DEAR DR. FOX: I have four cats who go outside in a small wooded area that is surrounded by townhouses in my community. I know that they shouldn't be wandering and it's not fair to the neighbors.

I got a cat fence for my tiny backyard space so they can go out on the grass. I'm so stressed that they will become depressed and unhappy staying in, and I worry about it constantly.

I know I'm doing the right thing, but I want them happy, and they really want to go out! -- B.L., Edgewater, Maryland

DEAR B.L.: I am so glad for your cats that you have taken the responsible, "tough love" step of not allowing them to roam off your property.

My book "Supercat: How to Raise the Perfect Feline Companion" will give you lots of insights and practical tips to help make your cats happy and active indoor animals and relieve you of any guilt and concerns that they are missing their walks on the wild side. Be sure to engage in plenty of enrichment activities with your cats, including interactive play. The book also advocates outdoor enclosures for cats, some designed with an escapeproof walkway from the house to the outside enclosure. You are doing the right thing.

DEAR DR. FOX: We had a cat, Anja, who had diabetes and colon problems. For some reason, she was eating things she shouldn't and had to be "cleaned out" on a couple of occasions. The doctor found chicken bones, rubber bands and clumping litter in her colon.

Because she was diabetic, even though she was getting insulin injections twice a day, she was urinating more than normal, and the clumping litter wasn't really up to the task. It would get stuck in her paws, and she would ingest it while cleaning. We finally switched to a pine pellet litter and have NEVER looked back. She passed away in 2007, and we still use the pine pellet litter for our other cats, with no problems whatsoever. -- D.S., St. Louis

DEAR D.S.: Thank you for providing documentation on the potential risks to some cats of the clumping types of cat litter, clay types possibly being more risky (especially if they contain small particles that can be inhaled) than wheat- and corn-based clumping varieties.

The potential health risks of volatile organic compounds in scented litters should also be considered, and I advise fragrance-free cat litter.

HUMAN PAIN OINTMENT FATAL FOR CATS

Five cats became seriously ill and three of them died after being exposed to their owners' pain relief cream. Two developed kidney failure and recovered after receiving veterinary treatment, but the cats who died had high levels of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen in their systems, according to necropsy results.

The owners reported using the cream to treat themselves for arthritis pain; they never directly administered the medication to the cats. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, ibuprofen is the human drug pets most commonly ingest.

JERKY DOG TREATS "MADE IN THE UNITED STATES" SICKEN DOGS

Pet food industry monitor Susan Thixton from truthaboutpetfood.com released a statement reading, "The madness continues -- some U.S.-manufactured jerky treats are now being linked to acquired Fanconi (syndrome) in dogs -- the same kidney disease linked to Chinese manufactured jerky treats."

Veterinary Information Network (VIN) released a story stating that the Food and Drug Administration has confirmed the agency "is aware of complaints related to USA-made products." The FDA said some of the reported U.S.-manufactured jerky treats contain ingredients "from outside of the U.S."

So much for business ethics and truth in labeling.

CORRECTION

In a recent column, I reported that half the U.S. population of preschoolers is on medicine for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Rather, it is half of those diagnosed with this condition who are put on medication. Sugar-free breakfasts may be a better remedy.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a pair of sister cats who we rescued four years ago. Up until the last month, they exhibited normal indoor cat behaviors, such as eating and sleeping together in peaceful harmony. One accidentally got outside for about two hours; upon being let back inside, she became cattus non grata to the other cat, who started hissing, spitting, etc. The one who had been indoors even bit the escapee on the tail and drew blood.

They are now being very hostile toward each other, with both going back and forth being the aggressor. We keep them in separate rooms in the house as any contact results in hissing, spitting and even growling and screeching. I have bought Feliway and put them in a room with it for a couple of hours at a time, but upon exit of the room, there does not seem to be any change in mood. This has been going on for a month, and I have been playing referee to a game of musical cats. I would appreciate any help or suggestions, as I want my happy home returned. -- E.T., Vienna, Virginia

DEAR E.T.: You are going through what my wife and I did after one of our cats got outdoors for a while and was attacked by our other cat, who was formerly his playmate and sleeping companion.

This "cognitive dissonance," or whatever is going on in the cat's psyche, is triggered by a change in pheromones in the cat who went outdoors, possibly set off by fear or by becoming hyper-alert and engaging in scent-marking and picking up the scents of other cats.

You will have to go through the steps of reintroduction. This includes rubbing both cats with the same moist cloth every day so they become accustomed to each other's odors and having them in separate rooms but able see each other through a screen door. Feeding them at the same time is also part of the resocialization process. The synthetic pheromone product you used is sometimes, but not always, effective.

STOPPING THE WORST TORMENT OF ANIMALS IS ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST

As an evolving species, humans are living in the Anthropocene age, the apocalyptic consequences of which we are witness to today. These include climate change, ocean acidification, deforestation and loss of biodiversity with accelerating extinction of wild plant and animal species. Awakening to these anthropogenic (human-caused) concerns, which affect our health, security and quality of life, is giving birth to what my friend, the late Father Thomas Berry, called the Ecozoic era of ecological and environmental awareness and responsibility. This transcends the prior human-centered worldview with active planetary CPR -- urgently needed conservation, preservation and restoration.

The heart of this redeeming era, which some see as vital to our species' future well-being, if not also survival, is in bioethics. Bioethics essentially expands the empathic and egalitarian principle of the Golden Rule to embrace all sentient beings, plant and animal, wild and domestic. It is enlightened self-interest to do so, as the One Health movement, which connects animal and environmental health with human health and well-being, is advocating.

From a One Health perspective, no sane society can continue to justify violating this Golden Rule in its treatment of animals raised for human consumption in cruel factory farms across the Americas and most of the "civilized" world. These concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) cause serious groundwater and air pollution and are a major contributor to climate change and loss of biodiversity. Wildlife and their habitats and precious fresh water are sacrificed to produce the feed for these poor farm-raised animals, who are fed increasingly from impoverished, plant nutrient-deficient and petrochemical-saturated soils and genetically engineered, insecticide-producing, herbicide-contaminated crops.

The animals are stressed by extreme confinement in overcrowded conditions that cause suffering and disease. Some of their diseases, many brought on by stress, affect consumers who are also put at risk by the antibiotics and other drugs used to prevent and treat animal diseases and boost productivity.

Millions of animals live under the constant torment of having no relief, escape or diversion from the stress of being overcrowded and deprived of being able to execute normal behaviors. Then they fall victim to live transportation to mass-slaughter processing plants. Their cries of pain and terror are natural signals of distress that have evolved because they are socially and emotionally conscious beings. To treat them without regard for this high degree of sentient awareness is the industrial norm. Farmed animals, like animals exploited in other contexts, are seen as property, objects of possession, mere commodities. Such objectification is the product of anthropocentrism and is its nemesis.

The net result of this abuse and waste of natural resources and inhumane exploitation of other sentient beings is dysbiosis, or ecological dysfunction, which includes the microbiome of our own digestive systems. The health of this internal bacterial garden that nourishes our bodies and protects us from disease depends in large measure on what we consume and feed to the animals under our care. This recognition is a first significant leap of science and medicine toward bioethically directed and inspired behavior. The links between the One Health movement, humane and organic farmers and informed and concerned consumers give me some hope.

Opposition to the enactment and enforcement of farmed animal welfare and environmental protection laws calls for public boycott in the marketplace, where concerned consumers vote with their dollars.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 3 1/2-year-old Akita mix who has been with us for the last two years. At first he was very aggressive with other dogs. It's getting better, but he has a way to go. Any suggestions?

Also, he has a strange habit: My daughter has a pair of plush leopard-print slippers that drive him crazy. He will drag my daughter around trying to remove them and starts to bite until we take them away. What do you think? -- B.H., Bethesda, Maryland

DEAR B.H.: I would get your daughter a plain pair of slippers and let your dog have the old pair for himself to fetch and "kill" while you engage in interactive play with him; otherwise, he may not respect physical boundaries. He could play too roughly and injure your daughter.

This breed can be assertive toward other dogs, which can become a problem when they are in their young adult stage (1 1/2-2 years old), and neutering is no guarantee of subduing dominance aggression. So your dog needs to be educated to develop self-control and internal inhibition, beginning with basic sit and stay training.

Spending time with a dog he likes in an off-leash enclosed park would be a big step toward dog-dog socialization.

DEAR DR. FOX: When my daughter moved into her ground-floor apartment, she discovered her cat, Reese. According to the custodian, Reese had been abandoned by her owners and for about three years had been living with a cat colony that took shelter in a nearby sewer. My daughter was able to gain her trust and take care of her with plenty of patience. They are both living with us for a while, and Reese has warmed up to all of us, even Lucy, our labradoodle.

However, Reese's rhinitis was out of control. Our vet assured us that she was contagious only to other felines. After a round of antibiotics, our vet suggested we try lysine drops in her food, as the condition is most likely herpes based. It has worked beautifully. She still sneezes and wakes up with drainage from her nose, but her breathing has improved and the condition lessened. My daughter also uses a steam humidifier on the occasion of a more intense flare-up.

Reese is a contented indoor cat who is still wary of strangers and refuses to be picked up. However, she cuddles with my daughter and looks to be petted by the rest of the family. -- J.M., Brick, New Jersey

DEAR J.M.: Thanks for confirming the evident benefits of giving lysine supplements to cats with compromised immune systems due to chronic herpes virus. A few drops of fish oil in the food can also help because of the oil's anti-inflammatory properties. And never discount the benefit of a biologically appropriate diet.

Chronic nasal discharge in cats is a common malady, and in some cases, the underlying issue is gingivitis, stomatitis or other dental problems, which can lead to sinus infection, tooth root and surrounding bone infection and erosion.

PET FOOD INGREDIENT MISLABELING INVESTIGATION

Pet food testing in Europe has found that 14 of 17 pet foods included meats not identified on product labels. Lack of pet food transparency is a worldwide concern.

Susan Thixton at truthaboutpetfood.com reports:

"In this study, researchers tested 17 popular brands of pet food sold in Europe. The study looked for animal protein sourced from cow, horse, pig and chicken. Of significant concern, 'there was detection at substantial levels of unspecified animal species in most products tested.'

"Unspecified animal species could be any animal other than cow, horse, pig and chicken."

Let us hope these researchers will do further DNA analysis to determine the exact animal that was dubbed "unspecified."

This problem has been noted in pet foods in the United States, too, and it is a grave issue in feeding dogs who are allergic to or intolerant of certain animal proteins, such as beef or chicken. It is also an ethical issue for purchasers who may wish to avoid feeding their dogs pig or horse meat. The questions of where the pet foods were manufactured and country of origin of ingredients include ethical and health concerns that have yet to be answered.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.com.)