Animal Doctors ...

This vet gets my highest recommendation.

I've had Hemingway for 8 years and it is like living with a wild tiger. He hates vets, hates them. He has embarassed me by hanging on to people's necks and hissing, scratching, hiding behind computers and he has managed to get thrown out of 1 vet and removed from vet care when I paid for him to stay there while I went away for a few days.

Not Animal Doctors. This vet has such a gentle way with animals and lets Hemingway take his time with him. Of course, I hardly ever take Hemmy to the vet, not for his yearly injections (I know, I feel awful) and not for anything unless I am convinced I have no choice.

I have an appointment on Monday so will have to lock the cat flap and shove Hemmy into his cat box. The cat box is out and open so Hemmy knows something is up and hopefully will not go as deranged and psycho like every other time; when I put him in it.

I think for me, having a good vet, is just as important as having a great doctor, endocrinologist and who ever else medically I need. I love people who love their jobs, who have a passion about their work and who have such a way with animals (or humans for that matter).

I am so glad that I went and got kicked out of quite a few vets (Hemmy attacked a vet and hung onto his neck, refused to get out of a box at another one, went psycho at another one and attacked two men at a grooming parlour) until I found the right one.

If you live in Sydney; take your pet/s to someone who not only has a great way with animals but also is amazing to the owners.

Pet friendly accommodation in Sydney ...

Want to take your pets ( I am assuming dogs) on holiday with you?

Have a look at these wonderful and pet friendly stays for you and your pets.

Farewell Toby, a complete Wonderdog

Dr Katrina Warren's 14 year old chocolate collie Toby died on Tuesday I think and he was quite a dog.



When I moved to Sydney I watched Dr Katrina and Dr Harry give vet advice to people on their programmes and Toby was always there, an absolute favourite pet and an intelligent dog.


I think with anyone who loses a pet; there is a great sense of loss. You build such a bond with your pet, especially over many years and Toby was so active on TV, in a book and a companion by Dr Katrina Warren's side.


RIP to a wonderful dog. I heard someone on Twitter console someone who lost a pet saying they leave footprints on your heart and I believe this is completely true.

Greeting ...

What have you trained your pet to do?


My cat, Hemingway knows how to greet and murmurs a soft and subtle greeting every time I walk in and out of a room he is lying in. I assume because I always greet him, say hello by his name when I come and go and he picked it up.


It is the sweetest sound, a very soft one syllable greeting and he does it to visitors as well.


He has also learnt what kiss is. And either rubs his head against my lips when I say kiss or bends his head down for a kiss.


I am not sure if this is acquired behaviour or some sort of conditioning, but he has been living with me for 8 years nearly and definitely has picked up some of my traits.


What does your pet do?

Seafaring cats

Here is a great post by the cat diaries about sea faring cats.

Do you believe that cats have magical powers?

Well they certainly kept the rats and mice away.

Sydney's favourite pet shops

Sydney has hundreds of pet shops, pet supply stores, pet accessories and even discount pet shops.

Which are your favourites? I like these two:

Mollycoddledpets

Oz Pet Shop

What kind of animals are you likely to meet in Sydney ...

I love knowing what kind of wildlife lives in Sydney.

I live above a gully so I have met ducks, butterflies, possums and sewer rats. The sewer rats are probably the most unpleasant rat I have ever seen. They are huge and nasty.

I have a kookaburra who comes to visit my courtyard and cat, ducks who visit the swimming pool and a huge collection of birds who scream outside the windows at dawn.

Do you know the wildlife in your area?

Here are some insects, bugs and other animals you may encounter.