cat is hostile towards the new one separate them with a child safety gate, so they can see but not touch each other. This'll allow them to get acquainted. Also, try rubbing each of them with the same towel so they get used to each other's scent. Eventually they'll become friendly enough so you can remove the gate.