When one of her cats steps into a litter box, Dusty Rainbolt picks up her notebook and goes to watch the show.

"It's true," she laughed. "My poor cats have no privacy."

Her interest is not limited to her cats' litter-box habits. She watches, too, to see which beds they sleep in, which toys they prefer, and even which cleaners do best on a carpet stained by the cat who perhaps is seeking a few precious moments beyond the gaze of a woman who is always paying very close attention.

She watches because she has to. Rainbolt, you see, makes her living paying attention to what her cats do and writing about her observations. The former newspaper reporter and current resident of a Dallas suburb has made a name for herself as a meticulous and fair reviewer of those products of interest to cats and the people who love them.

In this endeavor, she relies on the help of her cats: six permanent residents and a revolving roster of fosters. Her work appears in a variety of cat-oriented publications, including Cats magazine and the newsletters Catnip and the Whole Cat Journal.

"I've been doing this for 2 1/2 years," she said. "It started with an e-mail from a lady with Catnip. She had heard that I had a lot of cats and could do a product review in a fast amount of time."

She took on that job and hasn't stopped testing products since. "You have to keep copious records," she said. "You have to be exact. I usually talk to a couple of veterinarians and also to people in similar industries to the products I'm testing. And I talk to the manufacturers, of course. I really do make every effort to be completely objective. It's hard when I don't like a product or the cats don't. But you have to tell the truth."

Over the course of testing more than 30 products, she has learned she cannot predict with certainty how her cats will react. "I used to get products and think, 'They're never going to touch this.' And then they'd prove me wrong.

"Still, there are things that are pretty obvious," she continued. "When you have lemon-scented cat litter, you just wonder: 'What were they thinking?' I wonder how many cats have been put to sleep because they started going in the corner instead. It's a classic example of selling to the people instead of the animals. A cat's nose is a hundred times more sensitive than ours, and they don't like lemon!"

Some products, like the lemon-scented litter, get a unanimous paws-down from the test cats, while others have met with mixed reviews. And then there are the overwhelming favorites, of which Rainbolt lists three:

-- World's Best Cat Litter. "It's a crumbled, kernel-corn litter. Clumps hard, feels like dirt. Cats love it. I had a cat who was peeing on the stove, and this cured it." (It's available in some health-food stores, independent pet-supply stores, and directly from the manufacturer at 1-877-367-9225, or www.worldsbestcatlitter.com)

-- Sticky Paws. "These are double-sided strips that keep your cat from scratching. They don't like the sticky feeling, and the product does not damage your furniture. Sticky Paws literally saved my furniture. I had holes in my couch." (They're available at Petco and Petsmart, and in many pet-supply catalogs and Web sites.)

-- Affordable Cat Fences. "This is a fence that you put at the top of your fence, and it keeps your cats in your yard. I can let my cats in the yard now without worrying about them leaving or other cats getting in." (It's available from the manufacturer, 1-888-840-CATS.)

Rainbolt just finished a definitive wrap-up of her year-long litter project for an upcoming issue of Cats magazine, so perhaps her cats will now be able to relieve themselves in peace. Unless ... well, somebody has to test the litter boxes themselves, no?

"You have to give them credit," she said. "The Rainbolt test kitties do work very hard."

PETS ON THE WEB

On Harvard biologist Mike Schindlinger's "Amazon Parrots -- Life in the Wild" Web site (www.people.fas.harvard.edu/(tilde)schindli/index.html), he offers advice for anyone who's thinking about getting a pet parrot: Don't. Any commercialization of the creatures, he believes, further risks their status in the wild.

While his point of view isn't likely to sit well with those who keep parrots as pets or for breeding, it comes from the heart and from his experiences documenting the lives of wild parrots. With plenty of photos, video clips and audio files of wild Amazons, Schindlinger's site is an educational and entertaining must-see for any bird lover, no matter how you feel about the keeping of parrots as pets.

THE SCOOP

Occasionally another pet lover will forward to me a dire warning circulating on the Internet regarding the use of clumping litter. The missive will usually note the death of a kitten (or more rarely, an adult cat) who died after ingesting some litter, which then solidified in the intestine. Scary stuff, if it were true, but it's probably not.

Clumping litter has been around for years and has a fine safety record, not to mention a fair measure of popularity among both cats and their caretakers. Indeed, clumping litter should probably be credited with saving the lives of those cats who'd pass on the litter boxes offering other fillers -- and end up homeless after their owners tire of dealing with the mess.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I've been thinking about getting a dog. But I don't know how to be sure that the shelters in the area are good ones. We have both shelters that euthanize and those that are "no-kill."

How do I go about deciding on a shelter? And once I find a shelter, how do I go about finding the right dog for me without going on impulse alone? -- P.B., via e-mail

A: You'll find good shelters among both the traditional and "no-kill" variety, and less-than-ideal ones in both categories as well.

Some no-kill shelters get that way by refusing to accept animals that are not adoptable or by refusing all animals when they are full. The turn-aways often end up at another shelter, one whose staff often very much resents having to be the bad guy. As for traditional shelters, some seem to believe it's easier to euthanize surplus pets than to make much of an effort to see them adopted.

Fortunately, pioneering shelters in both categories have done a lot of work in recent years to raise the bar for the rest, and both the pets and those who adopt them have benefited greatly from the changes.

Good shelters of all philosophical persuasions have a few things in common. You should look for these traits when choosing a place to find a pet because it's good to support a progressive organization, and because it's in your best interest to do so.

First, a shelter should be clean. Because money is always tight, it's not uncommon for even a good shelter to look a little worn around the edges. Many would love to have new buildings, new cages, new runs and so on, but few can afford them. Still, clean should always be a priority. If a shelter can't manage the most basic cleaning regimen, you should wonder about what else it isn't doing right.

Another key sign: an upbeat professional staff and a supportive group of volunteers. Both are essential when it comes to offering healthy, well-socialized animals for adoption, as well as counseling to help you pick out the right pet from so many needing homes.

Make a list beforehand of the attributes you want -- such as coat length, size, activity level -- and stick to it. You won't be doing the "wrong" dog a favor if you let your heart rule the day, then decide at a later date that you made a poor match. Take your time, and take a friend who'll help you to suppress the impulse to take home the first sad face you see. And let the shelter help you. Those adoption counselors want to help you make a match for life.

Q: I have a question concerning my 10-year-old golden retriever mix, Clark. We rescued him from the shelter in April. He is a joy and is wonderfully behaved, except for one fault: He acts like a puppy and has an incredible amount of energy!

I would like to do "agility" with him for fun, not for competition, but to use up some of this endless energy. Is he too old to do it? -- S.B., via e-mail

A: I have never in my life considered "acting like a puppy" to be a fault in a 10-year-old dog! Count your blessings, will you?

I'd take a slightly cautious approach to agility work for Clark. Ask your veterinarian how he or she would assess the dog's fitness, and if you get the go-ahead, build up Clark's stamina and strength with long walks or free-form gallivanting at the nearest off-leash dog park.

When you start agility, don't push too hard -- pay close attention and stop when you see your dog tiring. You're right in your feeling that you're better off emphasizing "fun" over "competition." That's because in training sessions you can keep the jumps at levels lower than is required at trials, and spare the wear and tear on your oldster's joints.

The bottom line: Proceed with caution, but give it a chance. Agility work is a joy for both dogs and humans, and it will go a long way toward keeping you both feeling young.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

My mother called me a while back, her voice in that tone she gets when she's telling me something I should pay particular attention to, like a good sale on underwear or a low price on a brand of dog food I'd never buy in a place I'd never shop.

"That pet guy was on Martha again," she said. "You really should call her."

My mother has a hard time believing that Martha Stewart wouldn't rather have me on her show as the pet expert. She's convinced the oversight is my fault because I haven't called Martha yet to introduce myself. I told her, again, that Martha's pet guy does a good job, and even if he didn't, I couldn't take his place.

Martha, you see, frightens me.

That wasn't always the case. I used to believe she was a particularly gifted performance artist, an inside joke few people got, and that I was one of the lucky few who knew enough not to take her seriously. As she gold-leafed and glue-gunned her way to a media empire, I watched gleefully from a home furnished in thrift-store casual, laughing every time she pronounced something "a good thing." What a hoot!

But then I noticed something: Martha's pets were perfect.

As the pet expert my mother knows me to be, I can tell you that perfect pets do not exist any more than perfect people do. Martha's longhaired dogs (chow chows) and longhaired cats (Himalayans) were born to shed, and the fact that neither she nor anything she owns is ever seen covered in fur is flat-out unbelievable. You cannot have pets and not have pet hair. Real pet lovers know this. Martha pretends otherwise.

Real pet lovers are folks who, I've heard it said, would send back a salad in a restaurant because of a human hair but who casually flick cat hair off the butter at home or ignore it altogether. And yet here's Martha, the always perfect Martha, with dogs and cats considerate enough to keep their hair to themselves, or at least give up every hair that's even thinking of shedding at the time they're being brushed and combed -- at perfectly regular intervals, I'm sure. Either that, or she's using that glue gun in ways I don't care to think about.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for more Martha news, my mother called again recently, with the same helpful tone of voice, to tell me how well Martha's business endeavors have gone. I was befuddled. Did my mom expect me to go public as well? Or was she pointing out again how beneficial it would be to hitch my wagon to Martha's ever-rising star? But then I realized what she was trying to tell me: Martha's way is the only way. Even Wall Street pretty much agrees.

I am not convinced, nor am I converted. I accept pet fur -- embrace it, even -- and I encourage all pet lovers to do the same. What choice is there, after all? We have more pets and less time to clean after them than ever before. Pet hair will triumph! The day will come when no outfit is complete without a few stray strands of fur. And when that day arrives I won't have to call Martha. She'll call me.

Sorry, Mom, but that's the way it has to be.

PETS ON THE WEB

Rutgers University was the first to offer courses in its law school regarding the legalities surrounding the treatment of animals. The Animal Rights Law Project Web site (www.animal-law.org) contains thought-provoking essays and commentaries, as well as information on such subjects as hunting, the right of people to keep companion animals in rental housing, the rights of students to avoid dissecting animals, and much more.

The essays and commentaries are especially interesting, with topics that range from "Sexism and Animal Rights" to "Animal Rights: The Future." And while it's certainly true that many of the views expressed on this Web site do not find widespread public acceptance, it's still interesting to see what the thinking is on the cutting edge of such topics.

THE SCOOP

The Westminster Kennel Club dog show comes to New York City's Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 12 and 13, with coverage of the event again carried starting at 8 p.m. each night on the USA Network.

The days surrounding Westminster offer a swirl of dog-show related activities, from award luncheons to tours of the American Kennel Club to gallery exhibitions of dog paintings. This year, the Doyle New York auction house will put more than 250 pieces of dog-themed artwork on the block, with prices for some pieces predicted to go well into the tens of thousands of dollars. (Most, though, are expected to stay in the $1,000 to $3,000 range.) The items can be seen on the firm's Web site (www.doylenewyork.com, click on "catalogues"), and the auction house will also host viewings Feb. 10 though 12. The auction will be held on the 13th.

Those who are interested in buying (or those who are just interested in looking at what they cannot afford) may buy a catalog of the event for $25 from the auction house by calling (212) 427-2730, which is also the number for more information.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Can two kitties from the same litter breed? Do cats know who their siblings are? -- G.F., via e-mail

A: Not only can they breed, but they most certainly will breed, given the slightest opportunity.

Your letter reminds me of a phone call I received a few years back from a couple who couldn't understand how their dog kept getting pregnant. They swore to me that she was never outside unattended and never walked without a leash. No dog could have gotten to her anyway, they said, since the dog's own son was always with her, and he didn't like other dogs.

I asked them if the male had been neutered, and as I guessed, the answer was no. I told them it was highly likely that the father of the puppies was also their brother. They were shocked at the idea, and didn't want to believe me. "Don't they know they're mother and son?" one of them asked.

They neither know nor do they care, I told them. If the equipment is in place and the time is right, the two dogs will do what dogs do in such situations. And yes, cats will happily do the same, given the opportunity.

If you raise two siblings together, they will often remain close, but so will any two animals raised together in most cases. The bonds animals form don't seem to have much to do with family trees as much as with proximity: If animal family members live in the same home, they'll remain like family. But if you tried to introduce an adult cat into a home with a single cat, you'd have just as much trouble with an unrelated cat as with a sibling who'd been separated since kittenhood. The cat whose territory it was would feel it was an intrusion in either case.

Don't count on an imaginary feline prohibition against incest to keep littermates from mating. If you take in a pair of kitties, get them spayed or neutered at the earliest opportunity. The couple who had the always pregnant dog swore they were going to do the same, and I certainly hope they did.

Q: My husband has had it with cleaning out litter boxes! He insists that my 10-year-old, indoor calico kitty become an indoor/outdoor kitty. I've brought her up-to-date on her shots, but I'm worried about putting her outside alone all day. My husband has built a heated "cat house" so she'll stay warm. How do I introduce her to the outdoors without just booting her out? -- C.H., via e-mail

A: Not so fast! Perhaps I'm missing something, but is there any reason you and your husband couldn't readjust your chores so he takes one of your responsibilities and you keep the litter box clean? That would be my first suggestion.

If it's more of a matter about getting the litter box out of the house, I'd suggest putting in a cat door to give your cat access to a part of the outdoors that has been made safe for her, such as a screened-in patio.

I don't think it's reasonable, safe or fair to ask a 10-year-old cat who has been indoors all of her life to make the outdoors part of her territory. She is not street-smart, for one thing, and she would be highly vulnerable to cars, dogs or coyotes, poisons and other threats to her life.

Work with your husband in trying to find a compromise that will allow your pet to spend her senior years in the safety of the home she has always known.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

"Taz," I said to the visiting boxer. "C'mere, you."

He didn't move. I tried again with the same result, then raised a quizzical eyebrow at my brother. "What's up with your dog?" I said.

Joe smiled. "Hey, Doofus Dope-Boy," he crooned. The dog lifted his head at last and clicked across the hardwood floor for a pat. "See? You just need to call him by the name he knows best."

I should have known the dog had a goofy nickname. My brother, the nickname maniac, never calls anyone by his given name.

It's not just my brother, though. What pet doesn't have a nickname? Animals are great when it comes to such silliness. They don't care what you call them, just as long as you're talking to them. Not like the son who suddenly doesn't want to be kissed in front of his friends and be called "my baby," or the daughter who now insists on having her full name used -- no more of this "princess" stuff.

Not that parents give up so easily. I have a friend whose father still calls her "Poo," not as in Winnie-the-Pooh, but as in the stuff she used to have in her diapers. She's 34 years old, and she'd like to kill him every time he says it, which is, of course, exactly why he'll never stop.

When she gets home from spending time with her father, her cat is there to listen to her complaints. The cat's name is Pfeiffer, but she calls him "Litter-Butt." He doesn't mind at all.

Animals may not resent nicknames, but be careful what you say around their human relations. Back home, my neighbor Robin has a lovely miniature poodle named Whitney, who is certainly a candidate for the most spoiled dog in America. (And yes, I know the competition would be keen.)

Robin calls her dog "Baby Sweetness" or "Poodle Perfection." When I want to annoy Robin, I call the dog "Witless," "Nitwit" or "Half-Wit." It's always a guarantee of keeping some interesting strain in neighborhood relations, even though Robin knows I'm just teasing.

She retaliates by calling my two flat-coated retrievers "Flat-Heads," which, if you've ever been around the older one, is more truth in advertising than insult. The dog is sweet as he can be, but he's not all that bright.

Benjamin doesn't mind the insult, and I don't either. I've called all my pets nicknames far more insulting, some not repeatable in polite company. Usually, though, their nicknames are terms of endearment. Benjamin knows he's in my good graces when I call him "Jam-Jam," and Heather knows being called "Heathen" is the sure sign my lap is hers for the taking. Even the dignified senior dog Andy has nicknames, although he's too deaf to pay them much mind these days. In keeping with our current surroundings in the Deep South, I've taken to calling him "Bubba." It works much better from his point of view if I offer pets or cookies when I say it, so I do.

I wonder, though, if all that purring and wagging of tails isn't just a cover for a little joke on our behalf? Imagine what kind of nicknames our pets could come up with for us. Would Heather make fun of the time I spend on the phone and computer? Would Andy tease me over my lack of cooking skills? Would Benjamin call me a name meant to rib me about my pathetic sense of smell? (When compared to his, that is.) It's another reason why one of the best things about pets is that they know, but they do not tell.

PETS ON THE WEB

Wondering where you can find supplies for your dog through the mail or on the Internet? Check out the catalog page (http://home.att.net/(tilde)hattrick-dals/Catalogs.html) assembled by the folks at the Hat Trick Dalmatian kennels. You'll find a listing of more than three-dozen catalog companies selling everything from general pet products to specialized dog-sports gear and alternative-medicine products. Be sure to check out the Puttin' on the Dog link, which goes to a catalog (www.puttinonthedog.com) of hundreds of nonessential but just plain fun items, from T-shirts to hand-painted wastebaskets, celebrating dozens of different dog breeds.

THE SCOOP

The average weight for a healthy adult cat is between 8 and 10 pounds, although among purebreds, what's normal can vary dramatically by breed. The Singapura, a rare breed whose lines trace to the feral cats of Singapore, is perhaps the smallest breed of cat, with some animals weighing in at less than half the weight of an average cat. The Siberian, another very rare breed, is said to be the biggest cat, with some animals topping the 20-pound mark. Other breeds that aren't quite as large but still qualify for big-cat status include the Ragdoll, Turkish Van, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest and British Shorthair.

Weigh your cat by holding him as you get on a scale, then weigh yourself and subtract that weight from the first reading. The difference between the two figures is the weight of your cat. It's a good idea to weigh your cat on a monthly basis. Half a pound up or down is no reason for concern, but anything more than that should be investigated by your veterinarian, especially if the change is sudden.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: My boyfriend has an Eclectus parrot. I keep telling him he needs to clean the cage more often. He does a minimal cleaning once a month and a major cleaning once every several months.

When free to roam, the bird makes his way beneath the cage and scavenges the waste tray. My boyfriend says that birds are scavengers, so the bird will be fine. My boyfriend is a veterinary technician, so when it comes to animals he usually has more knowledge than I do.

Please advise if I'm worrying too much. or how I can convince my boyfriend to clean the cage better. -- M.S., via e-mail

A: You're absolutely right. The bird isn't getting proper care. Minimal cleaning once a month? I wonder how your boyfriend would like to be cooped up with his own waste for that long a period!

Cleaning isn't just about neatness -- it's about health. Clean, fresh food and water are essential to a bird's health, and so are clean surroundings. Filth such as you describe is an open invitation to bacteria, fungus and molds, all of which can lead to disease.

Cages need attention on a daily basis. Cage liners (newspaper is fine for this) should be replaced as they become soiled. Food and water dishes should start every day clean, and be cleaned again when pooped in throughout the day.

Spot-cleaning should also include taking a hand-held vacuum to any debris around the cage, and pulling out soiled perches and toys for cleaning as necessary.

Every week or so, the whole setup needs a thorough cleaning -- walls, floor, cage and all its contents. Take the cage outside, scrub with soap and water, and then rinse with clear water and let air-dry. Dishes, and some perches and toys, will fit in the dishwasher for cleaning and sterilization. Everything that doesn't fit in there should be soaked in a solution of a half-cup of bleach to a gallon of water, then rinsed and allowed to air-dry.

Parrots are not scavengers in the sense of eating old or rotting food. In the wild, they eat everything fresh, drop what they don't want, poop prodigiously and then move on to a clean environment. They do not scavenge in their own waste for food.

Your boyfriend is lucky his parrot hasn't gotten sick yet. Hand him this column and tell him to clean up his act, for the health of his pet.

Q: Would you mind another suggestion for your list of how to get a cat to use a cat door? You can replace the stiff rubber or plastic flaps with fabric. I favor heavy terry cloth, canvas or denim. Cats much prefer the softer "curtain" effect, and these heavy fabrics are almost as effective as rubber or plastic at blocking out the elements. They can be taken off and cleaned or replaced when dirty or worn. You can use them as an interim step before replacing the rubber or plastic, or just make the change permanent. -- Christie Keith, Director, Pet Care Forum (www.vin.com/PetCare)

A: Thanks, Christie. And for those of you who are keeping your cats as indoor-only pets, remember that cat doors aren't just a gateway to the outdoors. They can be used to give a cat access to a screened-in porch. They can also help keep dogs from litter-munching by allowing cats into the room where the box is through a hole that's too small for the dog to squeeze through.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600