Every year, I make the rounds of pet-industry trade shows and veterinary conferences, and every year I at least glance at thousands of new pet-care products. While a few are truly innovative, many are just variations on a theme as companies work to mimic top sellers as closely as they can without getting sued.

Whether any new product will catch on is anyone's guess, though few will reach the level of those that truly have changed the way we live with our pets.

I recently mentioned five such products for dogs. Now, here's equal time for cats, with a handful of items that have changed the world for cat lovers:

Litter

While the idea of keeping a box inside for cats to use as a potty was around for a while, it never really took off until Edward Lowe happened upon what he called "kitty litter" in 1947. His dad owned a company that made industrial cleanup materials, and when someone asked him to suggest something for a cat box, he filled up a bag of Fuller's Earth, a kind of absorbent clay. When Lowe sold his Kitty Litter company decades later, he was rich beyond his wildest dreams, and cats had become more popular than dogs as pets. Today, more than 80 percent of cat owners have litter boxes in their homes, although clumping litter is used in most of them now, not the material on which Lowe built his company.

Scratching posts/cat trees

Clawing is natural, normal and very satisfying for cats. While cat lovers may understand the normal and natural behavior, they're not on board with the satisfying when then shredded objects include the furniture. No one knows who first came up with the idea of providing cats an approved place to scratch, but the idea was a great one for both cats and people. While scratching posts used to look like DIY fright shows covered in dreadful colors of leftover '70s shag carpet, today it is easy to find cat trees and other related items that keep cats happy and divert attention from the corner of the sofa.

Microchips

Cats are notorious for roaming, even if they have to slip out against an owner's wishes to do it. They're also pretty good at slipping out of their collars, since cat collars are designed to give way if a cat gets caught on something. Problem is, a cat with no ID tag is unlikely to be reunited with her family, and shelter workers sadly note that many "strays" turned in are obviously lost pets.

The microchip betters the odds of a reunion, since most shelters scan lost pets for such ID. The size of a grain of rice and easily implanted at a veterinarian's office or shelter, the microchip is the best insurance you can buy to help your cat come home when lost.

Cat fishing toys

Cats love string, but string can be a problem for cats. Young cats and kittens sometimes swallow string, and that can lead to a crisis that requires surgery. That's why whoever first thought of tying one end of a string to a pole and the other to a cat toy deserves a nod for coming up with what may be the best cat toy ever. You can find all kinds of variations on the cat fishing toy, and you can even make your own. It's all good -- and it keeps your cat busy, you amused and the claws on the end of the string. Runner-up: Laser pointer, and only second because you can't make it on your own.

Catios

While many cats still come and go as they please, owners who let them out do expose them to the risks of being hit by cars, eaten by coyotes, poisoned or trapped by cat-hating neighbors and more. But the inside life isn't perfect, either: Many indoor cats are bored and overweight, and that latter is a problem that leads to some serious health issues. Cat patios, or catios, can help by offering cats some safe outdoor space to enjoy. While these can be purchased ready-made, they're also a pretty easy DIY project that can easily be made from scrap lumber and some inexpensive screening.

That's my list! Feel free to drop me a note with your favorites for cats, dogs or others pets, to petconnection@gmail.com.

Q&A

Bigger box may

keep cat happy

Q: We have what you could call "hit and miss" behavior regarding our cat and the litter box. Sometimes she goes in the box but leaves her mess outside it. And sometimes she doesn't seem to like the litter (we buy what's on sale). Ideas? -- via email

A: If you want your cat to use her litter box, ask her opinion first. If your cat isn't happy, you won't be happy, either.

Start with the filler. Let your cat choose from a litter "buffet." Buy at least four different types of litter. Choose at least one that is the clumping kind -- the No. 1 choice of most cats. If your clumping option is scented, offer an unscented clumping one, too. We may love scented products, but cats generally don't. Fill each box with at least 2 inches of litter, and see which litter she prefers. Donate the rejected brands to a local shelter or rescue group.

I'm also guessing the litter box may be too small. Your cat's litter box should be one and a half to two times as long as your cat's length from nose to tail. That gives her enough space to turn around in the box and dig. If you can't find a box at the pet store that's an appropriate size, a plastic sweater box or an underbed storage box makes a great cat box.

Don't bother with box liners: Scrub the box with a solution of bleach and water regularly, rinse well and allow to air dry. It's always handy to have two boxes, so while one's air-drying, the other is available. Better yet, have three: Two fresh and available for use and another on standby. Some cats are so particular about their boxes that they'll use one for urine and the other for feces. (I actually own one such cat myself!) -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

'Four on the floor'

describes most cats

-- Most cats have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them hit the ground. The fifth toe is called a dewclaw and is found on the inside of the front paw. The dewclaw is the feline equivalent of our thumb, and it's used for grasping prey and climbing trees. A normal feline back paw, by the way, has four toes that are all called into service when walking. Any number of toes over the norm (usually an extra one or two, but occasionally as many as three or four) makes a cat polydactyl, which means "many fingers." Polydactylism is a dominant genetic trait, which means just one polydactyl parent is enough to make a litter of polydactyl kittens. These cats are also called "Hemingway cats," after the ones kept by Ernest Hemingway.

-- Dogs who bite children often have no priors, according to Veterinary Economics magazine, which reported on research from the journal Injury Prevention. In a study of 100 dog bites from 103 dogs presented at a behavior clinic over a four-year period, 20 percent of the dogs had never bitten anyone, and of those who had, 33 percent had never bitten a child before. Researchers think anxiety or pain may play a part in uncharacteristic aggression. Three-quarters of the biters exhibited anxiety when separated from their owners or when exposed to loud noises, such as thunderstorms or fireworks. Half of the biting dogs had medical conditions such as skin or bone growths, eye or liver problems, kidney disease, hormonal conditions or infection.

-- Cats may be the No. 1 pet in the United States in terms of popularity, but dogs rule at the veterinary office. According to the American Veterinary Medical Assoc., dogs average 2.6 veterinary visits per year, while cats top out at 1.7. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 affiliated with Vetsteet.com and 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.

We give cats the time we can spare and the love we can share from our busy schedules, but that's not always enough. Sometimes a furry friend of the feline persuasion helps to fill a cat's day when his people are away.

They can hear the flutter of a flies wings or hear a mouse creeping in a crawl space ... you can't. They can get crazy on catnip together, groom each other with those raspy tongues, chase each other playfully in a game of zoom-around-the-room or just crash on the cat tree with each other while soaking up the sun during a catnap.

One of the many myths about cats is that they prefer to live alone, but that's not necessarily true. When people ask me about getting a second adult cat, I always encourage them to do so.

There will be a period of adjustment, of course. Shelter and colony studies show that it may take up to one year for a new adult cat to be accepted by other cats. But in many cases, if not most, it's worth the effort: Veterinary studies show that when cats have company, both cats are healthier. Animals with buddies are sick less often, require shorter stays when they are hospitalized and live longer.

The friendship usually works best if the cats are of the opposite sex. Two males or two females may each seek to be top cat, even if they are spayed or neutered. Another pairing that works well is an older cat and a younger cat. The presence of a youngster can enliven an adult cat who may have lost some of his spark or put on a little pudge.

The easiest way to go about it is to adopt a pair at once. Bonded pairs are commonly available for adoption, typically littermates raised together. They're often overlooked by people who insist on a single cat, or on kittens, but they're ideal for adopting if you don't already have a cat but are ready to open your home and your heart.

If you already have one cat, though, adopting a bonded pair may not be wise:

Cats seem to get along best in even-numbered groups. When there's an odd cat out, he may get picked on or develop aggression toward the other cats in an attempt to make his way to the top of the tabby totem pole.

Two cats are twice the pleasure, but not twice the effort to care for, especially if you're adopting a pair of healthy, altered adults from a good rescue group or shelter. While most bonded pairs of cats will happily share everything from your bed to the cat tree, one thing many will insist on is not sharing a litter box. To keep your cats from thinking outside the box, have one litter box for each cat, plus one more.

It's well worth the modest extra effort, though. If there's anything better than one loving cat in your home, it a pair of purring pals.

Q&A

Sometimes cats really

are stuck in trees

Q: When cats get "stuck" up a tree are they really stranded? Seems to me if they got up there, they can get themselves back down. -- via email

A: Not easily, they can't. Cat claws are designed to move a cat in a forward direction. And if that direction is up a tree, it's difficult to head back down. The gracefully powerful movement of a cat heading up a tree is counter-balanced by the crashing and (if he's lucky) controlled free-fall he'll use to get down.

Most cats do find their way back down, of course, which is a good thing these days. With municipal budgets being what they are, few fire departments are allowed to respond to "cat-in-tree" calls anymore.

At our Almost Heaven ranch we have barn cats -- typically, former ferals who just wouldn't be happy inside and aren't comfortable being cuddled. We provide food, shelter and top-notch care, and in return they keep our barn free of vermin.

The deal has gone pretty well over the years, but twice I've had a barn cat stuck up a tree, most likely chased there by a coyote or wolf (we see both up here in Idaho). Both times I've had to help the cats descend: Once by cutting the tree down and more recently by paying for a bucket truck. Both cats survived, although both were pretty hungry when they got back down to earth.

If you do decide to get out a ladder for a cat stuck in a tree, though, be very careful. The chances of you getting seriously hurt while reaching for a scared cat are pretty good. Scared cats aren't safe to handle, even if they're yours, so wear heavy gloves if you are going to attend a rescue.

You may be able to whet his appetite by opening a can of tuna, salmon or mackerel and letting the wonderful fishy smell drift upward. I've had it work more times than not. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs can catch

a yawn from us

-- Yawning is contagious among people, and researchers from the School of Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London have shown for the first time what pet lovers have known all along -- that dogs can also catch our yawns. Researchers said the presence of contagious yawning in dogs suggests that dogs possess the capacity for a rudimentary form of empathy.

-- Not all cats like catnip. The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic, with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. These hard-wired preferences aren't immediately apparent, though, since kittens under the age of three months don't react to catnip at all. Among those cats who do like catnip, you'll find two basic kinds of reactions: Your cat may seem to become a lazy drunk, or a wired-up crazy. Credit a substance called "nepetalactone," which is found in the leaves and stems and causes the mood-altering behavior.

-- Airplanes are increasingly hitting birds, alarming regulators because collisions can cause fatal crashes and damage jets. The number of bird strikes reported to the Federal Aviation Administration has grown every year since 1990, when there were 2,051 strikes. A total of 95,000 bird strikes have been reported to the agency since 1990, and the culprits, in decreasing order, are Canada geese, mourning doves and sparrows. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 affiliated with Vetsteet.com and 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.

An eye-popping $50 billion dollars is spent on pet care every year, with the lion's share going to the dogs, literally. But even though thousands of dog-care supplies are on the market now with thousands more introduced all the time, I think there are but a handful that have been game-changers.

Here are my top five:

Crates

Shipping crates for animals have been around forever. But the original Vari Kennel line of high-impact plastic crates forever altered the way we raise and train our dogs. Most notably, crates are now used routinely for housebreaking -- working with a puppy's natural desire to keep the area around him clean to help him learn to "hold it" until he can be taken outside and praised for going in the right place.

Crate training also helps to teach growing puppies which items are OK for chewing and which are off-limits, based on what's inside the crate and what's not. A crate also provides a safe place for a dog to ride in a vehicle, teaches him to be more relaxed when confined at the veterinarian's and even provides him a safe, secure place to be when evacuated during a disaster.

Kong

Formed from durable rubber, the Kong is arguably the best dog toy ever invented. Kongs now come in a wide range of sizes and chew strengths. But it's the hollow center of most Kongs (the floatable Kool Kongs are the exception) that gives this toy superstar status.

Dog trainers recommend keeping crated dogs busy with Kongs stuffed with a variety of fillings, such as kibble, cheese, peanut butter and rawhide sticks. There's no telling how many happy dogs have been distracted from destruction by the mighty Kong.

Snap buckles

Early dog collars were made of metal to protect the necks of war dogs; later ones were made of leather to identify owners and allow for controlling animals with leashes or keeping them from roaming with chains. But fashionable collars weren't available for the ordinary dog until the invention of the snap-together clasp.

The plastic clasps also help make collars so affordable that many dogs have more than one, and not a few have collars for every occasion.

The Chuckit

I throw like a girl. But even if I didn't, I know that no one with the possible exception of a major league outfielder could throw a ball far enough to keep my two retrievers happy. Since I like my retrievers to be happy -- not to mention exhausted, so they don't drive me crazy -- I own a Chuckit. Actually, I own three. Maybe four. Simply put: I can't live without them.

Seemingly based on the cesta used to fling the pelota in jai alai, the Chuckit gives even the wimpiest dog owner a rocket launcher for an arm. With little effort you can fling to the point of your dog's happy exhaustion without working up a sweat yourself.

Head halters

Legendary veterinary behaviorist Dr. R.K. Anderson had a simple idea: Why wouldn't something that has worked with horses for countless years control a dog just as painlessly? Head halters for dogs are simply modified versions of horse halters, and they work on the same principal: Guide and control where the head goes and the rest of the body will follow.

How many shoulder joints has the head halter saved? Hard to say, but the ability to take an unruly dog for a walk benefits both pet and owner, helping lessen behavior problems caused by inactivity and health problems caused by excess weight.

Next week, I'll have my five cat-care products that have changed the world.

Q&A

Is grinding nails

really OK for dogs?

Q: What do you think about "grinding" a dog's nails rather then cutting them? I often see an ad for a tool that can do it. Is it safe? -- via email

A: Grinding your dog's nails is safe if done properly, and can be easier on you both. I'm not personally that big a big fan of the one "as seen on TV," but there are other options for getting the job done -- including an ordinary rotary grinder such as the Dremel with a medium-grit tip. Both cordless and corded models seem to work just as well for this task, but the cordless may be easier for beginners to handle.

In the early stages of training, just let your dog see the grinder, and praise and treat. In a later session, turn the grinder on and praise and treat. Praise and treat your dog progressively, allowing the grinder to get closer to a paw and to briefly touch a nail tip. The first time you grind -- which may be several sessions after the first introduction -- be happy with working a little on just one nail, and don't forget to praise and treat.

Be sure to either clip the hair of longhaired dogs or to hold it back so it won't get wound in the shaft of the grinder. (One trick is to slip an old nylon stocking with a hole for the nail over the paw to hold the hair away from the grinding tip.) Support the dog's toe, but don't squeeze too hard. Hold the grinder against the nail for no more than a second or two at a time to prevent heat buildup, and don't push the grinder hard against the nail -- just hold it there and let the tool do the work.

Grind across the bottom and then carefully in from the tip of the nail. Just a little bit at a time is plenty. If you do this weekly, you'll be able to maintain short nails on your dog with ease. (If you do an Internet search for "grinding dog nails," you'll find a couple of well-done step-by-step guides with pictures.) -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

'Net tool locates

vets when you travel

-- The holidays are a major travel season, and these days travel often includes the family dog. But what if your dog sniffs out the raisins between the seats and hoovers them up before you check the rearview mirror? Or, at the in-laws', your pet gets hold of grandma's medication? The American Animal Hospital Association noticed the upward trend in roaming Rovers and launched a pet-focused trip planner. The planner pinpoints veterinary clinics and hospitals along your route. Just plug in your starting point and final destination, and you'll not only get driving directions for your trip, but the name, location and contact information for pet help along the way. Find it at healthypet.com/RelocationAndTravel/TripPlanner.aspx.

-- If you've been looking for one more reason to make kicking cigarettes your New Year's resolution, how about this one: Second-hand smoke has been linked to cancer in pets. A study by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University looked at the link between second-hand smoke and cancer in cats, and found not only a strong link, but an increased risk for pets exposed for five years or longer. For dogs, a study by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University noted a higher risk of nasal tumors in dogs with longer muzzles, and lung cancer in dogs with shorter muzzles -- the carcinogens being stopped in the noses of some dogs but going through to the lungs in others. In pet birds, it's the "canary in the coal mine" all over again, with lung cancer turning up at higher rates in homes with smokers. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 affiliated with Vetsteet.com and 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.