Most cats will spend many hours grooming themselves – but with so much grooming going on, is it still necessary for you to groom your cat? Actually, yes. Especially if you have a longhair cat. That doesn’t mean that shorthair cats don’t need grooming; they may just need less grooming. By grooming your cat, you […]
Grooming your cat – it’s more than a cleaning act Read More »
The next Animaltalk Top Dog awards will take place on Saturday, 19 January 2019 at the Indaba Hote, Fourways. Every year we celebrate all the special dogs in South Africa as well as the professional people who ease the lives of animals, with these awards. There are three different categories for dogs and two categories
Save the date for the next Animaltalk Top Dog awards Read More »
Leon Schuster and Gray Hofmeyer’s latest comedy, Frank and Fearless, is all about rhino poachers, starring a beautiful Rottweiler and a baby rhino. Animaltalk spoke to Gray Hofmeyer, co-writer and filmmaker, about the strong conservation theme and the characters in the movie. Watch the trailer of Frank and Fearless What inspired you to make the
Frank and Fearless – the conservation-themed movie Read More »
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) investigated a case of deliberate cruelty to a tortoise by Letiya Mercy Lebakeng who was sentenced in the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court on 5 November 2018. Lebakeng was accused of deliberately and forcefully throwing the tortoise against a rock in the road as it had apparently wondered into her
Tortoise abuser sentenced Read More »
You hear the crack of thunder in the distance and you cringe, knowing what follows next – a dog who is so afraid of the thunder that you struggle to keep him under control. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can help your dog through the storm, making life easier for both
Tips for pets afraid of thunder Read More »
Yes, dogs can become bored, and that is usually when behaviour problems can occur. Just like children, dogs need environmental enrichment to stimulate their minds and occupy their time. Although this might sound complicated, it actually just means that you need to spend time with your dog and do activities to stimulate him. The various
7 Ways to enrich your dog’s life Read More »
You can do it for charity – you can join the first Bark in the Park 5k9 run for a good cause. You can even partake in a bootcamp-style class on the day. This fun event will take place on 10 November 2018 – so there is more than enough time to get fit. The
Bark in the Park 5k9 charity run tickets now available Read More »
by Dr Anthony Zambelli, Sr Jodi Venter, Dr Kenneth Joubert Mini Schnauzers are the seventh most common breed in South Africa according to the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) registration for the last few years. This popular, spirited and alert little breed is generally quite robust, but we do know from overseas studies that
Investigating fat metabolism disorders in South African Mini Schnauzers Read More »
Looking for something fun for the whole family to enjoy? Then head to the Moonlight Dog Walk on Friday 5 October at Killarney International Raceway in Milnerton. Presented by Hill’s Pet Nutrition and in aid of the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAW) it’s a fun family night out for the whole family, furry family members
Walking in the moonlight with your dog Read More »
International World Rabies Day is on the 28th of September and this year, the Mdzananda Animal Clinic based in Khayelitsha, aims to vaccinate 100 dogs on the day. The clinic will be hosting a mass vaccination day where pets of the Khayelitsha community can be brought to receive free vaccinations. Rabies is a deadly virus
Vaccinating 100 dogs for World Rabies Day Read More »
Ten kilometres west of the Kruger National Park is the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), offering conservation education, training and skills development programmes. To help conserve biological diversity and protect threatened species in the greater Kruger National Park, one of their programmes includes training dogs in the battle against wildlife crimes. This is how they
Tracking poachers in the Kruger National Park Read More »
Cheetahs are often associated only with speed, but their adaptations, behaviours and survival challenges reveal a species far more complex, and far more vulnerable, than most people realise. To celebrate these icons of the African savanna, here are 10 incredible facts that showcase just how unique cheetahs truly are. 1. They have built-in sunglasses Those
It’s International Cheetah Day! Read More »
Your pet can also feature in Crazy Critters. So show off your lovely pet to the world. All you have to do is to email an image or two to animaltalk@panorama.co.za with your pet’s name and your name.
Crazy Critters November 2025 Read More »
Giovanna Barbosa is an international creative director and model with an unconventional background as a former professional footballer and LLB Law graduate. She’s a powerful voice in the creative world, known for merging high-concept visuals with emotional storytelling. Here she tells us all about her three beloved dogs. You have three dogs, please tell us
These Mexican salamanders regrow limbs, never grow old and always smile – what’s not to love? The ‘forever young’ salamander Axolotls never grow up in the usual way! Most amphibians (like frogs) change from babies into adults, but axolotls stay in their youthful, water-living stage for their entire lives. Scientists call this neoteny. Super healing
10 cool things about the axolotl Read More »
How scent work can stimulate your dog’s mind and senses Scent work is teaching a dog how to search for a particular scent. Dogs are used for their amazing scenting abilities in all walks of life – to search for missing people, to find narcotics, to detect cancer and even to detect when someone is
Shake off the winter woes and get ready for the warmer months ahead! We’ve made it through winter, and now warmer days await us. But are you and your pet family ready for what summer brings? From crazy mozzies that go ‘zzz’ at night to adventures in the sun and everything in between – all
How children learn important life skills by interacting with dogs As dog owners, we are so focused on teaching our dogs new things, that we often forget to look at what our dogs can teach us as human beings. One thing that adults can learn from dogs is to live more in the moment. But
In 2020, Khanyisa, an albino elephant orphan was caught in a snare in South Africa. The inspiring story of this rare elephant was captured in a documentary called Diary of an Orphan Elephant by Hermien Roelvert-van Gils. For the first time, South Africans can see this award-winning masterpiece from 12 August – World Elephant Day!
Diary of an Elephant Orphan now available for screening Read More »
8 August is International Cat Day – the purr-fect excuse to celebrate our favourite floofy overlords. Whether you’re a proud cat parent or just secretly wish you could live that stress-free, nap-all-day lifestyle, here are 10 reasons cats are the coolest creatures around: 1. They know how to say “no” Cats don’t people-please. If they’re
10 reasons cats are just plain cool (happy International Cat Day!) Read More »
Do you routinely avoid taking your cat to the vet because it’s a stressful experience for both of you? Use these tips from global animal health company, Zoetis South Africa, and you won’t have to choose between your cat’s mental and physical health again. Something’s up with your cat. Most days she’s meowing by
5 ways to make vet visits less stressful for your cat Read More »
12 steps to help your cat learn her name Most cat owners understand the frustration of being ignored by your cat when you call her. Cats are independent, and they do what they want, when they want, and only if they will benefit from it. But there are a few ways to get your cat
How to teach your cat her name Read More »
Your pet can also feature in Crazy Critters. So show off your lovely pet to the world. All you have to do is to email an image or two to animaltalk@panorama.co.za with your pet’s name and your name.
Crazy Critters July 2025 Read More »
