http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/cyberpets-all-creatures-great-and-virtual-1814133.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/cyberpets-all-creatures-great-and-virtual-1814133.html ]]> <p>They don't bite, they don't make a mess on the carpet and they don't cost anything to feed. The appeal of virtual animals is clear. Both cute and attentive, they treat you as if you are the centre of their world – without any vet's fees. Video games involving animals are perfect family fun, and come in many forms. Virtual pets have been particularly popular – over 70 million Tamagotchi toys, the Japanese handheld digital pet, have been sold, while the Nintendogs series, in which the player looks after a virtual puppy on their DS, has been a major seller for Nintendo since its launch in 2005. </p> Features Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/your-questions-is-it-ok-to-house-a-rabbit-and-a-chinchilla-together-1810969.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/your-questions-is-it-ok-to-house-a-rabbit-and-a-chinchilla-together-1810969.html <p> <b>Q. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving in together. He has a rabbit and I have a chinchilla. All the places we've seen are quite small so to save on space we're thinking about housing them together. Would that be all right? Sharon, via e-mail</b> </p> Features Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/pet-of-the-week-the-pinktoed-tarantula-1810982.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/pet-of-the-week-the-pinktoed-tarantula-1810982.html Features Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/your-questions-why-does-my-bichon-fris-puppy-hate-having-her-paws-touched-1803188.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/your-questions-why-does-my-bichon-fris-puppy-hate-having-her-paws-touched-1803188.html <p> <b>Q. My Bichon Frisé puppy, Snowball, hates having her paws touched. Whenever I try to touch them she pulls them away and wiggles. I don't know why she does it and I need to be able to clean her feet. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can make her feel more comfortable about this? Margaret, via e-mail </b> </p> Features Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/pet-of-the-week-the-giant-asian-praying-mantis-1803198.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pets/features/pet-of-the-week-the-giant-asian-praying-mantis-1803198.html ]]> Features Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100