DEAR DR. FOX: I’ve had a compost pile for decades for natural disposal of leaves, grass clippings, eggshells, peelings and all kinds of rotten vegetables. Years ago while living on a farm, my mother also added chicken and rabbit manure to her compost (horse and cow manure, mixed with straw, had their own pile). This “black gold” made a huge difference in our gardening efforts.

Dumb Question of the Day: Is it safe to put cat feces and urine clumps in my compost pile? I use unscented, clumping kitty litter. -- I.E.E., Danbury, Connecticut

DEAR I.E.E.: The compost pile, when we worked our kitchen gardens and grew some of our own food, was indeed a source of “black gold.” I would not put cat poop into a compost pile unless I knew that it generated sufficient heat to kill off any potentially harmful bacteria and other organisms in cat feces.

It is good that you are using a fragrance-free cat litter. We are all better off without synthetic chemical fragrances, from laundry products to toiletries, in our homes, and our gardens would be better without herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Such chemicals are likely to be present in a corn- or wheat-based clumping cat litter, and I would not use that kind of litter in my garden. Cat litter made of clay would probably not turn into good compost, nor be good for any kind of soil.

DEAR DR. FOX: When I whistle, my dog is able to quickly locate where the sound is coming from, and looks at me. When I whistle at my cats, they look all over and can’t seem to locate where the sound is coming from. They even run into another room, trying to locate it. It’s like the Monty Python skit called “Confuse a Cat.”

Is there something different about the way cats and dogs locate sounds, or are my cats messing with me? -- S.P., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR S.P.: You have made an intriguing observation comparing the reactions of your dog and cats to your whistling.

I am a fan of Monty Python -- and not just because I am English, but because we need to laugh at the absurd aspects of human nature, which is often too far removed from authentic nature. Crazy cats can help us bridge that gap.

Cats aren’t stupid, nor are yours (necessarily) “messing with you.” Rather, in my opinion, they are having difficulty understanding why you are whistling. Could you be mimicking a bird outside or in another room, setting them off on a search for it? Or do they simply think that whistles do not come from people, so it must be from a bird somewhere else? I recall that every time I used to play a birdsong CD, my wonderful Siamese cat Igor would run up to the windowsill and look out, rather than running to the speakers.

Dogs have spent thousands of years longer with humans than have cats, so they have evolved a greater ability to read our body language and signals with greater alacrity and accuracy. They know through early experience that a whistle is a signal to get their attention, or to come, or to execute some other particular behavior. Given time and patience, cats will learn to respond to a person’s whistling -- especially if it is used to signal that their food is ready.

ANIMALS AT CARNIVALS, FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

I am one dog owner who would never take my dog to a county fair or carnival because she would experience more stress and anxiety than enjoyment. But many people do take their dogs, regardless of crowd size, noise, temperature and humidity. I wonder how many do it just because they like the attention of so many passersby stopping to comment and asking to pet their dogs.

Other animals at such events -- including animals in petting zoos and farm exhibits, and animals used for children’s rides -- need special oversight and established health and animal-care protocols, ideally with an animal welfare or veterinary expert consultant and monitor. Pigs and poultry can and do transmit diseases, especially influenza, to humans. Infections such as salmonella and E. coli can be a risk from calves, goats, reptiles and other animals on exhibit with close public exposure.

All states should follow the protocol of Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo, North Dakota, which recently stopped one vendor from giving rabbits away as prizes, citing state law. In my mind, this is a significant step forward in animal rights and protection. Next is to put an end to the nationwide sale of millions of chicks, ducklings and bunnies as Easter festival gifts every year. Most of them die, turning this Christian celebration of life into one of sadness for many families.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: My mother's farm dog, a 7-year-old mostly black Lab, is a very friendly, gentle animal -- except when a strange car, pickup, SUV, etc. shows up at the house, when he tries to bite the moving tires.

It is next to impossible to get him to stop. He runs in circles around the vehicle, barking and attacking. I think he believes we are joining in the chase when we scold him and try to get him to stop. Any suggestions? -- D.J., Maryland Heights, Missouri

DEAR D.J.: At least the dog does not run out into the road and chase unfamiliar vehicles, which was common in the farm country when I lived in rural Illinois. Your mother's farm dog has his own ritual, which I interpret as capture-kill behavior when he bites at the rubber tires as vehicles are pulling in. He has no need to chase, like most other farm dogs I knew -- he waits for his prey to come right to him!

Since he is part retriever, I would try redirecting his attacks to a few cut strips of old tire that you keep close in a secure container. Throw them away from the approaching vehicle in the driveway so he will go after them rather than the car. But first, he must be motivated to retrieve, so some playful and instructive activity to get him to eagerly retrieve would be wise.

DEAR DR. FOX: Can you give me any advice on how to install trust and calm in a 1-year-old female cat, who, according to adoption paperwork, appears to have been caged in one shelter or foster facility after another?

They told me she was "very shy" and took time to warm up to people. But the fact is, when I got her home, I realized she's not shy, she's terrified. I'm a woman; the paperwork mentions that she prefers men. I can't imagine what must have happened to create this psychological damage.

The first couple of days I had her, I managed to get her to sleep in a large bed on my bed, then with her bed on a chair pulled up to my bed. She let me pet her, stayed curled up the first couple of days and by the third day, she was stretching her long legs, letting me lean over and pet and stroke her -- and even rub her belly!

Then, four days after bringing her home, I had the mobile vet come to examine her. She freaked out, and since then will not come near me; she looks at me terrified and runs, spending the day and most of the night under the bed. Only recently has she started wandering the rest of the house, finding soft cat toys I purposely put out for her, playing with them during the night and napping in little cozy areas I set up for her.

I'm heartbroken that she no longer trusts me; she was doing so well until the vet visit. I'm giving her free access to all but one room in the house. I am being patient, not trying to pick her up, talking to her gently and hoping soon she'll trust me.

Do you have any tips on animals who have been caged so long? She could not have ever been in a home or apartment -- she stares at the walls, lamps, the TV as if she's never seen such things before, including windows. -- M.M., Naples, Florida

DEAR M.M.: Your shy cat was beginning to bond well with you, but her flight response and terror were triggered by the "invasion" into her new territory by the veterinarian.

It will take time for her to recover, and she may always be shy of visitors. One of our ex-feral cats still runs and hides when we have visitors, but soon comes out of hiding once they are gone.

You may accelerate your cat's recovery with a plug-in dispenser of the calming feline pheromone product Feliway in your bedroom and any room she frequents. A few drops of essential oil of lavender on a blanket or pillow where she naps may have some calming effect, as can soft classical music, which can serve as a sound barrier as well as a calming auditory stimulus.

Early evening is when cats are most active, so try to engage her in interactive play with a laser spotlight to chase. Also, try to brush or pet her with a soft brush or a big feather tied to a cane so you can reach her easily.

RAWHIDE RECALL OVER CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION EXPANDED

The recall of rawhide chew products by United Pet Group has been expanded to include private-label brands such as Dentley's, Essential Everyday, Good Lovin' or Petco and Priority Pet. Some foreign manufacturers of the products used quaternary ammonium compound mixture, which is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and can cause gastric irritation in dogs, in the production of the rawhide chews.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: We bought a female beagle pup at 8 weeks old. She's almost 5 months now. She is, and has been, a total maniac.

We keep her in a large cage because she is impossible to deal with on any level. She goes up and down off the couch or bed and attacks (wants to play with) our two Chihuahuas and our cat. She will not stop running at hyper speed. She barks to go outside until she's out there, and as then she barks to come inside.

We make sure she has plenty of food and water, and she flips the bowls. I think you get the picture. We have less time for the other animals because she's so demanding. She's as sweet as can be, but she's nuts.

What can we do? How can a puppy with this kind of energy be handled? -- M.P., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR M.P.: Keeping your puppy for what seems like most of the day and night in a “large cage” is likely to make her even more manic and eventually neurotic, with possibly obsessive-compulsive, anxiety-driven behavioral problems.

Have you forgotten how most puppies are? They burst with curiosity, chew on things and get into trouble; a constant "bother" if that is your attitude. Step back and see this naive and benign spirit in the adorable form of a beagle puppy who means no harm but needs your acceptance, affection, guidance and understanding to be a good canine companion.

This crazy teething and getting-into-everything phase will subside by the time she is 9 to 12 months old, but she will not mature temperament-wise until around 2 years. You have plenty of time to get her on the right path with you, using the cage as an overnight den and a short time-out place (for puppy naps) during the day only. Let her play and run around until she is exhausted, and feed her only after she has been out and had a good run. Beagles do tend to chase and bark a lot because they are a pack-hunting breed, so think about finding a younger and more active family for this adolescent dog to join, since her genes may be incompatible with your needs and wishes.

COCAINE TESTS RAISE DOPING CONCERNS AT FLORIDA TRACKS

A greyhound who won a Florida race on April 27 tested positive for cocaine exposure for the sixth time, and the incident marked Florida's 18th positive test in a four-month period.

The trainer of the 12 dogs involved in the 18 cases has had his license suspended. Although lack of follow-up and resolution in such cases means it's not always clear whether drug exposure was intentional or incidental, doping has been a longtime problem in the industry, with dogs testing positive for agents from anabolic steroids to industrial solvents, and cocaine is associated with dangerous health effects in dogs.

America’s free enterprise system rolls on regardless of animal suffering and unethical exploitation where money rules over ethics, and compassion and effective animal protection enforcement is trumped by corruption and lack of funding for trained police and animal welfare inspectors, which every community needs.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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.net.)