10 QUESTIONS TEST YOUR FELINE EXPERTISE

Cats seem so mysterious, but sometimes their mysteries aren't so hard to figure out. How well do you know cats? Check out these 10 fast questions, with the answers at the end. No fair letting your cat help!

1. When used to describe a cat's behavior, "bunting" is when a cat:

a) Uses urine to mark a doorway

b) Chatters at the sight of a bird

c) Bumps and rubs his head to leave a scent mark

d) Bats around his prey

2. Which of these is not a reason why cats claw things?

a) To keep claws sharp and help remove worn claw sheathes

b) To leave scent on an object

c) To provide muscles with a good stretch

d) To be spiteful

3. A cat who's getting agitated to the point of lashing out while being petted will often have a tail that's:

a) Twitching and flipping at the tip

b) Wagging gently from the base

c) Perfectly still

d) Carried straight up

4. Cats purr when they're:

a) Content

b) Frightened

c) Injured

d) All of the above

5. Most cats have how many whiskers?

a) 18

b) 24

c) 32

d) 56

6. Which of the following places are not good for petting, in the opinion of most cats?

a) Tummy

b) Underside of chin

c) Base of tail

d) Side of face

7. The average cat weighs:

a) Between 12 and 15 pounds

b) Between 8 and 10 pounds

c) More than 15 pounds

d) Between 6 and 8 pounds

8. Cats start their grooming routine by:

a) Licking their tail tips

b) Licking their flanks

c) Licking their lips

d) Licking their paws

9. "High-rise" syndrome refers to:

a) A cat's preference for perching on tall objects

b) The ability of cats to live happily in upper-floor apartments

c) The survival rate of cats who fall from high places

d) A cat's enjoyment of a good view

10. The normal body temperature of a cat is:

a) 97 degrees

b) Between 100 and 102.5 degrees

c) 99 degrees

d) 104 degrees

ANSWERS

1. c -- Every cat lover is familiar with "bunting," which is what a cat does when he bumps and rubs on something, such as your leg or hand.

2. d -- Contrary to common belief, cats don't destroy your sofa for spite, but because clawing is natural feline behavior.

3. a -- You may avoid a nasty bite by watching your cat's tail. When the tip starts to flip, end the petting session.

4. d -- Although most purring is a sign of contentment, cats have also been known to purr in stressful or painful situations.

5. b -- In most cats, the 24 whiskers are neatly divided into four rows on each side of the face. Each whisker -- technically called a "vibrissa" -- is imbedded deeper than normal hairs to enhance its sensory input.

6. a -- Many cats become agitated if petted on the tummy, and they may claw or bite. Save tummy rubs for your dog!

7. b -- While most average-weight cats will come in between 8 pounds and 10 pounds, some cat breeds will normally be much heavier. A healthy cat should have a little padding over the ribs -- but not too much.

8. c -- A cat will generally groom himself in the same sequence, starting by licking his lips, then his paws, then rubbing the paws over his head. The tail is generally last to get cleaned.

9. c -- Cats can right themselves in midair and brace for impact if they have time, which is why cats have a better chance of surviving a fall from a few floors up than from a balcony closer to the ground. Above a certain height, however, no cat can survive the fall.

10. b -- Temperatures below 99 degrees or above 103 degrees are reason to worry -- and to call your veterinarian.

How'd you do? If you got them all right, you really know your cats.

Q&A

Training, not punishing,

key to well-mannered dog

Q: My dog takes off every time he gets a chance. He knows better than to run, because when I finally catch him, I shake him by the collar and tell him what a bad dog he is. I can tell he knows better because he looks so guilty. But, things aren't getting better. If anything, they're getting worse. He's always looking for a chance to take off. What can I do? I am afraid he'll get hit by a car. -- via Facebook

A: Reprimanding a dog for running from you is one surefire way to make sure he's even harder to catch the next time. Wouldn't you keep running if you knew you'd get punished when caught?

If your dog takes off on you, kneel down and open your arms when calling to make yourself more inviting. If that doesn't work, try to use a command he knows well, like "sit" instead of "come." Many dogs know "sit" so well that they'll plant their rumps, and once they're sitting, you might be able to walk up and take their collars. Another possibility is to catch your dog's attention and run in the other direction, enticing his instinct to chase you.

When you have your dog safely back on leash, praise him, be grateful and make a vow that you'll take the time to teach him this most important of commands.

You should also teach him to wait at the door for your verbal release to stop the bolting. Put a leash on your dog with the door closed and ask him to sit. Practice this for a few days, until he reliably sits quickly for his treat and praise. Then reward him for a longer sit, adding the word "wait" and a release word, such as "OK" or "Let's go," to let him know he can move from his sit. Finally, start with the door cracked, gradually working toward the door opening and you walking through ahead of him before you release him. Be patient and praise for waiting, instead of punishing for running ahead.

If you find yourself getting frustrated, a home visit from a good trainer can get you both on track. Your veterinarian should be able to refer you to a good trainer or behaviorist in your area.

By the way: Your dog really doesn't "know better." That "guilty" look he gets when you catch him is not remorse at all but rather his anticipation of being punished. He doesn't really know why, though, because you haven't taught him anything, except possibly that you're unfair and highly likely to become angry with him. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Kitten-raising program

saves lives in shelters

-- Shelter programs geared to raise the youngest, most fragile kittens to adoption age are catching on, generating enthusiastic support from volunteers and donors alike. Last year the Jacksonville (Fla.) Humane Society, First Coast No More Homeless Pets, and the City of Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services worked together to raise and place more than 500 kittens brought in too young to survive on their own. The program was such a success that this year the coalition has secured the financial and volunteer support to expand the program to save more than a thousand motherless kittens.

-- The market for pet care and pet products in North America hit an all-time high of $53 billion in 2012, according the figures released last month by the American Pet Products Association at its annual trade show, Global Pet Expo. That was a 5 percent increase in spending over 2011, and the APPA is predicting a 4 percent increase in 2013. While most spending is on veterinary care, food and other basic necessities, a 10 percent increase in spending on services such as boarding, pet-sitting and grooming was noted from the previous year.

-- The recall of pet treats manufactured by Colorado-based Kasel Associated Industries and sold through retailers including Target, Petco, Sam's Club and Costco was a result of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's use of new recall authority given to it by Congress as part of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. ABC News reported that agency had warned the company to cease production and launch a voluntary recall amid concerns that the products were contaminated with salmonella.

In December, the FDA had advised consumers to avoid the treats, which include fish jerky and pig ears. The company says no illnesses have been reported, but the FDA warns that salmonella contamination carries a risk to the caretakers of pets as well as to the pets themselves. -- 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.

PATIENCE WHEN ADOPTING AN ADULT PET PAYS OFF IN LOVE

Even though my pets, from dogs to goats to horses, generally get along with others not of their kind, I believe most animals like having a companion of their own species. This is why I keep at least two of almost every type of pet I have, and why, three months ago, I added a cat.

Not a kitten -- a cat. I thought my middle-aged indoor cat, Ilario, seemed lonely after my other cat had died. And while kittens are always appealing, I knew that many wonderful adult cats need homes.

I had one opening and wanted to fill it with a middle-aged cat. Enter Mariposa.

Within a month, I knew I'd made the right decision in adopting her. An adult cat can slide quickly into your life. You know pretty well what you're getting with a grown cat -- activity level, sociability, health, etc. Given time in a loving environment, a grown cat forms just as tight a bond with his new people as any kitten can.

If you're thinking of adopting a kitten, I encourage you to think cat instead. (Or better yet: one of each!) Because adult cats are generally more reserved than kittens, you need to cut them some slack in the adoption process. And then give them plenty of time to adjust to their new home.

Mariposa spent the first two weeks alone in a closed spare bedroom, secluded away from Ilario and the dogs to give her time to adjust to the upheaval. When I went in to feed or clean the box, I sat quietly on the bed, letting her choose how much she cared to interact. For the first few days, all I saw of her was the flash of her tail as she slid under the bed. When she started greeting me by purring and jumping up beside me to be petted, I moved to the next stage, putting a baby gate across the open doorway.

After a few days and some hissy interactions, the two cats were happily sharing the sunny spot in the spare bedroom. But while Ilario came and went over the baby gate, Mariposa did not. She felt safer with the dogs on the other side of the gate, and I didn't push it. Another couple weeks went by before she felt brave enough to explore a little more.

My dogs are not cat-aggressive. If they were, I'd never risk having a cat in the home. But they are naturally curious, so I kept a close eye on interactions. After a few sniffs and one aborted chase that ended with Mariposa flying over the baby gate to safety -- my dogs know the "leave it" command very well -- everyone decided to get along. Each week they seem to get along better than the week before.

I made it easy, of course, with three litter boxes (experts advise one per cat, plus one) and separate feedings for everyone. Two cat trees at opposite ends of the house offer places for togetherness or quiet time alone. Not that either cat is often alone: As I'd guessed he would, Ilario loves having another cat in the home.

My biggest challenge now? Finding space on the bed. With two cats and two dogs, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of room left over. Mariposa, for her part, sleeps on top of me. That's going to be uncomfortable in the summer, but on these cold evenings I have to admit: It makes me even happier for adopting her than I ever would have dreamed possible.

Q&A

Topical solution best

for dead lawn problem

Q: We moved to California a couple of years ago, and we don't miss the snow at all. But we are at wits' end over dead spots on our lawn where our dog squats. We finally have a beautiful yard, and now this. What can we give her to neutralize her urine? -- S.R., via email

A: The idea behind most "cures" given to pets for this situation is to trigger increased thirst, thereby diluting the urine produced. It's not a very effective strategy, though, and it's certainly not worth messing with the normal body processes of your pet to keep your lawn green. And there are better options.

One solution is to set aside a part of your yard -- an out-of-sight corner, ideally -- for your dog's potty needs, and train or restrict her to use this area exclusively. Replace the lawn in this area with decomposed granite, pea gravel or other kill-proof cover that will present a nice appearance and offer easy cleanup.

If it's not possible to split off part of the yard for your dog's potty area, the best way to fix the die-off is to dilute the urine yourself, on the spot. Keep the hose or a bucket of water handy and flush the area to dilute the urine to non-damaging levels. You need to do this fairly soon after your dog urinates, and you cannot rely on every-other-day water from the sprinklers to help much.

Years ago, a dog-loving friend of mine with an exceptionally lovely yard came up with a solution that takes some effort, but worked well for her. She kept a fresh roll of sod growing in an out-of-the-way corner of her yard, and when a spot on the lawn started to turn yellow, she'd cut it out and replaced it with fresh sod. The maintenance was constant, but so was the green of her yard. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Smartphone can help

your fat dog get fit

-- Miami veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly, a popular columnist and blogger, has developed a smartphone application to help dog lovers trim down their pets. The Fat Dog Diet ($2.99) allows dog owners to enter precise details about their dog, including selecting from a menu that includes most commercial diets. The application then recommends meal portions, treats and minutes of exercise every day to slim down the pet. The app also tracks progress and encourages the pet owner through text alerts to keep on the program. Veterinarians say that more than half of all pets are overweight or obese, which triggers or worsens many health problems.

-- Swimming is great exercise if you're trying to lose weight, but it's a rare cat who'll agree with that. Enter Holly, a 13-year-old Virginia cat weighing about twice the normal feline weight. Holly's owner takes her swimming in a pool meant for rehabilitation therapy for pets. While swimming and water-treadmill therapy are common for dogs, few cats will tolerate the water. Holly has lost one pound over six months -- while gaining quite a following at the veterinary rehab center.

-- Over-the-counter medications are one of the top pet poisoning risks. While many times pets ingest the medications by accident, other times they're given to them by owners who don't realize some medications safe for people are toxic for pets. That's why you should never give your pet any over-the-counter medication without clearing it with your veterinarian first. For example, the common painkiller acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, can kill your cat. -- 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.

FOR MOST DOG OWNERS, THE 'CHOKE' COLLAR IS A POOR CHOICE

Years ago when I started training dogs, I couldn't have imagined doing so without a slip-lead collar, commonly known as a "choke" collar. These days, I can't remember the last time I put one on a dog, and I may never feel the need to do so again.

That's because the options for training and control have changed, and are now easier on dog and owner alike.

The choke chain was never without problems. In the old days, the important thing to remember was to never leave the collar on your dog unless you were training or walking.

It is, after all, a choke collar, and over the years I've heard from readers whose dogs died when the collar rings became caught on the tooth of another dog in play, on a piece of fencing in the yard or even a heater grate in the house. In other cases, dogs were injured and traumatized, and the owners who saved their lives by getting them free of the collar's deadly grip were often bitten by their terrified dogs.

This is what it has come down to, for me: If your dog is wearing a choke-chain collar as his everyday collar, replace it with a buckle or snap-together collar today. And then, like many trainers and behaviorists, I advise that when you take that chain collar off, you throw it away.

Some good dog trainers still use slip-style collars and leads, at least some of the time, and they're still the top choice for almost escape-proof handling in veterinary hospitals.

But this is a piece of equipment that's nearly impossible for the average dog owner to use properly. When the collar isn't used properly, it's ineffective at best, and cruel at worst.

There are only two ways to put on a choke-chain collar: with the moving end over the dog's neck (as intended), or under the dog's neck (incorrect). By the simplest law of averages, you'd think folks would get them on right half the time, but it never seems to work that way. When the moving part of the chain is under the dog's neck, the chain doesn't release easily when the leash is slackened. And that means the collar is constantly tight, choking the dog.

Even if the collar's put on correctly, the choke collar is very difficult to use in the way that expert dog trainers have over the years. A choke-chain collar is meant to be loose at all times, except for the occasional split-second tightening to correct a dog's behavior. But people don't seem to know that, so I am always seeing gasping dogs in tight choke chains dragging their owners behind them.

These days, my advice on choke chains is this: Don't bother. Get the help of a good trainer to choose training equipment that's not so hard to master -- and learn how to use it. For some dogs, a buckle or snap-together collar will be all you need, or a limited-slip collar known as a "martingale." For others, a head halter or front-clip harness will work best. The pinch collar has advocates, too. It looks horrific, but it can't tighten down to choke a dog the way a slip-lead collar can.

They're all easier for the average person to use, and less likely to cause unintentional harm than a slip-lead collar. And that's why after so many years of giving advice, I've changed my recommendation on this topic. You simply don't need to master the choke-chain collar to teach any old dog new tricks anymore.

Q&A

Cat's coughing may be

a dangerous symptom

Q: What can I do to stop my cat's hairballs? I give her stuff from the pet store, but she's always hacking. -- via Facebook

A: Hairballs often take the blame for a cat's chronic coughing, but the problem could be something else entirely: heart disease, heartworms or even feline asthma. Coughing is a symptom, and you need a veterinarian's help to figure out what's really at the root of the problem. Only then can you hope to find an effective treatment.

Even if the problem is hairballs, there are some better options for treatment.

When cats groom, they pull out and swallow a lot of fur. Swallowed fur is indigestible, so when it's in a cat's stomach, it has two ways to go: down and out, or up and out. When it comes up (to the accompaniment of that middle-of-the-night "Ack! Ack!" serenade every cat lover knows so well), it's a hairball.

You'll have to tolerate a certain amount of hairballs because that's just part of having a cat. But there are steps you can take to help ingested hair to go through the system instead of come back up.

Add some fiber to your cat's diet. A little bit of canned pumpkin -– plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling -- added to your pet's regular meals will help the fur ingested by grooming to pass through the digestive system, instead of being thrown up onto your carpets. Combine it with canned food for palatability, or mix it with a little water from canned tuna or clams.

Canned pumpkin has an advantage over oil-based hairball remedies: Overusing the latter can decrease the absorption of some essential nutrients. Regular combing and brushing also helps, especially if your pet has long hair. The fur you catch when grooming your cat won't end up as a hairball, or as hair you'll be cleaning off your clothes. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Drug crackdown leaves

mobile vets in limbo

-- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has sent letters to California veterinarians with mobile practices warning that they are not in compliance with the Controlled Substances Act, a move that could put at risk the practice of at-home euthanasia for family pets and on-site euthanasia for horses and other livestock. According to DVM360.com, mobile veterinarians typically carry controlled substances in locked boxes. The DEA previously considered mobile veterinarians to be a common-sense exception to the law requiring registration of any premise where controlled medications are to be stored. As such, the letter of the law was generally not enforced in this instance. Officials from state and local veterinary trade groups have appealed to Congress to legislate an exemption that will allow veterinarians to care for animals as they need to.

-- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning about the potential for salmonella infection in pet hedgehogs. One human death has been attributed to the handling of these pets, and 20 people have been made ill in eight states. Good hand-washing and animal husbandry practices help to prevent passing of the disease from animals to humans.

-- A yearlong battle between a woman who found a dog and the man who lost him was resolved in an Oregon courtroom in favor of the original owner. The husky mix jumped over the fence at his owner's and ended up adopted by the woman who found him. Later spotted at a coffeehouse by his original owner, the dog became the center of an acrimonious fight when the new owner refused to give him back and charged the original owner with neglect. Authorities found no evidence to back up her claim. The legal battles ended when the dog's finder admitted in court that the original owner's claim was legitimate and promised to stay away from the animal. -- 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.