Love of rabbits evident in shelter dedicated to these often-neglected animals

The brown-patched rabbit hasn't a clue what this is all about. He sits nibbling hay in a stainless-steel cage, in a room like the one in the shelter he came from, where most rabbits are killed because there aren't enough homes.

But this place is different. Housed in a former medical office building in Richmond, Calif., the House Rabbit Society runs the world's only shelter dedicated solely to finding homes for unwanted rabbits while educating people about proper pet rabbit care.

"With the rising popularity of rabbits as pets has come a rise in the number of rabbits euthanized," says Erin Williams, the shelter director. Young, enthusiastic and very rabbit-savvy, Williams started as a volunteer and ended up as one of the shelter's three part-time paid staff members, taking over the top spot a little more than a year ago.

Coming to the rabbit shelter is a stroke of luck for the brown-patched rabbit, whose story up to now has been sadly similar to that of thousands like him. Purchased as a fuzzy baby by someone who didn't understand or care about his needs, he was ignored, neglected, and finally dumped on a humane society that already had more rabbits than homes.

His life took a decidedly promising turn when he was brought to the rabbit shelter, where he will now be staying for as long as it takes to find him the right home.

"We have rabbits who have been here more than a year and others adopted two days after their arrival," says Williams. "Since we opened in 1999, we've adopted out 350 rabbits."

Williams acknowledges the numbers are small compared to the need. That's why the building's other use -- for education and outreach -- is probably more important in the long run to the goal of preventing people from taking on pets they aren't prepared to care for properly. The building has meeting rooms for classes, and the shelter is open for tours.

The international headquarters of the House Rabbit Society is also housed in the same facility, as are retail areas for the boarding, grooming and the sale of rabbit supplies that add funds to the donations and adoption fees keeping the shelter running. In addition to its Richmond headquarters and shelter, the HRS has 32 chapters and more than 10,000 members worldwide. The group's message is a simple one: Rabbits make great companions when kept indoors as a member of the family, just like a cat or a dog.

The rabbit shelter does not accept pets given up directly by their owners, but rather takes in those animals whose time has run out at traditional shelters in the area. In all, there's room for about 30 to 35 rabbits, with another 40 or so cared for in foster homes. Small rabbits with attractive markings tend to be adopted quickly, says Williams. The most difficult to place, she says, are large white rabbits with pink eyes -- people just don't like the looks of them.

While the isolation room where incoming bunnies first stay looks typically shelter-like, with its stacked cages, the rest of the place does not. Rabbits up for adoption are housed in spacious pens with plenty of toys and are given play time every day in the carpeted hallways of the building.

The playful and friendly nature of free-roaming rabbits may come as a surprise to many visitors, but it's just that change of mind the shelter staff and volunteers work for every day.

"We've had people come back and say, 'I never realized how incredibly rewarding it could be to have a rabbit as a pet,'" says Williams. "When you give them a chance, rabbits exceed the expectations of your childhood memories, when it was all about a forgotten rabbit in a backyard hutch."

(For more information on the House Rabbit Society, visit www.rabbit.org.)

Q&A

Stress a factor in grooming cat

Q: We recently saw a longhaired cat whose owner (a friend of a friend) had him shaved short by a professional groomer. We were thinking it would be a good idea for our two Persians, who shed a lot and also mat very easily. What's your opinion of this? -- H.B., via e-mail

A: My only real concern would be about the stress of a trip to the groomer on cats who haven't been subjected to it before. Are your cats comfortable with outings, or do they get upset at the mere site of their carriers? If you intend to keep them close-cropped, they need to be comfortable with going to the groomer, or you need to learn how to groom them at home with a minimum of stress for you and for them.

Aside from the stress factor, there's no reason why longhaired cats kept indoors can't be kept clipped short. (I don't recommend it, however, for cats who'll be outdoors in a cold climate.) Clipping will make maintaining your cats' coats easier, but it won't eliminate shedding, since even short hairs do fall out.

There is one situation in which I'm always in favor of a buzz cut: When animals have been allowed to become extremely matted. Teasing apart the tangles on a badly matted pet is hard on both animal and human, and it's easier to shave off the entire coat and start fresh.

Q: Why does my dog, a 9-year-old poodle, eat grass? This grass-eating occurs without a detectable pattern. -- D.M., via e-mail

A: Although commonly believed to be the activity of a pet with an upset stomach, grass-eating is routine in perfectly healthy dogs of all ages, sizes and on all sorts of diets. Eating grass doesn't suggest something's missing in the diet, nor does it necessarily prompt vomiting. The best explanation is that some dogs like the taste and texture of grass.

Among my four dogs, the division seems pretty typical. One is a voracious grass-eater; two others will occasionally eat grass but usually only young, green shoots. The fourth has absolutely no interest in eating grass. They're all different ages, breed types and genders, and they've eaten different diets over the years with no change in their grass-eating habits.

If your dog is otherwise healthy, grass-eating is no need for concern. I would avoid using pesticides or herbicides in the areas where your dog grazes, however.

Q: Could I add a suggestion to your column on keeping cats from scratching? My cat was a major furniture-scratcher who wasn't interested in scratching posts or any other product designed for felines.

I found a wonderful solution quite by accident. I brought home a new doormat, one of those rough fiber ones. She loves it! Scratching on it is the first thing she does when she goes out the door and the last thing she does before coming in. I also bought one and put it in the spare room for her to use. It solved my problem and also blends in a little better than a traditional cat tree or scratching post. These mats are very affordable and can be purchased at any hardware or discount retailer. -- J.J., via e-mail

A: Thanks for your suggestion. Other folks wrote in to suggest using clear plastic wrap on the corners of furniture, and offering corrugated cardboard for scratching instead of (or in addition to) sisal -- or carpet-covered scratching posts.

Each pet is an individual, and sometimes you just have to keep experimenting to find out what works.

PET Rx

Vaccines changing along with the times

The cornerstone of proper preventive medical care for dogs used to be yearly shots. That's no longer true.

Newer recommendations instead suggest an approach to vaccines tailored to the individual needs of each dog, with some boosters to be given at three-year intervals, some as needed and some not at all.

The driving force behind the changes is an understanding that many vaccines protect well beyond one year, and that vaccines themselves were not without the potential to cause harm. Last year, an American Animal Hospital Association task force presented a 28-page report that divided available vaccines into "core" and "non-core" categories and offered guidelines for their use in adult dogs.

According to the AAHA's task force, "core" vaccines recommended at three-year intervals include those for rabies, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis) and distemper. These diseases are considered to be extremely dangerous to animals (or to humans, in the case of rabies), and the vaccines have been shown to be effective.

The use of non-core vaccines depends on such factors as the lifestyle of the dog and the prevalence of a certain disease in the area. A dog who is going to spend time around other dogs may need to have protection against bordetella, contagious disease more commonly known as kennel cough.

Other vaccinations are not recommended by the task force, either because they have not been shown to be effective, or because the disease they protect against is either uncommon or easily treatable.

The recommendations are for adult dogs. Puppies must still go through a series of vaccinations to develop sufficient immunity to disease.

The bottom line: Talk to your veterinarian about what combination of vaccines is right for your dog. And don't skip your dog's annual examination just because you'll be skipping those yearly "shots."

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

ON THE WEB

Get the facts on the Jack

What most people call a Jack Russell, the American Kennel Club now calls a Parson Russell. But things haven't changed on the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America's Web site (www.terrier.com). As feisty and independent as the dogs they adore, the club's members note that the "JRTCA is not affiliated in any way with the American Kennel Club (AKC)," with the word "not" in capital, bold-faced letters. You can almost hear them yell, "And we mean it!"

The site is one of the best devoted to any breed: well-organized, easy-to-navigate, quick to load and utterly jam-packed with great information on the breed. Best areas on the site are those seeking to discourage ownership of this intelligent and energetic breed. The "Jack Russell Profiler" rates people on their suitability for the breed, and "The Bad Dog Talk: I Am Not 'Wishbone'" lists every undesirable trait TV dogs never have -- but Jack Russells usually do.

The Jack Russell is one of those adorable, smart breeds that most people admire but few are capable of handling. If you're thinking of adding one of these scrappy darlings to your family, the JRTCA's Web site will give you plenty to read and even more to think about.

THE SCOOP

Vest offers protection for dogs

The crisp fall evenings may seem perfect for walking with your dog, but it may not be the safest time to be on the street. When drivers can't see you in the dark, you and your dog are at risk. Reflective leashes and collars help increase canine visibility, as do reflective runner's vests for the human half of the team.

To make outdoor activity safer, K9 Top Coat has come out with a stylish dog vest in bright safety orange Lycra with reflective strips. I tried one on my jet-black retriever Heather, who disappears in the dark, and found the product easy to put on and remove and highly visible even from a couple of hundred feet away. The stretch fabric fit well and moved comfortably with her no matter how active she became.

The vest is $36.50 in all sizes not including shipping from K9 Top Coat (www.K9topcoat.com; 888-833-5959.)

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Where pet birds stay when you fly

Professional pet-care has long been an option for dogs and cats, but few bird-lovers use boarding or pet-sitting services when they travel.

TRAVEL CARE FOR BIRDS ... PERCENTAGE

Family/friend/neighbor comes to home ... 53

Leave bird with family/friend/neighbor ... 17

Leave bird home alone with food/water... 13

Take birds along ... 4

Board bird ... 1

Professional pet sitter ... 1

Other/no answer ... 10

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Inc.

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 petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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

Massage expert shows how to work out the kinks in your relationship with your cat

Bodacious is one scaredy-cat, a gray-furred bundle of anxiety who eyes humankind with apprehension that escalates rapidly into terror. Get close to him and ... whiffff, Bo is gone in less time then a tail twitch.

"He was one of 27 cats rescued from a hoarder," says Maryjean Ballner, feline massage practitioner and Bo's savior, describing the cat's previous life of neglect. "The first time I picked him up at the shelter, he peed all over me. He was so afraid. The first three months here, he stayed in a closet, too terrified to come out. We've had him five years now, and you can see he's still scared."

Oh, but wait.

Ballner takes a long-handled bath brush in her hand and corners her skitty kitty, cradling him gently against her before setting him on the couch in her living room. Body tightly crouched, eyes slitted anxiously, Bo remains ready to run as she presses the brush to the side of his face and starts to stroke, slowly.

At the touch, a transformation begins. Pushing against the caressing bristles, Bo starts to purr, almost reluctantly. The tenseness in his face slowly disappears as he melts into a puddle of pure feline bliss.

To Ballner, such transformation is more routine than amazing. Certified as a human massage therapist, she long ago turned her skills toward animals, eventually producing how-to videos and a pair of books on techniques for massaging cats and dogs. She continues to practice her craft, giving massages not only to her own pets but also to the stressed-out homeless ones at a nearby animal shelter where she works as a volunteer.

While Bo purrs through his massage in his owner's San Francisco Bay Area home, Ballner explains that a brush is less threatening than a hand to many cats, especially ones who, like Bo, have cruelty or neglect in their past.

"The brush allows me to make contact without being intimidating," she explains. "It's just a plain bath brush, nothing fancy. It costs you six bucks at the drugstore, but it's the best tool for socializing a cat."

At some point, the massage seems to become almost as pleasant for Ballner as it is for her cat. The lids on her wide blue eyes start to drift downward, and her posture, like Bo's, loses any sense of strain. Her brushing becomes rhythmic, unconsciously timed to the cat's relaxed breathing as she talks.

Ballner's other cat, Minka, watches impatiently as his housemate gets all the attention, his tail twitching with some inscrutably feline blend of amusement and annoyance. Ballner gives Bo a break, and hauls the happy Minka into her lap. There, he demonstrates his total trust in her, as she pulls the orange tabby into a position most cats don't much like -- an inelegant and vulnerable belly-up.

Minka's not at all concerned; on the contrary, he starts drifting off to sleep as Ballner massages him. The key is to go slowly, she says, counting to five or six for each stroke and repeating over and over. Once a cat understands that you mean no harm, you can use your hands, or even a steel-loop-and-handle grooming tool, the latter providing the additional benefit of keeping shed cat fur to a minimum.

As she works, Ballner demonstrates the places where cats like to be touched: under the chin, along the cheeks, at the base of the tail. The benefits, she says, are more than physical. She's convinced massage strengthens the bond between human and cat.

"The more I paid attention to the way I petted my cats, the more they paid attention to me," she says, in what may be the strongest case of all for giving massages to cats.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Maryjean Ballner's "Your Cats Wants a Massage" and "Your Dog Wants a Massage" videotapes are available from her Web site (www.dogandcatmassage.com) for $10 each, plus $1.95 shipping. Her "Dog Massage" and "Cat Massage" books (St. Martin's, $12) are also available on the site, or from retail book outlets.

Q&A

New baby, old cat can coexist safely

Q: We're expecting a baby and we're worried about our cat. A lady where I work says cats are dangerous around babies and that we should get rid of Evie. This same lady said we should have gotten rid of Evie when I got pregnant. But after I talked to my doctor, I just had my husband clean the litter box as a precaution.

Assuming Evie stays (and she certainly will unless we're totally convinced otherwise), how can I ease the transition for her? She has been our "only child" up to now. -- M.W., via e-mail

A: Cats do not maliciously smother or suck the breath out of babies, as the old myths hold. Still, to best protect your child, you do need to be aware of the facts and exercise a little caution -- just as you did with the litter box.

Common sense dictates that no animal be left unattended with a small child -- for the safety of both. The Humane Society of the United States, which keeps statistics on injuries inflicted by animals on people, knows of no documented case of a cat smothering an infant by resting on the child's face. Other experts, however, point out that such a scenario, although unlikely, is marginally feasible and suggest taking precautions, which makes perfect sense. You don't want your baby to be the first to be harmed in such a way.

Some parents have gone so far as to install a screen door on the nursery to keep pets out, a simple and relatively inexpensive solution. You could also confine Evie to one part of the house when you or your husband are not around to supervise.

As for Evie herself, she should be fine. If possible, bring home an item from the hospital with the baby's scent on it and put it where Evie likes to sleep. And get into a routine as quickly as possible. Cats thrive on familiarity and routine, so getting the household settled down as soon as you can will help Evie.

Put aside a little time for her every day, for petting, grooming and interactive play, such as with a string toy. Some cats stop using the litter box when under the stress of change. If that happens, set her up in a small bedroom -- with litter box, food and water, and toys -- to retrain her and let her chill out for a few days. Then gradually expand her territory.

Having a pet will benefit your baby. In addition to the unconditional love and listening a pet offers, recent studies suggest that children who grow up with animals may be less susceptible to developing allergies.

Q: I read somewhere that carrots are good treats for dogs on a diet. Is that true? It seems as if a dog would prefer a meat treat. -- T.G., via e-mail

A: You might have read it in this column. Small bits of carrots, green beans and mini rice cakes are all good treats for dogs, whether they're on a diet or not. And yes, most dogs like them just fine.

For overweight dogs, cutting calories in any way you can is a good idea. Lower the number of times a day you give treats, and give smaller treats, the tinier the better. Buy the smallest available and then break them up into even tinier bits. Where you can, substitute vegetables -- yes, like carrots -- and bits of rice cake for commercial treats.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

PET Rx

Help With hairballs

Hairballs are normal for cats, as is watching where you walk to avoid the disgusting "gifts" that always seem to be left on the best rugs in the house. If the problem is severe, your veterinarian may suggest the use of a mild laxative to help the hairballs pass through your cat's system.

You should also try combing your cat more frequently to remove excess hair. And you might try increasing the fiber in your cat's diet -- adding a little canned pumpkin daily is a great way that many cats enjoy.

Don't let your cat become a laxative junkie, as daily use decreases the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Hairball remedies should not be used more than twice weekly except on the advice of your veterinarian.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

THE SCOOP

Check out e-mail warnings before worrying

Every pet lover with an e-mail address has at one time or another -- or time and time again -- received warnings on potentially deadly pet hazards. Recent warnings have ranged from produce (grapes and raisins) to garden products (mulch made of cocoa hulls) to name-brand household cleaning products (Swiffer WetJet and Febreze).

Problem is, not all warnings are what they seem to be. Some may be well-intentioned but wrong; others may be possibly motivated by a campaign against a company, and also wrong. And then there are those that are legitimate concerns.

How can you tell the legit from the bogus?

The first stop for any pet lover investigating an Internet warning should be the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' poison information site (www.aspca.org; click on "Animal Poison Control Center").

The APCC veterinarians respond quickly to Internet warnings, providing information on which reports are a real concern and which should not be. Recent Net scares covered by the APCC include grapes and raisins (potentially toxic), cocoa-hull mulch (potentially toxic) and Swiffer WetJet and Febreze (safe when used as directed).

If you don't find what you're looking for at the APCC Web site, check out Snopes.com, arguably the best resource for checking out urban legends and e-mail hoaxes of all varieties. The site offers an extensive collection of information on common animal-related myths.

In the name of fairness, don't forward any kind of e-mail warning without checking it out on the APCC and Snopes.com Web sites first. If you cannot verify the claims in any e-mail, the only proper thing to do is hit "delete."

The Animal Poison Control Center Web site is more than a resource for debunking questionable Internet warnings, by the way. The site also functions as a key resource for any veterinarian trying to save the life of an animal who has been exposed to or ingested a dangerous substance. It's also a prime place for information on how to prevent accidents in the home, with lists of poisonous plants, dangerous household chemicals and more.

ON THE WEB

Pet loss site offers assistance, advice

Yes, it's more than a little sappy. Yes, the music is beyond dreadful. And yes, the design is ... well, we're clearly not dealing with Web-savvy professionals here. But when you've just lost a member of your family, you don't tend to care about anything other than finding a place where you can be with people who understand. On the Web, that place is Pet Loss Grief Support (www.petloss.com).

The Pet Loss page also offers links to resources such as articles and books to help get through a difficult time. Message boards allow for one-to-one advice and consolation, and a candle ceremony celebrated worldwide every Monday night marks the passing of many a cherished pet.

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 petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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

Patience, timing key to great pet shots

Digital photography has changed my life. Instead of wasting roll after roll of film -- or not bothering to take pictures at all because of the trouble and expense -- I now take hundreds of pictures, happy in the knowledge that if I get just one or two good ones out of every few dozen taken, I haven't wasted anything except my time.

With a few clicks of the mouse, the out-of-frame, out-of-focus or "just not right" images are jettisoned forever. A few clicks more, and those images with potential are fixed up and made suitable for framing -- a crop here, a red eye changed to brown, the elimination of items cluttering up the background.

The result: the best pictures of my pets I've ever taken.

Years ago a pet photographer told me the best suggestion he could offer when it comes to getting good pictures is to constantly be taking them. That's advice I'm finally following, but I've also had good luck paying attention to these other tried-and-true tips:

-- Head outdoors if you can. Taking pictures outside gives your pet a more natural, healthy look. If your pet is a solid, dark color, use your flash to bring out the detail in your pet's face. If you do end up with red eye, use photo-editing software (basic programs come free with many new computers) to fix the problem.

-- Get close. If you want a good picture, you need to go where your pet is. Shoot at just below your pet's eye level and zoom in as closely as you can for good detail.

-- Watch your backgrounds. Think neutral -- a plain wall, not a cluttered cabinet. Think contrast -- light for a dark pet, dark for a light one. If your cat loves to sleep on the busy fabric of your sofa, for example, consider throwing a solid-colored blanket down first. You might be able to edit the distraction out with photo-editing software, but it's easier to avoid it in the first place.

-- Get kids to help. I love pictures of kids and pets, and have always found that kids make the best photographer's assistants as well. Children can help by getting a pet's attention with a toy or treat, or by holding the pet for a picture of child and pet together. One of my favorite things to do is give the children in my life throwaway cameras and let them take their own pictures. I get the images put on a photo CD, use photo-editing software to make them look better, and then give the best as prints in inexpensive frames to the young photographers.

-- Be creative. If you want your pet to kiss your children, do as the pros do: Put a little butter on your children and let the pet kiss it off. This is a tip I got years ago when I interviewed a woman who trained animals for commercials. I've smiled every time I've seen a dog smooch a kid on TV since, knowing that more than affection was at play.

-- Take some "record-keeping" shots. You never know when a pet will get loose, and having good pictures can help with a swift recovery. Take a picture from the side and one from the front, as well as close-ups of any distinctive markings. Get prints made and put them in a place you'll remember, just in case you need to make up "lost pet" posters.

-- Final advice: Enjoy and share your pictures! You'll find several sites on the Web that welcome images of pets, or you can use a free Web site to post images on your own. And photo-developing companies offer more than prints of digital images these days: Think note cards, calendars or even posters.

I've put up a few of my own pets on my Web site, (www.spadafori.com -- click on "My Animals") and plan to keep adding as I take more great photos.

Q&A

Cat thinks roof a perfect potty

Q: My cat resides outside and has any number of places to use as a toilet, including a litter box. But for some odd reason she likes to use the roof as her toilet, where it comes together into a "V." Besides cleaning every few weeks by using a hose and spreading crushed mothballs, what would you suggest to prevent this? -- C.L., via e-mail

A: I'm guessing your cat uses the roof because she feels safe up there and because leaves collect and decompose into that part of the roof, turning it into a natural litter box. The trick to changing this habit is to make the roof less attractive while increasing the desirability of that litter box.

Make sure her litter box is in an area that's protected from the elements as well as from the chance of her being scared or ambushed while in a vulnerable state — nobody likes to be startled on the potty! Check, too, that the contents are scooped frequently, since a dirty box will send most cats elsewhere.

To discourage the use of the roof spot, I'd clean it of debris every day for a while, spraying not only with water but also with a scent most cats hate, such as lemon. If you can get up on the roof, secure some physical deterrents in the spot, such as crumpled wads of foil or plastic carpet runners with the pointy side out.

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.

PET Rx

Yearly shots for your pets? Think again

In recent years the trend in veterinary medicine has been away from annual combination vaccines for cats and dogs. In place of the traditional ritual: Individualized vaccine regimens are now given at multiyear intervals after the initial series of puppy/kitten vaccinations is complete. (How frequently rabies vaccines are given is a matter of law: While many states require rabies boosters at three-year intervals, others mandate a rabies shot on an annual basis for dogs and, increasingly, cats.)

Skipping annual shots should not mean avoiding your veterinarian. Your pet needs a yearly physical to spot and stop potential health problems before they become serious.

The University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital offers suggested guidelines for dog and cat vaccinations on its Web site, at www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/genmed/vaccinproto.html.

Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.

PET TAILS

Classroom rat had gift for math

I am a teacher. A few years back, we had a rat named Charlotte in our second-grade classroom. During her pregnancy, she remained as sweet as ever, allowing the kids to hold her all day.

One day, right in the middle of class, she began giving birth. My 20 students and I watched in delight as she birthed 18 babies! They all appeared healthy, but I wondered how she would feed them all. I remember thinking that she would probably pick out the weak ones and eat them! This is something that my son's hamster had done. I decided to cover up the aquarium to give her some privacy and shield my students from the carnage that I was sure would occur.

The next morning, before the kids arrived, I held my breath and uncovered the tank. To my surprise, I saw two nests. Upon closer examination, it appeared that Charlotte had divided her litter into two little pink piles. I carefully took off the top of the tank, put my hand in, and counted. There were nine babies in each pile! Wow, a rat that can divide!

We watched as she would nurse one pile, eat and rest, and then nurse the others. She went back and forth like this for days. She even allowed the kids to hold the babies, but she would always put them back exactly where they had been -- in their own pile!

I managed to give all of the babies away -- and not to snake owners. -- Paulette Mercer, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Do you have a story for Pet Tails? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com and please include your first and last name, and your home town. Submissions may be edited.

THE SCOOP

Get wet!

Birdbaths aren't just for wild birds. Most pet birds enjoy getting wet on a regular basis too -- and it's good for them. Some birds enjoy being misted with a spray bottle, while others will happily share your shower, with the help of any number of perches designed to affix to the wall of the stall. Some birds would rather bathe and enjoy access to a shallow dish of water. Experiment until you find out what suits your bird best, then allow your pet a drenching as frequently as every day. -- G.S.

Feline author offers advice to other cats

A while back I mentioned a new online magazine for dog lovers, The Daily Dog (www.thedogdaily.com), put out by the same talented woman, Beth Adelman, who also edits The Daily Cat (www.thedailycat.com). Adelman has now come out with an entertaining book that looks at feline care from a cat's point of view. The spin on "Every Cat's Survival Guide to Living With a Neurotic Owner" (Barnes & Noble Books, $7) is that the author is Adelman's cat, Yin Yin, who answers questions from other cats about what their owners are doing wrong. The concept could get old in fast order, but Adelman pulls it off in fine style, with witty, well-written answers packed with up-to-date information on nutrition, behavior and much, much more. A real find, and a great bargain! -- G.S.

Prevention key to keeping pet mess to a minimum

Love your pet, hate pet mess? Consider these tried-and-true tips for preventing some messes and cleaning up others more easily:

-- Search and destroy past messes. Sometimes you can see them and not smell them; other times you can smell them and not see them. Chances are your pet knows where they are -- and will want to update the odor. Pet-supply outlets offer black lights that reveal old messes you might not be able to see. Veterinarians and trainers sometimes have these available for renting. Surface cleaning isn't enough: If the mess has soaked through, you must pull up the carpet and clean or replace the padding below.

-- Prevent future messes, when you can. Put mats everywhere: Inside and outside of doors, under dishes and anywhere else messes happen. If you want to experiment with color, look for car mats. They're easy to clean and come in a few colors besides basic black.

-- Be prepared to clean. Keep a "pet mess kit" with paper towels, hand-held vacuum, old bath towels and cleaning solutions in a bucket where you can get to them quickly. The faster you get on a pet mess, the easier it is to clean and the less likely it will be to leave a permanent stain.

-- Don't use ammonia-based cleaners on pet messes. They smell like urine to a pet -- ammonia being one of the byproducts of decomposing pet waste. Instead of making the area smell clean, ammonia products make a mess site seem even more attractive to your pet and more likely to invite repeat business. Instead, use products designed for pet messes, which have enzymes that break down organic wastes and neutralize odors.

-- Keep your pet clean. Regular bathing and daily brushing or combing will minimize the amount of pet hair you'll be dealing with. Another plus: A clean pet is less likely to trigger allergies, and more pleasant to have around. -- G.S.

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 petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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