Question:

I have one Siamese cat. I was wondering if it is better to have two cats so they don''t get lonely.

E.S., Fargo, ND May 29, 2005

Answer:

I wish more people would ask questions like yours, which reflect concern for the well-being and best interests of their animal companions. So often the relationship is one-sided -- the animal being "loved" for how well he or she satisfies human needs and interests, often to the exclusion of the animal''s best interests and ultimate happiness.Provided your cat isn''t too set in his or her ways and exclusively bonded to you, introduce a healthy, spayed or neutered cat, ideally of a younger age, and checked over by a veterinarian and given a clean bill of health (especially free of feline AIDS and leukemia).Be prepared for a few days of hissing, fear and avoidance, and let the cats work things out. Placing the new cat in a cage for a half-hour in the same room with the resident cat will help take the edge off of their xenophobia (an irrational fear of strangers), so they can safely get each other''s scent and begin the habituation process. Or put them in separate rooms with a door between them so they can sniff ea

Question:

My cocker dog Lily passed away recently from a weak heart. She was my comforter during recovery from major surgery and I dare say I wouldn''t be alive today without her support. She made me feel safe and more relaxed and was so attentive. She knew I was in pain. I just wanted to share this since Lily was so special.

P.L., Miami, FL May 29, 2005

Answer:

Several studies have shown how companion animals can make us feel good and certainly speed the healing process, because petting and cuddling them releases beneficial neurochemicals from our brains and lowers our blood pressure.I would very much like to hear from other readers who have had experiences similar to yours, and who feel their animal companions have helped them through an illness, mental or physical. If so, how did the animal respond/relate, and how did the animal make you feel?

Question:

I have a cat that has a behavioral problem. I''ve had this cat since he was a kitten, and then be became friends with a stray cat through the window screen. They seemed to like each other. I took the stray to the vet and then brought him into my home to keep the first cat company. They are both around 3 years old now. My cat''s name is Baby Boy and the stray is Mr. Gray Man, both males.For seemingly no reason, Baby Boy will attack Mr. Gray Man by straddling him and biting his neck and back -- Mr. Gray Man seems to be paralyzed when this happens and stays still and squeals for help.I have taken Baby Boy to a vet for help and they gave him antidepressants, but as soon as the medication wore off, he''d attack again. Then he was prescribed narcotics, but as soon as he was fully awake he''d attack again.At other times, Baby Boy will initiate grooming with Mr. Gray Man. This is a beautiful thing -- they must have a special bond to be doing this. But mainly I have to keep the cats separated when I''m not home.

J.W., Pasadena, Md May 29, 2005

Answer:

I am in shock that your veterinarian prescribed antidepressants and narcotics for poor Baby Boy, who was simply behaving normally and doing what cats do -- not attacking and injuring Mr. Gray Man, but simply asserting his dominance and possibly engaging in a little sex play. Like all cats in these situations, Mr. Gray Man simply submits.So let them be together at all times. The fact that Baby Boy initiates affectionate grooming means they have their relationship worked out and Mr. Gray Man is the one on the bottom. His apparent "paralysis" and his "squeals for help" are normal responses for a cat being dominated by another seizing the back of his neck. Do not interfere. Let cats be cats and allow them to engage in normal (and usually non-injurious) social behavior. And let more veterinarians take refresher courses in animal behavior, which should be a prerequisite for graduation in all veterinary colleges.

Question:

I adopted Winnie, a 28-pound mixed-breed dog, from a local shelter. She was there for six months and had been adopted previously, but was returned because she had separation anxiety and ruined the woman''s furniture, pillows, etc.Because I am retired, I can take Winnie with me when I go shopping and so on, as she is good in the car. But now that it''s too hot I must leave her at home in a crate. Originally it was a metal crate, but she managed to chew a hole through the bars to get out. Now I use an airline crate, and whether I''m gone one hour or four the results are the same -- she''s all wet from drooling, and the bottom of the crate is all wet as well.She''s been on Clomicalm since November, but it''s not helping. I can''t return her to the shelter, as no one would want her, and I don''t want to put her down.I hope you can help me with this problem, as she is a very sweet dog and was housebroken when I got her. She''s even finally able to tolerate my five cats, who love dogs.

C.E.J., Englishtown, NJ May 29, 2005

Answer:

Separation anxiety is a very common and difficult disorder to overcome. Time and patience on your part may be rewarded.First, get four or five hollow rubber Kongs from a pet store, or 3- to 4-inch pieces of beef marrow (soup) bones and stuff them with cream cheese, peanut butter or whatever tasty, moist treat your dog likes. Set them out for her, leave the house, return after five or 10 minutes and put the treat toys in a bag in the fridge. Repeat this daily, extending your time away, but do not make a fuss over her when you return. She needs to associate pleasure and reward (i.e., the toy treats) with you leaving the house.Second, at other times, train her to sit and stay, establishing yourself as the controller/pack leader -- this will help her to develop self-control. Keep the crate open at all times, with a pillow or blanket, so it can be her "den" if she so chooses.

Question:

I need some advice on my 8-month-old poodle. I can''t get her to use papers. I''m 89 years old and I can''t take her out like I should. I got her because my husband just died. I already love her so much. If you would give me some pointers, I would pray for you every day.

A.F.I., Winston-Salem, NC May 29, 2005

Answer:

By what twist of fate did an elderly person end up with a young pup? Was any thought given as to how you can care for this animal properly, see her through housetraining and teething, and satisfy her needs? Few dogs accept having to live most of the time indoors and to urinate on a paper pad.Your loneliness aside, if you really love this little dog for herself, call the local animal shelter and find a good home for her where she will not have to live in total confinement. Consider adopting a healthy, elderly, easygoing and housetrained cat. A good cuddle-puss (provided you aren''t allergic to cats) is what I would prescribe for your loneliness. Such a cat would be so much easier to care for and give you worry- and guilt-free companionship.

Question:

I read with great interest the story of Maddie the cat who was unable to use her litter box because arthritis prevented her from assuming the proper position. I had a similar situation with my cat Rocky recently.Now about 16, Rocky began to urinate outside the box a couple of years ago. I couldn''t understand it -- nothing had changed in the house, and I was using the same litter, same box and same location.One day, while watching my other cat use the box, I realized the cover on it required her to make a tight turn inside the box. I removed the cover and Rocky began using the litter box again, immediately. He had been unable to turn around once he got inside the box with the cover on, so he quit using the box altogether.Rocky is sometimes unable to assume the position, like Maddie, and his urine goes over the side of the box. I''ve put newspapers around the box for those times and just switch them out when they become soiled. He''s trying to do the right thing; he just can''t squat down like he used to. Well, I

S.D., Washington, DC May 29, 2005

Answer:

Since so many cats are abandoned or put up for adoption when they stop using the litter box and mess up the house, your letter may help give some old cats a reprieve. Thanks for being an observant and caring cat caretaker!

Question:

Can you comment on the effect of government''s proposed rule that guide, hearing or service dogs unable to fit in the limited airline cabin space be shipped in cargo or require the purchase of a second seat?.

E.E., Fresno, CA May 22, 2005

Answer:

To separate disabled people from the benefits of their assistance dogs, and to thus force a break in the partner/dog bond, is unthinkable. Moreover, paying for a second seat is a crushing financial burden.To protest against these outrageous recommendations, contact your congressperson and Norman Mineta, the Secretary of Transportation, by mail at 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20590, via e-mail at dot.comments@ost.dot.gov or by phone at (202) 366-4000.

Question:

I have read several of your books and visited your Web site, and I have a question that comes from my own spiritual beliefs. Do you, like many people, see animals as angels sent here to help us?.

M.A., Edina, MN May 22, 2005

Answer:

No I do not see animals as angels. But, like some good people, animals have what many regard as angelic qualities in terms of devotion, unconditional love, forgiveness, and the ability to heal us and make us feel good, as several scientific studies have confirmed.I see animals, wild and domestic, as manifestations of what some call God''s creation or sacred presence. It is on the basis of this perception that I believe all living beings (including those of the plant kingdom, along with all creatures great and small) should be treated with reverential respect.I would like to hear other readers'' views, especially those who still believe that animals are inferior and were created for human use.

Question:

Can you recommend something to discourage cats from using my flowerbeds and lawn as a litter box? The flies and the stench, especially on hot days, are awful. I''ve tried Repel repellant granules, mothballs and garlic, all to no avail. Please advise.

S.H., Warren, MI May 22, 2005

Answer:

You could call your municipal health department and file a complaint, because the cats defecating on your property could be a source of toxosplasmosis infection and other zoonotic diseases that go from cats and other animals to humans. (The avian flu virus that made many people ill can also infect pigs and cats.)The authorities will probably not solve your problem unless you have a supportive and effective animal control agency that can convince your neighbors to keep their cats indoors or in cat-proof yards.Having your own garden enclosed with a cat-proof fence can be costly. Cheaper alternatives are rolls and rows of chicken wire or, more aesthetically, closely spaced bamboo stakes all around your flowerbeds and the perimeter of your lawn.A good dog might be your best answer.

Question:

I have enjoyed reading your column for many years. I note that you tend to avoid using the word "pet" and instead use "companion animal." "Pet" is demeaning, since the animals who share our lives give us so much more. Thanks!.

D.G., St. Louis, Mo May 22, 2005

Answer:

Yes, indeed, I agree with you. Animal companions enrich our lives in many ways. They are always there for us, and so many have saved countless numbers of people from depression, suicide, loneliness, and even heart attacks and stress-related problems.Since my earliest childhood memories, I have found animals easier to understand and be close with (not to control or dominate) than most humans, because they are so authentic, uncontrived, and open in expressing their needs and feelings.No, I am not a misanthrope, but I do believe that non-human animals are our superiors in many ways, and that respect for their rights, intrinsic value and interests is long overdue. For more thoughts on this topic, see my book "The Boundless Circle" (Quest Books, 1996).