Universal Press Syndicate

What do you know about cats? A little mystery can be a wonderful thing, but sometimes misinformation can be deadly.

Even though cats have shared our lives for countless generations, there's a lot we think we know about them that's wrong. Here are a few enduring myths and the facts to counter them.

-- Cats have nine lives.

Cats are survivors, no doubt of that. More so than any other domesticated animal, they keep their wildness about them, slipping back and forth across the line that separates the feral from the tame.

Finely tuned to the slightest hint of danger, the cat can run fast, climb faster and, if cornered by an adversary, defend himself with a formidable array of claws and teeth. With all this, is it any wonder people came to believe that the cat had not one chance at life, but nine?

The truth is that cats are more fragile than we think. Cats as a species have proven resilient, but as individuals, they are every bit as mortal as we are -- and very vulnerable in the world.

Cats have but one life, and they need our help to make that life a long, healthy and happy one.

-- Cats purr whenever they're happy.

Cats purr if they're happy, but also often when they're not. They purr while giving birth, and they may even purr while dying. British zoologist Desmond Morris has said that purring is "a sign of friendship -- either when (the cat) is contented with a friend or when it is in need of friendship -- as with a cat in trouble."

Although the experts are pretty clear on why cats purr, they're not yet certain as to how. The most common explanation has the sweet sound originating in the voice box, with what are called the "vestibular folds," or "false vocal cords." The passing of air across these structures is thought to produce the purr all cat lovers adore.

-- Cats are dangerous around babies.

It doesn't matter what well-meaning relatives say. You don't need to find a new home for your pet if you become pregnant. Cats do not maliciously smother or suck the breath out of babies, as the myths hold. While common sense dictates that no pet be left unattended with an infant, you can rest assured that your cat doesn't present any special danger to your child.

A bigger concern involves not infants but pregnancy and the risk of toxoplasmosis. Miscarriages and birth defects can result when pregnant women are exposed to cat feces containing the organisms that cause this disease.

Because of this risk, someone else should take over the maintenance of the litter box for the duration of the pregnancy, and even before the pregnancy in the case of couples who're attempting to conceive. (Litter boxes aren't the only way to contract the disease, so talk to your doctor about additional precautions.)

-- A well-fed cat doesn't hunt.

Hunting behavior in cats is very controversial, especially if the prey is songbirds or endangered rodent species. Some cats hunt, some cats don't, and it has more to do with what a cat learned from his mother than from the rumbling in his belly. Plenty of well-fed cats are very active hunters.

Putting a bell on your cat has little effect on his ability to hunt. Turning him into an indoor dweller is the only way to protect wildlife from your cat -- and to protect you from his thoughtful "gifts" of dead mice and birds.

-- Black cats are bad luck.

Black may be an unlucky color all right -- for a cat. Black cats have been associated with the forces of evil for hundreds of years, and humane societies warn that this myth has cost many of them their lives. Black cats have been the target of those who want to practice rituals that include the torture and killing of animals.

Black may be an unfortunate color for another reason: visibility. Thousands of cats are killed by cars every year, and the difference between a hit or a near-miss may be the driver's ability to see the cat darting across the road before him. At night, patches of light-colored fur are a distinct advantage to a kitty.

Q&A

Is there a cure for finicky cat?

Q: I know cats are supposed to be finicky, but I am sick of throwing out perfectly good cat food. Any suggestions for how to get my cat to eat what I'm offering him? -- I.R., via e-mail

A: Although some cats have never met a dish of food they didn't love, others are very picky about what they eat. Missing a meal now and then is quite normal and nothing to worry about. But the cat who flat-out stops eating or starts losing weight is in urgent need of veterinary attention.

Before you hit the panic button, though, be sure you're seeing the true picture of what, when and where your cat is eating.

If you leave out dry food all the time, your cat may be nibbling more than a dozen times throughout the day, thus never eating very much in any one observed sitting. If your cat has access to the outdoors, you need to consider that he may be getting meals from a kind neighbor, or may be stealing from another cat's dish at a home down the street. He might even be picking up some meals the old-fashioned way -- by hunting them.

If you're sure you know the big picture on your cat and know he's not eating, or if he's lost more than a half-pound or so, you'll need a veterinarian's help to find out if your cat is sick. This is true even if your cat can stand to lose weight: The cat who suddenly stops eating or starts losing weight can be seriously at risk.

Some healthy cats are truly finicky, however, and it takes a little bit of work on your part to keep them eating.

One strategy is preventive in nature. Feeding them a wide range of foods, from kittenhood on, helps keep cats from insisting on one brand or variety. Other cats can be jollied out of finicky behavior with canned food, warmed up to be even more tempting. Serve it fresh and warm on a clean plate, and use the smallest cans possible, since you may well be throwing out the leftovers. Finicky cats don't much like leftovers, of course! -- Dr. Marty Becker

(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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Chickens take flight as suburban pets

-- Chickens may be the hottest new pet for suburbanites, who appreciate not only their birds' colorful antics, but also their fresh eggs. Cool chicken coops are popping up everywhere, as cities scramble to consider changing laws to allow handfuls of hens to roam the backyards -- noisy roosters need not apply. The trend may seem new, but chickens are sure not. The fowl were domesticated by the Chinese in 1,400 B.C., and came to America with the pilgrims. In fact, one of the most popular breeds of chicken is the Barred Plymouth Rock.

-- The residents of the tiny town of Tuscarora, Nev., anticipating an imminent attack, will be ready with a perimeter defense: rock music. Loud music has proven to be one of the best defenses against an annual invasion of Mormon crickets. The huge flightless insects advance across the desert in armies of millions that march over, under or into anything in their way from May to August. Besides destroying crops and other leafy vegetation, they crawl all over houses and swarm the roads, where cars cause them to become slippery messes that can cause accidents. So many dead ones piled up on a highway last year that Elko County, Nev., called in snowplows to scrape them off. Every half century or so, plague-like numbers hatch, and this year looks to be particularly bad. Not content to just play rock music full blast from dawn to dusk, residents also use poison bait, chalk dust and Lemon Joy. They have a fallback strategy to make even more noise if the rock music isn't enough: The townsfolk plan to crank up their lawn mowers and weed whackers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

-- Blue whales spotted in Alaska could be re-creating an old migration route decades after they were nearly wiped out by commercial whalers. The endangered whales, possibly the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth, have a long way to go to recover from the worldwide slaughter that reduced their numbers by 99 percent, says the American Cetacean Society. The hunting peaked in 1931, with more than 29,000 animals killed in one season. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

Safe pet-handling starts with soap and water

Reptile pets can be wonderful, easy-care companions for all ages, but families do need to take extra precautions with them.

Because most, if not all, reptiles carry salmonella in their digestive tracts, these pets are generally not recommended for homes with children under 5 or with family members whose immune systems are compromised. For other homes, the risks can be greatly reduced by properly handling these pets. The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians suggests these basic safety precautions:

-- Wash hands with soap and hot water after handling reptiles or after cleaning reptile enclosures.

-- Limit the part of your home that your reptile is allowed to be in, and wash your hands after being in that area.

-- Never allow reptiles in areas of the home where food is prepared. Don't share food or drink with reptiles, and don't eat, drink or smoke while handling them. Don't kiss these pets, no matter how cute you think they are.

-- Do not put reptiles into bathtubs or sinks. Buy a separate tub for bathing these pets. Pour the water down the toilet, and do not use sinks or bathtubs to clean the reptile bathing tub -- or any reptile housing or gear.

-- Supervise older children to be sure they don't touch the pets and then put their fingers in their mouths. Make sure thorough hand-washing follows each exposure to these pets.

The ARAV stresses that the precautions do not mean reptiles shouldn't be kept as pets, but rather that by following basic common sense in handling them, the potential for human health problems can be kept to a minimum. For more information, visit the ARAV Web site (www.arav.org). -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

This chew's for you

Dogs like to chew, and people like them to chew in ways that won't destroy things around the house. That's why chew toys are tops on the list of items purchased by dog lovers within the last year. Items purchased (multiple answers allowed):

Chew toys 52 percent

Stain remover 32 percent

Leash 22 percent

ID tag 20 percent

Bed 18 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

PET TIP

Keep fetch games safe for your dog

Retrieving games are great for getting your dog some exercise and for strengthening the bond between the two of you. But sometimes those rousing games of fetch can end in serious injury if you're not careful about how you play the game.

Never throw things for your pet in a way that makes him leap high in the air or twist to catch them. If you do, your pet might seriously injure his legs or back upon landing, with the kind of damage that often requires expensive and painful surgery to correct.

Instead, throw the ball or other toy so it stays low and in front of your pet, to help him keep his body near the ground, running instead of leaping. And at this time of year, don't push your dog to play in the heat. Strenuous activity needs to be limited to cooler parts of the day. -- 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.

By Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

The list of ways dogs have helped humans throughout history is almost endless.

They've guarded livestock, herded sheep, driven cattle and protected human dwellings from castles to condos. Dogs assist people with disabilities, sniff out illegal drugs and find food from birds to truffles. From detecting heart attacks and seizures before they happen to dragging drowning people to safety, it's hard to imagine any form of technology that could surpass the uncountable number of ways in which dogs lend us a helping paw.

In selectively breeding dogs for the skills that helped them help us, human beings have changed the dog both inside and out. Today, there are hundreds of dog breeds so different from each other in type that it's hard to believe they're members of the same species -- and yet, each of these dogs' forms grew out of a specific function.

"If people hadn't changed the dog to do certain tasks, he'd look very much like the dingo," said Heather Russell-Revesz, co-author of the "World Atlas of Dog Breeds" (TFH, $100). "Whether it was making a dog shorter-legged or faster, so he could catch a specific kind of prey, or making him tiny enough to sit on your lap, human intervention has brought an incredible diversity of type to the dog."

Not all the changes were about function. For example, when it became clear how easily the dog's physical appearance could be changed by human breeding choices, dog breeders in Victorian England became interested in seeing just how extreme those changes could be.

"Look at the bulldog," said Russell-Revesz. "He's about as different from a 'natural breed' like the dingo as a dog can be. His face is flat; his legs are short and bowed. Another example is the field spaniel. The Victorians took a functional hunting dog and started breeding him smaller and smaller, until his legs were so short he could hardly walk, let alone hunt. He very nearly became extinct, until fanciers in the 1930s began to select for a less extreme dog."

Basics such as breathing and walking aside, even dogs originally developed to help humans in hunting, farm chores or family protection are increasingly out of a job in modern times. World War II threatened the existence of many dog breeds, because it was impossible to continue breeding or even feeding dogs during the war, and afterward, because human lifestyles changed profoundly in the post-war era.

"Many dog breeds were wiped out, and others were on the brink of extinction," Russell-Revesz said. "Their traditional work was largely obsolete, and it was only the extraordinary dedication of a few individuals that preserved the amazing legacy of traditional dog breeds."

Of course, not all canine work is obsolete. Dogs today are being bred for many of their traditional tasks, as well as new ones. And some dogs, once rendered unemployed by new technology, are being rehired. "When snowmobiles were introduced, the Greenland dog was out of favor as a reindeer herder," she said. "But it turns out that reindeer don't respond well to being herded by snowmobiles. It turns out the dogs are more useful than the machines -- and more environmentally friendly."

A Greyhound's long legs and great lung capacity or the insatiable urge to dig shared by the terriers may be a case of form following function. But there are 420 different breeds in the World Atlas, and the authors acknowledge they didn't list every breed. And yet it includes 30 French scent hounds, from the familiar bassett hound to the now-extinct levesque. Does any nation need 30 different types of scent hounds?

But then, of course, the French celebrate the regional differences in their cheese and wine, so why not the ones in their dogs?

Russell-Revesz laughed. "Depending on the prey, the terrain and the climate, they may have needed different-length legs or more or less coat. But the truth is that each region took great pride in its local hounds and wanted to have their own."

Q&A

Safe breathing for birds on the road

Q: I'm moving next month, driving a rented truck halfway across the country along with my dog and parrot. My dog's a seasoned traveler, but I worry about my bird. I know some motels and hotels let pets in, but I am worried about the cleaning supplies they use. I don't want my bird to breathe in anything bad. Any advice? -- L.G., via e-mail

A: You'll have no problem finding a hotel, that's for sure. The AAA travel guide lists lodgings that accept pets -- and there are lots of them -- but recently even more hotels and motels have been accepting pets. In a poor economy, they just don't want to turn any customers away, not even the feathered and furred ones.

Strong cleaning supplies can be a problem, but I think you'll be OK with a sniff test. Change rooms, or even hotels, if the smell of cleaning supplies is strong. If you can barely smell the chemicals, put your bird's cage near an open window so he can get some fresh air.

Whatever you do, be careful when traveling with your pets, because they can easily be lost forever if they get loose. Your dog may already be microchipped and tagged, but is your bird chipped? Pet birds are typically chipped in the padded part of their breast. Talk to your veterinarian about getting a chip put in your bird before you leave.

And ask about a referral to a new vet where you're headed: Veterinarians who specialize in birds aren't all that common, and your vet may well be able to recommend one in your new hometown.

(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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Value of pets not just as 'property'

-- A New Jersey appeals court issued a precedent-setting decision when it ruled that a pet's "special subjective value" to its owner should be considered in custody cases. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the opinion reverses a trial court's decision that pets are personal property lacking in the unique values typically associated with heirlooms, family treasures and works of art that induce a strong sentimental attachment.

-- Collisions between birds and airplanes have quadrupled since 1990 amid increasing air traffic and growing wildlife populations. According to The Wall Street Journal, the 10 airports with the most wildlife strikes are Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Memphis, Tenn., Kansas City, Mo., Cleveland, New Orleans, La., New York (JFK), Sacramento, Calif., Chicago (O'Hare) and Portland, Ore.

-- The use of honey for medicinal purposes dates back to early civilizations of the Sumerians and the Egyptians, according to The New York Times. Clay tablets from around 2,000 B.C. describe the Sumerians' use of honey mixed with grease as a salve for pierced earlobes and surgical incisions. Out of 700 healing formulas found written on papyrus in Egyptian tombs, 147 call for honey as one of the principle healing agents.

-- When families take a vacation this summer, are pets left behind at risk of a hurricane? Tornado? Earthquake? Wildfire? SustainLane.com examined the 50 largest U.S. cities, assessed natural disaster risks and found the two cities that tied for the least risk were Mesa, Ariz., and Milwaukee, Wis. They were followed by Cleveland, Phoenix, Tucson, Ariz., and El Paso, Texas. The most dangerous city was Miami, followed by New Orleans, La., Oakland, Calif., San Francisco and Honolulu. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

Great lizard pets for beginners

They don't purr like a cat or fetch like a dog. They have neither soft fur nor pleading eyes. But for a lot of people, reptiles and amphibians are perfect pets.

But which of these pets is best for a beginner? Because they can grow to 6 feet in length, iguanas are not suitable for any but the most dedicated of pet lovers. Here are a few relatively low-maintenance reptiles for the first-time owner:

-- Bearded dragon. Their tough looks are appealing, but this lizard's attitude is anything but nasty. Although babies can be flighty, adult beardies, when calmly and gently handled, are gentle pets who can live for 12 to 15 years.

-- Leopard gecko. A popular ad campaign for an insurance company has drawn attention to these nocturnal lizards. Fortunately, they're good pets and tolerate gentle handling well. They're smaller than the bearded dragons, about 6 inches long, and they can live for a decade or so.

-- Corn snake. Captive breeding has produced wonderful colors and color variations, but all corn snakes tend to be calm pets that rarely try to bite, require minimal care and can live for 20 years.

-- Ball python. Want something more exotic? Ball pythons mature at about 4 feet in length and love to hang around your neck. Fortunately, they're easily unwound: Start at the tail and gently unwind.

Deal with a reputable source for reptiles, and buy a captive-bred pet only. And be sure you've done your research into housing, care and feeding. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on cats

How much do we spend on our cats? The average annual costs in 2007-2008, according to a survey of cat owners:

Surgical Vet Visits $363

Food $188

Kennel Boarding $149

Routine Vet $175

Groomer/Grooming Aids $18

Vitamins $31

Treats $40

Toys $26

Source: American Pet Products Association

PET TIP

Keep pet bowls cleaned daily

No matter how thoroughly your pet licks clean the food dish, it's not clean enough to use again without washing. That goes for water dishes, too, some of which always seem to have the beginnings of algae colonies forming on the sides and the bottom. Who'd want to drink from that?

Pick up your pet's food dish after every meal, scrub and wash in hot water and soap. The water dish should get the same treatment, on a daily basis. You may find it easier with the water dishes to have extras, so your pet will have access to one clean bowl while the other's being washed.

Stainless steel or heavy plastic "crock-style" dishes are best for frequent cleaning. They last through generations of pets and stand up well to the abuse a pet can dish out. And they can even be run through the hottest cycle of the dishwasher. -- 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.

Universal Press Syndicate

The Fourth of July is the ultimate summer holiday, a celebration not only of America's history and traditions, but also of family, food and fireworks fun.

But while we may love our pyrotechnics, pet lovers always need to remember our midsummer spectacular is no holiday for many of our animal companions.

While we humans are oohing and aahing, too often our pets are frightened out of their wits. They'll spend the holiday under the bed (or in the basement) cowering, shaking, drooling, and seeking safety and comfort. Scared pets have been known to jump out of apartment windows, leap over or dig under fences, or chew their skin until it's raw. They may also bolt out an open door to become lost but never found.

With the holiday at hand, make plans to ease the stress on your pet.

First, here's what you should not do -- reward your pet for being scared. Comforting scared pets may seem the right thing to do, but it sends the wrong message. If you remain calm and don't baby scared pets, they'll be closer to learning how to handle loud noises.

The best defense against Fourth of July problems is a good offense. Professional trainers and behaviorists start socializing dogs and making every potentially negative experience -- such as fireworks and thunderstorms -- into something rewarding. If a negative experience comes with tasty treats, then your pet is going to at least tolerate it, if not welcome it. This works best when started as a puppy, but don't give up hope if your dog is already an adult: New behaviors can be learned.

One way to help your pet is to expose him or her to commercial recordings of thunderstorms or fireworks, and play them at increasing volume. Play the recordings at a low volume -- recognizing how acute a pet's hearing is -- and give praise and treats. It's a party! As the volume and duration are increased during subsequent sessions, give them really tasty treats so they have the expectation of a repeat treat. Initially, play the recording for five minutes, eventually leaving it on during daily activities as "normal" background noise.

That's not going to happen with just a few days to plan, so make a note for next year, and get ready to cope with this year's racket.

Provide pets with safe, secure hiding spaces inside your home. Dogs and cats who are comfortable in crates can find them a good place to ride out the noise, especially if the crate is put in a quiet, darkened part of the house. Whatever you do, don't just throw your pet outside. A terrified pet can find a way out of the yard and, once out, will just keep running. The Fourth is a sadly busy time for emergency veterinary clinics, with a steady stream of pets hit by cars, and for animal control facilities dealing with an influx of lost pets.

If you know your pet becomes totally unhinged by fireworks noise, talk to your veterinarian before the holiday about an appropriate medication to calm your pet. Make sure you understand the dose and how long before the evening falls to give the medication. You might also ask to learn some acupressure points that will help to calm your pet.

This Independence Day, while we enjoy our parades, picnics and fireworks, don't forget your pet: He's counting on you!

SIDEBAR

Some products to help fight the fear

A handful of products can help get anxious pets through stressful times.

Head halters, such as the Gentle Leader head collar, mimic how mother dogs control and comfort their young by putting pressure on the bridge of the nose or behind the ear. You can also try the Calming Cap, a product that fits over a pet's head and eyes. The Gentle Leader head halter and Calming Cap are available through Premier products (www.premier.com, 800-933-5595).

The Anxiety Wrap (www.anxietywrap.com, 877-652-1266) applies gentle pressure to a dog's body to focus his attention away from what's scaring him. Advocates compare its use and effect to how whole-body pressure is used to calm overstimulated autistic children.

Some behaviorists recommend pheromones, such as those found in Feliway (for cats) and DAP (dog-appeasing pheromones, for dogs) (Petcomfortzone.com, 800-234-2269). These substances mimic those in nature that make animals feel more relaxed. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Q&A

Two dogs, five kids: Is harmony possible?

Q: Can you help a first-time dog owner do the right thing? We have friends coming to visit, and they are bringing their 10-month-old boxer with them. We have a 7-month-old goldendoodle who is very sweet and gentle. Both dogs are crate-trained, neutered males. We have three kids and our friends have two kids, so we will have five kids under the age of 10 as well as these two dogs. We hope to be able to enjoy the weekend. -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Your goldendoodle is much more likely to put out the hospitality mat to the visiting boxer if you arrange for the dogs to get to know each other somewhere off your property. Give the dogs enough exercise in advance so they're tired when they meet. Then meet in an open area, such as a park, and walk the dogs on leash in a parallel fashion. Be armed with distractions like treats and balls to allow the dogs to be aware of each other but not too focused on each other. Your goal is to help the dogs feel relaxed during the first meeting and to associate each other with the good feelings of a walk. Each person walking a dog should praise his dog's relaxed muscle tone. Be ready to distract each dog with a toy or a treat at the first sign of muscle tension.

Do not allow the dogs to meet and greet until they seem relaxed at a distance. Ideally, the dogs should have relaxed tails and wiggling bodies when they first meet. A wagging tail does not always mean a friendly dog. A tense wag is different from loose, relaxed tail-wagging.

If the dogs are meeting on leash, you can further prevent tension by keeping a loose leash and by keeping the dog walkers' bodies relaxed. Family members can help set a positive tone by letting go of all muscle tension, giving the dogs no direct eye contact and by talking in a happy tone in a stream of friendly talk: "Go play. Have fun. Oh, what a nice doggy!" Bounce balls and squeak toys to keep the mood light. If the dogs are relaxed, it would be ideal to allow off-leash play in a fenced area, such as a vacant tennis court, before taking them home.

When you take the dogs home, have them go into the backyard first and then into the house. Again, use toys and treats to keep the dogs' minds on the people. Keep the boxer on leash once inside the house, and give the goldendoodle complete freedom. If it's easier, kennel the boxer, but keep the kennel out with the family.

It is also important to properly introduce your children to the other family's dog and vice versa. Set up rules and supervise all activity in the beginning to prevent a bad experience.

Start with one dog out at a time, as the children learn to give the dog instructions to sit for a treat or toy and play fetch-type games. Do not allow running and rough-housing. When both dogs are out, keep their leashes attached. It will be easier to grab a leash if a dog needs to be separated from the fray. The adults will need to put dogs and children into a timeout if there is too much excitement or misbehavior on anyone's part.

As the visit progresses, and if all goes well, you may be able to relax on the constant canine and kid patrol. However, when in doubt, either supervise or give the dogs a timeout for safety. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

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

PET BUZZ

Canine churchgoers: Opening the pews

-- As churchgoers enter the sanctuary every Thursday at the Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Neb., some may sniff their fellow parishioners. An occasional sharp note may even cause a woof to waft through the sanctuary. But this is forgiving audience: It's full of dog lovers who join at least two other U.S. churches, in New York and near Boston, that allow dogs at regular weekly services, according to USA Today.

-- Games are one of the most popular categories in the Apple Apps store -- there are 6,700 of them. And while most games have been for single players, new games promise to allow a more social experience similar to multiplayer online games on computers. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ngmoco is working on a virtual-pet game called Touch Pets, in which players complete missions with their virtual dogs to earn points that can be redeemed for virtual items like clothing. When the new iPhone operating system is available, Touch Pets will use push notification to let users set up play dates with other players and their dogs.

-- The sleepiest animal in the world might be the koala, who naps for 22 hours. The animal that is awake most of the time is the giraffe, who sleeps (standing up) only 30 minutes a day, divided into very short naps.

-- A Parenting magazine poll showed that 42.61 percent of parents called their pets their child's "brother" or "sister." -- 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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Take two: Now's a great time for feline adoption

If you've ever thought about getting a companion for your cat, there's no time like now. Kittens are everywhere, and healthy, well-mannered adults are also in good supply. You're sure to find the perfect pal for your cat with a trip or two to the shelter.

Since the worst territorial spats -- complete with urine-marking -- are between cats who aren't spayed or neutered, your chances for peaceful coexistence are many times greater if the cats are both altered before any introductions are planned.

Prepare a room for your new pet, with food and water bowls, and a litter box and scratching post that needn't be shared. (Separate gear may be a temporary arrangement, or it may be lifelong. It all depends on the cats involved.) This separate room will be your new pet's home turf while the two cats get used to each other's existence.

Bring the cat home in a carrier, and set it in the room you've prepared. Let your resident cat discover the caged animal, and don't be discouraged by initial hisses. Let your resident cat explore, and 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 pet 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. 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. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Plant poisons to watch for

The Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. recently analyzed the more than 400 claims it received in 2008 to find which plants and plant products proved most likely to poison pets. Raisins and grapes topped the list, followed by mushrooms and marijuana. In 2008, the average amount claimed for plant poisoning was $427. The top 10 claims were for:

1. Raisins/grapes

2. Mushrooms

3. Marijuana

4. Lilies

5. Walnuts

6. Onions

7. Sago palm

8. Macadamia nuts

9. Azaleas

10. Hydrangeas

Source: www.petinsurance.com

PET RX

Any bite can be a true emergency

Accidents happen even to the cautious. One disaster that's all too common in a multipet household is a biting incident between a predatory animal (cat or dog) and a prey one (bird, hamster, rabbit).

A bite is a genuine medical emergency, even if the pet who has been bitten seems fine afterward.

Dogs and cats have bacteria in their mouths that can develop into a deadly infection in a bird or other prey animal. For many of these, a prompt trip to a veterinarian and a course of antibiotics will mean the difference between life and death. Nights, weekends -- no matter when it happens -- a bitten bird or rabbit needs help, fast.

Never assume your dog or cat won't bite your rabbit or bird. The prey-predator wiring can be very difficult to short-circuit. Keep these pets safely apart at all times. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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.