A MOVE IS THE PERFECT TIME TO CONVERT OUTDOOR CAT TO INSIDE LIFE

A few months ago, I moved to a place for all my animals, not only three dogs and a cat, but also chickens, ducks, horses and goats.

While it's good to have everyone together -- and a big garden planned for spring -- there was one change I made for one of them that was long overdue: I ended my cat's roaming days.

In effect, I was taking my own advice. I'm well aware that a cat who has been used to going out as he pleases won't accept a closed door quietly. But when you move, everything's new, and a cat won't miss territory he hasn't claimed as his own. Six months later, Ilario, my fluffy orange tabby, is content with the change.

As am I, and that's because in the house I left behind remains the memory of the cat who never came home. Clara was a sweet little thing who rarely left the yard. Neither cat did, which is why I indulged them when they asked to go outside. After she disappeared, I did all the things you're supposed to: let the microchip registry know, put out flyers, checked the shelters.

I never saw her again.

I'd never meant for either cat to go outside, and after Clara disappeared, I closed the door on Ilario. It didn't go well. He yowled, he paced and he threw himself at the window screens. And whenever he could, he'd take advantage of the opportunity to slip out.

The new house was easier to secure than the old one, and Ilario has adjusted well to indoor life. That's because I made sure it works for him. He's an active cat, and I've worked hard to keep him that way. Some tips:

-- Set aside time every day to play with your cat. Cat fishing poles, with strings ending in feathers or other cat-attracting toys, are a great way to get your cat moving. Some cats love chasing dots of light from a laser pointer, while others can be encouraged to chase toys and even retrieve them.

-- Offer your cat ways to play when you're not around. Cat trees and tunnels can be great for cavorting or for hiding when a cat just wants to be left alone. Check out toys stuffed with catnip for extra appeal, or those puzzle toys that keep a cat's interest by making play a test of both body and mind.

-- Make getting food more difficult for your cat. All most cats have to do to eat is waddle over to a full dish. End free feeding, and make a cat's food hard to get. Break the daily measured portion into smaller meals, and put these small plates in places that require jumping or climbing to find. Some cats may also enjoy puzzle toys that make them work to get out bits of kibble.

-- Consider safe outdoor space. Converting a screened-in porch to a feline jungle gym will give your pet more reasons to stay active. Remember that cats like heights, so build in tempting overhead spaces that require effort to reach. There's nothing a cat likes better than looking down on people, after all!

I wish the world were safe enough that Ilario could enjoy the little farm I have now, but I know it's not. We live on a road where people drive by at highway speeds, and every night I can hear the cries of coyotes.

So I've compromised, and it's working out well for us both. Cats can and do live happily indoors. Whatever you do, don't keep your cat inside and offer nothing in exchange for the pleasures of nature you're denying him. Enrich the indoor environment, and you'll have a cat who's not only safer, but also healthier and every bit as content as one who comes and goes at will.

Q&A

Check the dryer

before closing door

Q: One of my co-workers had a horrible experience: Her cat died in the dryer. There were some clothes in there, still warm, and her teenage daughter threw more in without looking, and turned on the dryer. I did an Internet search, and found out this isn't uncommon. Can you spread the word? -- via Facebook

A: Cats love warmth, and at this time of year they are especially eager to search out the warmest, softest place to nap. As you now know, sadly, it's easy for a person not to notice a cat in the dryer, to add clothes and then turn on the appliance. Over the last 25 years or so, I have had two co-workers lose cats that way. Heartbreaking.

The obvious answer is to keep the dryer door shut at all times, but it's hard to get an entire family to comply. If you can't be sure you can keep the door closed, it's important to convince your cat that the dryer's not a good place to nap.

You can try scaring your cat to help convince him to stay clear of this dangerous appliance. If you find your cat in the dryer, close the door for a few seconds (with the machine off, of course) and pound on the metal with your palms, making as much noise as you can. Then open the door and let your cat make a run for it.

I normally would not recommend any training method that would scare an animal, but the risk of death here is too great to ignore. A couple of scary moments in the dryer is vastly preferable to such a horrible death, in my book. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

War dogs getting

national monument

-- The nation's military dogs will soon be honored with a monument to their service. The U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument will show a handler flanked by four dogs representing breeds commonly used in modern wars -- a Doberman, German shepherd, Labrador retriever and Belgian malinois. Credit for the effort goes to John Burnam, who served in Vietnam with military dogs and spent years pushing the idea of a national monument for war dogs. While there are other monuments, none has been elevated to national monument level, where it will be in the company of the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. After a tour, the bronze monument will head to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, which is home to the military's dog-training center.

-- Anyone hoping for a reduction in rat sightings in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is likely to be disappointed. According to National Geographic online, Manhattan’s hardiest residents may be even more visible in the weeks to come. That’s because the rats who survived likely took the subway stairs to the surface, and are now taking refuge in every trash can and hole in the wall in the city.

-- When a pet bites, the first step is to get a veterinary exam with diagnostic tests to rule out any health problems. The next step is to work with a behaviorist. Beware of simple answers. Any combination of factors may be triggering aggression, including fence-fighting, displaced aggression, dominance, drug side-effects, other pets, pain triggers, predation, possessiveness, fear, hormonal changes, protection of young, pack response, play, protection of home or family, neurological abnormalities, improper socialization, and intentionally or accidentally trained behaviors. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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 Vetstreet.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.

OLDER DOGS NEED A LITTLE HELP TO GET THROUGH COLD WEATHER

Cold weather is ruff, er, rough on older dogs, but they don't have to be miserable. Your dog's health in later years is not entirely in your control, but you can have a real impact on a pet's attitude by keeping him warm, comfortable and keeping his mind and body gently active.

As your dog ages, increase the frequency and diminish the intensity of his exercise. Instead of taking your dog to the park once a week to chase tennis balls until he's exhausted, take him for a long walk daily. If your dog is having problems with physical activity, talk to your veterinarian. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications may help, as may supplements such as glucosamine or alternative treatments such as acupuncture.

For his mental health, talk to your veterinarian about products that help with brain function. And keep those brain cells clicking by using food puzzles. These toys require pets to play with them to get the food out, little bits at a time. They can also be a part of your plan to keep your less-active senior dog from putting on excess pounds.

Your dog has no real sense of shame or embarrassment, so he suffers no loss of face if you come up with some ideas to make his life a little easier. Truly, the number of ways you can give your oldster a break is limited only by your imagination. Here are a few tips to get you thinking:

-- Beds. Think soft. Think cushioned. Think low. Think heated. Your dog will thank you for all of these thoughts, especially in cold weather.

-- Clothes. Older dogs, like older people, have a more difficult time maintaining their body temperature. This problem is even more pronounced in slender, short-coated breeds like the greyhound or whippet. So check out the sweater selection at your local pet-supply store, repurpose thrift-store children's clothes, or make your own if you're crafty.

-- Ramps and steps. If your dog is allowed on the couch and the bed, get steps to help him if he can no longer make it in one jump. You wouldn't want to watch TV without your dog at your side, would you? A permanent ramp going down the back porch steps or a slide-out ramp to help your dog get into the car will also be appreciated.

While you're making household adjustments, don't forget to make an appointment for a senior dog checkup. Your veterinarian may recommend some diagnostic tests in addition to a physical examination -- typically, blood work and an X-ray -- to spot problems early or to establish a baseline of what's normal for your dog. You should also consider having your dog's teeth attended to, because gum infections and mouth pain will severely affect the comfort and health of your dog. Most veterinarians recommend twice-annual checkups for senior dogs, by the way.

The senior dog checkup is also a good time to determine if your dog's slowing down means his diet will need to change to take excess weight off his joints.

Helping to keep your older dog healthy and fit will mean his senior years will be happier and more comfortable as time goes by. When the weather is cold, nothing will seem so important to your dog as what you can do to offset the challenges of aging.

Q&A

Beak trims not

needed for bird

Q: Do I need to trim the beak on my African Grey parrot? I find contradictory advice in books and on the Internet. -- via Facebook

A: Although beaks are constantly growing at a rate of one to three inches per year, depending on the species, the beak of a normal pet bird does not need to be trimmed. Your bird will keep his beak at the proper length through normal chewing activities. Chewing is essential both for the physical and emotional health of a parrot.

Overgrowth of the beak is frequently a sign of illness, such as liver disease or malnutrition. In many situations, there may be a malocclusion, or misalignment of the upper and lower mandibles, not allowing normal wear to occur and resulting in beak overgrowth.

Contrary to some information you've found, don't accept "beak trims" as a routine health care measure -- they're not. A bird who gets routine "beak trims" instead of proper medical attention may get an attractive beak, but the bird is likely to die of the primary disease that is causing the abnormal growth of the beak in the first place.

Many of these malocclusions, nutritional issues, or liver problems can be corrected if diagnosed and addressed early and accurately.

Strong as they are, beaks sometimes break. Common causes of beak fractures include fighting between birds of different sizes (with the smaller one usually getting the worst of it) and excessively short wing trims that offer no "gliding" ability, so a falling bird lands hard on his beak (or on his fanny, which can also be injured).

For optimum beak health, provide your bird with lots of things to chew on. If you see a beak problem, don't try to deal with it on your own. Your bird needs the help of an experienced avian veterinarian to properly diagnose and treat any problem. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Dog's licking won't

help your wounds

-- The idea that a dog's saliva has healing powers has been around at least since the ancient Greeks and Romans, whose physicians believed it to be an antidote for poisoning. Later, St. Roch was often pictured with a dog licking a sore, reflecting the belief that the patron saint of plague victims knew something about a cure and that his dog's saliva made him healthy. Modern medicine, no surprise, doesn't look kindly on such theories. And by the way: Dogs are attracted to open wounds because the serum from them is sweet.

-- The phrase "Beware of Dog" is so old that its Latin equivalent -- cave canem -- has been found on signs in Roman ruins. The word "watchdog" isn't quite so old; the first mention of it is by Shakespeare, in "The Tempest."

-- Neuter a dog with a needle? The return of an injectable drug that sterilizes male dogs is being watched closely by animal-welfare organizations and veterinarians, in hopes of having another tool at their disposal in keeping the number of pets needing new homes down. According to the VIN News Service, Zeuterin is a solution of zinc gluconate that's injected directly into the testicles, killing existing sperm and stimulating inflammation that leads to scarring. The resulting scar tissue results in infertility. -- Gina Spadafori

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 Vetstreet.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.

EXERCISE, SUPERVISION AND REDIRECTION WILL KEEP YOUR LAWN FREE OF HOLES

Over the Labor Day weekend, a puppy joined my family. While he's still pretty small, he has a lot of growing to do, especially if he's to help fill the hole in my heart left by the death of my 16-year-old Sheltie, Drew.

The transition from a very old dog -- Drew was managed with daily fluids and medicine for kidney failure a year before his passing -- to a lively young puppy can be jarring. Drew had been a well-mannered adult since the Clinton administration, and young Ned has a normal puppy streak of naughty.

Which is why I wasn't really prepared when I came upon a hole in the backyard clearly dug by Ned's little paws. With a puppy, it's pretty easy to catch and correct unwanted behavior, but it's not impossible even with a grown dog. As with any behavior, you have to get to the root of the problem before you can come up with a fair approach to minimizing the damage.

Like many behaviors people find troubling, digging is natural for dogs, with any number of triggers driving the activity. Among them:

-- Wanderlust. Some dogs, especially unneutered males, have a strong desire to dig their way out of the yard, especially when the breeze carries the enticing scent of a female in heat.

-- Prey drive. Subterranean wildlife can be irresistible to some dogs, especially to terriers or terrier mixes -- breeds developed to dig vermin from their lairs.

-- Need for shelter. A well-dug den can keep a dog cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Although any breed or mix can show an interest in making a den, the behavior is more common in breeds such as huskies and malamutes.

-- Recreation. Digging is just plain fun. This is Ned's motivation, I'm pretty sure.

-- Excess energy and boredom. This combination is either directly responsible or a contributing factor in most canine behavior problems.

The trick to having a nice yard and a happy dog is to do what you can to eliminate the triggers for digging, and then take your pet's needs into account when planning your landscaping. Neutering can greatly reduce the desire to wander. If wildlife's a problem, contact your local agricultural extension for tips on how to get the pests to give your yard a skip. And make sure your pet has the shelter he needs to stay comfortable no matter the weather.

Every dog needs an exercise program, with the emphasis on heart-thumping aerobic interludes, such as a daily run or a game of fetch. If you keep your pet well exercised, he'll be less likely to indulge in destructive behaviors. A tired dog is always a good dog! Some trainers suggest giving dogs an area where it's OK to dig, and training them to use it. This is an especially good strategy for dogs who just love to dig.

The final tip? Design your yard for compromise. Make a less visible part of the yard a dog-friendly, free-dig zone, and limit your pet to that area when you can't be there to supervise. Provide safe chew toys to keep him occupied, such as peanut butter-stuffed Kongs. Discourage digging in off-limits areas by filling in holes and covering them with chicken wire and large rocks.

If you address the underlying issues that cause digging and then allow your dog the opportunity to do some of what comes naturally in an area that's acceptable to you both, you'll find that it's indeed possible to have a yard you can be proud to show off.

Ned seemed pretty easily distracted and pretty happy to gnaw on a chew toy rather than continue with his digging. But if he shows signs of getting a real kick of the excavations, I'll be setting him up with an area where he can dig in with my approval.

Q&A

Don't give in to

demands of kitten

Q: A few months ago, we adopted new kitten from the shelter. We are not inexperienced pet owners. My husband and I both grew up with animals, and we've had many pets during our 32-year marriage. The problem? The kitten is very noisy. She follows us everywhere and has an "opinion" on everything. If we don't pet her or feed her, she gets worse. How can we get her to pipe down? -- via Facebook

A: Some cats are chattier than others. Indeed, "talkativeness" is an adored trait in the Siamese and other so-called Oriental breeds. If your kitten has a parent who's one of these breeds, then to a certain extent, you're just going to have to live with vocalization.

Some of the noisiness of a demanding cat is actually trained into the pet by people. If you accommodate her every time she demands to be fed, then you've taught her that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, even in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn. If you think your cat's chatty behavior is something you've taught her, then you can try some retraining.

Start by resolving not to give in to her demands -- and I do mean resolve. If you ignore her yowling for a while and then give in, you've taught her that all she needs to do to get her way is to make more noise, not less. If you ignore the behavior completely, she'll stop using it to get her way.

Be aware, though, that this kitten is likely chattier than the norm. You can minimize some of her demanding behavior through retraining her, but you'll also have to do some retraining of yourself to learn to appreciate (or at least tolerate) her noise. You've made it through 32 years of marriage, which always involves a certain amount of acceptance and compromise. Use these skills with your cat, and you'll be fine.

Funny thing: In reading your question I found myself wishing my own cat were a little more outgoing. Ilario is a very large, long-haired orange tabby, but he's so reclusive, many visitors to my house never see or hear him at all. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

A year after tragedy,

Ohio bans big exotics

-- A year after the release and subsequent killing of dozens of tigers, lions, wolves and bears from a private compound in Zanesville, Ohio, the state is poised to become one the strictest in the keeping of exotic pets. Owners of such animals have until Nov. 5 to register their animals with the state's department of agriculture, and a complete ban on owning such animals goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013. The few animals captured alive after the tragedy were sent to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and later were ordered returned to the widow of the man who released the animals before killing himself.

-- In the wake of a disaster, animals show levels of stress that may make re-adapting to family life difficult, according to a study of pets rescued from the devastated city of Fukushima following the earthquake and tsunami. Scientists noted higher than normal levels of the stress hormone cortisol in dogs rescued from the area, and found that the animals seemed slow to form new companionship bonds. The study's lead author, Dr. Miho Nagasawa of Azabu University, likened the symptoms to post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

-- Alabama's veterinary medical board voted down regulatory changes that opponents said would have shut down the state's four nonprofit spay-neuter clinics after public protest. Some vets felt that medical care was being compromised by the high number of surgeries in the clinics -- up to 50 a day by a single veterinarian. Proponents of the clinics argued that the great danger was leaving animals free to breed in a state that reportedly kills 100,000 pets a year for population control. The regulations were proposed after a law with similar language was defeated in the state legislature. -- Dr. Marty 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 Vetstreet.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.