DEAR DR. FOX: I saw your recent column about a cat eating too fast and then vomiting. We had the same problem, and our vet suggested spreading out the wet food on a large platter -- it has been a great success with our cats. I also observe their eating and have certain times that the cats know are for food. This has really worked wonders. I have five cats who range in age from 4 to 10 years old. -- M.W., St. Louis

DEAR M.W.: Yes, spreading wet food over a plate is one way to make a cat slow the rate of eating, but it can make it difficult for some cats to actually lick up their moist food rather than grab bites. Another method to slow down your cat is to put food in a large bowl with a few glass marbles that the cat has to eat around.

Cats do train us when they want to be fed, and I strongly advise attunement to their natural meal cycle, which is usually around four small meals daily. Feeding two large meals can cause problems, as can at-will self-serve eating from a dry cat food dispenser.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am in a family of four: my husband and two grown "kids," ages 38 and 34, who still live at home. We currently have, yes, 13 cats and kittens in our home.

My older son was feeding a couple of outdoor strays who kept coming around our house. They ran away if he even opened the house door before they were done eating and went on their way. To make a long story short, one of the cats gave birth to kittens, and sadly, while following them into the yard of another neighbor, was mauled to death by a K-9-trained pit bull who lives there.

Two very nosy "concerned" neighbors claimed they knew our son was feeding the strays and brought the four motherless kittens to our door. They said they found them abandoned in the street. We tried to get the one male and three females fixed and get their shots in a timely manner, but our financial situation did not allow it. We are now faced with owning 13 cats in total as the male cat impregnated his three sisters, two of whom had four kittens each; the remaining sister gave birth to kittens who died shortly after birth.

My husband and son are the feeders of the 13 cats. They do it four times a day, at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. That is what their lives revolve around, and I feel they are grossly overfeeding all the cats and kittens. They're out of their mind!

Please give me your input. I am at wits' end and desperate to resolve this extraordinary, over-the-top situation. I know it sounds like I am making up a story. Sadly, it is all true. I am an animal lover myself, but know it is more than a little prohibitive -- at this rate, the cost of cat food and kitty litter alone has been outrageous. We did get all the cats and kittens spayed and neutered, and they've had their shots ... better late than never, I guess. All remain indoor cats. -- T.L., New Jersey

DEAR T.L.: What a tragedy for the mother cat to be killed. This happens to many cats allowed to roam free.

I advise feeding adult dogs twice a day, and most people feel that is fine also for cats. But recent studies have shown that four small meals a day and a couple of snacks is a better, more natural feeding regimen for cats. High-cereal-content cat foods often lead to obesity, diabetes and other health problems.

Adult cats should be periodically weighed to check if they are putting on too much weight. To keep them healthy, look for grain- and soy-free cat foods; feed them freeze-dried, raw frozen or canned food; or try my home-prepared cat food recipe.

(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 cannot get to the bottom of my 13- year-old female formerly diabetic tuxedo kitty's problem with head scratching and shaking.

For the past two months, we've fed her canned wet food instead of kibble; her last glucose test was normal. This head and face issue has been a long-standing one. When we've taken her in to see various vets, they all prescribe Tresaderm, but the scratching always comes back. She also overgrooms, and then vomits hairballs from licking so much. I believe she does this because of stress from her head and face condition. There are no visible sores on her head or face.

I thought the dry food was the issue, but changing to wet only cured her diabetes. Even on wet canned food, she still has the shaking and scratching on her face, head, neck and ears. What should we do? -- L., New Jersey

DEAR L.: This could be a variant of feline hyperesthesia syndrome. Keeping my cat off fish helped; catnip seems to calm him down, and evening games are a must.

Your cat may get some comfort from having a light blanket placed over her, since this may have a calming effect. Our other cat often goes to sleep when I put a newspaper over him or when he crawls into a rolled-up piece of carpeting.

I would not rule out a vitamin or other dietary deficiency or neurotoxin contaminant. And of course we have the established link between feline hyperthyroidism and flame-retardant chemicals, stain-repellent chemicals, formaldehyde and quaternary ammonium compound "sanitizers" for counter and floor -- all of which you can find in your home.

Hyperthyroidism, a symptom of which may include excessive grooming, affects more than 1 in 10 older cats. and might be due to exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are commonly used in plastics and furniture, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Researchers at Stockholm University found high levels of the chemicals in blood samples from cats with hyperthyroidism. PBDEs can get into dust that sticks to cats' fur and is then ingested when cats groom themselves.

Be sure her veterinarians checked her ears and teeth for issues. The cat pheromone product Feliway may help calm your cat, as may a drop of lavender essential oil where she sleeps, but be sure there are no synthetic fragrances in the cat litter or laundry.

DEAR DR. FOX: After our 16-year-old dog passed away late last year, we finally decided it was time to look for a new family member.

We came across a 3-year-old miniature American Eskimo mix at a local shelter, went through the process and brought her home. She's absolutely wonderful with us -- silly, playful, mostly well-behaved -- and we're very happy to have found her.

Our only problem is that when we have visitors, she barks nonstop for the longest time. Her tail is wagging, but she won't let the visitor pet her. When we go for a walk, she barks at anything close to us -- people, cars, other dogs. We know she lived with a senior couple previously, so we don't know how much training she got.

I've started to get her to sit and heel as a car or other "threat" approaches, but I wanted to get your opinion on what else we can do. We've only had her for 10 weeks, so we know it will take time. Thanks for any help. -- S.R., Beachwood, New Jersey

DEAR S.R.: An educated guess is that your dog was not taken out and about very much with her former caregivers, and she is showing the typical adjustment issues of a dog who has been raised in a relatively deprived environment, though clearly not unloved.

So take her exposure to the big world slowly, and help her learn self-control by teaching her to sit and stay. This exercise helps develop internal inhibition. She may handle better with a gentle leader or a harness around her chest. Three to four drops of lavender oil on a bandana around her neck before going out may help calm her down, as would PetzLife @-Eaze.

FROZEN DOG FOOD RECALL

OC Raw Dog voluntarily recalled 2,055 pounds of Turkey & Produce Raw Frozen Canine Formulation because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. The products were distributed in Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Colorado and sold to consumers through independent pet specialty retailers.

This recall is a result of a routine sampling program by the Nebraska Department of Food and Agriculture, which revealed a presumptive positive to salmonella. Consumers with questions may call 1-844-215-DOGS (3647).

(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 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.)