Doggie Boots: Dogs absorb and release heat through their feet. Boots protect your dog from the powerful heat that rises from surfaces like cement and asphalt.

A Kiddie Pool: Got a nice spot in the shade where you can set one up? It's a fun way to let your dog cool off.

A Wet Towel: An inexpensive way to give your dog some relief from the heat.

Remember, dogs cool from the bottom up. A wet towel does more good on the bottom of your dog than on top of her coat.

A Water Spritzer: Spraying your dog with cool water is a great way to cool your dog down on a long walk. Spray the paws and stomach too -- not just the top of the dog!

A Portable Water Bowl: Always have water available for your dog on long walks. Some paths may have a special water fountain for your pup, and that's great. But your pup may need water before you reach it. A portable water bowl and a bottle of water is a great way to ensure that your pup won't go thirsty.

A Bottle of Water: Be responsible: keep one handy on a long walk. If your dog wears a backpack or vest, you can even let him carry it. The water inside the bottles will keep the dog cooler, and carrying it will give him a sense of purpose.

Cats and Play

It is difficult to think about cats, so graceful and lithe, without also thinking about their playfulness. The sight of a small kitten leaping and pouncing sideways onto a ball, her eyes round and surprised, makes us laugh. A quiet reverie of book reading is disturbed by a feline pet batting a paper clip across the room.

Feline play behavior is adorable and endearing - and of course, as cat owners can attest, quite frustrating at times.

As common as it is, the reasons for play behavior are not entirely understood. As with most mammalian species, play is seen most frequently in the young. Among other things, it is believed to serve as "practice" for social and predatory behaviors that will be critical later in life.

Researchers have found that kittens begin to play at approximately four weeks, spending most of their time playing with each other at this young age. Wrestling with other kittens helps shape the skills needed to establish social systems with other mature cats later. By the age of seven to eight weeks, kittens transfer their attention from such social play to predatory play with inanimate objects.

With all the importance that play holds in the life of a young cat, it is perhaps no surprise that inappropriate or excessive play is a common behavior problem. Seen most frequently in young kittens and juvenile cats, play-related aggression can be a troubling problem.

Their human "prey" complain of cats pouncing on feet as they walk by, or otherwise biting, clawing and kicking while they are being handled or petted. Although there is no "vicious" intent in such kittens or cats, all of this carousing can be painful.

Another risk of play-related aggression in cats is cat scratch disease, a bacterial infection resulting from cat scratches which can affect anyone with compromised immunity.

What can be done about play-related aggression? This common problem is actually quite easy to treat and resolve. First, remember that kittens and cats need to play. By writing down the general times and patterns of your own cat's play, you should be able to predict the times or situations in which she is likely to "attack." Provide toys (homemade toys are fine!) such as feathers or cloth strips dangling from sticks, catnip-filled mice, or bells and wind-up toys.

A bucket filled with crumpled paper or Ping-Pong balls is a very useful distracter, placed in areas where the kitten has previously stalked and pounced on assorted feet: as she starts to stalk, throw a ball down the stairs for her.

Punishment, in the form of a water gun, may be useful if necessary, but redirection of her play-aggression will be more convincing to your cat. Because some kittens start to bite and kick playfully while they are being petted, it may help to limit the duration of petting until your kitten matures a little more. Finally, feeding the main part of your cat's daily diet at a time he otherwise might be attacking your ankles can greatly reduce the aggression.

Would another kitten in the home solve the problem? Well, it might - but it might not. If you have already decided to add another cat to your home, now is the time to do it; two kittens will often keep each other physically occupied. But if the decision is based entirely on reducing your current cat's play-aggression, it may not be a good enough reason to obtain a second cat. Remember - the problem may not improve, and you might end up with two predators instead of one!

Examining The Skin Coat And Weight

Unfortunately, when your cat is sick, it can't tell you - so it's up to you as a pet owner to train yourself to be observant. A good way to keep tabs on your pet's health is to make an informal, physical exam part of your weekly cat-care routine.

Coat and Skin

Your cat's coat should be unbroken, smooth and soft to the touch. Its skin should be clean and free of sores, rashes and eczema. A healthy cat grooms itself regularly and rarely has matted hair.

To examine your cat's skin and coat, part the fur in several places all over the body including the legs, neck, chin and head. Signs to look for are a dull coat or dry skin, excessive shedding (except in spring), lumps or masses, swelling, bald patches, open sores, excessive parasite infestation and intense biting or scratching at the skin.

"In states like California, Florida and Texas, fleas have the warmth to live year-round and the biggest skin problems by far is flea allergy dermatitis," says Thomas Elston, a veterinarian in private practice in Irvine, California.

"It usually starts as tiny scabs around the neck and at the base of the tail. Patches of hair loss or brittle, broken hairs can accompany it. If the condition goes untreated, it can eventually involve the entire body." You should also check the spaces between the digits on your cat's paws. If your cat spends time outdoors, briars, stones, foxtail, sand and the salt that is used for melting snow can easily irritate the inter-digital area.

Weight

Veterinarians estimate that 30 percent or more of pet cats in the United States are overweight. Obese cats have a greater incidence of liver problems, heart disease, diabetes, pancreatitis and arthritis.

One way to determine if your cat needs to lose weight is by doing a "body condition score" on it.

"If your cat is in good body condition you should be able to rub your hands over the rib cage and with gentle pressure you should be able to count each of the ribs," says Dottie Laflamme, a veterinary nutritionist the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri.

"If you're looking down at the cat, behind the ribs there should be an indentation at the waist. When you look at it from the side, they belly should be tucked up somewhat and should not be dragging on the ground."