Top 10 Must-Read Posts from The Contemporary Pet in 2017

It’s been an exciting year at The Contemporary Pet. We’ve interviewed some of the best pet experts in the business, worked with pet shelters and updated our followers on the highs and lows of pet ownership on a personal level. Our lowest point, the death of our tortoiseshell cat Peanut Butter, was also one of the most inspiring. Condolences rolled in from around the world, confirming our conviction that pet parents are some of the most compassionate people you can find.

In 2017, we wrote on a wide range of subjects related to pet health, training and happiness. We decided to go back and see what posts on The Contemporary Pet interested our followers the most so that we can continue to focus on the pet topics that interest you the most.

10. Eight Cat Myths Proven Wrong We delved into the many myths and old wive’s tales surrounding felines. From drinking milk to being dangerous around babies, we debunked the most common superstitions about cats.

9. War Dogs: A Brief History of Military Working Dogs  Back in March of 2017, we posted a short history of dogs who have served in the military in a variety of capacities from World War II to present day. It’s obvious many of you have an interest in military dogs and all they’ve achieved.

8. Can the Runt of the Litter be a Good Pet? We turned to our readers for this question from a reader. Pet parents who had chosen the runt of a litter for their own families weighted in on the pros and cons of considering the runt and what the biggest challenges were.

7. Home Décor for Pet Lovers: The 2017 Gift Guide was a cornucopia of home décor items, all with a pet-centric twist. From sweet little animal planters to commissioned oil paintings of your pet, we found lovely  gifts for every budget.

6. Our perennial Rainbow Bridge page isn’t just a post. It’s a special page where everyone can publish a photo and short tribute to the pets they’ve loved and lost. We encourage anyone who has lost a pet to post here so that their memories will carry on and others can see why your pet was so special. Please feel free to post your tribute and a photo of any animal you’ve loved and had to send over the Rainbow Bridge.

5. Winter Blues: Pets Get Them, Too The popularity of this post proves that lower temperatures and less sunlight affect pets as much as people. We outlined the signs of depression in pets and how to cope with them so that both you and your furbabies can enjoy winter more.

4. Keeping Your Bored Pet Entertained While Home Alone  We worry about our pets when we have to leave them alone. Are they bored? Frustrated? Scared? This post gave you suggestions for keeping your dog or cat entertained and out of trouble while you’re away.

3. Are Topical Flea Preventatives Losing Their Effectiveness?  The Contemporary Pet got a lot of comments from pet owners who read this article and echoed our frustration about the ineffectiveness of some brands of topical flea preventatives. We discussed alternative treatments and what to do when your pet’s flea treatment fails.

2. Dog Proofing Your Home for Your Senior Pet  Loving our senior pets requires a lot of patience and strength. Older dogs often develop a Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), a form of canine dementia. They may also develop mobility issues and a variety of age-related illnesses. This popular post addressed ways to make your home more comfortable for the senior pets we love.

1. National Black Cat Appreciation Day is August 17 A surprising winner! This article got truly  impressive traffic in 2017, proving that lots of cat lovers also appreciate the unique beauty of black cats. It was forwarded numerous times, making it the favorite post of 2017 at The Contemporary Pet. There are lots of interesting facts about black cats and their history to entertain and inform you, so take a peek if you haven’t read it yet!

As we move into 2018, The Contemporary Pet will continue to bring you health care, training and other pet care tips as well as informative articles on topics ranging from how to do pet first aid to how various breeds of dogs and cats were developed. We’ll also have gift guides, honest pet product reviews and the opinions of experts so that you can give your pets the life they deserve!