I'm certainly not a pro at pet portraits but I've done a few and have a few tips to pass on. ( This is Abby btw, and a 16x20 canvas wrap print of this image was a Christmas gift for a friends mom. ) Ok, first three tips that come to mind....
1. Use Natural Light - Using a flash can startle ( or just annoy ) an animal. I prefer the aesthetic of natural light whenever enough is available. A large window can provide a convenient and beautiful source but lighting can be tricky because you can't just ask the animal to turn 90 degrees.
2. Know your animals - Especially when working with cats this will ensure that your subject is relaxed and comfortable. Dogs are a little more flexible and can be more animated when excited. Taking a dog to a park might make for great pictures but a cat would probably freak out. I know nothing about working with birds or reptiles. Just try to reflect the qualities the owner admires about their pet.3. Work Quickly - This is not a model you're working with here. As long as the pet is comfortable with you around you're going to get the best shots within the first few minutes. Especially cats will lose interest with you and your clicking box as soon as they realize they can't eat it.
4. ( Bonus ) I generally use a 50mm lens to maintain a sense of proximity to the animal. It does require you to work closer to the pet to achieve a portrait shot size, but you will avoid the 'wildlife' photography compression of spatial relationships that comes with longer focal lengths. I feel it keeps things more personal, and you get a very photographic shallow depth of field as a bonus.
Oh yeah and manually focus because dog noses and cat whiskers can trick your AF off of the eyes.
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