Puppy and kitten farms, or 'battery farms', are set up so that greedy traders can exploit animals in order to profit from their young. The cats and dogs used for breeding often go without proper socialisation or veterinary care and are often left in solitary confinement or in overcrowded conditions.

I would say that rats make the perfect student pet. They're intelligent and easy to care for. If you're at university and you're lonely then they provide companionship and require such a small amount of effort in return that maintaining their nutrition and cage hygiene won't be time consuming.

Judging from that very unscientific study, it's plain to see the vast majority of private landlords won't even consider a pet. I can only speak as a cat owner, but by ruling out pets altogether, I think landlords are blindly excluding a large pool of potentially great tenants.

Lungworms are parasites that are carried by slugs and snails. And - with the wet weather we've all been having - slugs and snails are having a population explosion. Which is fabulous news for lungworms - but very bad news for dogs.

It's no surprise that children love the idea of keeping a rabbit as a pet - they are exceptionally cute and fluffy, and particularly at this time of year. But before you decide to take a trip to the pet shop, please stop and think for a moment whether you are ready to take on the responsibility of looking after quite a complex little creature.

Dogs, as they say, are a man's best friend and to the vast majority of owners, they are! As a Maintenance Surveyor for Local Authorities & Housing Associations across the country, I have encountered some truly mind boggling examples of pet care.

Have you ever wondered why your pet cat rubs up against your legs, kneads your thighs with its forepaws or sleeps on top of a wardrobe? These, and many other behaviours, can be attributed to the tiger lurking within your pet tigger.

More than 18 million pets are at risk of early death because of poor diets which often include takeaways, crisps and cakes, according to a report. ...

There's no better way to relax than to sit on the sofa in front of the TV, cat on lap and cup of tea in hand. At least that's what we think here at Hu...

It is crucial to appreciate and recognise that it's alright to muzzle your dog! I had a view before I started dog-walking that muzzles were somewhat cruel for the dog or that a family with children couldn't take on a dog that has to wear a muzzle but quite the contrary.

The news that Dita von Teese was late to a launch party when her cat napped on her chosen outfit will strike a chord with every cat and dog owner.