DEAR DR. FOX: In response to the letter about the cat spraying: I, too, had a sudden problem with my cats spraying. A friend suggested putting a bowl of food wherever the cats were spraying. I did this, and it worked spectacularly! Cats will not spray where their food is. It worked for me. -- M.F.K., St. Louis, Missouri

Dear M.F.K., This is very interesting and, in a sense, expected. My guess is that the presence and odor of the food makes some cats feel secure, so they are less motivated at that moment and at that place to spray to mark their territory. This behavior is distinct from house-soiling squat-urination so often associated with feeding a cat high-cereal dry food.

Very often when cats are emotionally disturbed by a house guest, new baby or prowling cat outside, they will select one or more vertical objects or surfaces to back up to and spray with a little urine. For those cats behaving in this way, there is now a possible prevention, thanks to you -- provided it does not mean fat cats eating up all the stop-spraying food-bowl contents!

DEAR DR. FOX: My sister-in-law has a 14-year-old cat who has developed what her vet calls “feline acne.” He has black stuff under his chin.

Her vet gave her medication for it, but apparently this whole situation is so offensive that the cat refuses to drink water anymore (and he always has). My take is that whatever this problem is, it must smell bad to the cat, and leads him to avoid the water dish.

When I asked my vet about it, he suggested some topical medication (I’ve forgotten what it was). Her vet suggested salting his food to make him thirsty. I don’t think so! My vet said some cats are like camels and can go forever without drinking.

Any advice? -- E.J., Sykesville, Maryland

DEAR E.J.: Feline acne is an inflammation of the skin glands that is not uncommon in cats. In some cases, it seems to be triggered by drinking from plastic bowls, because the condition improves when cats are given ceramic or stainless steel water containers.

Some of the ointments used to treat this condition could result in a cat not wanting to drink. So add some water to the cat’s food. Cats are not like camels in the sense that they can do without water for an extended period of time. Many cats who drink insufficient amounts of water will become ill, and may die. What the veterinarian should have said is that cats have a poor thirst regulatory mechanism -- not an ability to survive dehydration.

So be sure your sister-in-law is not using a plastic water bowl, and that she cleans her cat’s chin three times daily with a disposable wipe impregnated with tea tree oil, lavender, aloe vera, or any natural, soothing herbal ingredients with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

STUDY: CATERPILLAR SOUND DETERS PREDATORS

Recent findings announced at the International Symposium on Acoustic Communication by Animals suggest that the North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillar can make a sound mimicking bird alarm calls, thus deterring predators.

"This is the first instance of deceptive alarm calling between an insect and a bird, and it's a novel defense form for an insect," said study author Jessica Lindsay.

(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.)

Dogs and cats “are responsible for 25 percent to 30 percent of the environmental impact of meat consumption in the United States,” according to new research from the University of California at Los Angeles. Some studies have shown vegetarian diets can suffice with adequate protein and vitamin D.

Studies like this make the headlines every few years. They put numbers to common sense -- which, today, is a rare commodity. But advocating for making cats vegetarians and dogs vegans is unethical and inhumane; they can be harmed by diets that are not biologically appropriate.

The vast tonnage of meat-industry byproducts and condemned animal parts that are recycled into pet food often make cats and dogs ill. It is we humans who must transition, for environmental, economic and health reasons, to vegetarian and vegan diets. A first significant step is to avoid beef, pork and most seafoods.

I would beware of other “studies” that conclude companion animals do not really serve as co-therapists or provide health benefits to their owners/guardians and to children in the family. This is the next step, as I see it, to denigrating the keeping of animals as companions (as distinct from disposable commodity “pets”). In keeping people connected and concerned about animals and nature, companion animals can be seen as threats to a host of vested interests bent on animal and environmental exploitation.

Keeping animals as companions is seen by many as self-indulgent and as a waste of money and resources, putting the needs and interests of dogs and cats and other animals over those of starving and sick children and the poor. But this guilt/shame-making falls down when reason and empathy prevail. The fact is that animal rescue and humane education are positive virtues of a civil society. Animals are one of the best antidotes for anthropocentrism, which can lead to disassociation from other animals and the natural environment -- with disastrous consequences. Animal companions offer us salvation and a way to grace.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a problem with my almost 5-year-old Shih Tzu, a rescue dog. We got him when he was 2 months old: cute and playful. But at about 6 months of age, he became aggressive. At first, it was with food and toys, and I said, “OK, we can train him.” After some training, he was fine with sharing his toys. Then came the aggressiveness when petting him.

If you pet him too long, especially on top of his head, he snaps -- and I mean a full-on bite. My vet said four things: Send him back, give him away, put him on meds or put him down.

He attacks my husband and knocked him down twice (with my husband laughing). It’s not really funny; the poor dog seems depressed. I think he is bipolar. Is there help for him? Our last Shih Tzu was a very gentle soul; she passed six years ago from cancer. Our Bo is nothing like her. -- L.V., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR L.V.: You certainly do have an issue living with a “bipolar” dog, as you put it -- a diagnosis that is not far off the mark.

There are some breeds and individual dogs who show sudden and unpredictable aggression associated with low levels of serotonin in their brains. So I advise you to raise this issue with your veterinarian.

This should be an interesting educational journey for your family into the relatively new realm of nutrigenomics, as per the review article posted on my website, drfoxvet.net. A change in diet to one with biologically appropriate ingredients that are USDA Certified Organic and labeled Non GMO Product Verified would be a first step. Free-range organic turkey meat would be especially good for your dog, since turkey meat is high in tryptophan, the biological precursor of serotonin. I also recommend supplementation with synthetic concentrates of tryptophan or theanine, another precursor of serotonin from plants, coupled with nutraceuticals providing essential fatty acids and the building-block for dopamine, another brain- and behavior-modulating neurochemical.

You and your veterinarian might also want to consider therapeutic botanical supplements such as St John’s wort, aromatherapy with essential oils of lavender and cedar, and massage therapy as per my book, “The Healing Touch for Dogs.”

(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 READERS: As noted in an earlier column, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a class-action lawsuit this past July against Petland, claiming that it defrauded customers by “guaranteeing” the health of puppies it knew were prone to illnesses and other defects. Now Petland’s puppies, according to officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have passed on a bacterial infection to people.

Campylobacter, a common cause of diarrheal illness that can spread through contact with dog feces, has been contracted by people in Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Campylobacter infections were reported between September 2016 and August 2017 in 12 patients who were Petland employees, while anther 27 had come in contact with a Petland puppy. Nine people have been hospitalized since last September, but no deaths have been reported. More than 200 cities and counties now have laws that ban pet shops from selling so-called “puppy mill puppies,” Petland being the only major national chain selling dogs from commercial breeders.

DEAR DR. FOX: Thirteen years ago, we rescued a young female cat who had apparently been dumped. She was in poor shape, starving and full of fleas.

We took her to a vet for complete care and spaying. The vet suspected the cat’s mother may have been malnourished when pregnant with her.

At home, we fed her well, but she remained obsessed with food, especially fats. She would watch as we unpacked groceries and steal away with butter or cheese and eat it. At the same time, she was given to sudden bursts of violent behavior, as though having flashbacks. We assumed that she had been abused. Without warning, her pupils would dilate and she would launch herself at one of us, often aiming for the face. I warded her off many times by holding a pillow at arm’s length, which she ended up clinging to. Legs were a target, also; seven months after taking her in, we reluctantly had her declawed.

Gradually, she became socialized and settled into being a sweet kitty, and remained so for years. However, now she is reverting to violence. There are still no children or other animals inside, or even nearby, to trigger aggression. All will seem well, then suddenly she attacks and bites, drawing blood and, in one case, causing an infected wound. The attacks are increasing.

We are at a loss to explain this reversion to hostile behavior and don’t know how to handle the situation. Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. -- C.K., Fredericksburg, Virginia

DEAR C.K.: The saga of your poor cat, and you, is indeed distressing.

You did follow my first principle of responsible companion animal care: Any time there is a change in behavior, consult with your veterinarian. It is regrettable, but understandable, that the only treatment was to remove your cat’s claws. This mutilation can make cats feel more vulnerable, and then they are more likely to bite.

I agree with you that her sudden aggressive behavior when you first adopted her was possibly related to earlier traumatic experiences, a case of post-traumatic stress disorder indeed. But where there is sudden and unpredictable aggression with biting, in a cat or any animal brought into the home who has been outdoors, possible contact with a rabid animal must be considered. Certainly the attending veterinarian would have ruled out this possibility when you took your cat in for treatment after rescuing her.

The craving for fat is very curious indeed. Cats do need animal fats that contain omega-3 fatty acids, and many cat foods, especially dry kibble, are deficient. They are essential for several organ and system functions, including the brain.

I would give her a sardine or two a day (canned, in water), for a start. Also, since some dogs with low levels of brain serotonin can have attacks of psychotic rage, a supplement like PetzLife’s @-Eaze to elevate your cat’s serotonin may also help.

Second, odors can trigger cats to attack. One woman was cornered in her bathroom by her Siamese cat after she put on a new perfume (which contained the anal gland secretions of Ethiopian civet cats, held in captivity in small cages and subjected to repeated anal gland curettage). Perhaps you have a new deodorant or other toiletry product with a scent that disturbs your cat. A room diffuser dispensing organic essential oil of lavender may help calm all of you. Fresh or dried organic catnip has a tranquillizing effect on some cats, and your cat may enjoy a pinch in the early evening.

It is possible that her thyroid gland is hyperactive, which can also account for sudden aggression. This should be checked. If that is not the issue, and sardines and other suggestions do not help her enjoy a normal life without having these almost seizurelike episodes, discuss trying psychotropic medication with your veterinarian to reduce anxiety and possible brain seizure activity. Older cats do develop dementia, and chronically painful conditions like arthritis can bring on aggression, but rarely to the intensity shown by your cat.

(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.)