Have you ever been desperate to know exactly what your darling little Precious or Perdy is thinking when she looks up at you doe-eyed like butter wouldn’t melt? No doubt we have all at one stage or another wanted to discover what our pets are thinking at a particular moment, whether they are simply  hankering for a slice of that ham you’re putting on your sandwich or whether they are yearning for a bit of fuss and attention.

Like all animals, cats and kittens communicate in a very special way, be it by rubbing their chin up against your leg, the door or anything else in range, or be it gently pawing you while you’re trying to watch the lastest episode of Coronation Street. Cats are a temperamental species, so it can be very difficult to know 100% what it is they want or need, but by and large, it’s not difficult to guess.

Does she need to use the litter tray? Does she want to play with the catnip toy? Or does she simply want to curl up in her bed while you dotingly brush her with her very own cat brush? One cat owner tells a story of her cat making herself comfortable on top of their turtle tank, meowing incessantly and pawing the lid. They had no idea what she was doing this for until the owner realised the bulb in the tank had gone and their little kitty was demanding its replacement so she could continue to be comfy and warm on her special spot atop the turtles! Very clever!

Another owner complains of their cat pouncing on their head in the early hours of the morning, wondering if an imaginary mouse has scuttled into his ear. We think that one just wanted a bit of attention from their lazybones human! One owner in particular tells of her cat Squeaky, who spends hours and hours sitting perfectly still, staring into space. Contemplating the mysteries of the universe? Philosophising? Calculating complicated mathematical problems? Meditating? Who can say for sure. Maybe she’s just thinking about the best way to get the cat treats down from the top shelf.

Though a lot of people offer a wrinkled nose or a curled lip at the mention of pet reptiles and pet amphibians, they can make tranquil, harmonious and sometimes even affectionate additions to the family. Not only are pet snakes, pet geckos, pet frogs and any other reptiles or amphibians excellent talking points, but the tanks they habitate can even help to brighten up a dull room or provide glow and ambience. They are also good fun to decorate with tank plantlife or other tank acessories and depending on what kind of pet reptile or pet amphibian you own, can be quite lively and entertaining.

If you’re a first timer reptile or amphibian owner, it’s usually best to start small. Don’t just go ahead and buy a 10 metre python because you won’t know a thing about handling it, nor the kind of expenses you will face by keeping one. Instead, go for something like a leopard gecko. Though they can live for up to 20 years and are thus a long-term committment, they are only 8-10 inches in length so they don’t require an enormous reptile tank to house them (though bare in mind that you can only keep one male in a tank of more than one gecko). As they’re nocturnal reptiles, they don’t require any UV lighting for their tank. They do require a basking spot, but a regular incandescent bulb will do the trick. They are usually fed treated insects, but adult leopard geckos can be fed treated mice.

More experienced owners might be interested in buying their first pet iguana. The most important thing to consider is habitat. Iguanas can grow up to a substantial size and so will require a reptile tank to suit their growth. Ideally it should be twice as long as the iguana and as tall as possible. Iguanas will require ultraviolet lighting during the day, unlike leopard geckos, but they are fairly cheap to buy and set up.  Iguanas are herbivores, so a hearty diet of fruit and vegetables is very good for them. They do require calcium and vitamins supliments, however, to prevent them from getting Metabolic Bone Disease.

For more information on leopard geckos and iguanas, or other pet reptiles and pet amphibians, take a look at all of the pet care guides on adflyer. Just type ‘pet care’ into the search bar, or whatever else you’re looking for, and away you go!

As with any pet you bring home, a new rabbit will need some time to get used to its new owners and environment. In most cases, rabbits settle in with few problems that are of any long-term concern, but unfortunately, some rabbits need a little bit more patience and attention before they can live comfortably, safely and happily in their new home. These rabbits may come across as aggressive and may bite, nip, kick and chase you. None of these actions are pleasant and may make you feel like you’ve done something wrong, but rest assured, it isn’t your fault. We know that all you want to do is give your new bun-buns all the love and cuddles she could possibly want, but first of all she needs to learn that you have no intention of hurting her.

The most obvious way to alleviate some of the aggression is to have your rabbit spayed or neutered. Doing this may solve the problem of an angry rabbit straight away, though sometimes, it doesn’t happen quite that easily. It might not just be hormones causing erratic behaviour and even if hormones are the primary reason, there is no guarantee that your rabbit will suddenly want to be stroked and held. Gaining the trust of your rabbit will still require a little more effort on your part.

When you pin down precisely what action triggers aggressive behaviour in your rabbit, you can successfully attempt to deal with it. There is a good possibility that, when your rabbit bites you when you move to stroke her, or when she lunges at you every time you walk into the room, she is simply exhibiting fear or annoyance. This is something that can take time to overcome, but the important thing to note is that it can be. Many experts suggest you simply ignore the aggressive behaviour and treat your rabbit like the best thing in the world. Always use a confident, excited tone and – wearing a glove that amply protects your fleshy fingers – continue to pat her head, even if she tries to bite you. If you do this every day, your rabbit will eventually realise you have no intention of hurting her and you can move on to gently and carefully stroking her head instead. When bun-buns is used to this, stroke her ears too, and on and on until she’s happy with the attention and even craves it.

Believe it or not, there is a big difference between a rabbit that bites and a rabbit that nips. Most often, the former is a show of aggression, whereas the latter may simply be a way of communicating something to you. Some rabbits will nip when they want attention, and some will nip when they want you to put them down. It isn’t necessarily an act of aggression. It’s likely that, when your rabbit bites you, she’s merely being defensive, maybe over food or over territory. Remember to always move slowly and cautiously. Fast, jerky movements may be a sign of aggression towards bun-buns and she may mistake your actions as threatening. Whenever you have to clean out the cage, give bun-buns the opportunity to leave before you drag her out. When you have to feed her, distract her by gently petting her while placing the food bowl in the cage.

Your rabbit may never end up the cuddle-monster you so desperately want her to be, but you can definitely take steps to encourage her to be loving and affection. Though it’s rare, unfortunately some rabbits never manage to overcome incredibly aggressive behaviour and though it may seem cruel, the best thing to do is to have your rabbit put to sleep. Rabbits have the ability to cause some very serious injuries and if she is so stressed and unhappy in her environment that she resorts to viciously biting and scratching , it is sometimes for the best.