Universal Press Syndicate

The signs of illness in cats can be particularly subtle, so much so that owners often don't realize their cats are sick until they're really sick -- and sometimes that's too late.

To keep your cat healthy, you must be able to recognize what is normal for your pet so you can tell when something isn't right. Changes in appetite, drinking habits, litter-box routines, grooming, and even a change in the sound of your cat's voice can all mean trouble -- and should mean a trip to the veterinarian.

Physical changes are important, too. A monthly hands-on examination will help you become aware of changes that could signify something serious.

Before starting a hands-on exam, though, stand back and study your pet for a few minutes. Consider his posture, activity level, gait, coat and overall appearance for an impression of good health. Trouble signs include exposed skin, thin or dry coat, ribs showing, sluggishness, limping or just a lack of "spring" in his step.

Pick up your cat and head for the bathroom scale. Note your weight with your cat, then yours alone. The difference is your cat's weight, and it should be between 8 and 10 pounds. Your cat is normal if a comfortable pad of fat lies over his ribs but you can still feel the ribs if you press your hands in gently. A difference of a pound up or down is fine over the course of a few months -- anything more, or rapid weight loss, is reason for concern.

Now for the hands-on part. Here's what to look for:

-- Nose. Your cat's nose should be moist and clean, not dry, scabbed or cracked. There should be no discharge or bleeding.

-- Eyes. Probably the most beautiful part of any cat, eyes should bright, moist and clear, centered between the eyelids, with the pupils of equal size. Eyes that are dull or sunken, that appear dry or have thick discharge are not right. Take your cat into a darkened room, and then quickly turn on a light. The pupils should contract quickly, with no difference between them.

-- Ears. The skin should be clean, dry, smooth and without wounds. The ear canal should be clean and almost odor-free. Crust, moisture, discharge or strong odor in the ear canal is bad news, as is pain at the touch or an unusual way of holding the head or ears.

-- The mouth. Your cat's teeth should be clean and white, with gums that are uniformly pink. Press on your pet's gum with your finger or thumb and release quickly. The color will be white but should return to the same color as the surrounding tissue within one or two seconds, a sign your cat's circulatory system is working well. Problem signs here include loose or missing teeth, tartar, or gums that are red, pale, inflamed or sore in appearance.

-- Breathing. It should be hard to hear your cat breathe, and his chest wall should move easily in and out as he does. Most of the act of breathing should be performed by the chest wall; the stomach should barely move. "Crackles" or wheezes indicate a problem, as does labored or rapid breathing.

-- The abdomen. Start just behind the ribs and gently press your hands into the abdomen. Proceed toward the rear of your pet, passing your hands gently over the abdomen. Some bumps should be there -- they're internal organs, such as the kidneys. You should find no other lumps, bumps or masses, though, and your pet should feel no discomfort as you press gently into him.

-- Hydration. Check to ensure your cat has enough fluids by pulling the skin just behind his shoulder blades into a tent and then releasing quickly. Your pet's skin should snap immediately back into position. Another good sign of hydration is that the gums just above the teeth are moist when touched.

Chances are your cat will check out fine, in which case your exam should turn into a long, loving petting session. If anything came up that worries you, see your veterinarian to ensure your cat's good health.

Q&A

Curing a dog of licking carpets

Q: We have a year-old longhaired dachshund, a spayed female. She has plenty of toys to chew on, but she licks the carpets all over the house. Sometimes she scratches on the rugs as though she is trying to build a nest. That I can understand, but the licking? What do you think? -- S.L., via e-mail

A: One reason dogs lick objects, including surfaces like your carpet, is because of stress. Excessive licking can be what's called a "stress-induced displacement behavior." It means that this particular dog, in this particular environment with these particular genetics, is having trouble coping with something.

When dogs are in conflict over two seemingly stressful choices, they may choose a third option: the displacement behavior. For example, if you ever punished your dog during house-training by rubbing her nose in the carpet, she may believe you want her to lick the carpet.

Any time she feels a need to relieve herself or get your attention, she may begin the carpet-licking because she is in conflict about what else to do. Behaviors become repetitive if the dog gets any kind of positive outcome, such as your attention, or if the behavior seems to help her escape punishment.

In the dog's mind, it's like he's figured out a safe retreat behavior: "My owner never yells at me or hits me when I lick the carpet."

The trigger could also be some other stress. Possible sources of stress for dogs who check out as healthy by a veterinarian include a lack of sufficient exercise, no clear training, misunderstood punishment and no feeling of control over their environment.

Our guess is that your dachshund may have normal canine confusion that comes from not understanding the dynamics of a human household.

Dogs can also have obsessive-compulsive disorders. Your dog could have an OCD if it is difficult or nearly impossible to interrupt the licking behavior with a toy or treat. Displacement behaviors can become compulsions. The longer a behavior has been present, the more difficult it is to replace it with a more desirable behavior.

Try to change your dog's behavior by using gentle interruptions -- no scolding or punishment, because that may increase your dog's anxiety and increase the licking behavior.

If your dog begins licking the carpet, your best bet is to immediately turn your back and leave the room. Teach your dog that chewing or playing with toys results in your positive attention, while licking the carpet results in no attention. Do not be emotional, as dogs read and react to our emotions.

Be aware that if your dog has learned to lick the carpet to capture your attention and you suddenly remove that attention, then your dog's carpet-licking may increase and your dog's anxiety may increase, resulting in new attention-seeking behaviors.

Each dog, like each person, is distinct. You may be doing everything right and this is just who she is. In that case, if she's doing no harm to herself or the carpet, you can simply ignore the behavior. If it has become a problem for you or the dog, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist who can work with you to change your pet's behavior. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net.

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

*

PET BUZZ

Hey! His treat looks better!

-- Loyalty may be why we love our dogs, but scientists have found that dogs can display a less-appealing attribute: envy. Austrian scientists found that a dog may stop obeying a command if he sees that another dog is getting a better deal. Until now, chimpanzees and some monkeys were the only non-humans to show what is called "inequity aversion" in the absence of a reward. The study used well-trained dogs who offer a paw on command. The researchers put the two dogs side by side but treated them differently, giving one a better reward (sausage) and the other a lesser one (bread) when the paw was given, or giving one dog no reward at all. The quality of the reward made little difference. But in the case in which one dog got no treat at all, that dog became less and less inclined to obey the command.

-- Whether the hair on a horse's head curls around clockwise or counterclockwise can tell you whether the animal is right- or left-footed, say researchers in Ireland. Clues to which direction a horse favors could help trainers develop animals who run straighter and maybe even win more races.

-- Research involving the use of animals is down by half since the 1970s, according to USA Today. Opponents of animal testing focus on the number of drugs that have tested well in animals but failed in humans (among them, HIV/AIDS vaccine and Vioxx). Proponents point to the drugs or procedures that were discovered, tested and refined in animal trials including: insulin, vaccines for rabies and polio, skin grafts for burn victims, CAT scans, corneal transplants and heart bypass surgery. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Proper handling makes parrots better pets

Parrots are brilliant pets. They learn quickly and respond best to owners who practice consistent, firm handling and gentle training. Punishment is a parrot no-no.

Some guidelines:

-- Learn when to leave your bird alone. Birds are emotional and sometimes quite moody, and there are times when it's best just to let them be.

-- Control your bird's comings and goings. Instead of opening the cage door to let your pet out, ask your bird to step up onto your hand and then bring him out. Likewise, give the "step up" command when it's time to put your bird back in his cage. This routine sends a message of leadership to your bird.

-- Keep training sessions short and upbeat. Parrots are highly intelligent, but they don't have the longest attention spans. They get bored easily. Several short interactive sessions a day -- just a couple of minutes at a time -- are better than one or two long ones.

-- Don't let your bird ignore a command. If you say "step up," persist until your bird complies or you'll set yourself up for trouble down the road. Birds are very smart, and if they figure a way around you, they'll take it. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

We love to buy pet toys

Pet toys are more than an indulgence -- they can help prevent destructive behavior and keep pets more fit and less bored. According to the American Pet Products Association, 62 percent of dog owners buy toys for their pets. The top toys reported by those buyers, by percentage reported purchased, with multiple answers allowed:

Balls 63 percent

Plush 44 percent

Rope 40 percent

Hard rubber 31 percent

Nylon bones 26 percent

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Show your dog how to be calm

When you are walking your dog and you see something that triggers out-of-control behavior, resist the temptation to yank back on the leash. Instead, set a good example for him.

Do not yell at him to stop. Your agitation only increases his. Be calm: Let out a deep breath, squat down and get him to sit, reinforcing the behavior you want until whatever it is that drives him bonkers passes by.

Talk softly: "Yes, that's a school bus. Gooood sit. Gooood quiet."

Being calm provides your dog with emotional leadership. If you begin praising his calm behavior before he blows his top, it will be easier for him to maintain self-control. And eventually, the triggers will no longer fire the behavior you don't want.

(Animal-behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp run 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.

And Gina Spadafori

Universal Press Syndicate

People who have dogs are more likely to have just one. Cat lovers, on the other hand, tend to go for the multiples.

But in a lot of those multi-feline families, relations between cats are a bit strained. And when cats aren't happy, nobody's happy. The noise of cats grumbling threats at each other or engaging in frequent rumbles can get on one's nerves and even mean trips to the veterinarian. And the litter-box problems that can be a part of such turf wars can turn an entire house into a toilet.

Living with more than one cat doesn't have to be so contentious. The trick to domestic harmony for cohabiting felines is to introduce -- or reintroduce -- them slowly and carefully.

If you don't have a cat yet and know you'll eventually want two, it's easiest to adopt two adult siblings or two kittens at the same time. Adult siblings who have grown up together are already used to each other, and unrelated or sibling kittens don't have the sense of territory that grown cats have and will settle down together into a new home nicely.

But even a solitary adult cat can learn to enjoy living with another adult. Since the worst territorial spats are between cats who aren't spayed or neutered, your chances for peaceful co-existence are many times greater if the cats are both altered before any introductions are planned.

Prepare a room for your new cat, with food and water bowls, and a litter box and scratching post that needn't be shared. This room will be your new pet's home turf while the two cats get used to each other's existence.

Take your new cat to your veterinarian first, to be checked for parasites such as ear mites and contagious diseases such as feline leukemia. When you're sure your new pet is healthy, the introductions can begin.

Bring the cat home in a carrier and set him in the room you've prepared. Let your resident cat discover the caged animal, and don't be discouraged by any initial hisses. When the new cat is alone in the room, close the door and let him out of the carrier. If he doesn't want to leave the carrier at first, let him be. Just leave the carrier door open and the cat alone.

Maintain each cat separately for a week or so -- with lots of love and play for both -- and then on a day when you're around to observe, leave the door to the new cat's room open. Above all: Don't force them together. Territory negotiations between cats can be drawn-out and delicate, and you must let them work it out on their own, ignoring the hisses and glares.

Eventually you can encourage them both to play with you, using a cat "fishing pole" or a toy on a string. And slowly feed them in ever-closer proximity.

If you already have two cats who don't get along, treat them as if they've both just arrived. Give each cat his own space and let them slowly work out their territorial disputes. But remember: Some cats will never get along. For these, separate quarters -- such as one upstairs, one downstairs -- may need to become a permanent arrangement.

SIDEBAR

The more boxes, the merrier

One of the most common points of conflict in multi-cat households is the litter box. Some cats don't like to share, and that may force other cats to avoid the litter box altogether.

The rule of thumb behaviorists use: one box per cat, plus one.

Place the litter boxes in different parts of the house, and arrange each so a cat can feel secure but also keep an eye on his surroundings. No one likes to be ambushed while on the john! And don't forget the first rule of litter-box management: Keep 'em clean.

If it sounds like a lot of trouble, consider this: The one sure loser in any litter-box war is the person who cleans up the messes. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Nasty dog needs some retraining

Q: I have a 2-year-old Chihuahua. I recently went away for eight months and had him looked after by my parents. My parents are too easy on him, and he seems to like them more.

He doesn't want me going near him. And when I try to stroke him, he growls and shows his teeth and tries to go for me. At first, when he became angry he would get over it within a few minutes and give me a cuddle as an apology, but not anymore. I try to play with him using his toys, but he goes all stiff. I try to give him his treat to like me again and he'll take it from me nicely, but then he doesn't want to know me afterward and starts growling.

What can I do? -- F.A., via e-mail

A: You are not alone. Canine aggression often shows up (and shocks pet owners) for the first time when a dog reaches full maturity at around 2 years of age.

The fact that you were gone for eight months is one factor. Dogs fall into routines once they figure out how to get what they want and need. Your dog has fallen into the routines put in place by your parents. It's unfair to the dog to expect him to understand changes you want, as he may not catch on to what you are trying to accomplish.

If your parents have catered to your dog, then it is predictable, according to canine logic, that your dog has determined that he tells people what to do and they do it. In such circumstances, a dog may begin to insist on human compliance. When humans do not cater to a dog's request, the only way he knows how to insist on what he wants is to show aggression.

We're guessing that in your dog's mind, he thinks he has the right to decide when you start and stop stroking him. If you do not stop stroking him when he thinks he has communicated clearly to you to stop, then he shows his teeth to make sure you get the right message.

What's important for you to know is that your dog is not being a bad dog. He is simply a confused dog.

Chihuahuas have a reputation for aggression. Punishment and harsh corrections only made this behavior worse. We strongly suggest you consider getting help from a veterinary behaviorist to make sure no one gets hurt as your dog learns the new house rules. Ask your veterinarian for a referral.

The earlier you seek professional help, the easier it will be for your dog to relearn how to live as a well-behaved, loving member of a human family.

Your dog needs clear, gentle instructions to help him learn that he is not really in charge. The best way for you to start turning the tables on his perception is to begin a routine of hand-feeding him all his food. During hand-feeding, use the food to lure him into positions such as "sit" and "down," and praise him for these acceptable behaviors. If he shows any sign of aggression, then you and the food disappear. He must learn that you control the food, the rules, the household.

You will need to practice tough love by ignoring your dog for awhile so that he does not think he is in charge of you or that he can get all your attention anytime he wants it. You want him to begin to be motivated to learn how to earn what he wants by learning to do the acceptable behaviors you want. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net.

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

PET BUZZ

Pain med could last three weeks

-- Good news for older dogs may be near. Clinical trials have begun at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine on a new injectable pain-relieving drug. Veterinary Product News reports the medication has a sustained release ingredient that could fight chronic pain for up to 21 days.

-- Is the woolly mammoth on the comeback trail? At Penn State University, they've deciphered much of the animal's genetic code, a feat they say could allow them to re-create the shaggy, prehistoric beast in as little as a decade. Full-sized mammoths, about 8 to 14 feet tall, became extinct around 10,000 years ago. The Associated Press reports the project marks the first time the DNA of an extinct species has been decoded, and the feat raises the possibility that other ancient animals such as mastodons and saber-toothed tigers might someday walk the Earth again.

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Ferret lumps need a veterinarian's check

Lumps and bumps are common on ferrets as they age, but their presence should never be taken for granted. A ferret with a skin mass of any kind needs to see a veterinarian promptly to have the mass evaluated and possibly removed.

The veterinarian will start examining the mass by manipulating it to see its shape and how it's connected to surrounding tissue. The next step is for a needle to be inserted into the lump and some fluid removed for evaluation. This procedure is not very painful and is usually done with the animal awake.

Because lumps in ferrets are often cancerous, the veterinarian will probably recommend that any mass that looks suspicious be removed while the animal is under anesthesia. The mass will then be sent to a pathologist for further identification to help identify proper follow-up treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Top names for dogs and cats

The list of top pet names from Veterinary Pet Insurance for 2008 confirms the impression that people names are now more popular than traditional pet names such as Fido and Fluffy. In fact, notes VPI, some of the most popular dog and cat names -- Bella, Chloe, Sophie and Bailey -- also rank among the Social Security Administration's most popular baby names.

Dogs

1. Max

2. Bailey

3. Bella

4. Molly

5. Lucy

6. Buddy

7. Maggie

8. Daisy

9. Sophie

10. Chloe

Cats

1. Max

2. Chloe

3. Tigger

4. Tiger

5. Lucy

6. Smokey

7. Oliver

8. Bella

9. Shadow

10. Charlie

Source: www.petinsurance.com

PET TIP

Keeping snowballs from dogs' paws

The biggest problem with dogs and snow is that it gets stuck in their feet. The dogs try to get the snow out, and by doing so, turn it into a snowball. Then they keep trying to get the snowball out and lick it into an ice ball.

For dogs who have hair growing between their pads, a frequent trim of hair over, around and especially under the foot is the best way to prevent snowballing. Another approach is using a wax product called Mushers Secret (musherssecret.net), which is designed for sled dogs. It helps prevent snowballing and protects pads from salt and de-icers. For dogs who tolerate them, boots work well, too.

Finally, don't neglect to wipe your dog's feet when you come in from walks to remove de-icers, salt and other nasty stuff. -- Phyllis DeGioia

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.

Universal Press Syndicate

While 2008 was a bad year for many (and good riddance to it), we don't want to turn the page on the year without mentioning a few books that belong on the shelves of every pet lover.

First up, Marion Nestle's "Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine"(University of California Press, $19). The Pet Connection team realized early during the 2007 pet-food recall that the numbers of sick and dead pets were in the thousands and that the problem of tainted Chinese ingredients went far beyond pet-food safety. And in fact, the pet-food deaths were the first of many problems with Chinese products -- toys, milk products, toothpaste and more.

Dr. Nestle was also among the first to see a large problem, and she turned her attention to the "canary in the coal mine" aspect of the pet-food industry. Her "Pet Food Politics," written for an academic press, is a little dry at times, but the information and its implications are eye-opening. It's a call to action that we can all hope the new Obama administration hears before there's a repeat of the tragedy, perhaps next time with American children as the victims.

Sticking with the academic, Dr. Irene Pepperberg has long been known within the community of bird lovers, but her work became a national sensation only when her research partner, an African grey parrot named Alex, passed away at the age of 31 in 2007.

Pepperberg, a comparative psychologist, had dealt with the dismissal of her colleagues for three decades regarding the parrot's ability to communicate, not just mimic or respond to cues. Although there certainly remain skeptics, Alex and Pepperberg convinced many that "bird brain" was not a pejorative.

"Alex & Me" (Collins, $24) deftly blends the personal and the professional, the setbacks and the triumphs, the fight for recognition, and the bond between two souls that could be broken only by death. Alex told Pepperberg he loved her the night before he died. Anyone reading this book will love him, too.

Another lovefest has developed around Dewey Readmore Books, the library cat of Spencer, Iowa, who died of old age late in 2006. I've been a fan of Dewey's since Gary Roma's "Library Cats" documentary came out a few years back, and I'm certainly not alone. Dewey (named for the Dewey Decimal System in a contest by the small town) became a tourist attraction. Like all good animal stories, "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World" (Grand Central, $20) is really about people, especially librarian Vicki Myron, who wrote the book along with Bret Witter.

Dewey was dumped in the book-return as a kitten in the middle of winter. The throwaway kitten never wanted for anything again and gave much in return. I'm a sucker for libraries and orange kitties, but I defy anyone not to love the story of Dewey. Especially since he's one of a dying breed -- between liability issues, allergies and people who just don't like cats, few libraries will ever see the likes of Dewey. And that's a shame.

Public buildings may be increasingly intolerant of resident pets, but workplaces have never been more pet-friendly. While people who own their own businesses have long had shop cats and taken their dogs to work with them, pet-friendly offices are a relatively new phenomenon. They seem to be most common in areas known for young workers and innovative work environments, notably those of the Silicon Valley, home to the nation's computer industry.

But even in those rule-averse offices, problems come up. Unruly dogs, accidents and other challenges can push a pet-friendly office to banning all animals. That's why I was so glad to see "Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide To Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces" (Humane Society Press, $22), written by experienced dog-trainer and author Liz Palika, and one of the bright young stars of the Humane Society of the United States, their chief economist Jennifer Fearing.

Together, the two have produced a can't-miss guide to creating a pet-friendly workplace that even those who don't like animals can tolerate.

Other books worth noting for 2008 include "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," a novel by David Wroblewski (Ecco, $26), and "Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform" by Karin Winegar with photographs by Judy Olausen (Da Capo Press, $26).

SIDEBAR

Read an interview with Marion Nestle

Dr. Marion Nestle's extensive background in human nutrition and food policy served her well when she decided to take on the issues with pet food.

As the Paulette Goddard professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University, she was already familiar with the regulations, the marketing and the companies involved in products for feeding both people and pets. She soon discovered even more parallels, with trends from the fatuous to the potentially dangerous in both markets.

When the pet-food recall of 2007 became the first wave of product-safety issues with Chinese imports, Nestle dug in to the story.

On our Web site, PetConnection.com, Christie Keith interviews Nestle about the 2007 pet-food recall, the production of food and what it means for us all, two-legged and four-legged both.

Q&A

Matted cat may need a shave

Q: Our cat has a long, silky coat, and she is always getting mats, even though we try to stay on top of the grooming. I'm afraid they're out of hand now, with clumps in her "armpits," behind her ears and on the tops of her hind legs. I'm a little nervous about trying to cut them out. What can I do? I'm sure she's uncomfortable. -- O.F., via e-mail

A: I hear you on the grooming front. I have two longhaired cats, Clara and Ilario. Ilario has a rougher coat texture that resists matting, but Clara has a silky coat that is always matting. I'm always looking for and grooming out those mats.

If your cat is really matted, the kindest thing is to have a groomer clip her short, into a "lion trim." Assuming she's an indoor cat, she'll be fine. If she's allowed out into the cold, you may need to work on the worst mats and leave the big trim until later.

Start with a relaxed cat, preferably after her big meal. Work a little cornstarch into the first mat, and then gently and carefully slide the bottom blade of a sharp set of scissors under the tangle, with the cutting edge facing out, and slice through the mat vertically. (Do not do this if your cat is anything other than relaxed!) Work in a direction away from the skin rather than cutting across the mat parallel to the skin. Repeat a couple of times. Then, holding the mat at the base to minimize pulling, pick apart the fur with a wide-toothed metal comb. When the mat is gone, follow with a narrower comb and brush to remove the debris that you find at the heart of the mess.

Be sure to praise and treat your pet for her patience as you go. Work in short periods, and stop before your cat has had enough. Watch her tail. If she starts flicking it in an agitated way, she's reaching the limits of her tolerance. You may spend a week or more in short sessions working out the mats, but so be it.

Once you get all the mats out, your next session can be a bath with a cat-friendly shampoo and cream rinse. With your cat clean and de-matted, you should be able to keep mats from re-forming with regular attention.

But if the mats really are more than you can control, consider the services of a good groomer on a regular basis. While a severely matted longhaired cat will likely need the fresh start of a shave-down, a cat with a coat in good condition can be maintained in longhaired glory by a cat-experienced groomer. -- Gina Spadafori

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

PET BUZZ

AVMA calls for end to cropping

-- Will the United States follow other countries in making cosmetic surgery for dogs a thing of the past? The American Veterinary Medical Association is now on the record as opposing ear-cropping and tail-docking when performed for cosmetic reasons. The AVMA has gone further, calling on breed clubs to remove mention of the procedures from its standards for show dogs. Veterinarians say the procedures have no medical benefit for the animals.

-- Fireflies are rapidly diminishing in many parts of the world because of light pollution. Male fireflies flash to attract females, and when a female winks back, the two meet and mate. The New York Times reports that light from buildings or other urban development, or even reflected light off low-lying clouds on a dark night, can blind or distract them, preventing mating.

-- The legendary game guru behind Nintendo's products finds inspiration in his life -- including his dogs. The Wall Street Journal reports that the popular Nintendogs game started with Shigeru Miyamoto's love of dogs, especially his Shetland sheepdog, Pick. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Washable covers key to fighting smells, fur

Winter is the time when you really notice pet smells, since the house is shut up tight and you and the pets are inside. While a certain amount of tolerance is called for when you live with pets, there are a few tried and true tips for keeping messes and smell to a minimum:

-- Stop mud at the door, with thirsty mats both inside and outside the threshold. Keep a towel at hand, and train pets to wait on the indoor mat for a quick paw-wipe.

-- Get on pet stains right away, with as much gusto as you can. A stain delayed is a stain set for good. Use an enzyme-based cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle or Anti-Icky-Poo. Steam cleaners are great for neutralizing smell as well.

-- Choose flooring that's easy to keep clean. Carpets are not that surface. Think easy-clean surfaces -- tile, hardwoods or laminate or even linoleum. Cover with washable throw rugs or indoor-outdoor area rugs that can be cleaned easily.

-- When buying or re-upholstering furniture, consider high-quality leather, which wipes clean and stands up well to pets. If leather isn't in your plans, find attractive washable covers or throws to protect your furniture. These will catch the fur and smell, and frequent washing will remove both.

-- For fur you can't catch on a throw or washable cover, choose a powerful vacuum with attachments designed to lift pet hair. Several companies now market such appliances directly to pet lovers. For quick fur pickup, use masking tape wrapped sticky-side-out around your palm, or run a clean, slightly damp sponge across the fur-marked surface. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

We're so square

Although new materials such as acrylic make all kinds of aquarium shapes possible, most fish-keepers still choose the traditional rectangular shape. Aquarium shapes chosen (multiple answers allowed):

Rectangular 76 percent

Bubble/round 15 percent

Hexagonal 9 percent

Bow-front 4 percent

Coffee table 2 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

PET TIP

Walking the cat? Some people do

Many indoor cats can learn to enjoy an outdoor outing on leash. Choose a light leash and a harness designed for cats, not for dogs, since a cat will easily give a dog harness the slip.

Walking a cat isn't about heading out as with a dog, but rather consists of encouraging your pet to explore, with you following. Treats and praise can make a kitty more tolerant of the restrictions of harness and leash.

Never leave your cat tethered and unattended. This leaves him vulnerable to attack or to a terrifying time of hanging suspended from his harness should he try to get over a fence.

If your cat doesn't like the outings after you've given him time to warm up to the harness and leash, don't force him out. Instead, use toys and cat furniture to enrich his indoor environment. -- 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.