Feeling anxious about crafting the perfect holiday meal? Are you worried about that looming Christmas shopping deadline? You might not be the only one in the family feeling a little freaked out this time of year. Our four-legged friends can sense our emotions. So, chances are if you’re stressed out, your pets are feeling the blues too. Poor Fido or Smokey.

Don’t let your furry friends suffer this season. These three stress relievers are sure to turn your pets back into their regular wagging, slobbering, mewing happy go-lucky selves in no time.

You eat the freshest organic produce, drink only hormone-free milk and insist upon pesticide-free meats to feed your family. Shouldn’t your furry, four-legged friends get to eat the same healthy fare?

Pet food has come a long way from the horsemeat and filler fluff of the past, and today several companies manufacture natural and organic kibble that is as delicious as it is nutritious. Demand for organic pet food has increased dramatically in the past several years, and multiple companies have stepped up to offer chow for your pet that is free from unwanted ingredients.

The term "pet parent" has got a lot of use over the last few years. With pet food scares in the latter 00s to murky pet food labels, pet owners have become very hyper-vigilant about pet supplies and food. Animal lovers everywhere can start to rejoice, though. Many pet food, supply, toy, bedding and care companies use organic material, non-toxic dyes and natural ingredients.

Heeeeere kitty-kitty. You know that clay cat litter we’ve poured in your box for what seems like forever and a day? We’re finally giving it the heave-ho once and for all. Oh, sure you know why. All those chemicals. All that tracking throughout the house. All those airborne particulates. You want another reason? Let’s just put it this way – your cat box filler has a carbon footprint the size of Antarctica! It’s time for us to walk the feline walk, so here are a few of the more sustainable ideas that we’re considering in order to ensure that our smoogley-woogley kitty bear can hold his chin up high.

With their bright, wide-eyed innocence and willingness to deliver their special brand of slobbery affection for no particular reason, it's easy to understand why wet nosed, winged and scaled companions of all species, sizes and breeds tend to effortlessly wrap their little paws and claws around our hearts. For many of us, our first real exposure to one of life's greatest lessons – unconditional love – can be experienced simply by sharing our lives with these silent yet eternally doting and ever-comforting creatures.

Caring for a canine companion is kind of like strapping on parental training wheels and learning all about your capacity for love, tenderness and understanding… not to mention your ability to tolerate randomly flung saliva, projectile vomiting and inappropriate elimination throughout a household that – for many of us -- was once the sole domain of comparably ‘clean’ garden-variety dust. For all of the grimy goobers that they’re responsible for tracking into our homes however, somehow our argh! reaction can be instantly softened to an awww! the moment we notice their glistening rubbery noses enjoying a particularly alluring scent or we catch them spooning an especially treasured plush toy.

While I love my dog, Daisy, a 12-year-old mix—I even hired a mobile groomer who gives her a Reiki massage and a blueberry facial, though Daisy mostly licks it off, don’t ask—I never owned a dog house for her. After all, why should she sleep in a dog house when she’s got the couch? But then I stumbled on a modern dog house online and I rethought my dog house vs. couch stance. Sleek lines. Sustainable. Funky design. Eco-friendly. Browsing from one site to the next, I found myself addicted to dog houses and soon enough I hunted down all sorts of well-designed homes for chickens and cats. Because c'mon, you can't ignore the chicken coops, right?

Check out these six environmentally-friendly—and may I add, fantastic—dog houses, cat abodes and chicken coops. Enjoy!

Some people swear by feeding their dog a raw food diet. For others, the concept just makes them swear. Proponents will sing you the gospel of raw food, claiming it will do everything from making your dog’s coat shinier to clearing up medical issues to working as a sort of “fountain of youth” that will extend your dog’s life. Opponents say that a raw diet can lead to severe health problems for your dog and point to the fact that there is little scientific evidence to support the benefits of it. The truth, of course, is somewhere in-between, but both sides agree that owners should do their homework before jumping into a new diet for their four-legged friend.

Many dog treats are even more processed than a lot of human store-bought food. With dogs’ tummies more sensitive than ours, who wants that for their pup? That’s one of many reasons why making dog treats yourself is the jam. You totally control what goes into their treats, and can customize organic ingredients for better health – or even avoid those foods your dog is allergic to!

The warm months are upon us, which means fleas will be coming back soon as well – if they’re not already here. Modern science has come up with a host of chemical methods to combat fleas, but oftentimes those “cures” can pose as many health risks to you and your pets as the fleas themselves. That’s why we thought we’d offer some natural suggestions for flea prevention and removal.