To prevent medical conditions, spay female dogs

Here are four medical conditions in female dogs that are preventable through spaying:

 · Pyometra. Also known as performing a spay under duress in an infected female dog. Yes, by the time females get sick (showing fever, weakness, dehydration and having pus coming out of their female parts), it's way too late for a conventional spay.

Cat-shy guests

What should you do if your household includes a cat or two and you are having house guests who don't seem to share your love of felines?

Cats are trainable - and that's not a punchline

People have low expectations of cats. But they shouldn't. Take Storm, a trained cat who once passed a Canine Good Citizen test with flying colors - performing commands like "sit," "stay," "come" and "down."

At holidays, care for cats

Betty Bates knows when a cat needs a helping hand. Which is why her residence in Hampton, Va., is home to seven - all rescued or stray cats.

Bates, who volunteers at a no-kill animal shelter, has these tips for keeping your home safe for your cat around the holidays.

 · Mistletoe: Keep cats away. It can be toxic to your cat if eaten in large quantities.