The Lovi Journal
Little guides for a lovelier life together: what a puzzle toy does for a busy mind, how to choose a bed, a feeder or a harness, and the finds we think are worth a closer look. Written to be useful whether or not you buy anything.
Rabbit Hay Feeder Guide: Rack vs Bag vs Box vs Ball vs Combo
A rabbit hay feeder keeps hay off the floor. Racks are sturdy and quick to refill, bags are soft and quiet, boxes catch the bits, balls add play, and combos sit over the litter tray.
Hanukkah Gifts for Dogs and Cats: Eight Nights of Ideas
Give your dog or cat one small, safe gift for each of the eight nights: a festive plush, a collar, a puzzle, a lick mat, a cozy bed, a brush, a cat toy and a keepsake.
Trixie Pet Products: The Brand Story and a Guide to Its Range
Trixie began in 1974 as a one-man pet supplies business in northern Germany. Here is its story, plus a guide to its cat furniture, dog strategy games and small pet homes.
Should You Cover a Dog Crate? When It Helps and How to Fit One
Many dogs settle well in a partly covered crate that feels like a den, as long as air flows and one side stays open. Here is when a cover helps, when it does not, and how to fit one.
Washable vs Disposable Puppy Pads: Layers, Sizes and Washing
Disposable puppy pads are fresh every time and easy to toss; washable pads are a fabric layer you rinse and reuse. Here is how each is built, which sizes to pick and who each one suits.
How to Put a Harness on a Cat (and Choose One That Stays On)
Measure the neck and chest, pick a vest, H-style, figure-8 or step-in harness, fasten it snug enough for two flat fingers, and practise indoors with treats before any walk.
How to Choose a Dog Gate: Width, Height and Mounting Type
Measure the opening, pick a height your dog cannot clear, then choose pressure mounting for doorways and hardware mounting for the top of stairs. Here is how each type fits.
Litter Box Furniture: How to Choose an Enclosure Your Cat Uses
Choose litter box furniture by its inside size, not the outside: a few inches of room around your box, a doorway your cat walks through easily, airflow and a finish that shrugs off moisture.
What Size Aquarium Heater Do You Need? Watts per Gallon Guide
Start with 3 to 5 watts per gallon: about 25 watts for a 5 gallon tank, 50 for 10, 100 for 20 and 200 to 300 for 55. Go higher in a cool room.
Easy Aquarium Plants for Beginners: Live, Silk or Both?
Java fern, anubias, java moss, marimo balls and crypts are the easiest live aquarium plants. Tie the first two to wood, plant crypts in soil, or pick soft silk plants for zero upkeep.
Types of Cat Beds Compared: Caves, Donuts, Hammocks and Cots
The main types of cat beds are caves, donut beds, felt pods, window hammocks, warming beds, raised cots and beds built into cat trees. Match the bed to how your cat sleeps: curled, stretched, hidden or high up.
How to Brush a Dog's Teeth: A Gentle Step-by-Step Plan
Brush a dog's teeth with a soft dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste: build up over one to two weeks, lift the lip, angle the bristles to the gumline and keep it short and sweet.
Lupine Pet: The New Hampshire Story Behind Lupine Dog Collars
Lupine Pet began with one handmade dog collar in Conway, New Hampshire, in 1990. Here is its story, its Even if Chewed guarantee, and how to pick its collars, leashes and harnesses by dog size.
Where to Put a Cat Scratching Post So Your Cat Actually Uses It
Put a scratching post where your cat already scratches, wakes up and walks past: beside the sofa, near beds, by doors and windows. Make it tall, steady and easy to find.
What Size Hamster Wheel? Diameters for Syrian, Dwarf and Robo
Most Syrian hamsters need a wheel of about 11 to 12 inches across, and dwarf and Roborovski hamsters about 8 to 9 inches, with a solid track. Watch the back: it should stay flat.
Should You Cover a Bird Cage at Night? 6 Myths vs Facts
Cover your bird's cage at night if the room stays bright or busy after bedtime. If the room is already dark and quiet, a cover is optional. Here is what a cover does and what it does not.
Christmas Gifts for Cats: A Guide by Personality, Kitten to Senior
The best Christmas gifts for cats match how your cat spends its day: wands and moving toys for hunters, cave beds for nappers, window perches for watchers, trees for climbers.
Heated Water Bowl for Outdoor Cats and Dogs: A Winter Buying Guide
Choose a heated water bowl by size, wattage, cord protection and where it will sit. A thermostatic bowl in a sheltered spot on a GFCI outlet keeps water drinkable all winter.
What to Put in an Outdoor Cat Shelter: A Winter Checklist
Put loose straw inside an outdoor cat shelter, never hay or blankets, and add a self-warming or outdoor-rated heated pad if you can. Raise it, shrink the door and face it out of the wind.
The Kaytee Story: From a Wisconsin Grain Elevator to Pet Homes
Kaytee began as a grain and feed business in Wisconsin in 1866 and grew into a small-pet and bird brand. Here is its story and how to choose from its habitats, tubes, wheels and bedding.
The Petstages Story: Toys for Every Stage, and How to Choose
Petstages, from Northbrook, Illinois, builds dog and cat toys around a pet's stage of life. Here is its story and how to pick chews, tracks and puzzles from its range.
How to Clean a Lick Mat, Snuffle Mat and Puzzle Feeder
Rinse a lick mat right after use, scrub its grooves with a soft brush in warm soapy water, then let it dry fully. Snuffle mats get shaken out and washed gently; puzzles come apart and get hand washed.
Cat Stocking Stuffers: Small Gifts for Every Kind of Cat
The best cat stocking stuffers match how your cat plays: wands and flip toys for hunters, crinkle pillows for nappers, chirping toys for window watchers. Skip ribbon, tinsel and loose string.