Listen to your head or follow your heart? When it comes to choosing a cat, it's possible to do both, as long as you know what you're getting into.

For many, a kitten is the only choice: A healthy feline baby is nearly irresistible, and the choices are many during "kitten season," which is at its height now. But feline experts say that for many people, saving a cat others pass on -- an older cat, or one with special needs -- can be intensely satisfying on a personal level, and that benefit is one that should not be discounted.

"This is all about what you get for the giving, and sometimes when you choose the cat who's being overlooked, what you get is a really deep bond with that animal," said Bonney Brown, director of the Reno-based Nevada Humane Society. "Many have cared for a cat for a lifetime after what started as an impulse decision to save that pet."

Veterinarians know the appeal of special-needs pets -- often because they adopt such animals themselves.

"A lot of us have this desire to nurture," said Miami veterinarian Dr. Patricia Khuly, a popular blogger and frequent contributor to pet-related publications. "I know there are plenty of veterinarians who advise not to take on a sick pet, but we veterinarians are often the worst at taking our own advice."

Khuly herself has adopted more than a few sick pets, but she also said it's essential to approach choosing any pet with open eyes and a sense of what's involved -- emotionally, practically and financially.

The place to start is with a clear-eyed evaluation of a pet's health and behavior.

An initial read on the health of a cat or kitten isn't difficult, said Khuly. "Eyes clear and bright, devoid of crustiness or secretions. Nostrils clean, nice pink gums, a clean, full coat and ears free of debris. Breathing should be easy and not labored," she said, adding that a kitten should also be able to walk and eat on his own, follow a finger and show interest in his surroundings.

Nevada Humane's Brown said asking shelter staff or rescue volunteers for advice can help narrow the choices. "We ask people to think about what they're looking for. A quiet companion? A playful kitty? Are there children in the house? Other pets? The shelter staff usually knows the animals, and can help you choose one to meet your expectations."

Behavior problems can be more difficult to predict than medical ones, since some cats react so badly to losing their homes that they shut down emotionally. Brown said shelters have tried to help cats maintain their true personalities by trading small cages for large rooms where cats share space, or by increasing the number of volunteer foster homes so cats don't have to stay in the shelter while waiting for a new home.

She also notes that the behavior problem that pushes many to give up on a cat -- house-soiling -- is in many cases cured by the change of scenery. "We often find the problem so specific to the cat's previous environment that the problem doesn't shift from one home to the next," she said.

Brown and Khuly agree that knowing what you're getting into is the key to a successful adoption, whether you're dealing with the craziness of a kitten, the normal readjustment period of a newly adopted adult cat or the special needs of an animal with chronic health problems or behavior issues.

"You need a working relationship with your veterinarian," said Khuly, who stresses this is even more true when considering a special-needs cat.

In the end, of course, the decisions are yours. But when you open your heart to a hard-luck kitty, you may find that the one who benefits most from the relationship is not the cat ... but you.

Q&A

Even if not visible,

fleas can be active

Q: Our bichon mix is always digging at herself and turning her skin into an infected mess. The vet says it's fleas, but we've never seen one on her so we think she's wrong. Do you know what it could be and what will help?

A: 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. It's not uncommon for dogs with FAD to have owners who swear they've never seen a flea -- but they're there, regardless.

Your dog's misery is reason enough to work on parasite control, but not the only reason.

Fleas aren't the only parasites that can cause problems to pets and people both. Probably the most dangerous of all the pests is the tick. Ticks can spread Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and babesiosis. Ticks can be as tiny as the period at the end of this sentence, so relying on combing or hand-searching to control them is not effective. Worse, removing them by hand can increase the likelihood they'll transmit disease to your pets.

Given the seriousness of the diseases caused and spread by fleas and ticks, 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 and ticks. The safety of these products has long been established.

Talk to your veterinarian about the products in your region that work best to control fleas and ticks, for your dog's comfort and safety and yours as well. Once you truly get a handle on fleas in your pet's environment, you can work with your veterinarian to get her itching under control. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet care volunteer sets

tax-deduction precedent

-- An Oakland, Calif., woman made tax and pet history after she claimed $12,068 in expenses for cat care on her 2004 federal income tax return.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Jan Van Dusen, a volunteer for a cat charity called Fix Our Ferals, had 70 stray and pet cats in her home and claimed these expenses, including food, veterinary bills, litter, a portion of utility bills and miscellaneous items, such as garbage bags and paper towels.

The United States Tax Court allowed her to take a charitable deduction for the expenses, setting a precedent that others will surely follow.

-- The Japanese keep 22 million cats and dogs, a number 30 percent higher than the number of children in Japan under age 15. 

Japan's population has been declining since 2007 and the country is graying, with one of the world's lowest birth rates and highest life expectancies. Children under 15 now make up just 13 percent of the population, while almost one-quarter of Japanese are 65 or older, according to recent demographic data.

Better pet food and veterinary services have allowed dogs and cats to live longer, spawning an industry that ranges from animal diapers and walking aids to 24-hour emergency care and research into pet tissue-engineering. The pet industry in Japan, including pet sales, pet food and other pet products, is worth $17 billion a year, according to the Yano Research Institute. 

-- Approximately 60,000 dogs are being used for tests at medical laboratories in the United States at any given time, according to the Foundation for Biomedical Research, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that advocates for the ethical use of animals in scientific studies.

Beagles are used most often because they are trusting, good natured and small. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the Beagle Freedom Project, a San Jose group that rescues lab animals. 

For one beagle, the transition from laboratory subject to pet took about 20 seconds. He tentatively extended a paw, his first foray onto grass. Once out, he looked at the sky and cheering volunteers, and then zeroed in on the dog biscuits. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murrieta

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

There's one pet care routine as familiar to generations of dog and cat owners as daffodils in the spring: Yearly shots. But it may surprise many that these annual needlings are no longer necessary for most pets.

The vaccinations that have prevented millions of deaths in cats, dogs and even people (in the case of rabies) are now governed by guidelines that stretch out the time between shots. Driven by a greater knowledge of potentially deadly reactions and the development of better vaccines with longer-term immunity, veterinary experts now recommend giving fewer vaccines less often, and tailoring those shots to address the most likely risks faced by each individual dog and cat.

"For years vaccinations were thought to be relatively innocuous," notes my colleague Dr. Link Welborn, a Tampa, Fla., board-certified specialist in dog and cat care who has headed the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) task force on canine vaccinations. "More vaccines was thought to be better than none. But there's no medication that is not without potential for side effects. Vaccines are medications, and it's important to think of them that way."

The changes were triggered by the realization that in some pets, the negative reaction to an annual shot wasn't a day of just not feeling right. In a small but significant number of cats, the problem was more deadly: cancer.

"That really was the impetus for the changes," says Dr. Welborn. "We were causing a life-threatening disease by vaccinating. The potential for feline sarcomas raised the level of concern."

The changes were controversial at first. Serious adverse vaccine reactions were rare, and some veterinarians argued that not having a reason to bring a pet in for the examinations that went with vaccinations would lead to suffering and even death from diseases if not caught early. Others believed that the changes -- and the reasons behind them -- would lead to confusion and fear in pet owners. If pets didn't get vaccines at all, they argued, the life-saving benefits that far outweigh the risks would be lost, and pets would die of once-common deadly diseases few veterinarians see routinely anymore, such as canine distemper.

But veterinary schools and colleges, and groups like AAHA and the American Academy of Feline Practitioners, pressed on. The result: New guidelines for giving a series of vaccinations to initiate disease resistance in kittens and puppies, followed by fewer "core" vaccines at longer intervals for adult dogs and cats.

The idea is that pets should get as many vaccines as they need but no more than that. The core vaccines protect against those diseases that are potentially more serious and that are everywhere that animals can be exposed to even without direct contact. The non-core vaccines are determined by the potential for exposure -- indoor cats, for example, have fewer risks.

Because of the deadly threat of rabies to human health, vaccinations for this disease are handled differently. Rabies vaccination is regulated by law, and almost all states now recognize a three-year cycle as mandatory for dogs, and highly recommended for cats. (Local governments may have stricter requirements, including mandatory rabies vaccinations for cats.)

For those pet owners who think vaccinating at three-year intervals can be a money-saver: well, yes and no. What is likely the most important part of preventive care is a regular examination by a veterinarian -- twice a year is recommended by many veterinarians, who note that they don't want to diminish the value of preventive-care visits just because animals are not being vaccinated as often.

In other words, what's the benefit of decreasing the risk of vaccinations if the benefits of catching other health problems early are ignored? Good preventive care that both saves money and prevents suffering and early death still requires seeing your veterinarian regularly. This remains true even if your pet doesn't have to see a needle on most of those visits.

Q&A

Your bird's 'house'

needs to be perfect

Q: We bought a little parrot off Craigslist, but the cage he came with seems very small. Do you have advice on cages?

A: Nothing is as important to your parrot's health and happiness as his cage. And yes, you've guessed it: The bigger the better. Your small parrot will be far happier in a cage designed for a larger bird. If you can afford it, go even bigger, but make sure the bar spacing isn't so wide that your pet can get his head caught.

Look for smooth welds and no paint chipping. Your bird will be working as best he can to destroy his cage, so you don't want him breaking off any toxic pieces. After that, look for cages designed to make cleanup easier, such as skirting to catch falling mess and trays that make paper-changing easier.

Position the cage against a wall, far enough away from a window, so that direct sun rays don't fall on your bird and possibly overheat him, since he cannot escape. Putting the cage near (as opposed to next to) a window so your bird can see outside isn't a bad idea, though, especially if the window overlooks a changing panorama that can help keep your pet entertained.

Although the kitchen may seem like an ideal place for your bird's cage, the potential for your bird to breathe deadly fumes, such as those from overheated nonstick cookware, is too high. These fumes can kill your bird before you even realize there's a problem.

After choosing the location, set up the cage. Two or three well-chosen toys are a must to keep your bird busy. Use a variety of natural (cleaned tree branches) and store-bought perches, and be sure to position them so they aren't directly over food and water dishes. You don't want to encourage your bird to poop into his dishes.

You can help your bird conquer his anxiety by putting the new cage next to the old one for a few days, if possible, so your bird can observe it before you move him. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs and cats say

'I do' to roles in weddings

-- Following the lead of actress Tori Spelling and singer Carrie Underwood, humans are increasingly involving pets in their weddings -- as best man, flower girl, or other member of the wedding party. According to The Wall Street Journal, WeddingOutlet.com reported a 28 percent increase in wedding accessories for pets from 2009 to 2010. One Los Angeles-based trainer charges $2,500 per wedding event, and prices increase if more pets or travel are involved, or if a pet is particularly ill-behaved. The trainer preps the pets for their performance with mock weddings to get them used to the crowds.

"It brings in the personality of the bride and groom," says Anna Pohl, owner of Day Planners LLC, an event-planning business in Sarasota, Fla., who says about two out of the 30 weddings she plans each year involve pets.

-- Within the past few years, animal films have turned their focus away from nature and toward relationships between people and animals, the Huffington Post reports. Newer films that focus on humanity's impact on animals include "Buck," the story of Buck Brannaman, the true horse whisperer; "Project Nim," about a chimpanzee raised to be like a human; and "One Lucky Elephant," about raising an elephant over many years.

-- The best way to get a horse out of a burning barn is to chase it out of the fire, TheHorse.com reports. Rebecca Gimenez, president of the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, says that by the time firefighters arrive at a barn fire, most animals have died of smoke inhalation. People have been timed trying to catch, halter, blindfold and lead a horse out of a burning barn and have found that it is nearly impossible to do it before the barn is engulfed in flames and the smoke is too overpowering. Chasing a horse through an established fire lane is the best way to get it out. Sprinkler systems in the barn can help buy precious time until firefighters arrive, and can help save horses' lives.

-- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murrieta

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

The very reason our ancestors first decided they wanted cats around is used today to argue against allowing any cats to roam freely: They hunt, efficiently.

The predatory skill that cats brought to eliminating rodents in grain storage is now labeled a danger to endangered species and prized songbirds. That's another good reason for keeping pet cats inside, but what to do with the ferals -- pets gone wild and their unsocialized offspring?

Advocates of TNR -- trap, neuter and release -- say maintaining healthy, neutered feral cat colonies is the best way to reduce feline numbers and problems. And, they argue, it's both a kinder and more effective way than trapping and killing untamable cats.

There have always been kind-hearted people who feed homeless cats, even if it's just sharing a tuna sandwich from a park bench. There have also always been people who find colonies of feral cats to be annoying: The cats make noise, they mess and spray, and they multiply like, well, cats.

Cities, colleges and military bases -- and other institutions with large pieces of land to manage -- used to routinely handle feral cat colonies by trapping all the cats and killing those who could not be tamed for adoption.

However, TNR advocates argue that just feeding feral cats makes the problem worse (because the animals keep breeding), but that trapping and killing the cats doesn't solve the problem in the long run, either.

Instead, TNR volunteers trap the cats, place the ones they can in caring homes, and return the truly untamable to their original territory after they've been neutered and vaccinated. These colonies can then be fed and cared for in a hands-off but humane way, while their numbers dwindle naturally because the reproductive taps have been turned off for good.

Trap, neuter and release programs for feral cats seem counterintuitive to many people. If you don't want cats around, wouldn't it make sense just to remove them permanently?

But when you remove cats, TNR advocates say, other animals take their place. That's because the food sources that attracted the cats will still be there, which means more cats (or rats, coyotes or raccoons) will eventually show up. They point to studies showing that TNR policies really do reduce feral cat populations.

Neutering reduces the fighting, yowling and spraying behaviors, many of which are associated with fighting over mates. The neutered cats defend their territory, too, and prevent other animals from moving in -- including unneutered cats who could breed. The colony caretakers are quick to remove and find homes for any abandoned pets who turn up, as well as any kittens.

While such programs aren't perfect -- and aren't considered appropriate for ecologically sensitive locations or areas where the protection of small-prey species is necessary -- trap, neuter and release is an option that must be considered where feral cats are a problem.

TNR is a strategy that's both humane and sensible, and it should be allowed to become the new "common knowledge" when it comes to feral cats. Want more information? Visit the website of Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org).

Q&A

Rabbits make great

pets for condos

Q: We live in a condo and have a bunny. Our association rules do not allow bunnies, however. Do you have information I can use to help change the rules? -- via email

A: Your condo association is probably still thinking of rabbits as "livestock," not pets. In fact, I can think of few animals better suited for condo or apartment living than a neutered house rabbit.

So why should rabbits be allowed?

They're quiet. Does your association allow birds? I'll guarantee you a rabbit is mute compared to the noisiness of many parrots.

They're neat. A daily brushing will catch loose hair, and a vacuum will pick up scattered hay, food pellets or the occasional stray feces (it's pea-sized, dry and round) that don't make it into the litter box.

They're small. Even the biggest rabbits aren't much larger than a cat, and dwarf rabbits are considerably smaller.

The one downside I can think of is that rabbits will engage in destructive chewing if left to choose their own recreation. Even this problem is easily solved by "rabbit-proofing" the living area -- blocking off attractive chewing areas, putting cords into protective covers -- and offering safe chewing alternatives. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

New test for Lyme

helps with treatment

-- The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University has developed a test for Lyme disease that can detect three different antibodies using a single sample, eliminating the need for separate tests. In addition, Horse.com reports, the streamlined test requires smaller samples and answers more questions about the disease, which, if not treated early, can have devastating effects on dogs and horses. 

The disease is extremely hard to detect as it causes bacteria to hide in areas such as the joints, nervous tissue and organs. When bacteria hide, they can cause arthritis and lameness. Bacteria can even burrow into the brain or spine, and can cause pain, behavioral changes and paralysis.

Many times when these symptoms are shown, the bacteria are no longer in circulation. The new testing not only distinguishes between vaccination and infection, but also between early and chronic stages. The test can help veterinarians make a more complete decision on an animal's treatment. 

-- Pets are being saved from being killed in animal shelters through a Facebook application called Pet Pardons. The application connects foster volunteers who notify each other of dogs and cats who are scheduled to be euthanized at shelters. The application is estimated to have saved the lives of more than 2,000 pets already.

-- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie last month signed "Schultz's Law," legislation that increases the penalty of anyone convicted of killing a police canine or any dog involved in search and rescue. 

The law was enacted a day after a Camden County grand jury handed down an indictment against a man who killed a police dog, Schultz, by throwing him into oncoming traffic when he was apprehended by the canine. 

The prior law had a sentence of three to five years for killing a police dog, but now those convicted will face a minimum sentence of five years with no chance for parole, and can face fines of up to $15,000, the Daily Record of Bergen County, N.J., reported.  -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murrieta

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.