If your cat has gone on a walkabout, the following tips can help you track him down and lure him home

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Anyone who has lived with them knows that cats are ninjas when it comes to slipping unnoticed out of doors and then hiding successfully from anyone searching for them. These little predators who live in our homes are hard-wired to remain hidden, and living a soft indoor life doesn’t dull their instincts. Trying to find a lost cat can be like searching for a specific grain of sand on the beach.

The first rule of success is knowing how to look. Cheryl M. Melton of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, vice president and western area director for Forever Friends Humane Society, became an accidental expert in 2013 after a family adopted a cat from her rescue group. The same night they took him home, he slipped out the door and disappeared.

“I was determined to find Thomas,” she says. “This was the jumping-off point for me in finding lost cats.”

Thomas was finally recovered. Since then, Melton has helped owners find other missing meowsers.

Even though you can’t see them, “lost” cats typically stick close to home. They may take refuge in bushes or a shed and hunker down for about 24 hours. They use their senses to gather information and won’t move until they feel safe. Then they will begin to search for food, water, shelter and, sometimes, other cats. If you have a neighbor who is known for feeding cats, check with her first, Melton advises.

“I have found that cats do not usually go further than 200 yards from the point of exit,” she says. “They don’t go in a straight line, and they don’t stick to roads like dogs do. They tend to slowly work their way around, and it seems like they always work their way forward. The cats I have found have been very close to home, not more than a half mile at most.”

Look for your cat at dawn or dusk. Cats are crepuscular, meaning those are the times of day they are most active. They like to hunt when it’s still cool or when it’s dark out.

Put up flyers. They are the number-one way pets are returned to owners, Melton says. Put a large color photo of your cat on the flyer, topped with the words "Missing!" and "Reward!" At the bottom, add other details, including contact information. Post flyers on street corners up to a half-mile from your home. Place them at eye level so the driver of a car can see them.

“Put one on your door for your mailman to see, and make sure flyers are distributed to neighbors, pet stores, feed stores, shelters and online,” Melton says.

Because at the time she didn’t know how to look, it took Melton a month to track down Thomas.

“Once I learned more about staying close to the point of exit, that made all the difference, and we got him within the week,” she says.

One thing Melton learned from the search for Thomas was that no matter how loving and friendly a cat is, being lost is a scary situation for him. Even though your cat knows you, he may be too afraid to come when you call. Be prepared to set and monitor a humane trap once you locate your cat.

“Don’t give up hope,” Melton says. “Your kitty could be found in a day or a month or a year. It all depends on the area, the depth of the search and, of course, the cat.”

Q&A

Ways to manage

arthritis pain

Q: My dog seems really stiff, and the veterinarian says he probably has arthritis. Is there anything that can be done to help him feel more comfortable?

A: I feel for him. My joints are achy these days, too. We know in both human and veterinary medicine that pain management is crucial for any condition that interferes with normal activity: For dogs, those things include getting up or lying down, walking around, getting petted and just the ability to feel good during the day.

It’s not possible to eliminate pain completely, but treatments and medications are available that can help your dog get along without suffering. Pain management is successful when a dog can engage in normal activities: eating, sleeping, going for walks or just moving around the house, and interacting with his humans or other animals.

Several types of medications can help. For instance, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, for short) help to reduce inflammation and are often used to treat chronic pain conditions such as osteoarthritis. Your veterinarian may suggest a combination of drugs from different classes that work in different ways to provide the best pain relief for your individual dog or to reduce the risk of side effects.

If your dog is overweight, dropping a few pounds can relieve stress on his joints and decrease pain. Some dogs with lameness from painful, arthritic hips have improved with weight loss alone.

Some veterinary hospitals now offer complementary therapies in tandem with medication. Complementary therapies that may help to relieve arthritis pain include acupuncture, cold laser, hydrotherapy and massage.

Finally, you can make environmental changes that might ease his stiffness. Look for an orthopedic pet bed that offers good support for those achy joints. Some are heated, which is also soothing. Provide steps or a ramp to make it easier for him to get on and off the sofa or bed or into the car. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Don’t worry about

feline whisker woes

-- Does your cat have “whisker fatigue”? It’s been suggested that cats who don’t like eating out of deep, narrow dishes avoid them because they don’t like the feel of their whiskers brushing against the sides. While a cat’s whiskers are undoubtedly sensitive, it’s unlikely that repeatedly brushing them against the sides of a bowl is frustrating to felines. If your cat is reluctant to eat, discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. The cat may have painful dental disease or some other mouth problem.

-- Students at Stanford University will be permitted to have approved support animals on two floors of West Lagunita Court, an undergraduate dormitory. The new policy goes into effect in the fall semester. Support animals are approved on a case-by-case basis. The policy defines a support animal as “an animal that provides emotional or other support/assistance that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.” The university already permits service animals such as guide dogs or seizure-alert dogs. Those animals may reside in any building not designated as animal-free.

-- Most dogs have dark brown eyes, but genetics can affect eye color. Amber eyes, which range in shade from light brown to yellow, yellow-green or gray, are usually limited to dogs with liver-colored or blue coats, but occasionally appear in dogs with black in their coats. Those dogs may have deep copper-colored eyes or a lighter amber shade. Other dogs have blue eyes, which can occur for different reasons. One is when a dog carries the gene for a merle coat, which dilutes parts of the eye and nose pigment. Dogs with large amounts of white around their eyes may have blue eyes as well, as can dogs with partial albinism -- very light coats, pink noses and blue eyes. Finally, some dogs, such as Siberian huskies, have blue eyes courtesy of a separate gene not linked to coat color. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Try out fun sports, perfect skills or just chill at dog camp

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

If you loved going to camp when you were a kid (or even if you didn’t), think of how great it could have been if you’d had your dog with you. Now, going to camp with your dog can be a dream vacation if you love the great outdoors, dog sports, traditional camp activities like canoeing or swimming, or just spending some down time with your best friend.

Dog lovers can find canine-oriented camps across the country, including ones aimed at kids. They go to try out new activities, hone skills their dogs already have or build a dog’s confidence.

“Camp gives you a different way to see how dogs learn and affords your dog the opportunity to try any and every sport of interest to you or them,” says dog trainer Bev Blanchard, who started out as a camper and now teaches freestyle, agility and canine massage classes at Camp Gone to the Dogs in Vermont.

Most dog camps offer a variety of activities, including barn hunt, dock diving, flying disc, herding, lure coursing, rally, tracking and therapy dog training. Others specialize in a single sport, such as agility or nosework. They are ideal for competitors who want to improve their skills in a specific activity.

“The trust, teamwork and focus that was built with my dog in a marathon series of searches -- with lots of breaks for my dog -- could not have been replicated anywhere else,” says Mary Wakabayashi of Aliso Viejo, California, who went to nosework camp with her dog Hina. “The instructors built on what my regular instructors say and gave another dimension and perspective to being a better teammate for my dog.”

Hate the idea of organized dog sports? You and your dog can still have fun. Go swimming, canoeing or hiking, try stand-up paddleboarding, make doggie crafts or just lie under a tree together watching the birds.

“Some people come with their older dogs, and that’s what they do,” Blanchard says.

Here are 10 camps where you and your dog can play to your heart’s content:

-- The mother of all of dog camps is Camp Gone to the Dogs (camp-gone-tothe-dogs.com), which celebrates its 28th anniversary this year. Camps take place in Marlboro, Vermont, or Stowe, Vermont.

-- Camp Dogwood (campdogwood.com)in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, offers camp experiences in fall, winter and spring.

-- Camp Unleashed (campunleashed.com) has sessions in Blue Ridge, Georgia, or the Berkshire Mountains in Becket, Massachusetts.

-- Try “barks and crafts,” learn canine CPR, study dog nutrition or play outdoors at Canine Camp Getaway (caninecampgetaway.com) in Lake George, New York. Human campers will appreciate the on-site bar/lounge and spa.

-- Learn backcountry safety at Canine Wilderness Companion Adventure Camp (citydogcountrydogtraining.com/camps-classes) at Yachats on the central Oregon coast. Skills include trail manners; hiking, camping and kayaking with dogs; and wilderness first aid.

-- Dogs of Course (dogsofcourse.com) offers a three-and-a-half day nosework training camp in Wimberly, Texas, near Austin.

-- Camp is for kids, too. The Canine Coach in Minneapolis-St. Paul has a four-day Dog Camp for Kids (thek9coach.com/dog_camp_for_kids.php), geared to ages 5 to 13. Kids and dogs can go together, or if your home is lacking a dog, a trained dog who is familiar with kids will be provided.

-- Enjoy a rustic camping experience with nearby hiking and mountain biking trails with Maian Meadows Dog Camp (maianmeadows.com/2.html) at Lake Wenatchee in Washington.

-- Six days at Lake Tahoe’s 33-acre Wild Blue Dog Camp (wildbluedogs.org/home) includes Canine Good Citizen training, water sports, classes in Fear Free dog grooming and more.

-- Yellowstone Dog Camp (yellowstonedogsports.com/index.php/summer-camp) in Red Lodge, Montana, offers 90 acres with an indoor arena, hiking trails, ponds for swimming and sheep for herding. Activities include rally, tricks, retriever training, nature walks and flyball.

Q&A

I love you,

I knead you

Q: Why do cats like to knead their paws on our skin? Does it have a purpose?

A: One of the great colloquialisms of our language is the phrase “making biscuits,” used to describe that exact feline behavior. It’s especially appropriate when applied to a cat with white paws -- as if she’s coated them in flour before setting to work kneading the sticky dough.

But cats aren’t imitating our baking habits. Their habit of reflexively pushing their paws in and out on a soft surface such as a lap or blanket is a sign of contentment, one that is linked to a cat’s earliest experience: snuggling against mom cat and suckling her warm flow of milk. (Fun fact: Within two or three days of birth, each kitten chooses his or her own personal nipple, and, with rare exceptions, drinks only from that one.)

The kneading behavior is present at birth. Pressing against the nipples is how newborns stimulate milk production. Even after they are weaned, throughout their lives, cats revisit that behavior. It’s a signal that they are relaxed and happy. Cats also knead at other important phases of their life. For instance, females knead in advance of the mating process.

Cats are extremely sensitive to touch, especially in the area of their paws (maybe that’s why they don’t always enjoy having them handled). Cats who knead humans are delivering an extra-special message of love. Humans who have the magic touch (and a cat’s favor) can induce kneading behavior by petting a cat in her favorite spot, such as between the eyes or ears. If you are lucky, your cat will keep her claws retracted as she kneads your skin, giving you a fancy feline massage. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

7 tips on

rabbit care

-- Considering a pet bunny? Rabbits are friendly, entertaining and can be housetrained. Those traits make them good companions, but they have some special needs. Here are some tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association: Bunny newbies should stick to a single rabbit. Choose one who is alert and active with a full, shiny coat. Have males neutered to prevent urine marking and females spayed to prevent unwanted litters. Rabbits don’t enjoy being held close or carried around and can injure themselves in the struggle to get away. Rabbits require regular grooming, especially if they have long fur. Without appropriate toys and supervision, rabbits may chew dangerous or inappropriate items, such as electrical cords or expensive furniture. Rabbits should live indoors and with good care can live as long as 15 years.

-- If your dog’s nickname is Sir Barks-a-lot, take steps to teach him when it’s OK to bark and when he should hold his tongue. When you want him to stop barking, give a cue for him to do something else, such as “down” (some dogs don’t like to bark when their belly is on the floor) or “come.” Whichever you choose, praise and reward your dog for responding and for being quiet.

-- A fine-tooth comb is your best friend if you’re not sure your dog or cat has fleas. Run it through your pet’s fur, starting at the head and moving toward the tail. If your pet is harboring any of the nasty little bloodsuckers, they’ll be trapped in the comb’s narrow teeth. Check most carefully at the neck and the rear end, both areas where fleas are often found. If you find one, know that there are lots more that you don’t see. Ask your veterinarian about an oral or topical preventive to protect your pet. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Independence Day is a frightening event for many pets. Here’s how to help dogs and cats stay safe and serene

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

What is your pet’s least favorite holiday? If our dogs and cats could express an opinion, it’s likely they would choose the Fourth of July. While we associate it with picnics and parades, our pets are often fearful of the “rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in air.”

Some pets enjoy watching fireworks, while others run outdoors and figuratively shake their fist and yell bad words at the pyrotechnics. But pets who are fearful of fireworks can respond with full-blown panic, jumping through windows or over fences in a frenzied attempt to escape the scary sounds. Others whine or moan, tremble uncontrollably or run and hide in as small an area as possible. Cats typically head beneath the bed, while dogs may curl up inside a dark closet.

“Before she lost enough of her hearing that she no longer minded, my beagle-mix became a shaking, drooling mess every year, including one night when she tried to climb into the refrigerator,” says Eliza Rubenstein of Costa Mesa, California. “Our annual patriotic tradition involved alprazolam and three hours of driving around.”

A pet’s fireworks phobia can take away enjoyment of Independence Day for everyone in the family. For a dog or, rarely, cat whose reaction to fireworks rises to the level of abject fear and panic, the following tips can help them cope.

-- Go for a ride. As Rubenstein discovered, being inside a car seems to help insulate dogs from the noise. Drive to an area away from the fireworks if possible.

-- Get out of town. Susan Rosenau of Bellingham, Washington, lives with two French bulldogs whose reaction to fireworks is “complete panic.”

“We’re planning a trip to Canada for the Fourth of July this year just to avoid them,” she says.

You might not be able to leave the country, but you may be able to send your pet to stay with a relative or friend who lives in an area where fireworks are uncommon. A boarding kennel or pet sitter away from fireworks is another option.

-- Keep pets indoors. Provide a hiding place that will prevent your pet from being exposed to the brightly lit sky and dampen the sound. This may be a covered crate in a room with the curtains drawn, a closet or a bathroom with no windows. Some pets feel safe in the bathtub. Sally Bahner’s cat, Mollie, heads for the linen closet or the vanity in the bathroom.

-- Give your pet a favorite toy to add to his comfort level.

“Our greyhound-mix really liked to be inside and with his stuffed hedgehog on his bed,” says Melissa Frieze Karolak of Cleveland. “I think he taught our terrier that the best place to be when loud noises happen is inside.”

-- Sometimes wearing a snug-fitting shirt or cape offers a feeling of security to a dog or cat. You can also find specially made earmuffs and eye shades to help limit a pet’s exposure to sound and light.

-- Fearful dogs may benefit from a synthetic pheromone called Adaptil, which mimics the sebaceous gland secretions given off by mother dogs as they nurse. It’s thought to have a calming effect. A similar product called Feliway is available for cats.

If your dog’s fear of fireworks is so severe that he can’t function, harms himself or is destructive in his attempts to escape, talk to your veterinarian about medication that may help. Be sure you understand how to use it. Generally, it’s necessary to give medication before fireworks begin. If you wait, it will be less effective. Read instructions carefully to make sure you administer medication correctly. You may also want to ask for a referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

Q&A

Choose pocket pet

hideaways wisely

Q: What are the best ways to “furnish” a pocket pet’s habitat? What are some good accessories to get?

A: Think man cave, only on a smaller scale. Small mammals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice love their hidey-holes. It’s second nature for them to burrow into a tunnel or huddle in a small, dark, enclosed space they can call home sweet home. You can find a variety of hip hutches, tunnels, pouches and even edible hideaways made specifically for your particular pocket pet.

Hideaways reduce stress by giving pocket pets a feeling of security. And pouches or hutches that hang on the cage make it easy to remove the animal from the habitat in case of emergency. Avoid items that hang on a string instead of a chain; pets may chew and swallow string, causing intestinal problems.

Dens that sit on the ground are nice, too. Look for one with a top that comes off or that doesn’t have a bottom. It’s important to check your pocket pet daily for possible health problems such as wet tail or upper respiratory infections, and you can’t do that easily if you can’t get to him. Dens that are made of plastic parts that pop apart are also easy to clean.

Be sure you choose an item that’s an appropriate size. People sometimes make the mistake, for instance, of buying a hamster-size tunnel for a young rat. The rat grows too big for it before anyone notices and gets stuck in the tunnel. Trying to free him is stressful for the rat and the people. Hamsters can also get stuck in entrances or windows that are too small. That’s why it’s a good idea to choose an entrance without a bottom. Finally, avoid tunnels with gaps or cracks that could pinch a pet’s toe. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Salmonella outbreaks

linked to poultry

-- Love to cuddle your pet chicken? The fluffy birds are surprisingly snuggly, but getting up close and personal with them can lead to a case of salmonellosis. So far this year, the Centers for Disease Control has recorded 372 cases in 47 states connected to backyard poultry, such as chicks and ducklings. To reduce the risk, wash hands thoroughly immediately after handling the birds. Supervise children younger than 5 years to make sure they don’t put their hands in their mouth after touching birds, then thoroughly wash their hands. Change clothes and shoes after handling chickens or walking through the area where they’re kept.

-- Walking a dog helps to keep senior citizens fit, according to a British study published last month in Biomed Central Public Health. Conducted by researchers at the University of Lincoln and Glasgow Caledonian University, it found that dog owners walked an average of 21 more minutes per day at a moderate pace than people who didn’t own dogs. The extra minutes add up to a weekly total of 147 minutes, close to the 150 minutes per week recommended to achieve substantial health benefits.

-- Urinary stones are one of the most common health problems seen in cats and one of the most frustrating to deal with. Stones form when certain waste products present in urine become more concentrated, developing into tiny crystals. From those tiny crystals grow larger stones, which have the potential to fill the urinary tract, reducing the flow of urine to a trickle or even blocking it altogether. Stones are most commonly found in the bladder, but they can also occur in the urinary tract, the kidneys or the ureter, the connection between the kidneys and the bladder. Depending on the type of stone, the solution may call for a change in diet, medication or surgery. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.