Universal Press Syndicate

Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can make our pets itch and scratch. But did you know that each one of these pests can transmit serious diseases to your pets -- and to you as well?

In a pet with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), even one flea bite can cause a cascading reaction of itching, irritation and secondary bacterial infection. Far from being a rare overreaction to fleas, FAD is the most common allergic skin disorder in pets. And allergic or not, all pets can be infected with tapeworm from the bite of a flea. Fleas can also bite humans, and a few fleas can lead to a complete infestation of your carpets, bedding, upholstery and yard.

Once it's in full bloom, a flea infestation can be extremely difficult to eradicate.

And what about mosquitoes? These pests make people itch, but their risk to pets goes far beyond discomfort. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworms, a parasite that's a serious problem in dogs and increasingly in cats (even indoor cats). Many cases of feline asthma and bronchitis are now thought to be caused by heartworm infection. Heartworm disease can be debilitating, lengthy, difficult and expensive to treat, but it's easy to prevent with medication from your veterinarian. More information on canine and feline heartworm disease can be found at www.heartwormsociety.org.

Probably the most dangerous of all the pests that afflict our pets is the tick. Ticks can spread Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and babesiosis. These immune-system disorders can be hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. Because their symptoms can mimic so many other diseases, they are often not detected until well-advanced, at which time it can be too late.

Symptoms of tick-borne diseases include fevers, lameness that can shift from limb to limb, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and not eating. Ticks can be as tiny as the period at the end of this sentence, so relying on combing or hand-searching to control ticks is not effective. Worse, removing them by hand can increase the likelihood they'll transmit disease to your pets.

Even if your dog has been vaccinated against canine Lyme disease, don't let up on the tick-prevention effort. There are no vaccines for any of the other, even more dangerous tick diseases. Many ticks carry multiple diseases and can transmit more than one at the time they bite your dog.

The SNAP 4Dx test is an in-office test your veterinarian can give to your dog to detect canine heartworm disease, Lyme disease, and two tick-borne diseases: ehrlichiosis canis and anaplasmosis (formerly known as ehrlichiosis equi). This test is a valuable tool in detecting diseases that, left untreated, can cause life-threatening illness in dogs. The test is available to veterinarians through IDEXX Laboratories.

Given the seriousness of the diseases spread by ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, there's no question that prevention is the best course. In the past, pet owners had to rely on messy, time-consuming and non-environmentally friendly dips, bombs and sprays. Those days are gone with the introduction of topical preventives that repel and kill fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Some even control internal parasites and ear mites.

Diseases carried by parasites vary from region to region, although in today's increasingly mobile society that's less true. Talk to your veterinarian about the problems in your area and about the products that can protect your pet.

SIDEBAR

Two new pest-control products for spring

Two new preventives have come on the market this bug season. One is Bayer's Advantage Multi, a prescription topical preventive that comes in both canine and feline formulas. Unlike other topicals, it prevents heartworm as well as a number of intestinal parasites (also ear mites in cats). It does not, however, prevent or repel ticks. You can find out more at www.animalhealth.bayerhealthcare.com.

Sergeant's Pet Products has also come out with a new product, Sergeant's Gold Flea and Tick Squeeze-On for Dogs. It contains both a flea- and tick-killer and an insect-growth regulator, which kills flea eggs and larvae. It's available at retailers. More information is available at www.sergeants.com.

Remember: Knowing which product is right for your pet and the pests in your area is something for you and your veterinarian to discuss. Most pest-prevention products cannot be used together, and many cannot be used on, or even around, cats. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about a pest-protection program for your pet. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Pets, planes and airport security

Q: Regarding your recent column on flying with pets, will you let readers know about the risk of losing a pet in the airport?

Most people don't realize that if they take a pet as carry-on baggage, they'll have to take the pet out of the carrier and hold the animal while the carrier itself goes through screening. I found this out the hard way with a cat who hates to be held!

Everyone who takes a pet aboard a plane as carry-on luggage should have a harness and leash in place to avoid having the animal take off running through the airport. -- J.P., via e-mail

A: You're absolutely right. While a small dog having a bit of a freak-out at the airport can probably be held firmly and without too much difficulty, a cat in full flight-or-fight mode can really create a dangerous scene. That's why your suggestion is important: Make sure any pet -- but especially a cat -- is equipped with a harness and leash before removing the animal from the carrier at the airport screening station.

I've flown with pets as carry-on a few times and have put larger pets in cargo a few times more -- never (knock on wood) with any problems whatsoever. I've always found airline staff to be caring, helpful and understanding of the needs and worries of pet lovers.

One myth about flying with pets that just won't go away is the assumption that pets need to be routinely tranquilized for flights. Not only is this not true, but it's also dangerous. Tranquilizing limits the ability of their bodies to function normally, and they need all that ability to cope with the stress of flight.

The default mode for pet air travel should be no tranquilizers, although there are exceptions, so a pre-flight talk with the veterinarian is a must. (You'll need to be there for a pre-flight health certificate anyway.)

Maybe we think pets should be tranquilized because we wish we were? It sure would make the flights seem faster for us, wouldn't it?

Talking to the airline for pet reservations and conditions is a must, as is checking en route for any pets traveling in cargo holds. With all precautions in place, air travel with pets should go smoothly -- and it usually does. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Make nail trims feline-friendly

Want to avoid a tussle when it comes to trimming the claws on your cat? Don't trim them until you can massage your cat's paws gently during lap time. As you massage a paw with one hand, offer an irresistible treat in the other. Make the procedure as pleasant as possible -- for both of you.

Timing and size matters when you start nail trims. A relaxed cat is more likely to be a cooperative one. Go for quality, not quantity. Trim only one nail each day and take off only the tip. If you cut down to the quick -- the living tissue closest to the paw -- it will hurt. And if you cause your pet pain, you won't get much cooperation in the future.

So be careful, and be positive. If done carefully, your cat may not hold out his paw for a nail trim, but he won't mind much if the whole experience is a pleasant one.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

PETS BY THE BOOK

Know your cat inside and out

With a new kitten joining the family, I suddenly had a desire to reread some of my favorite feline reference books. And that meant digging in to find the ones by Roger Tabor.

There's just no one who understands a cat better than this British naturalist and biologist, and no one who can explain what makes your cat tick in a way remotely as entertaining. Tabor's "Understanding Cat Behavior: The Complete Feline Problem Solver" (David & Charles, $20) seems like a simple guide to fixing unwanted behavior. But in fact, it's an entertaining masterwork that reveals why we find cats so appealing and so mysterious.

As good as Tabor's text is, the pictures are more than mere illustrations. Each one reveals the secrets of feline body language and ties the actions of our domestic cats to their wild relatives. A pure joy to read, cover to cover. -- Gina Spadafori

THE SCOOP

Plan for a dog-friendly landscape

But you can't just plant whatever you want wherever you want and then throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Instead, plan your yard to take your dog into account, and mind your dog's needs to get him to leave the plants alone. The basic guidelines:

-- Exercise your dog. A dog with too much energy isn't one you want to leave alone all day in a nice yard -- and yet that's exactly what many people do. If you don't take care of your dog's exercise requirements, he's going to take care of them on his own, by digging a hole to China or by removing the shrubs in your yard.

Dogs who don't get daily exercise are likely to expend that energy and cure their boredom by doing things people don't like -- digging, chewing and barking. Dogs who are well-exercised are more likely to sleep while you are gone. When you leave, you should also offer your dog alternatives to choosing his own amusements: Provide him with chew toys.

-- Work with your dog's habits. Observe how your dog uses your yard and plan accordingly. For instance, many dogs consider it their duty to run the fence line, leaving a well-worn trail where many people hope to put flowers. Go with his natural instincts. Place your beds and plantings away from the fence line.

-- Redirect digging. Breeds such as terriers were developed to dig, and expecting them not to indulge in it is unfair. Give your dog a dig zone, and praise him for using it. Discourage digging in other areas by supervising your dog, keeping him well-exercised and making the digging unpleasant. One trick: Put your dog's own stools in the hole and cover them with dirt. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Skin conditions common

More than one-fifth of all claims submitted to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. were for skin conditions. Parasites and allergies were given as the causes for the misery. The top complaints:

1. Atopic/allergic dermatitis (itchy or inflammed skin)

2. Pyoderma/hotspots (lick lesions or moist sore spots)

3. Neoplasia, or benign skin cancer.

Source: www.petinsurance.com

ON THE WEB

Keeping prey on the outside

Many a cat insists on sharing the spoils of the hunt with a not-so-pleased human family. The cat thinks bringing in mice and other small creatures that are still alive is the height of entertainment -- far better than any TV show. But for those of us who must deal with what the cat dragged in, it's no fun at all.

Enter Flo Control (www.quantumpicture.com/Flo_Control/flo_control.htm), the entertaining attempt to keep a cat from bringing prey into the house. Not surprisingly, the project has been undertaken by Quantum Picture, a Washington state company working with image recognition software.

When Flo the cat is coming in with nothing in her mouth, the software recognizes her and allows the cat door to open. When she's carrying something, the door remains closed. Animals with a different profile than a cat -- raccoons or opossums -- can't get in, either.

I won't pretend to understand the technology, but the Web page is a riot. Check it out. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

Anyone who has ever lived in a big city has seen dog walkers -- people who take pets out for a midday potty break while owners are at work.

But a dog runner? While many a runner has a dog as a training partner, ultra-marathoner Bob Halpenny of Sacramento, Calif., may be forging new trails as an entrepreneur in the booming pet-services industry.

"It just seemed a perfect match for me," said Halpenny, who started his business at the beginning of the year and now has five dogs in training with him up to three times a week. "I love running, and I love dogs."

Halpenny's On The Trail Dog Fitness may be a rarity for now in the pet-service industry, but he's in good company otherwise. Service businesses aimed at pet lovers are booming, according to industry experts.

"This trend is being fed by people with no kids -- either those who are empty-nesters, or young people who are delaying having children for career or other reasons," said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, which is based in Greenwich, Conn. "When my kids were at home, they let the dog out, walked the dog, whatever. Now you have people who need these things done, and they're willing to spend on everything from pet-sitting to poop-scooping."

It's a trend that has picked up more than just poop -- revenues from these businesses are up 15 percent in the last two years, according to an APPMA survey. And the demographics are ripe for even more innovative pet-related businesses to start up.

"We've seen a lot of growth, especially in the last couple of years," said Mike Dillon of Dillon Media LLC, an independent pet-industry consulting firm in Berkeley, Calif. "Every segment of the pet industry is moving up market, driven by the affluent, by people who make upward of $70,000 a year."

Good thing, too, because while pet-care services aren't as expensive as comparable ones for humans, they can add up for regular users of such services. For example, Halpenny charges $20 per dog per run, with packages available for multiple dogs and regular customers. Compared to the cost of a personal trainer who works with people, the service is a bargain. But it likely seems pricey to anyone whose idea of getting a dog some exercise consists of throwing a tennis ball a few times.

For those whose high-energy dogs are bouncing off the walls and are indulging in destructive behavior because of boredom, however, a dog runner or a doggie day-care center can seem a bargain at any price. Vetere notes that such services can be a way for people with busy lives to be able to keep pets.

"I guess nothing surprised me after I saw the poop-scooping businesses start up," said Vetere, who noted that this particular industry is so strong, there's even a national organization and franchise possibilities. Even industry consultant Dillon is drafting on the success of pet-service businesses: He started his company in 2001 after the dot-com implosion and never looked back.

"I was laid off and turned off by technology," he said. "My last three jobs were very disappointing. This is a lot more fun."

"Fun" surely isn't the word anyone would apply to scooping poop for a living, but Vetere says the relative ease at which pet-related service businesses can be started is part of their appeal. And many offer flexible hours, which means people who can't do or can't stand the 9-to-5 grind find them attractive.

"There's good money to be made, and the start-up costs aren't necessarily high," Vetere said. "I know a lot of college students who can use their flexible hours to their advantage and start a pet-service business."

Halpenny's no college kid, but he saw the advantage of combining his love of dogs with his love of running. And he says you'll never see a happier group of runners than the dogs who train with him.

That's a change from working with people, says Halpenny, who also helps to prepare human runners for marathons.

"The dogs are always ready to run," he says. "It's never too cold, too early, too wet for a dog. I show up, and they can't wait to get going."

SIDEBAR

New pet businesses push phone book changes

The addition of new kinds of pet-care services has had telephone directories adjusting their categories. Business listings in many area phone books have had to expand pet-care listings in ways previous generations could never have imagined, according to Veterinary Economics magazine.

In recent years, animal chiropractors and doggie day care have been added as categories in some phone books, joining such longtime pet-service industry stalwarts as dog training and pet boarding -- not to mention veterinarians. Want someone to clean up your yard on a regular basis? Look under Pet Waste Removal. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

New pet door? Keep the flap up

Q: I recently installed a panel pet door in a sliding-glass door. My dog will not use it. Only once was I successful in tenderly pushing him through it so he could see how it works. Last night, I tried to coach him through it with his leash on, but his mind was made up that he wasn't going anywhere near the door. I even placed some treats on the other side of the flap, and he still wouldn't budge.

I read that I should first try taping the flap up so he can see that it's an outlet to the patio and then, over time, let the flap down. Do you have any ideas? Gus is 12 years old and has never used a doggie door before. -- L.H., via e-mail

A: The easiest way for an animal to learn to use a pet door is to have another pet who's already using it. But since that's not an option for you, you'll now have to start over with the training.

Start by taping the flap securely out of the way, or by removing it completely for the time being. If you are going to tape it up, be sure you use enough material to keep the flap from falling down. If your dog gets hit in the nose, the training will take even longer.

Yes, you'll have to deal with bugs for a while. But it's the only way to show your dog that this is the way in and out.

Next, every time your dog needs to go out, let yourself out the sliding-glass door and close it behind you. Then call your dog, while kneeling on the other side of the flapless dog door and coaxing him with praise and treats. Chances are your dog will look through the wide-open door and come right on through. Never open the sliding-glass door to let your dog out. From now on, go out without him and make the dog door the only way out.

After he's going in and out with confidence, set the flap halfway up so he can still see through opening. Once that's working, you can put the flap all the way down.

Assuming your dog is in good health at age 12, with no mental impairments, he's perfectly capable of learning to use the dog door. And assuming that the dog door is level with the floor and that he has no arthritis issues, he should be able to use it just fine as long as he can get around on his own four feet. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Give your cat choices in boxes

Just as some people like rap music and others prefer classical music, cats have personal preferences when it comes to the litter box. If a cat doesn't like something about the box, forget about him using it. If your home has turned into a giant litter box, consider these strategies to get the cat mess back in the box.

Think "litter box buffet." Provide a wide variety of boxes and litter types -- some covered boxes, others open. Some cats like to beach it in the sand, while others prefer clay that doesn't stick to their paws. Big and deep is always better except for arthritic cats, where lower sides are better.

Avoid high-traffic areas in your home when placing the box. How relaxed would you feel in a public toilet that didn't have stall doors? Remember that all cats value their privacy.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

THE SCOOP

Got kids? Adopt a grown-up pet

A dog or cat can be a kid's best friend. And for many families, an older pet is the best option. The nation's animal shelters and rescue organizations are full of older animals eager for homes and eager to please. And thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, healthy senior pets (7 years of age or older) still have a lot of life and loyal companionship to give.

These wonderful seniors offer advantages for today's busy households. Compared to the average kitten or puppy, they're generally calmer, often already house-trained, and aren't as likely to chew furniture, shoes or fingers.

Before bringing a new pet home, learn as much as possible about the animal. Many pets up for adoption come with histories that tell whether they've lived with children or how they get along with them. And make sure you and your child spend time with the pet in a place where everyone can interact. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PET Rx

The fix is in when it comes to a healthy pet

Neutering can prevent the deaths of millions of unwanted pets every year, while preventing health and behavior problems in those animals who are safely in loving homes already.

Neutered pets can't produce unwanted offspring, and they experience far fewer behavioral and medical problems. From a behavioral standpoint, early neutering will prevent the aggressiveness, territory-marking, fighting and roaming of both dogs and cats. Many of the pets hit by cars are unneutered males who will roam in search of mates or territory. Female pets who aren't spayed face a common infection of the uterus called pyometra, which is a life-threatening condition requiring surgery.

As for cats, all that catting around almost guarantees their exposure to contagious and mostly fatal diseases.

Medically, the news is better yet. Neutered pets have a greatly reduced incidence of some forms of cancer, along with a reduced incidence of urinary tract disease. Early neutering helps prevent prostate disease in male dogs and decreases the chances of your female pet getting mammary cancer to almost zero.

Forget that old idea that pets should be spayed after the first heat. Better to do it before the hormones kick in, from both a medical and behavioral standpoint.

Veterinarians used to recommend neutering and spaying pets after the age of 6 months old. Now we've found that it is simple, safe and effective to sterilize pets as young as 12 weeks old. At an early age, the procedure has less bleeding and is easier to perform because of less body fat. Best of all, it can be accomplished at the time of your pets' last set of puppy or kitten vaccinations.

If you love pets as much as I do, let's work together to halt the birth of unwanted pets. And encourage your friends and family members to spay/neuter their pets. -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on Reptiles

Although some reptilian or amphibian pets can be expensive to acquire and set up, they're generally not that expensive to maintain. Popular purchases reported in 2004 survey include (multiple answers allowed):

Glass habitat: 64 percent

Cage furniture: 58 percent

Books on care: 54 percent

Fluorescent UVB bulb: 38 percent

Incandescent bulb: 39 percent

Bedding: 30 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON THE WEB

Humane handling of feral cat problems

For years, the accepted way of handling a surplus of feral cats -- domestic cats gone wild -- was to trap them and kill them.

Humane advocates thought there had to be a better way. So in recent years the practice of trap, neuter and release (TNR) has gained ground. Ferals are trapped, vaccinated and neutered, and then released to the area from which they originally came. Kittens and cats young enough to be tamed are removed and placed as pets. Maintained in place by people who feed them, the remaining feral cats will keep others from colonizing an area as their own numbers slowly dwindle.

Alley Cats Allies (www.alleycat.org) is one of the groups most active in advocating TNR programs to deal with feral cats. The group's Web site is a must-see resource for anyone trying to cope with spring's kitten boom. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

More products pulled, more questions and more worries: The pet-food problem, which started on March 16 and has continued with additional recalls for more than a month, has left pet owners wondering how to feed their animals safely.

Veterinarians are doing their best to keep on top of the situation, and your veterinarian is still your primary source of advice on what's best for your own pet. But as long as the situation remains in so much flux, pet lovers must make an extra effort to be sure their pets are protected.

The vast majority of pet food now on the shelves presents no risk to animals, but the number of recalls and the wide range of brands involved make choosing products a challenge.

More than 5,500 pet-food items have landed on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recall list -- from store-label brands to premium offerings, and even a diet offered by prescription only through veterinarians. And although no one will ever know for sure, it's more than likely (based on several sources) that thousands of pets have been sickened and many of those have died.

To protect your pet, you must double-check the FDA's list before you go shopping. Go to the FDA's Web site (www.fda.gov) and click on the link for pet-food recall information. If you don't have Internet access, ask a friend or relative to check for you, or call the reference desk of your local public library.

If you have a pet who has eaten any of the recalled foods -- even if there are no symptoms -- call your veterinarian. The damage could be hidden. Your pet may need relatively inexpensive diagnostic tests to catch an illness that needs to be treated. If your pet is sick -- vomiting, increased thirst, increase in or lack of urination, lethargy, sudden bad breath, diarrhea, or lack of appetite -- you have an emergency situation, and your pet needs a veterinarian now.

Pets made sick by any commercial food should be reported to the FDA's consumer complaint lines -- the numbers are listed on the FDA Web site. The American Veterinary Medical Association's Web site (www.avma.org) is providing updated information, and our PetConnection.com Web site has been recognized from the first as a top information site during the recall.

With the potential contamination now spread beyond the initial source of wheat gluten, it's just not possible to recommend any food as "safe" beyond doubt at this time. Your veterinarian should be able to guide you to a specific product that's best for your pet, or to suggest guidelines for home-prepared meals that will take care of your pet's nutritional needs while the situation with commercial foods sorts itself out.

If you wish to go the home-prepared route, work with your veterinarian and read up on pet nutrition. One good reference for preparing meals at home is "Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: The Healthful Alternative" (Iowa State Press, $43). The author, Dr. Donald Strombeck, is a retired professor of veterinary nutrition from the University of California, Davis.

Commercial diets are not going away, and they have helped pet lovers to care for generations of cats and dogs. But in the short term, all pet lovers need to not take anything for granted when in comes to pet nutrition and stay on top of the news.

SIDEBAR

Tips for switching your cat's food

Most healthy dogs will eat what you give them, but getting a cat to switch to a new food can be a challenge. With recalls forcing many cats to eat new foods, it's important to know how to do it safely.

You must first understand that your cat isn't being "finicky." He was biologically programmed in kittenhood to recognize certain textures, smells and tastes as "food" and others as "not food."

Start switching by going to scheduled mealtimes, not free-feeding. Put the food down for a half-hour and wait. Only if your cat has eaten none of the new food during that half-hour should you put down the old food. After several days, he will probably begin eating the new food.

Not working? Put a bit of the old food on top of the new. Don't mix them; you want your cat to get some of the new food in his mouth when he eats the old food.

If after a few days that hasn't done the trick, or if for some reason you can't continue giving the old food even for a short transitional period, you can try letting hunger do some of the work.

But talk to your veterinarian before going this route.

While healthy, normal-weight cats can safely miss a meal or two, fasting can cause life-threatening health problems for other cats. Ask your veterinarian if a medically supervised food transition is necessary for your cat. -- Christie Keith

Q&A

Keeping cat calm during a move

Q: Our cat doesn't like change. She hates going to the vet, hates it when we move furniture and hides when we have company. We're moving, and we're worried about what a basket case she'll be. Any tips? -- W.M., via e-mail

A: While you'll never manage a stress-free move, for either you or your cat, you can make the best of the situation by keeping your cat secure before, during and after the move, and then by allowing your pet to ease into her new surroundings.

The best way to move your cat is to confine her to a small area -- I call it a "safe room" -- before and after the move. The ideal place is a spare bedroom where your cat isn't going to be disturbed. Outfit it with food and water, a litter box, a scratching post and toys.

Don't feel bad about confining your pet: She's more comfortable in a small space, and she isn't subjected to the stress of seeing people tromping out of the house with her belongings. Confining your cat also prevents her from slipping out during all the commotion.

Your cat should be confined in her safe room before packing begins and be moved to her new home in a carrier. Then confine her again in her new safe room until the moving is over, the furniture is arranged and most of the dust is settled. When you get to your new home, put the carrier down in the safe room, open the door, and let your cat decide when to come out.

After she's a little calmer, you can coax her out with some fresh food or treats. But don't rush her and don't drag her out -- you may be bitten or scratched. After a couple of days, open the door to the safe room and let your cat explore at will, on her terms, but just within the limits of the house.

Again: Above all, don't rush your cat. A slow transition with a period of confinement is also good for avoiding behavior problems that might pop up with the stress of moving. By limiting your cat's options to the litter box and to a scratching post in her safe room, she will quickly redevelop the good habits she had in your old home. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Allergies needn't mean a pet-free life

If you can get a good night's sleep, you'll be better able to cope with almost anything, even allergies. That's why one of the best pieces of advice to those who are allergic to their pets is this: Declare your bedroom a "no-pets zone," at least during the worst of spring allergy season.

That can be tough advice to follow for those of us who love to share our bedrooms, and even our beds, with our dogs and cats. For many allergy sufferers, though, establishing a pet-free sleeping area is a necessary compromise that will allow us to share our lives with pets despite our allergies.

Reduce allergy triggers further by keeping your sleeping area sparsely decorated with furnishings that do not attract dust, and be sure everything is cleaned frequently. Bedding should be washed often to combat dust mites, and pillows should be made of non-allergenic material -- no feathers. Consider running a HEPA air cleaner in the room at all times.

The idea (both in the bedroom and outside of it) is to keep your total "allergy load" -- pets and everything else that triggers your allergies -- to a level that you can live with or that can be controlled by medication. It's worth it to make an effort. Out-of-control allergies can make lives miserable and, in the case of asthma, can be life-threatening as well.

Her are some more tips for those who have both pets and allergies:

-- Work with your doctor. While you'll still find allergists who insist that your pet must go, look for one who's willing to work with you and will prescribe medications that allow your allergies and your pets to coexist.

-- Limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke and strong perfumes. Consider using a mask when doing yard work and housework, especially when pollen counts are high or your home is especially dusty.

-- Let someone else do the dusting and vacuuming, if at all possible, and if not, invest in a vacuum that filters the air it releases.

-- Keep pets well-groomed. It's essential for pets to be bathed frequently and to be kept combed and brushed. Ideally, a non-allergic member of the household should assume this responsibility. Even cats should be bathed, by the way: A weekly rinse of your cat in plain water has been shown to help people who are allergic to them. -- Gina Spadafori

DOG CARS

Honda's CR-V gains everything except dog room

Oh, Honda! Why have you forsaken us?

You've taken what was one of the best small sport-utility vehicles ever made for dog lovers -- the pre-2007 CR-V -- and turned it into one of the best "cute utes" ever. But in so doing, you took away some of what we dog lovers cherish most: cargo room.

I blame it on the swoop. Honda's stylish redesign of the boxier old CR-V is undeniably good-looking, but the sleek new angles slant the back down too far, too fast, making the otherwise ample cargo space just a little less versatile for those of us who safely crate our dogs for traveling.

It didn't used to be that way. My friend Mary has a CR-V that, with the rear seat pulled, can take three or even four crated retrievers (and even an occasional calf) just about anywhere. And she has done so for a couple hundred thousand miles of "anywhere," all over Texas. That old square back made every inch of cargo space functional, and I know a lot of dog lovers who made an art out of packing their old CR-V.

But the new CR-V? It's packed with features for a good price, economical to run and a blast to drive. But it's more sport than utility now -- plenty suitable for the trips to the vet or the dog park but not so much for the hard-core dog nut with multiple mutts and lots of gear.

With fewer dogs or less-challenging terrain, though, the CR-V's just the ticket. The top-line model I drove came in a tick under $30,000 and is loaded with all kinds of cool features including heated seats and a navigation screen that flips down to provide a shelf for an MP3-player. Fuel economy isn't bad either, at 22/28 for four-wheel drive, and even better for the two-wheel drive model.

All in all, it's a wonderful little cute ute. But Honda, we want it all: Lose the rear slope. Baby needs back. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Dogs and kids

Children and dogs are natural together. In a 2004 survey, pet owners listed the best reasons for getting a dog when you have children at home (multiple answers allowed):

Companionship, love, company: 96 percent

Fun: 75 percent

Another family member: 69 percent

Teach responsibility: 67 percent

Security: 58 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Take steps to protect your new kitten

Did curiosity kill the cat? Maybe not, but why take chances with your new kitten when it's so easy to make your home safer. Some tips:

-- Keep toilet lids closed to keep curious kittens from falling in and drowning.

-- Remove small objects from floors and countertops -- especially enticing pieces of yarn or string -- to prevent intestinal blockages that may require surgery.

Make sure your plants are safe. Check against the list of poisonous plants on the Animal Poison Control Center's Web site (www.aspca.com/apcc). Better yet: Remove all houseplants for now to keep your kitten focused on using the litter box.

Keep dryer doors closed, and do a head count when starting a load of clothes. And don't forget to check under that recliner or rocking chair to avoid catching your kitten unaware.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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