Question:

We have two female, 7-month-old kittens. One is outgoing and doesn''t mind getting combed, claws clipped, etc. It is this cat that my husband is determined to see swimming in our pool. He puts her in the water on the steps. She scurries out quickly and spends the next 45 minutes licking herself dry. I don''t think this activity is natural for a cat. The chlorine is mild, but I wonder about that, too. May I have your opinion, please?.

L.M., Bonita Springs, FL Feb 26, 2006

Answer:

Kindly tell your husband to stop terrifying the kitten. Cats can swim, but few do it for pleasure. Your husband should either get a dog or get out if he persists in tormenting the kitten. If he refuses to stop (and accepts the fact that most cats hate water), then tell him he is actually committing a felony offense and you will report him.Cruelty to animals is a felony in many states, rather than a simple misdemeanor. I''m sure your husband probably doesn''t mean any harm, but you clearly know better; otherwise, you wouldn''t have written to me. Readers should be alert to animal cruelty in their homes and communities, because the perpetrators, if adult, could also be spousal and child abusers. If they are children, they could well grow up to be violent criminals, as several studies have shown.

Question:

I have a shih-tzu/terrier-mix dog that is 9 years old. His allergies have become worse each year. I have tried all the medications: prednisone, Benadryl, antihistamines and a vaccine from the Veterinary Allergy Research Lab in Pasadena, Calif. The lab determined that Pudge was allergic to almost everything: trees, mold, fleas, dander, etc. They did not test for food allergies, but I put him on a special diet for three months to see if he had any. I gave him ground turkey (cooked) with flaxseed meal and some olive oil. It didn't seem to make a difference. The vet suggested I bathe Pudge in Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo. Ditto, no difference.He is so miserable, and it makes us very upset that we can't help him. If you can think of any other alternatives, your response would be greatly appreciated.

A.B., Horse Shoe, NC Feb 26, 2006

Answer:

Your dog is suffering, most likely, from a severely compromised immune system that got worse each year along with his allergies. Many dogs and cats suffer like yours, and conventional steroid treatment only aggravates the condition. A holistic approach to improving your dog's immune system is called for: detox treatment, nutrient supplements, a natural organic diet and no more vaccinations or anti-flea-and-tick treatments. Many chronic health problems like your Pudge is suffering from fall into the category called Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome. This disease is complex, and its treatment of Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome is described on my web site. Please alert your veterinarian to this reference, and consider adopting some of my treatment suggestions.

Question:

I have a question about my 5-1/2-year-old bichon frise. Do you have any idea why he obsessively sucks the clothing of strangers who come to visit?Our family got him from a shelter two years ago when he was 3-1/2 years old. He had been with three different families in that time. We were told he was abused or neglected in all three of those homes. It''s possible he was moved from home to home in part because of his allergies. When we got him, he itched constantly and had several open sores. We now have his allergies under control through diet, keeping his hair short and giving him frequent baths.Once people are no longer strangers to him, he no longer tries to suck their clothing. Is it possible this is just over-the-top submissive behavior in an attempt to be liked by strangers? I have to keep him away from first-time visitors because he drives them crazy.

J.D., Brooklyn Park, MN Feb 26, 2006

Answer:

Your dog has a most unusual obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sucking on clothing (or ear lobes and arms) is more common in cats, especially ones that had a traumatic kittenhood, particularly when weaned too soon.I am sure your poor dog''s traumatic past led to this behavior, which is an anxiety-relieving obsessive-compulsive disorder. This behavior is probably motivated more by fear/apprehension and insecurity than by submissive, attention-seeking motives. With a familiar person, he''s less anxious, so the OCD is not triggered. Discipline (as with most cases of OCD) will simply aggravate his condition.My advice is to consult with your veterinarian about trying a drug like Prozac or Xanax for seven to 10 days (or longer, as needed) and plan to bring people he doesn''t know to visit once he''s been on the medication for a few days. You might want to try desensitization as well -- having the visitors put on one of your old sweaters or coats that smell of you.

Question:

I have had my house cat, Honey, for three years now, ever since she was a kitten. With no changes in her diet or surroundings, she has begun to urinate on the carpet in the apartment. I have taken her to the vet, and she has no infection. Why is she doing this, and how do I get her to stop?.

G.L.C., Lake Ridge, Va Feb 26, 2006

Answer:

You are facing the most common and frustrating behavioral problem of cats, for which too many are physically abused. Others are put up for adoption or euthanized.Ruling out a physical cause, look to the environment. Carpet textures mimic outdoor grass and soil, which can be an evacuation trigger for cats. Take up the carpet, or turn it over (after using an enzyme cleaner or white vinegar) and see whether the cat stops urinating on it. Be sure the litter box is always kept clean and is in a quiet place. Remove the top if it has one. Some cats develop an aversion to ammonia buildup. Try changing the type of litter, and set up a second litter box.Also consider the possibility that your cat is suffering from separation anxiety if she is left alone for extended periods, and discuss appropriate treatment with your veterinarian. Note: Some cats become house-soilers when they see other cats through a window, especially when those cats spray around the house, caterwaul and upset the resident cat. Others become house-

Question:

I received a pair of domestic longhaired cats for my anniversary seven years ago. Within a year, we noticed, after the two of them were finished playing, that one cat, Sam, was bleeding and missing pieces of skin around his neck. Sam was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Other than this, he is healthy. Since that time, we have had to separate the cats. One stays in my office, while the other roams the house. They are swapped regularly: We have cats in shifts.Treatment consists mainly of suturing the numerous lacerations incurred over the years. Within a short period of time, I realized that Sam inflicted additional wounds on himself through grooming. Sam is now declawed, and I started putting dog shirts and sweaters on him to buffer his delicate skin from his own grooming. Sam seems to groom himself, including his sweater, excessively and sometimes aggressively, biting and chewing at his fur. Is this normal? He seems to have little feeling in his skin.After a couple of years of taking Sam to

R.Y., Woodlawn, Md Feb 26, 2006

Answer:

Your cat''s genetic disorder (which also occurs in dogs and humans) results in a deficiency of collagen in the skin, which becomes hyperelastic and tears easily. You have done a remarkable job caring for poor Sam over the years, and you will know best, treatment costs notwithstanding, when it is time to euthanize and free him from his defective body. In the wild, he would have been long gone.Supplementing his diet with multivitamins and minerals, plus 600 milligrams twice daily of vitamin C, may help. Also, provided you can keep torn areas covered, anointing cuts with a few drops of myrrh, lavender, helichrysum and frankincense diluted in a little almond or coconut oil twice daily for no more than two days, applied every four weeks, may help accelerate healing, control infection and reduce inflammation. But extreme caution is needed using these oils on cats. They should never be used long term. As a point of interest, frankincense has recently been found effective in treating melanomas in horses.

Question:

In response to the letter about the cat that didn''t want to be held, here is a process that has worked for me with several cats.Pick the cat up and put it down immediately. Don''t try to hold your cat at all. (I had one cat that was so reluctant to be held that I could do this only by getting down on my knees and lifting her off the floor for just an instant.) Pet and praise the cat after setting it down. Repeat this process until the cat doesn''t get upset. (With one cat, I did just that much several times a day for a couple of months before it no longer hissed at me.) When the cat has learned to accept being picked up, hold it for a few seconds only, putting the cat down the instant it shows any discomfort or starts to struggle. As the cat learns to trust that you will release it when it wants to get down, the cat will allow you to hold it for longer periods of time.The problem most people have is that they attempt to restrain cats that don''t want to be held, never allowing trust to be built up between the cats.

P.O., Brooklyn Park, MN Feb 19, 2006

Answer:

Unfortunately, most people lack your patience. Feeling rejected, they quickly give up trying to get their shy cats to accept and eventually enjoy being held. Seeing other cats being picked up and cuddled can make a big difference for touch-shy cats that learn through observation.Both kittens and puppies that try to escape when held will quickly learn to submit and develop self-control when held firmly until they relax. Protective gloves and sleeves are advisable. Gently pinching the kitten''s skin at the back of the neck while holding the kitten mimics how a mother cat holds and carries a kitten. This hold usually triggers a mild state of catatonia. (No pun intended.) Once the kitten submits and relaxes, stroke and praise it, then put it down and let go. This might seem cruel, but it is a humane way to condition hyperactive and poorly socialized young animals. I call this process "gentling," and it is remarkable how well it works and makes the animals more trusting and easier to handle later in life.

Question:

I read your article on the need to house-train pets before people get married, and I had to write about an experience close to what you wrote about.A co-worker in my office came home from work to find that her husband had brought home a full-grown Rottweiler. They lived in a small apartment with no yard; thus, the dog would have to share this small space with them. My friend is a headstrong type and was furious with her husband. She gave him an ultimatum: When she came home from work, the dog would be gone, period. Well, she came home the next day and the dog was gone, all right, but so was her husband, with all of his belongings. He had chosen the dog over his wife. They later divorced. Hopefully, he lived happily ever after -- with his dog.

S.A.K., Norfolk, Va Feb 19, 2006

Answer:

This anecdote of marital conflict over an animal is very telling.Spouses should consult with each other about bringing an animal into their lives, ideally sharing in the choice as well as in the care of the creature. Only too often, the animal becomes an emotional support or outlet for just one spouse, leading the other to feelings of resentment and even jealousy. My guess is that the man in your story felt lonely in his relationship, already felt he was in the doghouse, and maybe could communicate better with his new dog than with his wife. Perhaps he was an inconsiderate little boy who never grew up, and since he could not control his wife, he got a dog to boost his ego.Another aspect of this theme is when ex-partners both love the same animal. Arranging visiting times post-breakup can be problematic and stressful for all concerned, including the animal. Sometimes it is best to make a clean break and not turn the animal into an emotional yo-yo to satisfy the needs of the separated couple.I also wonder how

Question:

I have a beautiful 5-year-old black Lab that weighs 75 pounds and has a shiny black coat. I take great care in grooming him, but, for the past couple of years, he has been plagued by a problem with dry spots on his elbows, which is leading to calluses and hair loss. I have asked my veterinarian about this, and he says it''s normal for Labs to get calluses on their elbows and there is nothing I can do to prevent it. Please tell me that he is wrong. I have tried a few types of ointments, and hydrocortisone seems to help slow the problem down somewhat, but it does not seem to be enough. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

K.T., Chesapeake Beach, Md Feb 19, 2006

Answer:

No, your veterinarian is not wrong. Many short-coated, heavy-bodied dogs develop elbow calluses, and, while often unsightly, they are relatively normal.Providing the dog with one or more beds on the floor and adding a tablespoonful of safflower oil to his food (to help improve his coat) may also help limit the degree of callus formation.Steroid cream could actually delay healing where there are cracks in the skin. Vitamin A and vitamin E cream or a few drops of essential oils, such as myrrh, lavender and frankincense in almond oil rubbed into the elbows twice a day when there is some fissure formation, will help promote healing.

Question:

I have a 4-year-old Maine coon-mix cat named Chloe who is a spayed indoor-only cat.Chloe has developed a strange behavior that I can''t seem to discourage. She attacks my legs with her claws and teeth when I''m getting ready for bed. When I firmly say "no" and shake a finger at her, she gives me a low, pathetic meow that makes it sound like I''m depriving her of something (the taste of blood?). I noticed that she attacks when my legs are bare, so I''ve started to wear long pants when I wash up. But when I take them off just before getting into bed, she darts out from a hiding place and attacks me as I''m getting under the covers. Once I''m in bed, she will sometimes carry her toy mouse around in her mouth while meowing, and a few minutes later she''ll be as friendly as ever.Keeping her out of the bedroom isn''t an option, as we live in a studio apartment. What is this behavior about, and how can I stop it?.

G.L., New York, NY Feb 19, 2006

Answer:

You are attempting to deprive Chloe of something she really wants by not letting her attack your bare legs. They are an outlet for her "evening crazies," when she wants to play-fight and hunt.Either get her a compatible feline playmate or spend 15 to 20 minutes playing with her so she can let off steam before you retire. Animate a fluffy toy mouse or sock stuffed with catnip. Tie it to a string that you can pull.Many cats are misjudged as being aggressive or half-crazy, but they are usually just bored and need appropriate stimulation, most often in the evening, their natural time to be outside roaming and hunting -- which, of course, is not acceptable for many reasons.

Question:

I have a cat that is approximately 3 years old. Last year she started "overcleaning" her front legs and thus removing her fur. She is now overcleaning the inside of her back legs. I''ve taken her to the vets, and they said some kitty cats are like that, so they have prescribed her a steroid shot every couple of months to stop this. I would prefer to do something natural as opposed to continuing these shots. What do you recommend?.

D.W., Virginia Beach, Va Feb 19, 2006

Answer:

Stop the steroids! This is absurd treatment that will bring on other serious health problems.Your cat could already have a health problem that is causing her to groom herself to the point of self-mutilation. Most often, there is an underlying allergy, especially to certain ingredients in the cat''s food, or the thyroid gland is becoming hyperactive. The presence of fleas or mites must also be ruled out. Some careful detective work is called for.Steroid shots may help reduce the symptoms but will not correct the underlying cause. Oral treatment with an antihistamine or a psychotropic drug like Valium or Prozac may help break the compulsion if there is a primary emotional reason -- possibly triggered by stress in the home environment, like a new cat, a baby or the death or departure of a loved one.