8 Things About Fall That Affect Your Pet More Than You Might Expect — From Ticks to Seasonal Mood Changes

Paws are dirty, I’m dirty, we’re happy.

Fall walks with your dog often end with splashing through puddles and gleefully rolling around in muddy leaves. As a result, when you get home, you may want to send your 4-legged friend straight to the bathtub for a thorough wash. But you shouldn’t bathe your pet too often.

Ideally, they only need a bath every 6–8 weeks (the frequency depends on the breed). Dogs’ skin is very delicate, and frequent washing is not good for them. What’s more, if their coat isn’t thoroughly dried and brushed after a bath, mats can appear.

Finally autumn

It’s best to simply wipe off the dirt with a damp cloth, then thoroughly brush your pet. Cats should also be bathed less often in the fall. If your furry friend does get covered in something, use a special shampoo to wash them. Otherwise, cats do a great job of keeping their own coats clean.

My cat loves this time of year.

Very young kittens can’t regulate their body temperature on their own yet, so they often snuggle up to their mother or littermates to stay warm. As they grow, their temperature regulation improves, but their love of cozy, warm spots remains. So, to keep your kitty from feeling down when it gets cold, it’s a good idea to set up a few cozy beds near the radiators.

It’s completely normal for your cat to sleep longer in the fall. After all, we aren’t exactly bursting with energy ourselves and would rather lounge in bed than trudge to work in the dark. 4-legged companions use more energy to stay warm, so they sleep longer. But if your furry friend becomes sluggish and listless, it’s best to take them to a vet.

Don’t forget about active playtime, either. To keep your kitty from getting the fall blues, try spending at least 30 minutes a day playing with it. Or set up some wall-mounted climbing spots so your cat won’t get bored during the day.

Fall and the dog

Dogs simply love rummaging through fallen leaves or jumping into piles of them. And they look incredibly photogenic there, too. A pup surrounded by colorful leaves is just so adorable. But it’s best to steer clear of these spots.

For one thing, damp, decaying leaves can harbor various bacteria and microorganisms, so your pet may need a thorough wash afterward. And we already know that this is something we should avoid doing too often.

Second, you never know what might be hiding in a pile of leaves. For example, dogs should not put acorns or chestnuts in their mouths. It’s also best not to get too close to the park’s wild residents. Ticks are active in the fall as well, and they love hiding in thick leaf piles. Plus, there may be some dangerous objects beneath the leaves.

If you want to arrange a leaf-themed photo session for your 4-legged friend, do it in your own yard after you’ve raked up the fallen leaves yourself. Even then, it’s best to check your pet’s coat afterward for ticks and other unwelcome little creatures.

Raise your hand if you love autumn in the mountains.

Once the summer heat is gone, many pet owners breathe a sigh of relief and stop paying attention to how much water their pet drinks. But in the fall, when the central heating is finally turned on, both dogs and cats still need plenty of fluids. That’s why the water in their bowls should be changed at least once a day.

If your furry friend is reluctant to drink, you can add a little juice from canned petfood to the water. Just a couple of drops will give it an enticing aroma.

My cats loves the humidifier.

Your 4-legged friends will also appreciate having a humidifier at home. Air that’s too dry isn’t good for them. The main thing is not to add essential oils to the water, as they are harmful to both dogs and cats.

Autumn/Fall Collection

What is autumn? It’s shedding — endless, relentless shedding! Before winter’s chill arrives, our furry companions grow a new, warm undercoat while gradually letting go of the old one. Meanwhile, the house fills with clumps of fur and fluff drifting everywhere, and not even robot vacuums can keep up with it.

That’s why both dogs and cats need regular brushing — ideally every day. There’s just one challenge: not every pet enjoys this routine, and sometimes even getting started, let alone finishing, can be difficult. Fortunately, there are ways to help your beloved pets get used to the brush.

• It took my doggo forever to get used to the brush. I would put the brush out and would reward him anytime he would get near it or smell it. Kept doing this for awhile.
  Then I started to gently place the brush on him, not even moving it. Reward for that multiple times. Then I’d start brushing him, praising him, rewarding him along the way.
  Now we’re at a place where we warm up by going through all those steps once, if it’s a bad day a few times, and then I give him one of his chews and he lets me brush him. It was hard and took a lot of work.
  You can do it though. Just don’t rush and be patient. Work at your dog’s pace.

• Our cat sheds so much that the whole house is covered in fur. And she won’t let anyone brush her! When I went on vacation, my neighbor looked after her.
  When I got back, I could barely recognize our furry girl: she was sleek and tidy! Had someone taken her to a groomer? My neighbor just laughed and pointed to a brush she’d mounted on the wall.
  “Sorry about the little addition,” she said. “I bought a self-grooming brush and put a few drops of catnip spray on it. Now your Daisy happily grooms herself, no brushing needed!” Talk about a vacation that paid off!

Feel the taste of autumn.

In the fall, cats use more energy to stay warm, while dogs use less because neither owners nor their pets enjoy long walks in the rain. So kitties may need a little extra food in their diet, while doggos may need slightly less. That said, this varies from case to case, so it’s best to keep an eye on your pet and see whether their diet needs any changes.

Oscar’s autumn mood

Fall also brings plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables. And some four-legged friends happily munch on fresh treats that will be hard to find come winter. You can treat both cats and dogs to juicy apples and bits of pumpkin. Just don’t overdo it.

Peel the apples, remove the stems, and cut out the cores with the seeds. As for the pumpkin, it’s best to boil the pieces first, with the seeds removed. Some kitties love pumpkin puree, while others prefer to nibble on the pieces.

• Our cat got into the habit of greeting Mom at the door. Before, she’d dive under the couch the moment Mom came in, and nothing could coax her out. I couldn’t figure out where this sudden love had come from.
  Then I walked into the living room and froze in surprise. The cat was sitting on the table, and Mom was feeding our furry girl pieces of apple. It turns out our little darling goes crazy for apples.

I bought our poodle a new cape. Now he’ll definitely be visible in the dark.

The days are getting shorter, so you end up walking your dog in the pitch dark. To make sure your pup can be seen from far away, it’s worth getting a harness or a coat with reflective details. That way, your walks will be a lot less stressful. The only catch is getting your doggo to agree to wear this fancy gear.

Pablo can’t stand slippers or socks. So I had to resort to extreme measures and purchase these suspender boots.

As the weather turns cold, pets’ paws can get too cold on walks and even crack. Ideally, dogs should only go outside in special boots this time of year. Too bad getting a dog to put on boots and keep them on for the entire walk can be really hard.

On the other hand, plenty of owners rave about suspender boots. For some reason, dogs let you put these on without a fuss, and they hardly bother them. Best of all, they protect not just the paw pads but also the fur from dirt.

My cat loves watching all the leaves falling!

In the fall, the days get shorter, and many pets end up waiting for their owners in the dark. Although cats are natural predators and see pretty well in the dark, most of them are thoroughly domesticated by now and may feel uneasy in a dark room. Plus, you might trip over your cat in the dark when you get home.

There’s no need to leave all the lights on. Just turn on the hallway light and leave a small lamp on near the spot where your cat usually eats. Besides, it’ll give you peace of mind.

Autumn has arrived.

• I leave one not very strong light on from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. It’s probably a 40 watt bulb, so not very bright. I also have light sensing night lights plugged in by the food/water bowls and by the litter box. My cats seem to do well with that.