DEAR DR. FOX: A recent letter in your column about the cat who started spraying about two years ago reminded me of our Mischief. Mischief wasn’t actually spraying; he just preferred to urinate standing up. From the time he was a kitten, we had to make special litter boxes out of large Rubbermaid containers (no top, door cut into a side) or else we’d have wet walls, floors, etc. He lived to 17 1/2 and never deviated from that posture. There didn’t seem to be any reason other than his personal preference.

Since it’s a recent thing, though, with the cat in the recent column, I’m wondering if perhaps the letter writer’s cat has something structural going on that could make standing feel more comfortable. Or maybe he just thinks he’s human! -- B.W., Ellicott City, Maryland

DEAR B.W.: You are to be commended for your creative solution for your rather unique cat, who should have had tests done to see if indeed your plausible theory of a congenital abnormality of the spine was the issue. That would be my first guess in a young cat.

When older cats suddenly pee and poop outside the litter box and seem to have difficulty bending their backs properly to evacuate, they are often experiencing pain from arthritic vertebrae. Anti-inflammatory fish oil or a sardine a day helps many of these old cats.


Actual spraying is deliberate marking behavior, where the cat will raise the tail (which may vibrate), slightly elevate the hind-end, then back up to whatever he/she wishes to put a scent mark on. This is more common in un-neutered males and is often triggered by stress, as I detail in my book “Cat Body, Cat Mind.” I would like to hear from other readers about their cats’ quirks around the litter box. I wonder why some cats are fastidious about burying their poop while others seem to be erratic even with an otherwise clean litter box. Is that simply forgetfulness? One sign of being emotionally disturbed is house soiling, and not covering the poop may be associated with social stress in the home, in some instances.

DEAR DR. FOX: My holistic vet will only approve Advantage II collars, not Advantix. Advantage does not go through the liver, but stays in the sebaceous glands.

You might pass this along to those people who wrote in about their beloved griffs who died. -- L.U., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR L.U.: I would not use these collars on any living animal if it can be avoided. The simplest solution is not to let your cat outdoors to get infested and bring fleas into your home so they can multiply. Check my website for some holistic and least-harmful flea control measures.

The product in the collars is “lipophilic,” meaning that it is absorbed by the fats on the animal’s skin and kills fleas soon after contact. If a treated animal is stroked by a child or licked by another animal, the product will be transferred and could cause various adverse reactions. A dog wearing such a collar should be kept away from lakes and streams, because it could poison aquatic life.

One of the ingredients in the Advantage II collars is a nicotine-type insecticide that the manufacturers also promote for spraying in and around homes and which kills beneficial insects, including bees. So I say “bug off” with these products, if you please, and stop this insanity.

I find it totally absurd that these kinds of insecticides are given to cats and dogs not when they have a flea infestation, but just in case they might, which is like taking antibiotics in case you get an infection. Chronic use means chronic exposure, which can facilitate fleas and other insects developing resistance. And then stronger insecticides are developed, with potentially greater ecological and public health risks. This is the living history of our toxic chemical agribusiness food industry, which continues to deny any connections with cancer and the demise of pollinating insects. The precautionary principle should not be abandoned for profit.

COURT UPHOLDS CHICAGO’S BAN ON SALE OF PETS FROM LARGE BREEDERS

The Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Chicago’s ban on pet store sales of animals from large commercial breeders, and dismissed a lawsuit initiated by two pet stores and a breeding operation. -- Source: Chicago Tribune

(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: I want to share an interesting story with you regarding our 10-year-old rescued husky, Blaney. Three years ago, we invited a couple from the neighborhood to join us for Thanksgiving. Two of our three children, plus our future son-in-law, were home.

When the guests arrived, Miriam (M) sat on the sofa and Blaney settled at her feet. A short while later, he snarled at her. The kids saw that and quickly moved him away. It was a little weird, but no harm. (Background: Blaney is very people-friendly. Loves mobs of kids, babies, everyone. He’s been called the neighborhood rock star. He knows M well, but this was the first time she had been in our home.)

A bit later, Blaney got up and settled once again at M’s feet. This time, with no warning, he climbed on her and bit her left breast! Needless to say, we were all shocked. Fortunately, M was unharmed, but much shaken. She told us at the time that she had had cancer in that breast. Now, three years later, calcifications were found deep in M’s left breast, and they were cancerous. Here’s what I think was going on that Thanksgiving three years ago: Blaney sensed the cancer and perceived it as a threat to his pack, and he did the only thing he could to protect us.

What do you think?

Before I sign off, I want to thank you for helping my daughter address digestive problems with her recently rescued dog about 18 months ago. It was so kind of you to take the time to help her. She was a new dog owner in a foreign country, and you were a lifeline. -- S.G., Ridgefield, Connecticut

DEAR S.G.: The theory as to why your dog reacted this way makes some sense. Animals will generally shun, but sometimes attack and drive away, one of their group if he/she is behaving erratically or looks or smells different.

As you suggest, this could be an ancient instinct to help stop the spread of contagious disease. In your dog’s case, he probably detected an abnormal scent coming from the woman, which triggered an alarm reaction. From your description of the bite, causing no harm, I would interpret this behavior as the dog issuing a warning of some disturbing sensory dissonance -- in this instance, probably olfactory. (Dogs reportedly also have infrared thermal receptors in their muzzles.)

I wonder if the dog bit at her breast to make the cancer go away from that spot (in his mind), or if he wanted her to go away. Either way, it is now well documented that dogs, with their super olfactory sense, can detect certain cancers in people. They can probably also profile people’s temperaments and emotional states by the kind of scents they produce, as well as by their body language.

I’m glad to have been of help earlier with your daughter’s rescued dog, and I trust all is well now.

WELL-MEANING PET TRANSPORT NETWORKS MIGHT PUT PETS AND PEOPLE AT RISK

Volunteer pet transport groups sprang to life in 2005 after shelters in Louisiana were overwhelmed by an influx of pets orphaned by Hurricane Katrina, and the networks ostensibly free up needed space in shelters and reduce euthanasia of adoptable pets. But the groups are unregulated, and pets with significant behavior or health problems have been taken in by unsuspecting volunteers. -- Source: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)

(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 Westie cross passed away in January. Despite rigorous tests, the vets were unable to diagnose his illness. His symptoms were chronic diarrhea, loss of weight and loss of appetite. They came to the conclusion that it was his liver/immune system, but they don’t know for sure. Sadly, I found Ruben dead in the kitchen. I’m interested in what you have to say.

I have gotten another dog now, exactly same cross-breed: Jack Russell with Westie. What should I feed her? She is on Hill’s Science Diet now. -- G.H., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR G.H.: I am so sorry that you and your poor dog went through this experience, finding him dead on the floor being one of the worst imaginable shocks.

I can offer only guesses as to cause of death without any autopsy, and wonder what treatments were instigated to address the diarrhea. I might have suggested transitioning him to a diet of known ingredients, as per my home-prepared recipe posted on my website.

I would put your new dog on this diet, along with some good-quality commercial dog food. Susan Thixton (truthaboutpetfood.com) has a list of quality pet food providers.

DEAR DR. FOX: I recently started using essential oils. When I happened to mention it to my vet in an email, she told me many essential oils are toxic to cats, as there is a liver enzyme necessary to process the oils that cats do not have. I have three rescue cats that I love.

She then sent me to a website that she trusted for research, which had information about essential oils and cats. I have also found information on another website. The two sites differ somewhat in describing the types of the missing enzymes, plant chemicals in the oils, and oils that are toxic to cats.

I would venture to guess that many veterinarians and thousands of cat owners do not know about this. Essential oils are very popular in the U.S. and overseas, and are used as alternative medicine for physical ailments and emotional problems for humans.

There is even an essential oil company that has come out with a line of pet care products, including treats, that contain many of the oils toxic to cats.

I find all of this very scary. Please let your readers know what you think about this potentially deadly problem for their cats. -- J.C., Springfield, Virginia

DEAR J.C.: I appreciate you sending me the information that you have gathered about the risks of most essential oils to cats, because as you said, cats lack a liver enzyme to process these substances and neutralize possible toxic consequences.

Humans and dogs do not have this deficiency, so with cats, a weaker and safer form of various beneficial herbal extracts called hydrosols are used. Veterinarians using essential oils are quite aware of the risks to cats.

I would like to hear from other readers about their experiences with essential oils and their hydrosol alternatives, ideally under veterinary supervision, on their animal companions.

DEAR DR. FOX: Empathy is an emotion, a feeling about distress in another critter. What does the response of the hungry wolf to a distressed rabbit tell us of empathy? The wolf is more concerned about its own needs than the needs of the other.

This is in contrast to compassion, a response required of the intellect, heart and soul of the human being for the other, with no tangible benefit to the one giving compassion.

Humans are animals, of course, but much different from others, I hope you know. That’s why you and I can think and give names to things. Other animals? I’m afraid not.

As Chesterton once wrote, man finds primitive drawings by other ancient men in caves, including a depiction of a deer with a tilted head as it notices the man. Man can go as deep as he wants, but will never find a drawing by the deer of the man. Keep it rational -- thought through, not just what you want to see. -- D.W., Washington D.C.

DEAR D.W.: The French philosopher Pascal wrote, “The heart knows what reason knows not.” It is my contention that we need to integrate heart and mind, empathy and reason, to respond appropriately in any given situation.

I regard empathy not as an emotion, but as a bridge for emotional communication at a very basic level: an openness and receptivity to others’ feelings. Father Matthew Fox (no relation), in his writings, regards compassion as a verb, not a noun -- a call to action, especially with regard to our treatment of animals and the natural environment.

The cry of prey species like a gazelle fawn could well be the empathy-arousing trigger to explain those instances where a lion or leopard is seen to actually care for a helpless creature rather than killing and consuming it.

Without empathy, how can there be compassion? We may step closer to according rights to animals when chauvinism and arrogance give way to humility, and we abandon such ignorant beliefs that only humans can reason and think. Also, check out the art by captive Asian elephants.

QUICK TAKES: BANS AND LAWSUITS

-- Court upholds Chicago’s ban on sale of pets from large breeders: “The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Chicago’s ban on pet store sales of animals from large commercial breeders and dismissed a lawsuit initiated by two pet stores and a breeding operation.” -- Chicago Tribune, Sept. 26

-- Maine’s largest city bans display of wild animals: “A unanimous vote by the Portland, Maine, City Council bans the display of big cats, elephants, monkeys, crocodiles and other wild and exotic animals, joining more than 125 other municipalities and four states with similar bans. Domesticated livestock are exempt.” -- Portland (Maine) Press Herald, Sept. 18

This good news gives me hope because it is clear evidence that people who care can make a difference where there is empathy, conviction and commitment.

(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.)