No nasty letters this time from the "it's just a cat" crowd.

My column from a few weeks back on the link between animal cruelty and crimes against people drew thousands of responses, flooding my e-mail for days with letters from everyday animal lovers as well as from social workers, therapists, teachers, law enforcement officers, academics, prosecutors, humane investigators, etc.

Many of these experts pointed out the numerous studies linking animal cruelty to crimes against humans, as well as relating gruesome cases they themselves had worked on, where the link was as large as a lumber chain.

"Your connection of animal cruelty with future criminal behavior is accurate," wrote Hiromi Paul Sanders, a therapist specializing in abused children and adolescents, many of whom have engaged in acts of animal cruelty. "Children are very emotionally scarred when parents use threats of or engage in animal cruelty to manage their child's behavior," he wrote. "Your statement that kids become hardened is also accurate because kids often model a parent's behavior, irrespective of its social appropriateness. Kids also utilize animal cruelty as a means of catharsis of pain and hurt, often when they themselves are victims of emotional, physical or sexual abuse."

Sanders notes that FBI profilers have identified three characteristics in children that predict a dangerous future, pointing toward serial murder: uncontrollable urination, fire-setting and animal cruelty. For such children, the therapist warns that intervention is essential.

"I agree that perpetrators of animal cruelty should be held legally accountable, but would add that for animal-abusing children, adolescents and teens, a therapy component ought to be ordered by the sentencing judge, so that the roots of this behavior are uncovered and treated," wrote Sanders. "My bias is that without such treatment, the minor's likelihood of recidivism will remain high."

Another correspondent touched on the either-or aspect of my column, on how some people seem to believe that if you care about animals, you don't care about people.

"I am always amazed at the sort of people you describe," wrote Paul Ernst. "They seem absolutely convinced that those of us who are concerned about cruelty to animals are incapable of feeling concern over cruelty to humans. Their logic is way beyond perplexing.

"These same people will sometimes fault others for donating to animal shelters 'while there are humans freezing and starving in the streets.' They ignore the fact that people who help animals are often the first to come forward to help their fellow humans. It amazes me that they seem to feel that concern for animals blocks out all other compassion."

Jennifer Bergovoy echoed those sentiments: "When the critics argue that I should be more concerned about what happens to humans, I always respond that I must be fortunate, because I have the capability of loving both humans and animals, and can mourn for both their losses."

The responses weren't all in agreement with me, however. Some felt I was saying we should care about animal cruelty only because it too often predicts crimes against humans. I gently reminded these readers that if I didn't care about animals on their own, I wouldn't have spent the last 20 years writing about them, with more than 1,000 columns, hundreds of articles and three books.

I guess that's the either-or argument in reverse: Some people think caring starts with animals, while I think caring includes us all, animals and people both. The overwhelming majority of those who wrote felt the same way.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite sayings (whose author I do not know, I regret to say): "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as important to the child as it is to the caterpillar."

Thanks to all of you who wrote. While you may have overwhelmed my poor computer, you made my week.

PETS ON THE WEB

Over the years I have reminded readers that "Beware of Dog" signs are not that great an idea. By posting one, you're likely just trying to keep people out of your back yard, but should your dog bite someone, a "Beware of Dog" sign could be seen as an admission that you believed you harbored an aggressive animal. And that could lead to serious legal problems.

After reading a warning in this column, entrepreneur Rob Loomis decided to come up with a solution to the problem –- a sign that protects both pet and property without setting up the pet owner for bigger problems should a bite occur. His stylish metal "Dog in Yard" signs are made of high-quality materials, designed to fit in with any style of housing and not give the "junkyard dog" appearance of cheap signs. The wording alerts people to the existence of a dog without casting aspersions on your friendly pooch.

The sign is slowly becoming available at hardware and home-supply stores, but for now your best bet is to order directly from the Original Pet Postings Web site (www.bigdoorproducts.com). It retails for $14.95. You

can also order by phone, (847) 835-1100.

THE SCOOP

If your bird is bitten or clawed by a cat or dog, you need to get veterinary help right away. Bite or claw wounds are potentially deadly to birds, even if the injury appears minor.

Dogs and cats are able predators, and their jaws are quite capable not only of piercing the skin of a bird but also of crushing internal organs and breaking bones. Even a bird who seems to have escaped an attack with a small bite or scratch can fall victim to infection. Birds with no visible signs of injury can also end up dead without veterinary intervention.

If your bird is attacked, contact your veterinarian right away. Your bird may need to be treated for shock, infection or internal injuries, and very likely should be started on antibiotics as soon as possible.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: For ethical and health reasons, I don't eat meat or buy products made from leather or other parts of animals. I have three cats, and frankly it makes me sick to my stomach to open the cans of cat food and think of the suffering that went into them. Can you offer me a way to have vegetarian pets? –- C.N., via e-mail

A: I understand and respect the choices you've made for yourself. But if you want a pet who'll thrive on a diet without meat, you should adopt a rabbit or other herbivore. If you're going to have carnivores as pets, you'd better get used to the idea of feeding them meals with meat protein, because that's what their bodies are designed for.

Cats require more than a dozen nutrients including vitamins, fatty acids and amino acids, that can't be manufactured in a cat's body and must be obtained from an outside source -- that is, from animal tissues.

Q: Gina, would you please warn people that clumping litter is dangerous to cats? It can cause intestinal blockage and kill them. -– W.N., via e-mail

A. Sorry, but there's no evidence that clumping litter kills cats. The idea that it has is unsubstantiated by any scientific study and unsupported by the widespread clinical experience of veterinarians. I am regularly asked to warn people about the "danger," which suggests that these concerns have become another urban myth spread by well-meaning cat lovers.

It seems the idea that clumping litter is deadly comes from an article in a long-defunct magazine, in which a breeder reported on the death of some kittens and speculated that clumping litter was the cause. That article has more lives than a cat is said to, because I'm e-mailed a copy of it at least once a month.

If you look at the issue another way, it can be argued that clumping litter has, in fact, saved the lives of many cats. That's because studies show that some cats who have chronic problems with using a litter box may choose to do so if the filler is clumping litter. Since behavioral problems such as ignoring the litter box cause many people to dump their cats, any product that helps keep cats in their families is surely saving lives.

Don't be too quick to believe what you read on the Internet. Although there's lots of great information on pets out there, I've also read plenty that worries me -– advice on nutrition, training and medical care that's flat-out wrong and can even be deadly. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian or consult a reliable reference book.

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

Do you pause when a black cat crosses your path? I sometimes do, and then I laugh at myself for being influenced by such a silly old myth, even for a second. But that's the funny thing about cats -– more than any other domestic animal, they are the subject of countless myths, legends and old wives' tales.

While some stories about cats are harmless, others are too dangerous not to debunk. Here are a handful of stubborn old myths about cats -- and the facts to counter them:

-- Black cats are bad luck. Black may be an unlucky color all right, but it can be for the cats themselves too. Humane society officials have warned for years that black cats are often the targets of those who practice rituals that include the torture and killing of animals. (Many shelters refuse to allow black cats to be adopted around Halloween, for this very reason.) Black may be an unfortunate color for another reason: visibility. Thousands of cats are killed by cars every year, and the difference between a hit or a near miss may be the driver's ability to see the cat darting across the road. At night, patches of light-colored fur are a distinct advantage.

-- Cats need to drink milk. Is cow's milk the perfect food for cats? Not at all! On the contrary, some cats (like some people) can't tolerate milk well. For these animals, a saucer of milk means gastric upset and diarrhea.

In the wild, kittens never drink milk after they're weaned, and domestic cats have no reason to either. On the other hand, if your cat likes and can tolerate milk, feel free to offer it as an occasional treat. Milk's a good source of protein and other nutrients for those cats who don't find it upsetting.

-- Cats purr when they're happy. Expert cat observers know that purring isn't just a sound of contentment. Cats also purr if they're injured, while giving birth -- even when dying. British zoologist Desmond Morris has observed that purring is "a sign of friendship -- either when (the cat) is contented with a friend or when it is in need of friendship, as with a cat in trouble."

As an aside: Big cats roar; little cats purr. On balance, I think little cats got the better end of that deal. Or at least we, as their companions, did.

-- Cats are a danger to babies. So many cats find themselves looking for new homes when a baby is expected that you could put it the other way: that babies are a danger to cats. But the fact is that you don't need to find a new home for your pet if you become pregnant. Cats do not maliciously smother or suck the breath out of babies, as the myths hold. That doesn't mean some considerations aren't in order, however. Pregnant women have to take special precautions when cleaning the litter box –- or have someone else do it -- because of the risk of disease. And even animal advocates remind new parents that common sense dictates no animal be left unattended with a small child -– for the protection of both.

-- A well-fed cat won't hunt. The ability to hunt is hardwired into all cats, but the level of desire varies by each cat's genetics and early experiences, not by the rumbling in his belly. The play of kittens –- pouncing and leaping on anything that moves –- is really hunting behavior. Observers of feline behavior believe that if the mother is an eager hunter, the kittens may be, too.

Although the desire to hunt may be undeniable, whether your cat kills his prey may have more to do with hunger than anything else, argues Morris. He says that the cat's much-observed tendency to play with its prey is really a matter of the animal's not being hungry enough to eat but still being instinctively driven to hunt.

PETS ON THE WEB

Those who love big dogs will get a kick out of the Web site of Morgan the Great Dane (www.morgandane.com), which celebrates the triumphs not only of Morgan, but also other Great Danes who compete in the sport of agility against legions of Border collies, shelties and other smaller dogs. The site is a labor of love for Morgan's owner and trainer, Keri Caraher, a Colorado-based Web designer and avid agility competitor. Be sure to check out the pictures and videos of Morgan and other Danes in action. For $25, you can also buy a T-shirt with the nifty "Air Morgan" logo on it -– until Nike gets wind of it, I'd guess.

THE SCOOP

Annual vaccinations are becoming a thing of the past for most dogs and cats as an increasing number of veterinarians are choosing to follow new recommendations that space booster shots years apart. The reason? New thinking holds that the immunity levels remain high for years longer than previously believed, and that the vaccinations themselves come with health risks.

Such cutting-edge thinking is reflected in the protocols of the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, which does not offer some vaccines at all and limits others to every-three-year events, after pets have gone through a series of shots as youngsters. The complete recommendations are available at www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/vaccinproto.html.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I'm 63 years old, a widow, and I'm facing some surgery in the next few weeks. The surgery is routine, I've been assured, but you never know, do you? I worry about what will happen to my pets if something happens to me. Do you have some advice about what I should be doing to protect them? I have a 12-year-old cat and a 4-year-old dog, both in good health. –- W.O., via e-mail

A: Nobody likes to think about the "what-ifs," and you've done a very good thing for your pets in doing so. When someone is disabled or dies, the welfare of that person's pets is often not even a major concern of the people left to deal with the situation. The result: A lot of animals are promptly dumped on shelters or rescue groups.

Every pet lover, regardless of age or health, should have a plan for the care of pets in case of death or disability. Remember, even if you're young and healthy, something could happen to change that in a heartbeat. (Humane groups were part of the post-9/11 response effort, locating, caring for and in many cases finding new homes for the pets of those people who would never come home again.)

In most cases you'll be relying on friends and family to look after your pets if something happens to you. You can't leave money to a pet; instead, you'll be leaving your pet to someone else, and providing that person with enough money (if you can) to cover expenses for the rest of the animal's life.

In addition, every pet owner should also have some form of "durable power of attorney" ready, designating someone to make immediate decisions for your pet should illness or accident incapacitate you.

Your best bet is to talk about this subject with an attorney as well as with friends and family, to make arrangements in advance and keep them current. Never assume that a member of your family will take your pet as his or her own. Make sure you have found a willing adopter and that the details you've arranged are known to all. Also, talk to your attorney about how to structure any money you leave for care.

When I had surgery a couple of years ago, I made arrangements for my friends to take my pets if something happened, and had an attorney formalize the arrangements. In turn, I'm also the "what-if" person for the pets of at least a half-dozen other people, to either keep the pets as my own, find them new homes or (if age and illness dictates) oversee the saddest decision of all -– to euthanize the pet.

Q: What can we do to keep our cat and strays from getting on our cars? This has become a big problem lately with paw prints appearing almost daily. We want to keep our cat but we also want to keep our cars from getting damaged. -- K.R, via e-mail

A: While you can keep your own cat from walking on your cars by keeping him inside, you won't be able to do much about the neighborhood cats. Since you can't control the cats, control their access to the cars: Protect your vehicles by garaging them or by using car covers.

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

It's a hot day at the dog park, and I'm sharing the shade with the other "doggy parents," chatting while we watch our pets play.

In the middle of the park, the dogs have dug out a crater the size of a small hot tub. The sprinklers fill the pit every morning, and by afternoon, it's still at least half full of stinky, slimy, muddy water. It's disgusting, and most of the dogs have the common sense to avoid it.

Except the retrievers.

While not all of them see it as a swimming hole, most see no reason to avoid the muck, jumping in and out as they play. One retriever is even worse than the other water dogs. She throws herself into the muddy bog, rolling and wallowing until every inch of her glossy black coat is dripping brown with foul-smelling mud. She finally stands up, nose-to-tail-tip filthy and obviously delighted with herself.

"Oh my God!" says the woman next to me, her tone of disgust unmistakable. "Whose dog is that?"

"Um, that would be mine," I mumble.

Rule No. 1 for anyone who has or is thinking of adopting a retriever: Be willing to carry towels in your car at all times.

I love retrievers, and in this I'm not alone. The Labrador retriever is the top breed in the land; 165,970 of them were registered with the American Kennel Club in 2001. The golden retriever is the AKC's second most popular breed, with 62,497 recorded in the same year. All told, the five retriever breeds (the Chesapeake Bay, flat-coated and curly-coated are the others) make up more than one-fifth of all AKC registrations.

Retrievers are popular for good reason. They're great family dogs, even-tempered, friendly and tolerant. They're generally easy to train and eager to please. They have coats that clean up quickly, and they don't shed as much as many other breeds. (Even my water-crazed Heather dries up and shakes off most of the muddy muck she gets into in just a few minutes.)

But anyone associated with a shelter or rescue group can tell you that despite their popularity, retrievers are not for everyone. They get dumped by the hundreds, often by people who didn't research the downside to owning one of these dogs or who proved unwilling to put in the effort it takes to keep one.

People, for example, who think muddy paws (or muddy dogs) are intolerable. Or those who aren't prepared to put time into training and exercising these large and exuberant animals. While some breeds and mixes can better tolerate the life of a "backyard dog" (although I never recommend this lonely life for any dog), retrievers are especially ill suited to such isolation. Developed to work one-on-one with a hunter, the personable retriever does best as a full-fledged member of a family. Kept in a back yard, a retriever will get bored and anxious, and may become a digger, escape artist or nonstop barker.

Is a retriever right for you? Even if you're well-suited to these breeds, it pays to carefully consider any canine adoption. Like all purebreds, retrievers have congenital health problems that can make your dog miserable and cost you a bundle, if indeed they can be treated. If you're buying a puppy, be sure to find a reputable breeder who has had the parents certified free of these problems, most commonly hip dysplasia.

If you're considering an adult dog, you'll be able to assess health and temperament with the aid of the shelter or rescue group. A lot of great dogs turn up in shelters and rescue groups, many with some training and such preventive-care measures as vaccinations and neutering already done. Another reason to go for an adult: Retrievers are notoriously slow to mature, and can maintain troublesome puppy behaviors well into the second or third year of their lives. If you want a mellow retriever, get an older dog.

I love retrievers, especially my own two. But I brought them into my life knowing they'd need a lot from me to keep their minds and bodies in good shape. And even though I occasionally wince at the water-related messes they get into, I'd never trade Benjamin or even Heather at her filthiest for any other dogs in the world.

PETS ON THE WEB

You can find out about the American Kennel Club's retriever breeds by clicking on the Web sites of the various national clubs from the AKC's breed page, www.akc.org/breeds. The Labrador Resources site (www.labrador-resources.com) offers some of the most important questions you should ask when determining if the breed (or indeed, any retriever breed) is right for you. And finally, be sure to check out Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace (www.golden-retriever.com), a site devoted to finding new homes for goldens who need them.

THE SCOOP

Although most people associate rabies with dogs, cases of feline rabies are not uncommon -- and are very much a cause for concern. In many areas, rabies vaccinations are required by law for cats as well as dogs.

Rabies is caused by a viral infection of the nervous system. Although the risk of contracting rabies from your cat -- or any cat -- is extremely small, the disease is so deadly that, if your cat were to contract it, he would need to be humanely killed, and you might need to have a series of inoculations for your own protection.

This disease is nothing to mess with, which is why it's important to get your cat vaccinated, regardless of what the law requires, for the protection of your cat and the rest of your family.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Are meat-based "real" foods healthier for dogs than high-quality dry kibble? I feed my dog both but worry about the cost and storage of these "real" products. -- E.M., via e-mail

A: A small but vocal minority of pet lovers feed their dogs a diet of raw meat and bones, along with vegetables and dietary supplements. Proponents argue that dogs weren't designed to eat the grains that are a major component of kibble, and blame everything from allergies to cancer on commercial pet foods.

Many veterinarians oppose raw diets (as do manufacturers of traditional dog foods, of course). Detractors, including some prominent veterinarians with advanced degrees in nutrition, believe raw diets don't offer nutritional balance, and can be dangerous because of salmonella and other risks that come with handling and feeding raw meat. Proponents respond that the majority of veterinarians have little training in nutrition, and are influenced by courses in school and post-degree training provided by pet-food companies. They point to plenty of healthy pets, including some who had health problems disappear after a switch to a raw diet.

You'll find good arguments either way you go, that's for sure.

One argument against raw-food diets is price and inconvenience. Commercially prepared raw diets are convenient but can be expensive. Preparing everything from scratch brings down the price considerably -- if you invest in a freezer so you can buy in bulk -- but does take a lot more planning and work than buying and opening a bag of kibble.

One of the leaders of the raw food movement is Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst, author of the books "Give Your Dog a Bone" and "The BARF Diet." (Both are available from Dogwise, www.dogwise.com or 800-776-2665.) You'll also find plenty of Web sites and e-mail lists also dedicated to these diets, collectively referred to as "BARF," which stands for Bones and Raw Flesh or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

If you're interested in a raw-food diet for your pet, do your homework first. Read books and Web sites, and join a BARF-related e-mail list. And if you decide these diets are not worth the effort you'll have to invest, don't feel guilty: The majority of people who feed high-quality kibble have dogs who look and feel fine -- as do the majority of dogs fed a well-planned raw diet.

Q: Is it really safe to use old newspapers in my bird's cage? What about the ink? -- B.D., via e-mail

A: Old newspapers are so commonly used to line the bottom of birdcages that many manufacturers size their products so that the trays fit the sheets exactly. My "Birds For Dummies" co-author, avian veterinarian Dr. Brian Speer, says he knows of no evidence that the ink causes any health problems for birds. He suggests sticking to black-and-white pages, though, and skipping the glossy color inserts.

If you really want to go ink-free, check with your local newspaper. Some offer the ends of the newsprint rolls that go on the presses, usually at a bargain price.

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