At Woofstock in Harrisburg, Pa., a couple of months ago, my dog-nephew Leo received the royal treatment from masseur Jeff Brabant. Jeff and his wife Claudia also offer human massage, but this was, after all, Woofstock! Leo loved his massage.

Here's Claudia treating her own dog, Lexus Mercedes (a luxury rottweiler?), a former search and rescue dog who doesn't get up and down hills as well as she used to. Claudia noticed that Lexus was walking a little stiffly, but a massage and a refreshing drink of water put a visible spring back in this dog's step.

What do you think of massage for pets?

Are you owned by an Oriental Shorthair cat , or considering opening your heart and home to one of these fabulous felines?

I highly recommend "The Guide to Owning an Oriental Shorthair Cat by Lynn Miller.

Lynn and I have been real-life friends for over 34 years. We presently continue our friendship via the Internet, since my husband and I moved to Florida from New York several years ago. I have many fond memories of staying up all night with Lynn waiting for kittens to be born, spending time at cat shows together, attending club meetings and promoting the breed when it was first introduced in the United States.

Around the holiday season, a young child's thoughts may turn to a kitten, a puppy or even a pony for their best gift ever. We can easily be moved by our children's desires to get a pet at this time of year. Is it wise to give a pet to a child during the holidays, however? Please take these considerations into account before making that decision.

A new pet in your home needs a lot of contact and supervision. This is a time when pets and humans start their bonding process. Pets can become anxious with strangers and need time to acclimate to their new family members. Young pets must be fed several times a day, housebreaking routines can be disturbed by holiday-related activities, and attention to the new pet can often dwindle during this festive time of year.

Why not wait until after the excitement of the holidays is over to give a pet to your child? Instead, you might consider getting a book about the type of pet you will be giving and all the necessary supplies, and perhaps a stuffed animal to represent the soon-to-come pet. Additionally, you will have more time to educate your children about the responsibilities of sharing their lives with a pet. When the pet "present" finally does arrive, everyone will have the time and energy to devote to the newest addition to the family.

No matter what time of year you're considering getting a new pet, the ASPCA offers some excellent advice. Take a look at this ASPCA video:

Cleaning litter boxes is not what I consider to be one of the top ten joys of being owned by cats, but it certainly is a very important part of feline care. In addition to scooping the boxes several times a day, I wash them and change the litter regularly, which my kitties do appreciate.

We use high-sided covered litter boxes, which my Oriental shorthair neuters prefer. I suspect it is a "boy" thing. Do you find that your male cats prefer boxes of this kind?

Now that Thanksgiving is upon us, pet safety is a priority while we're making our holiday preparations. We confine our cats to the bedroom when company comes over -- strangers cause them to become anxious and overstimulated, and an open door could be a tempting invitation to explore the great outdoors. We're not going to take that chance.

While we do share a little of our yummy turkey with the cats, we are cautious. Thanksgiving fare is very rich and may create digestive upsets. Turkey-flavored pet food is just purrfect for them for any holiday occasion.

Make no bones about it -- cooked poultry bones are dangerous. They splinter when cooked, and if ingested may stick in a pet's throat or perforate an intestine. When cleaning away the leftovers, be very careful with these bones. Dispose of them safely, and never leave any around for pets to steal.

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is highly toxic to both cats and dogs. If your pet should ingest even a small amount of chocolate, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

It takes so little time and effort to ensure the safety of our beloved pets, which will make your holiday time a lot brighter.

For more information, visit Holiday Safety for Your Pets and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

I got Claude from a shelter 10 years ago, and I think she was never properly socialized as a kitten. She does this very strange four-pawed knead/walk around the perimeter of whatever pillow or blanket she's on, instead of the usual staying put and kneading with two paws. It looks like she's in litter box posture, but she doesn't spray or leave a scent or anything. Does anybody else's cat do this? Any idea what it means?

Click here if you're having any problem viewing the video.

Halloween is a fun time in our neighborhood. I get a kick out of watching parents with their small children in tow, dressed as ballerinas, princesses, skeletons and ghosts. Trick or treat festivities can be a delight, but as "pet parents," we need to plan our animals' safety.

We always keep our cats safely shut in our bedroom during trick or treat. This prevents potential escapes and any anxiety caused by all the strangers coming and going at the front door. We also play soothing music in the bedroom to cover up all the extra noise.

We don't give out chocolate treats, since they are highly toxic to cats and dogs. I am concerned not only for my own cats, but for my little costumed visitors' pets.

Visit the ASPCA site for their excellent Top 10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pet Parents.

What safety precautions do use to protect your pets on Halloween? Leave a comment and tell us about them.

Thanks to everybody who wrote asking for an update about our Oriental shorthair kitty Trouble, who wasn't feeling well.

After an all-day stay at the veterinary hospital, he was diagnosed with gastritis, which the vet suspects may have been caused by either a can of cat food that was slightly "off," or Trouble ingesting something that irritated his tummy.

After two days eating a bland diet, he is feeling a lot better and is spending most of his time napping close to me. We are very relieved that it was nothing serious and that he responded quickly to the excellent care that Dr. Erin provided!

Trouble, our white Oriental shorthair, is not feeling well. My sweet little guy was not happy yesterday afternoon, obviously having an upset tummy.

Fortunately, our excellent veterinarian, Dr. Erin, has an emergency service for evenings and weekends. I cannot begin to tell you how comforting that was. I called and described Trouble's symptoms, and the vet tech suggested that we withhold food and water overnight, then bring him in first thing in the morning.

Even though he was asking for food, we remained very concerned, since cats often hide illness as a survival tactic. So now he's staying at the vet for a little while, and we're anxiously awaiting his recovery while the caring veterinary staff treats him.

I wish that our pets could communicate to tell us what's wrong, don't you?

'Exercising,' the latest video Webisode from Purina TV, has lots of good ideas and advice for keeping your pet in shape. A little bit of a workout is good for Fluffy, good for you and easier than you might think. Watch the video, then tell us how you help your pet exercise -- or how your pet helps you!

Leo did it. Trevor did it. Want to know what breeds make up your mutt? Can you see one distinctive breed in your dog, but can't figure out the other(s)? There might be a solution for you after all. DNA testing for dogs. For as little as $65, your question could be answered. Would you have a DNA test done on your dog? Why or why not? Do you think this business is going to take off, or will it just be a fad for a while?

Veterinary technicians are the life's blood of animal clinics all over the country. They provide the nuts and bolts of the care that our pets receive, either for a routine visit or a hospital stay. They are considered to be the registered nurses of the veterinary profession.

Not only assisting the veterinarian during exams, these highly trained and licensed professionals may perform duties that range from getting an in-depth health history when our pets are ushered into an exam room, to cleaning teeth, assisting in surgery, administering prescribed treatment and giving follow-up instructions to the pet parent. They are an essential part of the veterinary team in clinics around the country.

In honor of their important contribution to veterinary medicine, The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America is celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week, October 14-20.

Have you had in-depth contact with your veterinarian's technician? Leave a comment and tell us about it.

We all know that bathing a cat can be an exasperating experience. Most cats are not fond of being bathed. Often their feline servants also find this chore to be anxiety provoking. While there are kitties (like Midnight, pictured here) who don't mind an occasional shampoo, the majority of cats would give this part of grooming a resounding "paws down."

It seems that a company has invented a "washing machine" to shampoo cats and dogs. The company claims that their product alleviates stress for both pets and caretakers. I just learned about this device the other day, when I was sent a link to a disturbing video that demonstrates how the machine works.

Thursday, October 4, the Feast of Francis of Assisi will be celebrated. Known as the patron saint of animals and the environment, St. Francis believed that all of God's creatures are sacred and need protection.

While Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic saint, celebrations are taking place around the country for people of all faiths who wish to have their animals blessed. For a list of many upcoming ceremonies by state, visit AmericanCatholic.org. The site also offers text for a "do-it-yourself" blessing.

Blessings will continue to be celebrated in the weeks to come. In the Philadelphia area, Artists for Animals is holding a nonsectarian special event October 13.

Want to see what a blessing ceremony is like? Enjoy this video from Justin Rudd of the Haute Dogs interfaith blessing held in Long Beach, California, September 29.