I want to see your pets' Halloween costumes

Plus: Pushback to California's cat declawing ban, toy addiction, and the art of the anti-peeing sign.

Happy Thursday, and welcome back to Tail Mail.

I have some reporting that’s fallen on the back burner as I prepare for a certain law school admissions exam,¹ so I appreciate your patience as I’ve been a bit MIA lately. That being said, Halloween is coming up and I’d love to see your pets’ costumes. Send me pics at clara@readtailmail.com.

Pippa is going comfy in dinosaur PJs this year. Gemma wouldn’t deign to put on something as embarrassing.

• Can dogs become addicted to toys? Some highly play-motivated dogs included in a recent study demonstrated “excessive fixation on toys, reduced responsiveness to alternative stimuli, and persistent efforts to access toys” — behaviors that are strikingly similar to those seen in humans with addictions. It’s too early in the research stage to conclude whether dogs can become toy addicts, per se, but these findings are a good reminder to rotate out your pet’s toys as we continue to learn more about canine behavior and psychology.

• The Hollywood Reporter took a cue from Tail Mail and published a pet-themed package with pieces on cosmetic surgery for dogs, pet-friendly airlines like Bark Air, and the displacement of animal actors due to AI. (THR, you should call me next time you want to write about dogs and cats.)

• The art of the anti-peeing sign: Homeowners are getting creative with their “curb your dog” signs and deterrents, as documented by The New York Times. There are the signs that appeal to the health of trees, the ones berating dog owners, and the ones with adorable illustrations featuring stinky poops and confused-looking dogs. The real question: Which sign is most effective?

• Spending on pet food is slowing down. Though global pet food sales are expected to hit $152.9 billion this year, dog and cat food spending isn’t seeing the same kind of exponential growth as previous years, likely due to the weaker economy. Nestlé Purina PetCare (the parent company behind Fancy Feast, Friskies, and the Purina Pro Plan lines) continues to drive the most sales of dry dog and cat food around the world.

• RIP KitKat, a beloved bodega cat who was allegedly killed by a driverless Waymo car.

• California is the latest state to ban cat declawing for non-medical reasons, joining Illinois, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Though the legislation has been applauded by animal rights advocates, the California Veterinary Medical Association has opposed the bill on the grounds that the state should not be dictating or legislating veterinary care. “Veterinarians need to be able to freely exercise professional discretion on a case-by-case basis in making decisions for animal patients along with their owners,” Grant Miller, CVMA’s director of regulatory affairs, said.

• Artist Andrea Cáceres’s latest book, Dog Affirmations, is out this week. My copy just arrived in the mail and I can confirm that it’s very cute. Would make a great gift for any dog lovers in your life. (Andrea designed my tattoo of Gemma!)

• A pregnant woman’s sonogram looks like her dog.

• A helpful cheat sheet on how to keep your pets safe during Halloween.

1. Yes, this is a recession indicator.