Rethinking cats and their needs helped shelters save more than 2 million feline lives. They’re not stopping there

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Being in a shelter is stressful -- at best -- for cats. Stress plus crowding leads to illness. And when there are too many cats and too few homes, euthanasia is often the outcome. But two veterinarians, in partnership with shelters, are working to change that equation.

Five years ago, Dr. Kate Hurley and Dr. Julie Levy challenged themselves -- and shelters -- to save a million cats over a five-year period. By 2018, more than a year early, a million cats had found new lives outside of shelters. Since then, more than a million additional cats have followed in their pawprints.

The secret? Providing cats with more secure, healthful and comfortable living quarters, and recognizing that some cats do best living on their own or working a job instead of being housecats.

Dr. Hurley is the director of the University of California, Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, and Dr. Levy is a professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida. One of the key initiatives of the Million Cat Challenge, as they called their campaign, is “capacity for care.” That means not just avoiding overcrowding, but also providing conditions that let cats be cats.

To be happy and healthy, cats need freedom from fear and distress, freedom from illness and disease, and freedom to express normal behavior. Sometimes meeting those needs is as simple as installing portals -- little round doorways -- to combine two cages into one unit. Portals allow cats to have separate areas for sleeping and eating, away from litter boxes. For cats, that’s huge.

“We designed that as an intervention to reduce upper respiratory infection, and we’ve heard from shelters that have reduced it by 90% or more,” Dr. Hurley says. “Upper respiratory infection is a stress-induced disease in cats, so those kinds of reductions speak to not just the health of the cats, but to their mental well-being.”

The difference is visible. Cats play more and scratch to mark their space. It’s still a small area, but because the cats are happier, they look better and stay healthier. That means they find homes more quickly.

Preventing overcrowding by managing when and how many cats come in is also key. Foster homes, behavior counseling and trap-neuter-return programs for feral cats are among the solutions that keep cats out of shelters.

Feral cats are among those at greatest risk in shelters. Not every cat who lands in a shelter has lived life as an indoor pet -- or wants to. Some have grown up outdoors and are savvy at caring for themselves, sometimes with a little help from humans who feed them and make sure they have shelter from inclement weather.

When those cats are brought to shelters, they aren’t going to suddenly enjoy being around humans or appreciate the opportunity to live indoors. Ensuring that they are healthy; vaccinating them (even once can potentially protect them for a lifetime); treating them for parasites or wounds; spaying or neutering them so they can’t add to feline population numbers; and returning them where they came from is one way to help these cats leave shelters alive.

“We loan traps and pay 100% of spay/neuter costs, plus rabies vaccine, if people agree to allow the cats to remain on their property afterward,” says Dee Dee Drake, executive director of Calaveras Humane Society in California.

Placing feral cats on farms as barn cats or in warehouses, distilleries and other businesses where rats and mice may be a problem is another solution. That allows them to lead independent lives without having to interact with humans or be confined indoors.

“I think trap-neuter-return is more and more widely practiced and accessible, and I think that's a hugely positive trend,” Dr. Hurley says.

Q&A

Help your cat

enjoy vet visits

Q: It was always a struggle to get my previous cat to the vet. Now that I have a new kitten, do you have any advice on ways to ensure that I can take him to the vet without a fight?

A: I think one of the reasons people avoid taking cats to the veterinarian is because the visit can be stressful to both cat and human. It doesn’t have to be, though. Here are some easy steps you can take to help your kitten or cat feel comfortable on the way to the clinic and during the examination.

-- Accustom your kitten to a carrier. Leave the carrier sitting open in the house so your kitten can explore it, nap in it and even eat meals in it. Line it with a blanket or towel sprayed with a feline pheromone to make it welcoming, and put treats inside it as an occasional surprise. Reward your cat any time you see him inside the carrier. When your kitten does need to go for a ride in it, the experience won’t be scary. Hint to other readers: You can use the same techniques with an adult cat.

-- Schedule veterinary visits at a time of day when your kitten or cat hasn’t just eaten. She’ll be less likely to suffer motion sickness and more interested in getting treats from veterinary staff. Bring a good supply of her favorite treat, whether that is a store-bought goody, deli turkey or small bits of cantaloupe -- yes, some cats love the fragrant melon.

-- Make the first appointment with the veterinarian a fun one. No shots, just a weigh-in and some treats and petting from the staff. Think of it as a “getting to know you” visit.

You can find more tips on making veterinary visits pleasant for cats at fearfreehappyhomes.com. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Wacky pet names

run the gamut

-- Every year, pet insurance company Nationwide issues a list of the wackiest dog and cat names its members give their pets. Here are some of our favorites. Dogs: Indiana Bones (Mikkel named her dog that, too), Albus Dumbledog, Ruff Bader Ginsburg, Barkardi Gold, Scarlet O Hairy, Nostradogmus, Captain Morgan Freeman, Bilbo Beggins, DJ Skribbles and Bits, and Barnaby Bones. Cats: Wu Tang Cat, Reese Whiskerspoon, Jean Clawed Van Damme, Henry Hissinger, Dave Meowthews, Hairy Pawter, Bunsen Honeydew, Edgar Allen Paw, Jean-Luc Picat, and Tumtum McPuff.

-- Have you met the Tibetan terrier? Nicknamed “luck-bringers” or “holy dogs” in their native country of Tibet, the dogs -- which aren’t true terriers -- accompanied nomadic herdsmen or served as watchdogs in Tibetan Buddhist lamaseries. The shaggy, medium-size dogs, weighing 20 to 24 pounds, are generally mild-mannered and friendly. If you get one, plan to brush and comb the long double coat at least a couple of times a week to keep it tangle-free. It parts down the middle and comes in a variety of colors and combinations, including white, gold, tricolor, brindle and black. Not too big and not too small, the TT has a moderate activity level and can be a good walking, hiking or dog sports buddy.

-- “Making biscuits” is the colorful colloquialism used to describe the feline habit of kneading with the paws. (It’s especially apropos if your cat has white paws that look as if they’ve been dipped in flour.) Cats love to push their paws in and out on our bodies or other soft surfaces because it takes them right back to early kittenhood, when they would knead mama cat’s belly to stimulate the flow of milk. The habit often continues throughout life and seems to occur when cats are feeling relaxed and contented. Got milk to go with those biscuits? -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

Is it time for your dog to retire from a sport or job? The answer is intensely personal and depends on the dog’s attitude and physical ability

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

My dog Harper and I recently flew to Oregon to compete in a nose work trial. I worried a little bit before we left that traipsing through three different airports, taking two flights and participating in a high-level competition on a hot day might be too much for an 11 1/2-year-old dog, but she breezed through all of it with a smiling prance.

But every dog ages differently, depending on factors such as genetics, size, overall health and diet. At other trials recently, owners of 12-year-old dogs told me that it was their dogs’ last day of competition because the dog just wasn’t up to it anymore.

Teaming up with a dog to compete in a sport, make therapy visits to hospitals or other facilities, or do detection work is one of the most satisfying experiences a dog lover can have. It builds trust, confidence and communication between you and your canine pal; fosters happiness and emotional well-being for both of you; and reduces stress in your lives. But like professional athletes, working and sport dogs can have a limited shelf life. They begin to slow down, become injured more frequently or simply indicate that they’re no longer having fun.

One sign that it’s time to stop is loss of enthusiasm.

“With therapy dogs, if they start hiding when you bring out the vest, it's a good indication that they're done,” says Daleen Comer. “Usually evaluators can catch that at the evaluations, which is why it's good that they are every two years.”

Signs that a dog is reluctant can be subtle. It’s essential to carefully watch and interpret body language, or to decide for the dog that all the preparation -- baths before therapy visits, for instance, or waits in the sun between runs or searches -- are too hard on an aging dog’s body.

Health is another issue. Comer’s dog Duffy made therapy visits until he died, but Bonnie retired due to heart problems and Macy retired at 13 when she began to have trouble walking on slippery floors.

Terry Albert retired her 11-year-old dog Tank from agility after they came home from a trial one day and she noticed that two hours later he was still panting. He was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis.

“My dogs retire from agility when they start spending more time recovering from injuries than training in the sport,” says Jenn Stollery.

Some dogs don’t want to give up their work despite health issues. Bison, a Bernese mountain dog, finished his last agility title just weeks before he was diagnosed with lymphoma. “Even deep into chemo, he insisted on carting the recycling out to the curb,” says owner Adam Conn.

If you’re not sure your dog is ready for retirement, a second opinion can help.

“It truly helps to have another pair of eyes to give one an honest appraisal,” says Barbara Brill. “I had asked a trainer to observe me practicing obedience with my then-3-year-old collie. What was I doing wrong to cause her to lag? The trainer recommended I have my dog X-rayed because she suspected a structural fault. I did, and Tiffy was diagnosed with spondylitis. The doctor recommended no more obedience practice.”

Retirement doesn’t mean your dog has to stop playing, though. Many people transition their dogs from active sports, such as agility and obedience, to slower or more low-impact activities, such as nose work, rally, swimming or walks on the beach.

Adam Conn’s Australian shepherd, Pockets, earned her Rally Novice title when she was 15 years old. That level of competition has no jumping and is done with the dog on a lead.

“Until your dog tells you she’s done, let her keep going,” he says. “Even if she runs out of things to compete in, you can still do training sessions.”

Harper? We’re road-tripping to Colorado this week so she can nose around for a good time.

Q&A

Best ways to

catproof home

Q: I’m getting my first cat, and I want to make sure my home is safe for her. What should I be concerned about?

A: Lots of things in your home can injure your cat, make her sick or even kill her. Be vigilant when it comes to the following items.

-- Poisons. Mouse and rat bait, insecticides and herbicides, antifreeze, and medications for yourself or other animals in the home are all substances that can kill cats. If a contractor or landscaper treats your home for insects or other pests, confirm that the products will not be used in areas where your cat goes. Any time a product is applied to a lawn, floor or other surface, keep your cat away from that area until the product has dried. It’s all too common for cats to walk across a treated surface and then lick their paws to clean them. Clean up antifreeze drips immediately, and keep any medications behind closed doors. Parasite preventives made for dogs are often toxic to cats, so don’t let them share.

-- Plants. Some cats enjoy chewing grass or nibbling on plants. If yours is one of them, don’t keep any of the following in your home or yard: azalea, chrysanthemum, crocus, cyclamen, dieffenbachia, English ivy, lilies, philodendron, Sago palm, tulip bulbs and yew. A more complete list is available from the ASPCA or pet poison hotlines.

-- Household items. Cats aren’t as bad as dogs when it comes to gulping things down, but it’s not for nothing that we have the saying “curiosity killed the cat.” Candles, coins, mothballs, nutshells and potpourri are just a few potentially toxic items commonly found in homes. Assume that your cat might investigate these and other items, and keep them out of reach. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Keep dogs safe

at the park

-- Dog park etiquette -- it’s a thing. Here are five tips to help keep visits fun and safe: Take only friendly, well-trained dogs. Let your dog play only with other dogs of the same size; you never know when a dog with high prey drive will decide your little Lulu looks like lunch. Stay home if your female dog is in season. Bring a water dish for your dog so he doesn’t run the risk of exposure to disease from slurping out of a communal water dish. Don’t lose sight of your dog while you’re talking with others; you should always know where he is, what he’s doing and who he’s with.

-- The Balinese is a glamour puss Siamese, with a long, silky coat in color points of seal, chocolate, blue or lilac. The busy, inquisitive cats are outgoing and affectionate, with a quieter voice than their Siamese cousins. They are thought to be the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation for long hair in the Siamese breed, but it’s also speculated that they’re the offspring of crosses between Siamese and Angora or Persian cats nearly a century ago. Except for their long hair, Balinese resemble Siamese, having sleek, muscular bodies, wedge-shaped heads, blue eyes and large triangular ears.

-- Parrots are popular, but how much do you really know about them? The order Psittaciformes is made up of approximately 393 species found in Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Central and South America, as well as other tropical and subtropical regions. Parrot characteristics include a powerful -- painfully so -- curved bill and four toes -- two that face forward and two that face backward, a trait known as zygodactyly. A typical parrot diet features nuts, seeds, fruit, flowers and insects. Parrots commonly kept as companions include Amazons, cockatiels, cockatoos, macaws and parakeets. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

New approach to preventing infection in dogs may stem tide of resistance

Andrews McMeel Syndication

If you've heard that heartworm, a dangerous parasite that can cause serious disease and death in dogs as well as cats, is becoming resistant to the drugs we've long relied on to protect our pets, you've heard correctly.

"Failure of oral preventive drugs is reported most often from the Mississippi Delta area, where transmission rates are very high and resistance to preventive drugs has been confirmed," said Dr. John McCall, professor emeritus in the department of infectious diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "But the spreading of resistance to other parts of the country is just a matter of time."

The threat of heartworm that can't be prevented with our present drugs is not a minor one. Infection with heartworm, a parasite spread by mosquitos, can cause life-threatening immune system reactions, respiratory distress, kidney failure, heart failure and other symptoms in both cats and dogs. However, there's some good news, too. McCall recently published a study of a new two-step approach to fighting heartworm infection in dogs: one that targets both the heartworm and the mosquito that carries it.

"Heartworm is a two-parasite system," said Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, director of veterinary relations for Ceva Animal Health, which makes Vectra 3D, a topical mosquito repellent and insecticide for dogs that also fights fleas and ticks. "Until now, we have not targeted one of these parasites, the mosquito. We've relied on preventive drugs against the worm to do the 'heavy lifting' alone."

This flies in the face of how human public health programs fight mosquito-carried diseases like Zika virus, where the mosquito is always the primary target. Not only that, but putting all your health eggs in one prevention basket will always be less effective than protecting against disease with more than one strategy.

"When you get a flu vaccine, you still take other precautions, don't you?" asked Hodgkins. "You still wash your hands and avoid standing in the air space of someone who's coughing. You know there are other things you need to do to give that vaccine the best chance to keep you from getting sick." It's the same, she said, with heartworm.

When it comes to preventing the spread of resistant heartworm outside the South, or protecting dogs in areas where resistance is already present, targeting the mosquito is a valuable extra layer of prevention.

Resistance is thwarted because the topical medication stops more than 95% of mosquitos from biting protected dogs. As a result, the dog has a greatly reduced risk of getting infected -- and so does an uninfected mosquito, who might bite an infected dog later. That stops the transmission of both resistant and non-resistant heartworm.

On top of that, the repellent and insecticide killed 98% of the mosquitos exposed to a protected dog. That's good news for everyone, including humans, cats and other pets, who would benefit from a reduced mosquito population. "In areas where mosquitoes are abundant, hundreds, and possibly thousands, of mosquitoes can bite a dog in a 24-hour period," said McCall. "The use of a repellent and insecticide could reduce this by 95% or more for an entire month."

While there's no such thing as 100% protection when it comes to living creatures, this double-defense of topical repellent and oral preventive medication is about as close as you can get.

Although cats also suffer from heartworm infection, there is currently no repellent safe for use on them. Owners of both cats and dogs should keep the treated dog away from the cat until the topical repellent is fully dry, usually a few hours after application.

Dog owners can learn more at fightheartwormnow.com, and should consult their veterinarian about how to best protect their pets from heartworm infection.

Q&A

Feline liver mass

usually benign

Q: My 8-year-old cat has been diagnosed with a biliary cyst. Can you tell me anything about this condition?

A: That's an interesting question. A biliary cyst is a large, fluid-filled growth on the bile duct system of the liver. It's the most common type of liver mass seen in cats, but the incidence isn't very high -- about 5.5%. Biliary cysts usually affect senior cats older than 10 years.

Cats with biliary cysts may have a decreased appetite and lose weight. If the mass is large enough -- some can be the size of a softball -- it may put pressure on the stomach and cause discomfort. The condition is usually diagnosed with an abdominal ultrasound exam.

The good news is that the cysts are benign and don't spread elsewhere in the body. The bad news is that they often require surgical removal, the sooner the better. Fortunately, they don't typically invade the liver, so the surgery tends to be uncomplicated.

One potential risk, though, is excessive bleeding, which sometimes occurs when tumors are removed from the liver. Another is if cats refuse to eat after surgery, especially if those cats are overweight. It might seem like a good way for the cat to lose some weight, but lack of appetite is downright dangerous for fat cats because it puts them at risk for a serious condition called hepatic lipidosis. These cats may need to have a feeding tube placed to make sure they take in enough nutrition until they recover.

Generally, the prognosis is good for cats with biliary cysts. Once the mass is removed, it usually doesn't return quickly. Depending on location and whether a cat has complications, the cost of surgery and aftercare can approach $6,000, but a good pet health insurance policy will cover most of the expense. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs, livestock at

risk from algal blooms

-- Summer temperatures continue well into September in many parts of the country. Protect dogs from toxic blue-green algae by keeping them out of warm, shallow, stagnant bodies of water such as ponds and lakes. Those are the conditions under which the algae begin producing toxins that can cause liver damage or failure, leading to death. Swimming in or ingesting a few mouthfuls of contaminated water can kill a dog and can make humans sick, too. Signs of toxicity include excessive drooling, fatigue, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and death within minutes to hours of exposure. There’s no antidote to algae poisoning, but immediate veterinary treatment of symptoms with anti-seizure medication, oxygen and supportive care may save the dog’s life.

-- Vegetarian? Don’t try to get your cat to join you. Meat contains a nutrient called taurine that’s essential for heart and eye health and cell, muscle and skeletal function. Cats can’t synthesize taurine on their own, so they must get it from their diet.

-- The following five tips can help your pet’s veterinary visits go more smoothly. 1. Accustom your pet from an early age to going into a carrier and riding in the car. 2. Schedule “practice visits” to the veterinarian where your pet simply goes in and gets petted by and receives treats from staff so that he develops a positive association with the clinic and the people there. 3. Accustom pets to being touched all over the body so that an exam is less distressing to them. 4. Check in via phone once you’ve parked, then wait in the car until you receive a call that the exam room is ready for your pet to go right in. 5. Bring tasty treats to reward your pet through the exam and any procedures. Find more advice on making veterinary visits less stressful at FearFreeHappyHomes.com. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.