Incorporating foraging behaviors into feeding routines, such as using snuffle mats, can help satisfy a dog's natural instincts and prevent boredom.

To help dogs feel calm and safe, we should focus on tactile stimulation that they enjoy, rather than what we assume they like based on human behavior.

Cats have often misunderstood communication signals and social needs that are crucial for their well-being and interaction with humans.

Many common assumptions about how we care for pets, such as feeding and exercising them, may not align with their true needs and drives.

Creativity can be observed in animals, such as a cat that develops a theory to open a door by applying torque to the handle, demonstrating a cycle of conjecture and experimentation. Animals possess a bounded form of creativity, allowing them to thrive in unfamiliar environments by utilizing instinctive knowledge encoded in their genes.

Understanding how animals perceive threats is crucial, as well-intentioned human interactions can be perceived as predatory by animals, leading to fear or avoidance behaviors.

The core affect space model helps us understand how to create a safe and pleasant environment for animals, focusing on reducing negative emotions and providing stimulation.

Cats often bring prey back to a safe place rather than gifting it to their owners, indicating their instinct to feel secure in their environment.

Indoor cats that urinate outside the litter box may be expressing territorial behavior or associating pain with the litter box, indicating a potential health issue.