If you've ever experienced losing a pet, you may have wondered what to do beyond walking your neighborhood. Now, for cat owners, there is a one-stop resource to help you get your lost kitty back...

It's finally spring and time for those pesky fleas and ticks to emerge. Pet owners have traditionally used medications with chemical ingredients for flea and tick prevention. However, many pets suffer side effects.

Whiskers To Tails Petsitting participates in Trupanion's pet insurance affiliate program because it is one of the best policies for pet owners out there.

Whiskers To Tails Petsitting joins pet-care professionals in celebrating March 3-9, 2013 as Professional Pet Sitters Week.

Our clients already are aware, but we want the world to know--we've added some basic pet grooming services to our offerings...

Yes, dogs living longer is possible if pet owners change their ideas about how they care for their canines.

We are a pet loving society and U.S. pet ownership statistics prove it.

Are dogs really O.K. in the cold? When temperatures dip below zero, pet owners need to use caution when taking dogs outside or leaving them in cold air for an extended time.

Sometimes hard work pays off and for Whiskers To Tails Petsitting that happened a few short weeks ago...

Pet parents will do most anything to keep their trusted companions healthy and safe. But it takes good research to find a health insurance product that covers your pet adequately.

If there's a new puppy in your household and you work full time, there's another option to doggie daycare that may work for you...

The 80th Annual Twin City Cat Fancier Show is a must see for cat lovers.

Many people use Angie's List as their source for reliable recommendations about all types of services. Imagine how great that would be for a pet sitting service like ours...

If you've been wondering whether or not to buy pet health insurance, you're not alone. There are many insurers who offer pet insurance plans, but policies and coverage vary widely.

The heat was intense, the humidity swampy, yet pet owners and pet-related businesses carried on without missing a beat this past weekend.

Summer is a busy time for pet sitters-not just taking care of our clients' pets but taking part in many pet-related events throughout the Twin Cities.

Cats can be mysterious creatures as many cat owners know. While cats can't talk to let us know how they feel, they have other ways to show their love.

As a pet lover, I enjoy buying things I know my pets will love. I came across the items here while networking with others in pet-related businesses.

There are 50 million in the U.S. today. Most of us have spotted them in our neighborhoods but failed to recognize them for what they are. They are known as feral cats, and they're a force to be reckoned with.

Those pesky felines that appear in your backyard or start cat fights in the middle of the night are most likely feral. They are offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats that are not spayed or neutered. They aren't used to people contact and are typically too fearful or wild to be handled.

If you're tempted to make a feral cat your pet, you will most likely be disappointed. They don't easily adapt or may never adapt to living as pets in close contact with people. They typically live in a colony--a group of related cats. The colony occupies and defends a specific territory where food and shelter are available. Abandoned buildings and porches are typical hideouts, and trash dumpsters or people who feed them are sources of food.

Once I began to research feral cats, I realized I had at least two such wild cats in my own neighborhood. An orange tabby often shows up to hunt rabbits or to sleep under our neighbor's pine tree. A black and white tabby shows up on our deck looking for mice or food scraps. Neither will let me come close and run away the moment I come outside.

As you can imagine, many feral cats don't survive because life is very hard without human caretakers. They are without reliable sources for food and shelter. Females may become pregnant as young as 5 months of age and have 2-3 litters a year. This is very stressful on cats that are struggling to survive. More than half of all kittens born to feral cats are likely to die without human intervention.

Here is a link to a video about what to do with feral cats on the Human Society of the U.S. website: http://video.humanesociety.org/video/774083885001

Even with high death rates, the feral cat population in a colony can get out of control. But there is really just one solution that offers a humane way to effectively treat this problem. It's called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). This is a process where feral cats are trapped live and taken to clinics to be neutered or spayed and then returned to their original habitat. At a minimum, feral cats who are TNRed are spayed or neutered so they can no longer reproduce, vaccinated against rabies, and surgically ear-tipped on one ear. The ear tipping is a universally recogtnized sign of a TNRed cat.

Dedicated feral cat caretakers feed and provide shelter for TNRed cats, monitor them for sickness and remove new cats for TNR if feral. This care allows the cat colony to be healther, prevents the birth of more cats and reduces the number of cats over time. The overall cost of caring for feral cats this way is less than other alternatives such as removal, shelter care or euthanasia.

If you're currently feeding feral cats, you may need help. Because they aren't spayed or neutered, you'll soon be overwhelmed with kittens and more kittens. There are organizations that can help you trap-neuter-return the feral cats you're feeding. Even some veterinarians are willing to provide low-cost services for feral cats. Here is a link to a list of feral cat resources, organized by state: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/maps/feral-cats.html.

Other things you can do:

• spay or neuter your own cats
• be a feral cat caretaker for an organization/agency
• socialize feral kittens
• volunteer at a spay/neuter event for feral cats
• build shelters for feral cats
• educate others 

I don't have to search YouTube for cute pet stories. Thanks to the pets in my neighborhood, I've witnessed some surprising, funny and fascinating things that outshine many internet videos.

I love to read and am always looking for good books to recommend. Rags to Riches--A Dog's Tale of Hope and Friendship is a great read for kids and parents alike.

Professional Pet Sitters Week is March 4-10, 2012 -- a time for pet sitters to shine. This week gives us the chance to educate pet owners about the advantages of in-home pet care and the career opportunities available to those passionate about pets.

Have you ever wondered what your dog would say about you if he could speak? The Art of Racing in the Rain, a book by Garth Stein, creates some intriguing possibilities.

Cat lovers know why their cats are special. It's the silly little behaviors they display when playing or just trying to get your attention. There's a cartoonist out there whose captured those moments in funny and endearing ways...

In today's world, dogs are more than just best friends--often they're also superb coworkers.

Minnesota pet sitters need to be prepared for all types of weather. When the temperatures plummet, it's time to pull out the stops and dress for cold weather protection.

If you want to give your pet something that's good for them and doesn't have to cost anything, give them a pet massage.

A new medical procedure approved for animals treats the cause of debilitating conditions older pets are prone to, adding quality years to their lives and saving some from being euthanized...

When was the last time you really enjoyed dog walking in winter? Check out these new products that aim to get you and your pooch enjoying the outdoors without the usual hassles...

If you have pet lovers on your gift list, here are some practical and thoughtful pet gift ideas that won't break your pocketbook...

Last weekend I celebrated early Thanksgiving dinner with family. While the food was great, the reaction of the host family's pets wasn't.

It's a real turning point for our business to say that we've been on television. Yesterday I was filmed at a client's home pet sitting their dogs.

Spooks and goblins abound on Halloween night, but not all of them are dressed-up kids and adults.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a remedy for hairballs and a way to keep your cat from munching on your houseplants? Actually there is. Pet grass does both, and it's easy and inexpensive. I learned this from our pet sitter Cris, whose cat loves it!

For a first-time pet event in Minnesota, Bark and Roll at Mears Park had something for everyone. Event-goers had their choice of exhibits from 40 Twin Cities pet-related businesses as well as a silent auction, pet parade, and a wiener dog race. 

This past weekend Whiskers To Tails Petsitting had a booth at Goldzilla, a fundraiser for one of the largest dog rescue organizations in the U.S. -- Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM). There we met a very special guest...

Besides pet sitting, we participate in some pet-related causes that are fun for us, help pet rescue organizations, and benefit you, as pet owners, too.

I've read about the human animal bond before, but it was only after my dad went to the emergency room for six broken ribs that I actually saw animal assisted therapy in action

Dog lovers rejoice! Now there's a resource that bundles all things dog friendly in one place. If you're a pet owner who loves to have your pooch with you wherever you go, you'll love Sidewalk Dog.

Heat waves like the one we’re experiencing can be hard on your pets and even deadly. Temperatures, dew points, and heat indexes all make for hot, steamy conditions that can be health hazards for your pets.

A family pet is lost every two seconds and only one in 10 is ever found. Those are sobering statistics. When our Shih Tzu Parker decided to wander off last summer, we became one of those statistics.

Studley is a tabby cat that's been with us for almost 16 years. We're not sure of his exact age, only that he came into our lives as a stray and quickly adopted us. He had a charming personality

Whiskers To Tails Petsitting spent Father's Day at Pet Crossing's 5th annual FurEver Fun Day. Many of the nearly 600 who came brought their own pets, so we gained many new furry friends and were able to share our in-home pet sitting videos with kids and adults alike.

FurEver Fun Day promises lots of fun for pet owners and their families with over 30 exhibitors of pet-related products participating -- plus raffles, giveaways, a doggie wash, a silent auction, educational seminars, and more

This is the fifth annual event held at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic in Bloomington, MN, Sunday, June 19; from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Did you know the food your pet eats can affect its behavior? A pet's diet can impact its mood, ability to learn, and general health. How do you know if you're buying good food for your furry friend? Reading pet food labels is a good start.

Bunnies are cute and so are little chicks. What great Easter presents, right? Sadly, this isn’t the case. 

According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) people often purchase bunnies, chicks and ducklings for their kids and loved ones at Easter, not realizing the responsibility and health hazards involved.

Any pet you bring into your home involves a long-term commitment, especially bunnies that can live 10 years or longer and chicks that can live to be 20 years old.