With many people’s jobs prolonging work-from-home status, employees have had to grapple with the many distractions the home environment produces. Housework, loud neighbors and children all call for attention, but one less-expected distraction is your pets! Meowing, barking, eager to play or just excited that you are home, your pets might be what’s preventing you from staying focused during the workday.

If your home has a lingering odor, you might be tempted to reach for a can of air freshener or light a candle. However, if you have pets at home, you might want to pause before spraying, lighting or diffusing your favorite scents. Many scented products can actually cause problems for your pet’s health!

Cats are creatures of habit. Over time, they get used to your home, right down to the way the furniture smells and where it’s placed in a room. Thus, even slight changes to their environment are typically noticed—and they’re not always appreciated. Big changes, like moving to a new house, can be even worse.

Aside from food, few things are as important to buy for your dog as a leash. You’ll need to use a dog leash almost every day, whether you’re taking your pup for a walk around the neighborhood, running some errands around town or heading on a far-off adventure. Because your dog’s leash will require a lot of use, it’s important to choose the right one.

Getting a new pet is extremely exciting, especially if this is the first pet that you’ll call your own. Unfortunately, raising a pet can be challenging at times, and many new pet owners make mistakes they might regret later.

Pet parents everywhere understand that cats and dogs are sometimes picky—or downright strange—when it comes to their favorite toys. You could spend hundreds of dollars on high-end toys and beds at the pet store, but your cat might ignore them, gravitating to a cardboard box or a loose strand of yarn instead!

As cats age, their bodies endure many changes. They start to slow down, sleep more and might experience more stiffness or pain than they used to. Older cats are also more likely to experience age-related declines in vision and hearing, and their brains might not be as quick as before. Experiencing these changes can be difficult for some cats, and they often need a little assistance from their pet parents to age gracefully and comfortably.

Although summer is often celebrated for its long, sunny days and beautiful weather, it’s also a season characterized by thunderstorms. You might find it calming to observe lightning strikes and rolling booms of thunder from inside your home, but your furry friends are more likely to feel the exact opposite!

For animal lovers who aren’t ready or able to adopt a lovable pet for life, fostering a pet can be a great opportunity. However, becoming a pet foster parent can come with nuances and complexities many people don’t expect. Not every animal lover will be the right foster parent for every animal, so it’s important to consider a few things before taking a pet in.