Pets

Feeding, housing and everyday care for dogs and cats.

• Nail clippers or a grinder: how to trim your dog's nails at home

  Scissor, guillotine and grinder tools compared, how to avoid the quick, and what to keep on hand in case of a nick.

• How to choose a pet water fountain your cat will actually use

  Material, pump noise, filters and cleaning: the details that decide whether a fountain gets used or ignored.

• How to choose a dog bed: size, support and sleeping style

  How to measure your dog, orthopedic foam for older dogs, bolsters for curlers, elevated cots for hot climates, and covers you can actually wash.

• How to choose a cat tree that won't wobble

  Stability, scratching posts, platform sizes for big cats, and the features that make a cat tree worth the floor space.

• Harness or collar: what should your dog walk in?

  Front-clip vs. back-clip harnesses, martingale collars, how to check the fit, and why ID tags still belong on a collar.

• Dog crate size guide: how to measure and which type to buy

  Two measurements decide the size. Then choose between wire, plastic, soft and heavy-duty crates based on how you'll use it.

• Clumping clay, silica, pine or tofu: how to choose cat litter

  How each litter type handles odor, dust and cleanup, why 'flushable' needs care, and how many litter boxes you really need.

• Automatic pet feeders: what to check before you trust one with dinner

  Portion accuracy, kibble size, power backup and app reliability: the details that decide whether an automatic feeder actually works.