How to create a home environment that will keep cats content and comfortable

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Is your cat happy? September -- Happy Cat Month -- is a good time to find out what makes cats purr and ensure that you’re meeting their needs.

Cats have a reputation for being mysterious, aloof creatures, but if we look beneath the surface, we find that what makes them happy isn’t so different from what makes us happy. They enjoy companionship with people and other animals, play and activity, good food, proper care and an interesting environment. None of those things is difficult or expensive to provide.

Contrary to popular belief, most cats enjoy spending time with their people. A 2017 study at Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction lab found that half of the 38 cats in the study sought out the company of humans -- even when food and toys were alternatives. Make it a priority to spend time with your cat in a way they enjoy, whether that’s a few minutes of lap time or play with a favorite toy.

Cats also can enjoy the companionship of other animals. When adopting a kitten, current advice is to get two from the same litter so they can be lifelong friends. Cats can also learn to love dogs, especially when introduced at an early age. The idea that cats and dogs are sworn enemies is a myth, a truth borne out by the many cat-and-dog friendships in thousands of households.

Watching a kitten or cat play is often more entertaining than any television show. Kittens, especially, will leap and spin and chase until they collapse for a nap. And you don’t have to spend a lot on toys for them. An empty box (uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2016/12/26), a wadded-up piece of paper or a paper bag with the handles cut off are all feline favorites.

Zazie Todd, author of “Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy,” says that rather than sturdy toys that hold up for a long time, cats may prefer paper or cardboard items they can shred. “Cats sometimes like when their toys start to disintegrate because it’s more like if they had actually caught something.”

Cats like variety and novelty, too. It’s a good idea to rotate toys regularly. When you bring them back out a few weeks later, they’re new again.

Cats have a reputation as fussy eaters, and that may be partly related to their status as obligate carnivores, or hypercarnivores, meaning they must have meat in their diet. That’s because cats lack the enzymes needed to produce the essential amino acids arginine and taurine; vitamins A, D and niacin; and some essential fatty acids. They have a genetic mutation making them indifferent to sweet flavors, plus at least seven functional bitter receptors, which may also influence what they’re willing to eat.

According to a 2019 study, cats appear to prefer diets containing about 30% of calories as protein, 27% as fat and 43% as carbohydrates. Always choose a food with a statement on the label saying the diet is complete and balanced and has undergone feline feeding trials.

One common misconception is that cats don’t need to be groomed because they clean themselves. Not so! Brushing is important to help remove dead hairs, distribute skin oils and make sure medium- and longhaired cats don’t develop mats and tangles. Most cats love the feel of being brushed, and it’s a great way to spend time with them.

What makes an interesting environment for a cat? Places where they can perch high, ideally in front of a window; places where they can hide; some safe, tasty and easily accessible potted plants to nibble on, such as tender grasses, parsley, thyme, valerian and of course catnip (no lilies!); an assortment of toys that will stimulate their hunting and pouncing instincts; a great scratching post (uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2017/12/18) and for cats who delight in the wet stuff, a small fountain. For more ideas, look here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/its-cat-play-fun-feline-enrichment.

Q&A

Yard-free

potty options

Q: We live in an upstairs condo with a small balcony, and it would be great to have an option for our dog to potty on the balcony during rainy or cold weather, if we’re unable to take him up and down the stairs because of our own illness or injury, or if he’s recovering from surgery or injury and shouldn’t use stairs. Do you have any tips?

A: You bring up some important concerns for people who don’t have yards. Both pet product manufacturers and clever pet owners have come up with several approaches that might work for you, depending on the size, age and trainability of your dog.

One is pee pads. Lots of people who live in high-rises use this method to housetrain their puppies or to give adult dogs a potty option if they’re gone for several hours. Start with an extra-large one so they have plenty of space to target, use a holder or frame to keep it in place or place it inside a small exercise pen or other area with limited space so it’s the only place the dog has for eliminating.

Some people place sod inside a kiddie pool or on top of a tarp so their dogs have a natural substrate where they can potty when the weather is bad or it’s too difficult to get them up and down stairs. You can also purchase squares of artificial or real grass to use on a balcony. Spritz it with water after use or change sod regularly to control odor, or purchase one with a bottom tray that captures urine and can then be removed and cleaned.

You can teach your dog to use a litter box filled with the litter of your choice, including shredded paper, paper pellets or dog-safe bark or mulch. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Be ready

for disasters

-- With the recent deadly wildfires in Lahaina and Hurricane Idalia in Florida, it’s a good time to remember that September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and that means pets, too. To be ready for a quick emergency evacuation, they need to be wearing updated ID tags and have a microchip registered with an organization so you can be contacted in the event you’re separated. Pack a storage bin or an easy-to-grab bag with a week’s worth of food, water and necessary medication for each pet (use and replace regularly so it’s always fresh); bowls, a can opener and spoon if you use canned food; a copy of your pet’s rabies certificate; an extra leash and poop pickup bags; and a favorite toy.

-- If you’re housetraining a new puppy or learning the potty habits of an adult dog, try tethering. That means the dog is leashed at your side at all times. It’s a great way to learn the signals a new dog or puppy gives when they need to go potty. It keeps them under your watchful eye so they can't get into mischief, and helps build a bond between you.

-- Have you ever looked at your cat's toes -- really looked at them? They have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them touch the ground when a cat is walking. The fifth toe, known as a dewclaw, is the feline equivalent of the thumb. While it's not opposable, the dewclaw does help the cat grasp things and climb trees. The toe anatomy makes it easy for cats to go up trees, but not so easy to come back down. The back paws have four toes but no dewclaws. Some cats have extra toes and are known as polydactyls, meaning "many fingers." -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

We’re pro-kissing when it comes to most pets, but keep safety and happiness in mind before smooching them

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Do you smooch your pooch? Kiss your cat? You’re not alone. A 2021 survey by Just Food for Dogs found that 53% of its 2,000 respondents said they kissed their dog more than their partner. Another 2021 poll of 2,000 adults commissioned by cleaning product company Vileda discovered that 97% of respondents are happy to receive “kisses,” aka licks, from their pets.

Kisses between pets and people range from a soft nose-to-nose touch, kisses on the forehead between the eyes and on top of the head between the ears, and raspberries on the belly. Some pet owners avoid the muzzle, nose or mouth, but most dogs aren’t so choosy. They just give a big slurp wherever they can.

Kisses from people to pets are delivered primarily to dogs and cats, but a recent outbreak of salmonella in 11 states linked to small turtles -- ones with shells less than 4 inches -- has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning parents to make sure young children don’t kiss or snuggle with shelled, scaly or feathered pets.

Reptiles can carry salmonella germs in their droppings, which spread easily to their bodies, their tank water and people who touch them. It’s all too easy to acquire the bacteria simply by touching pet turtles or anything in their habitat and forgetting to immediately wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching anything else, especially the face or food.

Pet chickens can also carry salmonella, so the same “no kissing or cuddling” and “handwashing after handling” rules apply.

But what about dogs and cats? Is it OK to kiss them? You’ll find lots of articles online recommending against it, but that doesn’t stop most people. And some veterinary professionals are right there with you when it comes to kissing pets -- with some caveats.

Our own Dr. Marty Becker is a big proponent of getting and giving his dogs some sugar.

Veterinarian Tony Johnson, an internal medicine and ER specialist, says if dogs and humans are healthy, it’s an acceptable risk.

“If someone is immunocompromised or has just had an organ transplant, then probably no. Or if your dog has MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), probably best to avoid it.”

Licensed veterinary technician Colleen Clemett, who has kissed a lot of animals over the years, believes there are few zoonotic diseases of concern that could be spread by kissing or getting kisses from a pet.

To be on the safe side, however, therapy animals in particular are trained not to give kisses because they frequently encounter people who are immunocompromised.

Of course, it’s important to kiss only animals you know well. Never encourage children to go face-to-face with pets, who can be startled into a bite by the close interaction. Make sure you’re familiar with your animal’s body language and that they’re not expressing “get-away-from-me” signals such as turning their head away, flattening their ears, lowering their tail, crouching or closing their mouth.

Whether you kiss pets depends a lot on how they respond to it, too. Do they appear to welcome that smack between the ears, or do they cringe like a junior high boy whose mom just kissed him in front of his friends?

“I often wonder if they recognize it as a sign of affection,” says bull terrier owner Elizabeth Anderson Lopez of Lake Forest, California. One dog -- Maybelene --seems to enjoy head-top kisses, but her other dogs Tosh and Dexter merely tolerate them, so they get fewer.

Pet lover Daleen Comer knows some of her pets are unpredictable -- her cats have been known to go from purring to biting in a split second -- so she keeps her face a safe distance from them.

ER vet Johnson says two of his dogs love to give kisses -- and he’s not going to swipe left on that.

Q&A

Teaching cats

a touch cue

Q: I’ve heard of teaching a cat to touch a target stick. Why? And how?

A: Teaching “touch” has lots of great uses: asking your cat to move to or away from a certain spot -- the kitchen counter, for instance -- or to go into a carrier or hop on the scale at the vet. And it’s the foundation for tricks such as spin or sit. At its simplest, target training is a way to communicate with your cat.

To teach this skill, hold the target -- which can be something like a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon -- at the side of your cat’s face, just out of sight. Slowly move it into your cat’s field of vision, with the goal of catching her attention but not startling her. Using your voice (“Good!”) or a clicker, mark any interest your cat shows in the target, whether that’s a glance, a slight move toward it or a touch with nose or paw, and reward with a treat. Move the target away and repeat. Try holding it higher or lower if your cat doesn’t show interest. If your cat is fearful of anything unusual, start at a distance and reward for glancing at it or not running away. Practice for brief periods -- a minute or two at a time -- so she doesn’t lose interest.

For cats who need more encouragement, smear a small amount of a soft treat on the end of the stick. If she reaches out to sniff or lick the treat, mark and reward. Gradually offer the treat less often or remove it altogether, continuing to mark and reward for touching the target.

When your cat readily touches the target with her nose or mouth, add a verbal cue like “touch.” Say it just as your cat moves toward the target. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Maintain shelter

pet health

-- If you work or volunteer at a shelter, the following tips will help animals in your care stay healthy until adopted. Handle every animal who comes in as if they’re diseased. Wear disposable gloves, and change them frequently. Use paper towels instead of individual fabric cloths when cleaning cages, and discard them after each cage is cleaned. Make hand sanitizer readily available; apply it to wet hands and rub it in for one minute to ensure effectiveness. Use appropriate pet-safe disinfectants. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals in the presence of animals. Use disposable litter trays and food and water dishes.

-- Communicating with hand signals is one of the most important things you can do if you live with a dog who’s hearing-impaired. In addition to traditional training cues, such as a raised hand for “sit” or a downward hand motion for “down,” dogs can also learn American Sign Language to understand such words as “dinner,” “walk,” “play” or “outside.” A flashlight is another visual signal that can attract your dog’s attention when you flash the light toward them -- though be sure to avoid their eyes! Give verbal praise, too. Even if your dog can’t hear you, they can read your facial expression.

-- A survey by Chewy of 500 pet lovers found that 65% say trips are more enjoyable when pets come along. Since the pandemic began, 31% say they travel more with their pet. Most often, pets go on road trips (96%), while only 12% accompany owners on flights. Top challenges include finding pet-friendly lodging and making sure pets are comfortable away from home. What do they pack for pets? Portable bowls (53%), carriers (17%), calming aids (12%), backpacks (8%) and first-aid kits (5%). Preferred destinations have beaches or open spaces. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Body language, expression and demeanor, although sometimes subtle, can tell you a lot about

how your pet feels

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We know when we’re in pain, and our families and friends usually know, too, from our grimaces, grunts and outright complaints about that bum knee, painful surgical site or side effects from cancer treatment.

But while most of us are aware that pets feel pain, too, it’s not always easy to recognize because an animal’s first instinct is to hide pain. Since September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, it’s a great time to learn how to recognize pain in pets and what treatments can help.

What does pet pain look like? Sometimes it’s obvious, indicated by limping or crying. Other signs of pain require some knowledge of animal body language. Hunched posture, licking lips, flattened ears, panting and stiffness on standing are among the signals that a pet is hurting. Changes in behavior can also indicate pain: appetite loss, no longer running to the door to greet you, hiding under or behind a piece of furniture, reluctance to play or wanting to cut a walk short. Often, signs can be subtle and easy to overlook.

A good way to get to know what pain looks like in pets is to consult one of the many pet pain scales available. Animal pain scales are available for cats, dogs, horses and rabbits. Your veterinarian may have one, or you can look for one online.

Pain scales show examples of body language and facial expressions, usually accompanied by descriptions of the pet’s demeanor. For instance, according to Colorado State University’s Feline Acute Pain Scale (which ranges from 0 to 4), a cat with a score of 0 is content and quiet, comfortable when resting and interested in or curious about their surroundings, while a cat with a score of 4 may be prostrate, unresponsive or rigid to avoid painful movement. The Feline Grimace Scale uses photos of actual cats to demonstrate facial expressions that signify pain.

In dogs, the CSU Canine Acute Pain Scale (which also ranges from 0 to 4) says dogs with a score of 1 may be slightly unsettled or restless, flinching on palpation. At level 2, they look uncomfortable when resting, may whimper or cry, look worried and aren’t eager to interact with people.

The Bristol Rabbit Pain Scale has scores from 0 to 3. A bunny with a score of 0 is similar to a cat with a score of zero, but rabbits that score 2 or 3 are dull or unresponsive, inactive and have a body that is stiff or hunched, with eyes closed.

Any signs of pain warrant a veterinary visit to discover the source. We used to assume that middle-aged or older animals were simply slowing down, but age doesn’t mean pain is a given.

“Owners so often think that limping is a sign of old age, and it’s not,” says Tamara Grubb, DVM, Ph.D., a veterinary anesthesia and analgesia specialist at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “We should still have the same gait, maybe we’re slower, even if we’re old, and so should dogs. Limping is definitely a sign of pain.”

Ways to treat or manage pet pain include medication, physical rehab, acupuncture, laser therapy and massage.

“One of the trends in drug development is a focus on longer-duration drugs for acute and chronic pain that will not only provide longer analgesia but will also decrease pet-parent care burden,” Grubb says.

Injectable drugs such as Nocita and Zorbium for acute pain and Solensia and Librela (the latter expected to be available later this year) for arthritis pain in cats and dogs are administered at the veterinary clinic. They offer pain relief for longer periods and don’t require pet owners to wrestle pills or liquids into their animals.

If those aren’t options for your pet, your veterinarian may recommend multimodal treatment: use of multiple medications or therapies, which affect different parts of the pain pathway. They include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), complementary therapies such as acupuncture and targeted therapies such as platelet-rich-plasma injections.

Q&A

Bite-free

kitten play

Q: We adore our 6-month-old kitten, except for one thing: She bites when playing. We have shrieked, yelled “no,” scolded her and flicked her nose. How can we get her not to play rough?

A: As you have learned, cat (and kitten) bites are painful. Beyond the pain and potential injury, cat bites can cause serious infections -- within hours, even. Immediately wash them thoroughly with soap and water, and see your doctor for further treatment.

Kittens normally bite each other in play. If they bite too hard, they hear about it from their playmate and take things down a notch. When kittens don’t stay long enough with mom and littermates or don’t get early enough socialization with people, they may not learn to inhibit bites. Using hands to play with kittens can also incite a bite. Here’s how to tame the teeth.

First, stop punishing your kitten. That can make biting worse, causing your kitten to escalate biting into fighting.

Watch body language, especially the tip of the tail. If it starts to twitch, stop playing immediately, and walk away.

Don’t use hands or feet in play. Keep your kitten at arms’ length with wand toys that she can chase and pounce on, or toss crinkle or stuffed toys.

Avoid touching her tummy, even if she rolls onto her back. That’s a defensive position, not an invitation to pet. Focus petting between the ears or beneath the chin.

If you miss the signal that she is overstimulated and she bites down, freeze! Don’t screech or hit her. If you’re not moving or making a sound, she’ll likely let go. Walk away and let her relax before interacting with her again. Be consistent, and she should mature into a cat with nice mouth manners. Learn more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/teach-kittens-gentle-play-yes-you-can. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Celebrate pets

this month

-- Besides Animal Pain Awareness Month, September is Happy Cat Month, National Service Dog Month, National Pet Insurance Month, National Disaster Preparedness Month (for pets, too) and Responsible Dog Ownership Month. Other pet-centric events in September are National Deaf Dog Awareness Week and National Dog Week (last full week in September); Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week (third week in September); National Iguana Awareness Day, Sept. 8; National Pet Memorial Day, Sept. 10; National Pet Bird Day, Sept. 17; International Rabbit Day, Sept. 23; and World Rabies Day, Sept. 28.

-- You can get more than books at the library. Two Detroit libraries, in partnership with Detroit Animal Care and Control, are offering free hourlong pet care sessions that include information on where to access spay/neuter services, microchipping and veterinary care. Local experts such as veterinarians and trainers will be there to answer questions. The sessions are scheduled at various times at Lincoln Detroit Public Library and Edison Detroit Public Library. Find more information here: friendsofdacc.org/classes. Not in Detroit? Ask if your local library or shelter offers similar programs.

-- Honeybees are the new chickens, with approximately 100,000 hobbyists keeping backyard hives. And like any livestock -- bees qualify as the tiniest of livestock -- they sometimes need veterinary care. The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine has a beekeeping program to teach veterinarians how to care for buzzing patients. Professor Joerg Mayer, who has a background in beekeeping himself, began the program, which allows students to work hands-on with hives. “Usually, students in the veterinary program don’t get the chance to work with actual animals until around their fourth year, but through this program, they are learning how to treat and care for small livestock,” says Mayer. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.