Cruising garage sales years ago, I ran across a woman plucking tired houseplants from decorative containers she intended to sell. The friend who was with me took pity on a discarded vine and took it home wrapped in a damp paper towel.

She pinched back its damaged parts, planted it in a new pot, and today that vine thrives in her bright kitchen, its limbs running along the top of her cabinets for nearly 20 feet. Even more amazing: That plant, like many others, shares its home with cats who seem to believe the destruction of everything green is part of their reason for being.

Over the years, my friend has cared for plenty of houseplants and cats. Her secrets to success: Give the cats some plants of their own and make the other plants less attractive. And don't sweat the occasional chewed leaves or knocked-over pot. It's good advice, and the best way to keep both your cats and your houseplants happy.

Give your cat some plants for nibbling, some for sniffing and some for play. For chewing, always keep a pot of tender grass seedlings -- rye, alfalfa and wheat -- growing in a sunny spot. Parsley and thyme are herbs that many cats enjoy smelling and chewing, and both can be grown indoors. Try some different varieties, especially with the parsley.

Catnip is a natural for any cat garden, but the herb is so appealing to some cats that they just won't leave it alone. Keep seedlings out of reach of your pet, or the plant may never get a chance to reach maturity. Once you've got a mature plant, snip off pieces to give your cat, stuff into toys or rub on cat trees. Catnip can't hurt your pet, so let him get as blissed out as he wants. Don't be surprised, however, if catnip has no effect at all: The ability to enjoy the herb is genetic, and some cats do not possess the "catnip gene."

Valerian is another plant that some cats find blissful, so be sure to plant some of this herb, too. When your cat has his own plants, you can work on keeping him away from yours. Plants on the ground or on low tables are the easiest targets for chewing, digging or knocking asunder, so make your houseplants less accessible to the bored and wandering cat. Put plants up high, or better yet, hang them.

For the plants that you can't move out of harm's way, make them less appealing by coating leaves with something your cat finds disagreeable. Cat-discouragers include Bitter Apple, a nasty-tasting substance available at any pet-supply store, or Tabasco sauce from any grocery store. Whenever you find what your cat doesn't like, keep reapplying it to enforce the point.

Once your cat learns the leaves aren't so tasty, you can teach him that dirt isn't for digging and pots aren't for tipping. Pot your plants in heavy, wide-bottomed containers and cover the soil of the problem plants with rough decorative rock. Foil and waxed paper are less attractive deterrents, and I don't like to recommend them as much as decorative rock because you're going to get tired of looking at that foil.

You can also deter your cat from approaching pots by using carpet runners around the plants, with the pointy-side up. Commercial products such as the Scat Mat also work well, giving off a small electric charge (like a carpet shock) to the pet who steps where he shouldn't.

Whatever tool or combination of tools you choose, remember that the most important ones are patience and compromise. Give your cat the greens he wants and make the rest less attractive to him. A lush indoor garden is within the reach of any animal lover.

I've always envied my friend her skills with plants -- my own houseplants die with frightening regularity, aside from one very stubborn and grand ficus tree -- but I share her dedication to compromise for the good of her pets. It's the key to any successful relationship, after all.

PETS ON THE WEB

While most people know that dogs have long been used to pull sleds -- an occupation now turned popular canine sport -- few realize that in many places dogs once pulled carts as well, working as sort of a poor man's horse.

Around the turn of the last century, cars and world wars doomed some breeds developed to pull carts, but many breeds with drafting roots remain today, some because their fanciers refused to let them die out, and others because the dogs also served as farm and home protection.

Today, carting is making a bit of a comeback, with fanciers of these ancient breeds fitting them with harnesses and training them to reclaim their heritage for the fun of it. The Carting With Your Dog Web site (www.cartingwithyourdog.com) is a good place to check out what these folks are up to, with plenty of pictures, articles on training and outfitting a dog to pull a cart or wagon, and links to equipment suppliers.

THE SCOOP

Some plants are simply too dangerous to be in any household that includes pets, even if you're pretty sure your pet isn't a chewer. A good list of toxic plants is available on the Web site of the Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc), and I've also put one in the references section of my book "Cats for Dummies," which is available in many libraries. (One plant you won't find on either list is that holiday favorite, the poinsettia, commonly and incorrectly thought to be lethal to pets.) Remove those plants on the toxic list and replace them with more pet-friendly varieties.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I have two cats (2-year-old littermate sisters) who love the outdoors. I do not let them out, but I am trying to train them on harnesses and leashes so I can take them outside safely. I finally got them used to wearing the harness, but when I put the leash on, they won't budge. Is there a book that will give me pointers on cat-leash training? Thanks for any help. I want my girls to be happy. -- D.B., via e-mail

A: You never walk a cat like a dog. With cats, it's more like they walk themselves, and you just sort of follow. Train them not by making them walk, but rather by having them drag the leash (in the house, under supervision) while you reward them with treats.

Or give up on the leash idea entirely. Since your girls like the outdoors, you might try offering them a taste of it by giving them access to a screened porch or an otherwise secure area. You might also add a perching area to the windowsill, leaving the screened area open in good weather.

Q: At the pet store where we buy our bird's food, antibiotics are also for sale. Would it be a good idea to keep some on hand in case our bird gets sick? -- D.F., via e-mail

A: Antibiotics are one of the outstanding contributions of modern medicine and have saved countless lives of both the human and animal variety. But we have become so comfortable with these medicines and their frequent usage that we sometimes forget they are powerful drugs that should be used with care.

And yet, many bird lovers respond to any sign of illness by dosing -- and often overdosing -- their pets with antibiotics commonly available at pet-supply stores (and often labeled for other pets, such as fish). This sort of treatment for your sick bird is a bad idea for several reasons.

First, if your bird has a viral or fungal infection, an antibiotic will not help. And in the case of a fungal infection, it may even worsen your bird's condition.

Second, not all antibiotics are the same. They each have their target bacteria, and they may little affect any bacteria they're not designed to combat as well as bacteria that are resistant to them.

Finally, regular use of antibiotics may hurt your bird's immune system and may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that will be hard to stamp out even with the "right" medication.

When your bird is sick, your time and money would be better spent getting an accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment from an avian-experienced veterinarian.

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

When a friend of mine lost her darling cat to age and illness, she told me that her next in a long line of feline companions wouldn't be a kitten. Partly, because she thought she was old enough that a kitten might outlive her, and partly because she didn't think she was up to coping with all the energy that comes in those small, furry forms.

But mostly, she said, she was done with kittens because she wanted to give an adult cat a chance.

If she had told me this in person instead of on the phone, I would have hugged the stuffing out of her. I love it when people decide to adopt an older pet.

Because kittens are so very appealing, adult cats have the lowest adoption rate at many shelters. It's a tragedy for the cats, of course, but it's also unfortunate for many people who don't realize that an adult cat may, in many cases, be a better choice than a kitten.

You know pretty well what you're getting with a grown cat -- activity level, sociability and health. Given time in a loving environment, a grown cat forms just as tight a bond with his new people as any kitten can.

So how do you choose?

Knowing a little of the animal's background is helpful if your family has children or dogs. Most shelters try to provide some basic information, which they ask of the people giving up their pets. If you don't have complicating factors such as other pets or young children, though, knowing a background isn't quite so important.

If at all possible, take each cat you're considering away from the caging area of the adoption center. Sit in a quiet place and try to get a feel for the cat as an individual. Shelters are stressful places, so he may need a few quiet minutes to collect himself, but the most calm, confident and outgoing of cats will respond pretty readily to your attention, relaxing in your lap, pushing for strokes and purring.

You should get a sense of good health and vitality from the animal you're considering adopting. He should feel good in your arms: neither too thin nor too fat, well put-together, sleek and solid. If ribs are showing or if the animal is potbellied, it may be malnutrition or worms -- both fixable, but signs of neglect that may indicate deeper problems with socialization or general health.

With soothing words and gentle caresses, go over the animal from nose to tail. The cat's skin should be clean and unbroken, covered thickly with a glossy coat of fur. Ears should be clean as well, and the eyes should be clear and bright. The cat's nose should be clear of discharge, and in the mouth, look for rosy-pink gums and white teeth.

If you adopt from a shelter, the animal may also have been checked by a veterinarian, and certified free of parasites or disease. If a veterinary check hasn't been done, you might want to consider it as a condition of adoption.

The final step is intangible, that wonderful feeling you get when you finally meet the right cat. If a healthy, happy cat tugs at your heartstrings, sign the paperwork and take him home!

My friend looked for almost a month before adopting not one, but two shelter cats, a pair of bonded sisters who had ended up homeless after declining health forced their previous owner into a nursing home. The two 6-year-olds are well-mannered and loving, big fluffy sweethearts who settled quickly and happily into their new home.

Many of these happy endings are waiting to happen, and are no further away than the nearest shelter or rescue group.

PETS ON THE WEB

About.com has a very good section on cats (http://cats.about.com), an appealing mix of basic care advice and material of a more entertaining nature. It's well-organized, with a full menu down the side of each page, and fairly complete, with routine articles supplemented by many of a more creative bent. The site includes a good glossary of feline-related terms as well as oodles of suggested cat names. In all, you'll find lots to keep you entertained and educated.

THE SCOOP

In a recent column I wrote that a dog doesn't need to wear a rabies tag as long as he wears a municipal license, since in order to get a license, proof of valid rabies vaccination is required. Some readers wrote in to point out that isn't the case where they lived, and that proof of rabies wasn't required to get a license. So let me change my answer a bit.

If proof of rabies is required to get a license where you live, your dog should be fine wearing a license and an ID tag. (Because collars can slip off or be removed, I also recommend a microchip.) If, however, you are not required to provide proof of rabies vaccine to get a license, then leave the rabies tag on the collar as well.

And thanks to the readers who suggested that the sharp edges on any tags can be easily smoothed with a grinding tool.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: I have two kittens that I have hand-raised since they were 2 days old. Now they are 7 months old, and both have gone through their first heat. I have some questions in regard to this. First, is it uncomfortable? They did not seem happy about the whole thing. Second, since these cats are strictly house cats, never going outside, do you recommend getting them fixed? My veterinarian says fix them, but she gets $75 a cat, so of course she wants to fix them. What do you think? -- C.R., via e-mail

A: Fix 'em! The cost is a bargain compared to the benefits for you and the cats.

Being in season is very uncomfortable for your cats, who will be so frantic to breed that they will yowl and writhe incessantly. The behavior can be so extreme that every veterinarian has experienced a pet owner bringing in a cat in season who seems to be in such great pain that the owner is sure the animal has been injured.

Until they become pregnant, cats keep coming back into season for most of the year, starting the problem over before you've barely gotten used to the peace and quiet. Unspayed cats are pretty much always in heat.

A cat's sense of smell being what it is, I'm fairly certain that you'll have feline suitors outside your house as well -- yowling, urine-marking and fighting.

Spaying also offers considerable health advantages. Cats who are left intact are prone to life-threatening infections of the uterus, as well as ovarian, uterine or mammary cancers. These problems are not uncommon and are completely preventable with surgery.

Incidentally, your comment that your veterinarian suggests surgery because she will benefit financially is sure to raise the blood pressure of many in the profession, especially because spay-neuter surgeries are a relative bargains. They're a service veterinarians perform at less than true cost because many believe they have a responsibility to help fight pet overpopulation. While the neutering of male pets is a relatively uncomplicated procedure, the spaying of females is significant abdominal surgery, even if routine.

Show your veterinarian a little respect, please, both for her ability to provide professional advice that's in the best interest of your cats and for her efforts to keep the cost of this procedure as low as possible.

Q: Our solution to muddy dog paws is hilarious to watch but very effective. Callaway, our 5-year-old Aussie, comes in and immediately sits on his rug by the door. My husband swishes one paw at a time in a plastic pitcher filled with warm, soapy water, then I dry the clean paw with a towel.

When it's cold outside, Callaway really likes the warm water on his feet and relaxes while we do the cleaning. Now, if you have any ideas about keeping 13-year-old boys clean, will you please let me know? -- K.G., via e-mail

A: Thanks for the suggestion! It's amazing what a little dog training can do when it comes to helping to keep the house clean. As for keeping 13-year-old boys clean ... that's really beyond my expertise as a pet columnist, sorry. By the way: I'm guessing someone in your home is a golfer, with a family dog named after a popular brand of clubs!

I'll continue to offer suggestions from readers on keeping a house clean when pets are around, especially as we head into the worst of muddy-paw season.

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

Almost every week I write quite seriously about pets, about caring for them properly, protecting them from harm and solving the problems that drive animal lovers crazy. While there's no doubt people need that information, it's also important to remind ourselves of the joys we get from sharing our lives with animals. Pets give those of us who are otherwise responsible grown-ups a chance to be unabashedly silly, knowing that no matter what we say or do in front of our animals, our secrets will stay safe with our accepting, nonjudgmental companions.

Which brings me to ... pet songs.

Each of my pets has his or her own "theme song," silly ditties that I would be reluctant to sing in any kind of public forum. But I love to sing them in private, and each of my pets recognizes a song as his or her own, enjoying the special attention even as I'm surely torturing their well-developed sense of hearing with my dreadful voice.

This subject comes to mind because after years of living with the same pets, I'm now in a state of transition, with one song I don't sing anymore and one I'm still working on. Within the last few months my 16-year-old sheltie, Andy, passed away, and a cavalier King Charles spaniel puppy named Chase joined retrievers Benjamin and Heather as part of my family.

I guess the songs started with Andy, because I don't remember having any before his, although I've always been one of those people who love to sing when I'm sure no one can hear me.

Set to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine," Andy's song went: "You are my Andy, my darling Andy. You make me happy, because you're gray." He always cracked his mouth in a doggie smile when he heard it, backing up so I could scratch that spot just above his tail while I sang. (Recalling the ending's a bit melancholy now that he's gone, though: "... please don't take my Andy away.")

That song may have been the best I had in me, because Ben's tune isn't nearly as sweet or remotely as clever (although he loves his music, too). Set to the tune of the Monty Python "Spam" song, Ben's song repeats his name over and over, punctuated by the word "wonderful" here and there for emphasis. Heather's song is just as goofy.

Since I don't sit down and write these songs -- they just sort of evolve -- it's not predictable how they'll end up. Which is why the new puppy's song, for now, is downright insulting. Set to the tune of the rock chestnut "Cat Scratch Fever," Chase's song begins, "Nitwit puppy (nah nah nah) ... "

Andy was once a nitwit puppy, too, who turned into one of the most beautiful, well-mannered and good-natured of dogs. I'm hoping the same will be true of the goofy and awkward Chase, who at almost 8 months can be so annoying that the other dogs sometimes look at me accusingly for bringing such a pest into their lives.

But I have faith that there's plenty of potential in the nitwit puppy, which is why I've been turning over in my head the possibilities for his permanent theme song. "You Are My Sunshine" has been retired like the number on a star ballplayer's jersey, but I know there's good song out there for the good dog Chase will become.

Silly? Sure, but it makes me happy. And in such serious times as those we live in now, I am grateful to my pets for any reason to be so pointlessly lighthearted. Just as long as no one else can hear me.

THE SCOOP

Veterinary school is a kind of smorgasbord, where students take a little from a lot of different offerings, but don't usually get a lot of any one thing. So, when it comes to birds it's usually better to find a veterinarian who has dedicated extra time and energy to keeping abreast of developments in the fairly specialized and fast-changing field of avian medicine.

Veterinarians who are interested in focusing on birds may be certified as specialists by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners; more likely, they've just gained their skills and knowledge without formal certification. It pays to ask around: Bird shops, bird breeders and members of bird clubs can usually provide you with a referral to a veterinarian who focuses on avian care, as can the veterinarian who cares for your dog or cat. Listings can also be found on the Association of Avian Veterinarians Web site (www.aav.org).

PETS ON THE WEB

The American Ferret Association (www.ferret.org) started as a small club in suburban Maryland dedicated to promoting one of the most popular and least understood pets. It has grown into a national association, expanding its goals to include fighting to eliminate laws that ban the animals, notably in California and New York City. Although nothing fancy, the AFA's Web site offers some basic information and links to find out more about these animals.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: My Border collie mix loves to run with me. She can walk at my pace well, but when we run, she constantly wants to run much faster than I do. How can I fix this? She also has a habit of wanting to visit with other dogs while running, which I'd like to stop. –- P.L., via e-mail

A. I am so glad that you're exercising your dog on a regular basis! So many canine behavior problems have boredom and inactivity at their root. Most dog breeds were developed to be active -- to herd sheep, haul sleds, or hunt in packs or with a human companion. They were meant to work hard, and their bodies and their minds crave the exercise. If they just sit around in the house or yard day after day after day, they have no outlet for their immense energy, except for digging, barking, chewing or other unwanted behavior. Every dog, large or small, young or old, will benefit from a daily walk. Large, active breeds and mixes need even more -- at least a half-hour of heart-thumping activity three to four times a week. This may sound like a lot, but it's nothing compared to the work many dogs were bred to do, in long days that left them exhausted and happy.

You don't need sheep or a sled to exercise your pet. Fetch is a great way to provide exercise, as is running or biking with your pet. Training and competing in sports such as fly ball or agility are also great. And don't forget: If your dog is active, you are, too. Talk about a win-win situation!

All dogs need training, and yours is no exception. Your runs will be easier and more pleasant after you find a trainer to help you teach your dog to be on leash without pulling, and to pay attention to you instead of to other dogs. When properly trained, your dog will match her speed to yours, and will ignore distractions.

With a bright dog such as a Border collie mix, you should be off and running again in no time.

Q: I have a 6-week-old male kitten at home, and at his first veterinary visit the doctor told me that people have associated clumping kitty litters with intestinal problems in their cats (some of which have led to death). Can you please clarify this, or at least give me more information? -– H.W., via e-mail

A: The idea that clumping litter is deadly traces back to an article in a long-defunct holistic cat magazine and is kept alive by the power of the Internet. The article -- I've read it -– guessed that the litter was the cause of the death of the author's kittens. The evidence was purely speculative and anecdotal, and has not been supported by subsequent scientific research. While there's no evidence that clumping litters are bad for cats, many veterinarians (such as yours) adopt a better-safe-than-sorry policy regarding kittens. That's because a playful, curious kitten might be tempted to eat the material, which might indeed cause an intestinal problem. The cautious solution is to use a non-clumping litter for the first couple of months, then switch if you wish to.

A related note: Because these litters may be "dustier" than other types, they may present problems for asthmatic cats. You can minimize this risk by not using a hooded litter box, and by making sure your cat is out of the room when you change the filler.

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