The Complete Pet Owner's Guide: Travel, Health, Walking & Everyday Comfort

Looking after a dog or cat well comes down to a handful of everyday decisions — how they travel with you, how they stay protected from pests, how they get exercise, and what they wear day to day. Below, we've pulled together our best tips across all of these areas, along with the gear we recommend for each.

1. Road Trips: Keeping Your Pet Safe in the Car

Spring and summer in New Zealand and Australia mean one thing for pet owners: more road trips. Whether it's a weekend away or just the school run with the family dog in tow, most of us have had that moment where an excited pet lunges across the back seat, climbs into the front, or paces the whole drive. It's not just annoying — it's dangerous. An unrestrained 20kg dog in a sudden stop can hit with the force of several hundred kilograms.

Most pet-related car incidents don't come from a crash at all — they come from a dog blocking the driver's view, jumping into the front seat at the wrong moment, or bolting out an open door at a service station. A properly fitted restraint solves all three problems at once.

What to look for in a car harness or leash:

• A strap that clips into the existing seatbelt buckle — no extra hardware needed
• Adjustable length so your pet has room to sit or lie down, but can't reach the front seats
• Sturdy stitching and hardware that won't give way under sudden braking
• Quick-clip connectors for easy use at petrol stations or rest stops

Extra tips: Practice short trips first, pack water for warm days, never leave pets in a parked car even briefly, and pair the harness with a familiar blanket or mat in the back seat.

Recommended: Adjustable Pet Car Seat Belt Leash

2. Flea Prevention: Stop the Problem Before It Starts

If you've ever dealt with a flea infestation, you know the drill: constant scratching, tiny black specks in bedding, and fleas jumping onto carpets and furniture. Once fleas are established in a home, they're notoriously hard to clear out — prevention is far easier than the cure.

Why fleas are a bigger problem than "just itching":

• Flea allergy dermatitis — an intensely itchy skin reaction to flea saliva
• Tapeworm infections, since fleas can carry tapeworm larvae
• Anaemia in kittens, puppies, or smaller pets during heavy infestations
• Home-wide infestations, since flea eggs fall into carpets and bedding

What actually helps: a long-lasting flea collar for continuous protection, regular washing of pet bedding in hot water, weekly vacuuming of carpets and furniture, and checking your pet after walks, especially in long grass.

If you have both a cat and a dog, treat all pets at once — fleas don't discriminate, and treating only one often leads to reinfestation from the other.

Recommended: Anti Flea Collar for Dogs & Cats

3. Walking Two Dogs Without the Tangle

If you've got two dogs, you know the walk-time dilemma: two leashes, two directions, and somehow ending up wrapped around your legs before you've reached the letterbox. Holding two leads separately means managing two sources of tension and two turning radii at once — often with no free hand for a poo bag, phone, or coffee.

A leash coupler helps by:

• Reducing tangling, since the dogs move as one connected unit
• Freeing up a hand for other essentials
• Evening out pulling force so one strong dog doesn't yank the leash out of position
• Simplifying training, since both dogs learn to walk in sync

Tips for walking two dogs smoothly: start on quiet streets, keep the coupler length appropriate, reward calm walking early, and be mindful of pace differences between dogs.

Recommended: 2 Way Dog Leash & Coupler

4. Indoor Cats Need More Playtime Than You Think

Indoor cats are safer from cars, predators, and disease — but that safety comes with a trade-off: far less natural stimulation than a cat roaming outdoors would get. Left without enough stimulation, indoor cats can develop problem behaviours: overeating, excessive sleeping, destructive scratching, or aggression.

Signs your cat is understimulated:

• Overgrooming to the point of bald patches
• Pouncing on your feet or ankles as a hunting outlet
• Excessive vocalising, especially at night
• Weight gain from inactivity

Static toys lose novelty fast — cats respond to movement and unpredictability, not objects that just sit there. Motion-based toys that mimic erratic prey movement keep cats engaged far longer.

Simple daily enrichment routine: two short 10–15 minute play sessions a day, rotate toys weekly, end sessions with a small treat, and add vertical space like cat trees or shelves.

Recommended: Cat Interactive Rolling Ball Toy

5. Can You Actually Walk a Cat?

Walking a cat on a lead sounds like a novelty at best — but for many cats, especially kittens and younger cats, supervised outdoor time on a proper harness can be a genuinely positive addition to their routine. The key word is "proper": a collar alone is not the right tool for this job, since cats are flexible enough to back out of one in seconds.

What to look for in a cat walking setup:

• A chest/body harness rather than a neck-only attachment
• Adjustable straps to suit different body shapes
• Lightweight materials, since cats are sensitive to bulky gear
• A secure, easy-to-check clip

Introducing your cat to a harness: let them sniff it indoors first, put it on for short periods with treats, attach the lead indoors before going outside, choose a quiet first outdoor spot, and keep first sessions short. Not every cat will take to it — that's completely normal.

Recommended: Cat Walking Rope & Chest Strap Harness

6. Choosing a Collar Your Pet Will Actually Wear Comfortably

It's easy to treat a collar as a simple accessory choice — pick a colour you like and move on. But a poorly fitted or uncomfortable collar is something your pet wears for hours every day, and getting it wrong can mean chafing, matting, or constant scratching.

The fit rule: you should be able to fit two fingers flat between the collar and your pet's neck. Too loose risks catching on things; too tight restricts breathing and irritates skin.

Why material and design matter:

• Soft, well-finished edges prevent rubbing
• Breathable fabric matters in humid summers
• Secure, easy-to-check buckles
• A design that won't snag on fences or furniture during active play

Monthly collar check: look for fraying or worn stitching, re-check the two-finger fit (especially for growing pets), check for matted fur underneath, and wipe down after swimming or mud.

Recommended: Camouflage Series Bowknot Pet Collar

The Bottom Line

Good pet care is mostly made up of small, consistent habits: a secure ride in the car, ongoing flea protection, manageable walks, enough mental stimulation, and gear that actually fits well. None of these require a big investment — just the right product for the right job.

Browse the full range at The Pet Suppliers — fast shipping across Australia and New Zealand, with orders shipped within 24 hours.