STRESS-FREE CATS ARE LESS LIKELY TO DEVELOP ILLNESSES OR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Sometimes when I talk to a pet owner about her cat's stress, I can almost hear what she's thinking.

"Stress? You must be kidding. This cat sleeps 20 hours a day, gets handed food to him twice a day and never has to lift a paw for anything," I imagine her saying. "Now if you want to talk about stress, listen to what I'm dealing with every day."

It's true that cats aren't dealing with long commutes, tight budgets and all the other modern strains that we people have. But it's also true that many of them feel stressed. You need to care about that, because when a cat is stressed, he's more likely to get sick or develop behavior problems.

My colleague and longtime friend Dr. Tony Buffington leads the Indoor Pet Initiative at The Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Here are some of his suggestions for keeping your cat calmer -- and healthier, as a result.

-- Understand that cats do not respond to force, and that they do respond to praise. Punishment that follows an action by more than a few seconds won't stop the cat from doing it again, and may even cause the animal to become fearful of the owner or the surroundings.

-- Provide a room or other space that the cat can call his own, complete with food and water, a bed (a cat carrier with a soft pad inside is a good choice), a litter box, a scratching/climbing post (cats need to be able to scratch and climb), a window to look out of and some toys.

-- Offer vertical space as well as horizontal. Even a small apartment can become a good-sized place for a cat if you provide cat trees, feline stairways and other ways for him to enjoy living the high life.

-- Place food and the litter boxes away from appliances and air ducts that could come on unexpectedly, and locate them so that another animal (or human) cannot sneak up on the cat while he's using the box. Food and water should be kept fresh, and the litter box should be scooped every day.

-- Give your cat something to scratch on to ensure that he can engage in this normal behavior without damaging furniture. A cat can easily be enticed to use scratching structures by placing them in places the cat likes, pairing with treats, feeding and playing near the structure, and praising profusely when the cat is seen using it.

-- Remember that cats seem to prefer to feel like they are "in control" of their surroundings, so allow them to choose the changes they want to make. When you make changes (food, litter, toys, etc.), offer them in a separate container next to the familiar one so your cat can decide whether or not to change.

-- Take your cat to the veterinarian regularly. In addition to providing preventive health care through regular checkups, your cat's doctor can help you troubleshoot and resolve any issues before they become problems.

There's more to keeping a cat happy and healthy indoors than putting down food, water and a litter box. Learn more at The Indoor Cat Initiative (indoorpet.osu.edu), where you will find more ideas and a free video to download that will help you turn your home into a feline spa.

Q&A

Yellow ribbon on leash

helps keep everyone safe

Q: We're the proud owners of a poodle mix we adopted from a rescue. She doesn't like strangers, and she is especially frightened of men. She has snapped, but never bitten, when strangers reach to pet her because she is so cute. How can we tell people that she needs her space? -- via Facebook

A: You're certainly not alone in having a hard time saying, "My dog needs her space." Top veterinary behaviorist Dr. Ilana Reisner (ReisnerVetBehavior.com) says she actually role-plays with some of her clients so they get used to standing up for their dogs. The Philadelphia-area veterinarian says that people are proud of their dogs, and don't like admitting that the dog may have an issue.

"A stranger will say, 'What a cute dog,'" she said, and then move to pet your dog without formally asking. "It's fine to acknowledge the compliment and say, 'Please don't come any closer.'"

No further explanation is needed, she said, and in fact, it's really not advised. Although many people do have the common sense to ask before petting, many don't. And if you admit beforehand that your dog "may bite," you're setting yourself up for a lawsuit if someone swoops in anyway. I've actually found that more children know to ask permission to pet a dog than adults do, perhaps because adults figure they can "read" a dog, while children are often taught to always ask, no matter what.

While speaking up for your dog is still the best method of keeping strangers at bay, you might also put a yellow ribbon on your dog's leash. In the past couple of years, people in the training and behavior community have been promoting the use of yellow ribbons to let people know a dog needs some room. The concept (more at TheYellowDogProject.com) likely came from the horse world, where a ribbon on a horse's tail is used to signify an animal who may kick.

Dr. Reisner likes the idea of a yellow ribbon, but cautions that it will take a while to catch on. "If you mentioned the idea to the average Joe, they've never heard of it, and that's true of many veterinarians as well," she said.

That's certainly true, but if you put a yellow ribbon on your dog's leash, you may slow someone down long enough for them to ask what the ribbon means. Letting them know not only gives you a polite way to keep them at a safe distance, but it also spreads the word about yellow ribbons. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Flame retardant may be

linked to feline illness

-- Is a chemical commonly found in homes linked to an increase in hyperthyroidism in cats? As laws are introduced to ban the flame retardants known as PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, advocates for ending the use of these products point to "canary in the coal mine" studies that link the chemicals to a commonly malady in cats. A study in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health showed that levels of PBDEs in owned cats, even those with no symptoms of hyperthyroidism, were higher than those in feral cats. Cats with the condition have thyroid glands that overproduce, shifting their metabolism into overdrive. Left untreated, the animals will die; the preferred treatment, however, is an expensive stay at a special veterinary clinic where the affected gland is treated with radiation.

-- The Maine Coon Cat is thought to have the highest incidence of extra toes among all feline breeds. The condition is known as "polydactyl," and is considered a harmless and even endearing genetic mutation.

-- Stand-alone veterinary emergency clinics have long been the norm in most communities, allowing the "family veterinarian" to turn off her pager after hours. Many "pet ERs" are staffed by veterinarians certified in emergency and critical care. The organization that accredits these specialists, the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, is now providing additional certification for practices. Nine veterinary hospitals and clinics in the United States have been conditionally identified as veterinary trauma centers. Most of the centers are in the teaching hospitals of university-based veterinary schools and colleges, but four are stand-alone practices, including two in Southern California. -- 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.

MADDIE'S FUND CHALLENGES ADOPTION MYTHS TO GET SHELTER PETS PLACED

If someone else pays the adoption fee when you adopt a pet, does it change how much you "value" the animal as a member of your family? How you answer that question may reveal how you feel about many of the changes currently underway in the shelter and rescue community.

It has long been a core belief in the community that people who didn't pay for a pet were more likely to "get rid of it" for pretty much any reason at all -- or for no reason at all.

In recent years, though, organizations such as Maddie's Fund, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and the No-Kill Advocacy Center have challenged those views and many others, working to increase the number of homeless animals placed in good homes by changing the way shelters do business.

One of the first things they looked at: the idea that adoption fees help pets find better homes. After Maddie's Fund experimented with paying the adoption fees for a relatively small adoption drive, the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine tracked the people and the pets they adopted. They found that the overwhelming majority of the animals were still in their homes months later, most sleeping on the beds of the people who adopted them.

This year, Maddie's Fund has expanded its adoption drive. On June 1 and June 2, more than 200 shelters and rescue groups from eight communities in five states will participate in the fourth annual Maddie's Pet Adoption Days, with Maddie's Fund ready with $4 million to provide the adoption fees that shelters and rescue groups are counting on. Adoption drive organizers hope to place 5,000 pets in new forever homes, adding to the nearly 7,000 pets placed in the three prior, more geographically limited events. (For locations and more information, go to Adopt.Maddiesfund.org.)

A few years ago, I would have been in the "people value what they pay for" camp. I ran a breed rescue for a couple of years, taking in and rehoming about 200 dogs in that time. You definitely can get burned out and cynical when dealing with people who are giving up pets.

But the relatively few "bad eggs" in the pet-owner population seem to get concentrated into the "baskets" of rescuers and shelter workers. It's easy to start thinking that pretty much everyone is a pet-dumping jerk, even those who don't want to give up pets but have to, such as when someone loses their home.

There will always be some people who don't do right by their pets, but studies show that most people truly are doing the very best they can for the pets they consider family. Even if sometimes the "best" is finding another home.

When you stop looking at everyone as an enemy, you can ask your communities for help -- and you'll get it. That's why this year I volunteered to help Maddie's Fund spread the word of this year's Pet Adoption Days. For weeks now, I've been helping the group connect with people who will share the information -- and with some, I hope, who'll adopt a pet!

We are pet-loving societies here in the United States and Canada, and Maddie's is truly on to something here. In providing shelters and rescue groups with the resources to change how they work with their communities, they're giving them room to change -- for the better.

It's a pretty good bet that 5,000 pets will find new homes during Maddie's Pet Adoption Days as planned, but it's just as likely that more hearts will be changed forever by drives like these than can be filled by shelters operating on their own.

And that's great news for pets and the people who love them.

Q&A

What's the cure for

ringworm on a cat?

Q: My daughter has ringworm, and her pediatrician said our cat is the likely source. My husband and I caught it, too. Is there something we can do to treat this? We're tired of itching. -- via Facebook

A: Ringworm typically shows up as a red, hairless patch on people or pets, often in the shape of a ring. But it's caused by a fungus, not a worm of any kind. We veterinarians are exposed to ringworm in our patients so often that getting a case of it ourselves is not uncommon. Fortunately, it's not considered a serious condition, in either pets or people, even if it is an itchy one.

I'm going to assume that you're asking about treatment for your cat, since I hope you wouldn't be asking a veterinarian for human medical advice (although it surely wouldn't be the first time). You need to take your cat in for diagnosis and treatment. Your daughter's pediatrician's educated guess may be correct, but your veterinarian needs to confirm it.

Do be aware that while you can get ringworm from a pet, you're more likely to get it from another person. Places such as locker rooms are common areas where funguses might live, since moist, warm areas are a perfect breeding ground for them. Protect yourself by wearing sandals in locker rooms and communal showers and by not sharing towels with anyone. (When you get ringworm from a locker room, it's referred to as "athlete's foot.")

While dogs, cats and many other animals can get ringworm, cats are more likely to pick it up than other pets. To prevent the fungus from spreading, promptly take your pet to the veterinarian for diagnosis, treatment and a strategy to prevent a repeat infection. Ringworm can certainly be ugly and itchy, but it's usually not hard to cure in people or animals, and is typically treated with cream and pills. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Scratching tops canine list

of reasons for veterinary visit

-- There's nothing that drives a dog crazier than itching, and nothing that drives the dog's owner to the veterinarian more quickly than scratching. That may be why three of the top 10 reasons that dog owners took their pets in for medical care in 2012 involved skin issues, according to the pet-health insurance company VPI. The Brea, Calif.-based VPI is the largest insurer of pet health in the country, and every year it issues a list of the top claims for dogs and cats. While itching was the top reason why dogs saw the veterinarian, urinary-tract problems led the list for cats, followed by dental disease and hyperthyroidism. VPI's data are based on an analysis of almost a half-million cats and dogs covered by the insurance.

-- A top racing greyhound running at full speed can hit 43 mph. Racehorses can go just a little faster. The cheetah can smoke them both, though, hitting 70 mph in full flight.

-- The maker of a sugar-free gum that guarded information about xylitol being an ingredient changed its policy after veterinarians pressed on behalf of poisoned pets. Xylitol is a replacement for sugar in many gums, candies and other products meant for human consumption, but the substance can be lethal to pets. The Veterinary Information Network News Service (news.vin.com) reports that the makers of Stride gum required veterinarians inquiring about xylitol levels to sign a non-disclosure agreement before it released information, causing a delay in treatment. The change in policy brought the company in line with the rest of the industry. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center has tracked xylitol poisoning in pets since 2007; in 2012 it logged more than 3,000 calls on products containing the sweetener. -- 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.

WATCH OUT FOR YOUR DOG TO KEEP SWIMMING SAFE AND FUN

Rivers have always been a part of my life. I grew up in Sacramento, Calif., a city that began at the spot where two mighty rivers meet. Such placement has always been a risky business, and the levees that hold the waters in place don't seem strong enough many a year.

But even when the rivers stay where we want them, they're still plenty dangerous -- to swimmers, to boaters and to the dogs who love the water as much as we do.

Most times, some caution on the part of their owners -- not only around rivers, but near any body of water -- would prevent potential problems. The keys to water safety for dogs: prevention, preparedness and awareness.

At this time of year, I always like to remind everyone that yes, dogs drown. And no, they don't know better than to just swim -- even when it's dangerous. You need to look out for your pet.

No dog should be given unsupervised access to a backyard pool or a neighborhood pond or creek. Swimming pools are best fenced off for safety. And if that's not possible, they should be equipped with alarms that sound when the surface of the water is broken by a child or pet falling in. Escape ramps are a great idea, but it's better to prevent pets from getting in unsupervised in the first place.

Prevention also includes teaching your pet what to do when he's in the pool. Dogs don't understand the idea that the steps are on one side only, and they may tire and drown trying to crawl out the other side. If your pet likes to swim, work with him in the pool to help him learn where the steps are, so he can get out easily. Tip: Put contrasting paint or tape on the fence behind the steps to give your dog a visual clue he can count on.

Finally, obedience training is extremely important. Your dog should come when called, even while swimming, so you can call him back before he heads into deeper water or stronger currents. Emergency shortcut: Always carry extra retrieving toys. A dog who's heading out into a dangerous area after a ball or stick can often be lured back to shore with a second item thrown closer in. It's no substitute for training, but it could save your dog's life.

Before letting your dog swim in any natural surroundings, survey the area for safety. Rivers and oceans can change frequently, and an area that was safe for swimming one visit can be treacherous the next. Consider currents, tides, underwater hazards and even the condition of the water. In the late summer, algae scum on the top of standing water can be toxic, producing substances that can kill a pet who swallows the tainted water. When in doubt, no swimming. Better safe than sorry.

One of the best things you can do is to take courses in first aid and CPR for your pets. Many local Red Cross chapters offer these classes, and some veterinarians may also teach them in your community. A dog who's pulled out near death from drowning may be saved by your prompt actions -- if you know what to do.

If your dog isn't much of a swimmer, or is older or debilitated, get him a personal flotation device. These are especially great for family boating trips because most have sturdy handles for rescue if a pet goes overboard.

Last year, I moved from a neighborhood near one river to a little farm closer to another. This year, I'll be extra careful before I let my retriever swim, because I don't know the hazards here yet, and I need to before I throw a stick into the current for the first time.

Q&A

What do dogs see when

they look in the mirror?

Q: Our dog will sometimes come into the bedroom and startle at the sight of herself in our mirrored closet doors. Sometimes she'll even bark. Other times she takes no notice of her reflection at all. Does she recognize that it's her? Or think it's another dog? -- via Facebook

A: The answer is actually a little more complex. In psychology circles, the mirror test is considered an important evaluation of self-awareness in animals and a sign of the normal development of cognitive skills in children.

Humans are typically 18 months old before they are able to recognize themselves in the mirror. Among animals, only higher primates, dolphins, orcas, elephants and, surprisingly, European magpies are currently known to recognize that what they see in a mirror is a reflection of themselves. Even more interesting, perhaps, is that while pigs show no sign of recognizing their own reflections, they are able to use other information seen in the mirror, such as identifying the location of food placed behind them.

That doesn't necessarily mean other animals aren't intelligent enough to know when they run across other signs of themselves. The animals who "pass" the mirror test rely on vision as their primary sense. When a cat or dog first sees his image in the mirror, he often reacts as if a strange animal suddenly appeared. But when the image doesn't pass the "sniff test," the pet generally decides to ignore it for good.

Animals do recognize their own urine smell, however, as anyone who has ever walked a male dog knows. Checking "pee-mail" and hitting "reply all" with your own scented urine is a priority in any male dog's to-do list. As animals who rely more on their sense of smell than vision, dogs believe that when one contradicts the other, what the nose knows goes, every time. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Pet-store puppies

prone to problems

-- If you find yourself falling in love with that puppy in the window of a pet shop, or dying to click "Buy me!" on an Internet puppy site, you'd better think again. A study of behavioral problems in these dogs -- which typically come from large-scale commercial breeders known as "puppy mills" -- suggests you'll be buying more than your share of trouble.

The study of more than 2,000 dogs, published recently in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, looked at puppies from commercial sources versus small-scale, home-based breeders. The puppies sold through typical puppy-mill outlets had high rates of behavior problems, including shyness and aggression, and extreme sensitivity to touch. The animals were also harder to house-train.

"Until the causes of the unfavorable differences detected in this group of dogs can be specifically identified and remedied, we cannot recommend that puppies be obtained from pet stores," the study's authors state in conclusion. Veterinarians have long noted higher rates of acute and congenital disease in animals from high-volume sources.

-- Some dogs need their space. That's the message of YellowDogProject.com, which is raising awareness of the meaning of a yellow ribbon on a dog's leash. The ribbons mean a dog may be fearful, aggressive or even too fragile to be pounced on by friendly people or dogs. Sometimes the situation is temporary and the dog is being rehabilitated, either physically or mentally. But sometimes the Yellow Ribbon status is permanent. The website says the concept has been introduced in almost 50 countries. It's based on putting a ribbon on horse's tail, to indicate and animal who may kick. -- 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.