Living under the cat’s paw? Here are a few pawsome facts you might not know about that fascinating bit of feline anatomy

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Our cats’ paws tap us gently on the face to wake us. They touch the ground silently as cats stalk their prey. They sheathe lethal blades of death -- for mice, anyway.

Beautiful, soft and deadly, paws are an integral part of felinity. Here’s how they work.

A paw is gloved in thin, pigmented skin. This well-designed, soft-yet-tough covering overlays an impressive supply of blood vessels, nerve endings, fatty tissue and connective tissue, which all work together to provide shock absorption, balance, cushioning, insulation and tactile information about surfaces and prey. Their sensitivity also makes them valuable in detecting vibrations of approaching or fleeing animals.

Each paw has at least four small digital pads, often nicknamed “toe beans” for their appearance. The digital pads and the larger metacarpal (foreleg) and metatarsal (hind leg) pads help support the cat’s weight. Cats also have a carpal pad on the backside of each front leg. It doesn’t contribute to weight-bearing, but it does help to provide traction if a cat jumps down, skids to a stop or is moving downhill.

Because cats have greater circulation in their paws than humans do in their feet, they can withstand lower temperatures -- and even snow on the ground -- without booting up. They can, however, suffer frostbite from prolonged exposure to bitter cold.

If you’ve ever looked closely at your cat’s paw pads, you’ve probably noticed that they are a particular color, usually black, pink, lavender or spotted. They can even be different colors. Paw pad color is usually related to the color or pattern of a cat’s coat. For instance, in the ocicat breed, chocolate-colored cats have chocolate-pink paw pads, fawn cats have pink pads and blue cats have blue (gray) pads.

At least two studies have shown that cats have paw preferences when it comes to stepping over an object, going down steps or which side they prefer to nap on. Interestingly, males tend to prefer using their left paw for these actions; females prefer the right paw.

Cats use their paws for grooming and for drinking water. A classic image is of a cat licking her paw and then using it to wash her head, ears and face. You may also have seen your cat holding her paw beneath a dripping faucet or dipping it into her water bowl and then licking water from it.

Paws are communication devices as well. They are loaded with scent glands, which release pheromones that deliver chemical messages when the cat scratches objects.

Paws also tell us how a cat is feeling. If you notice that your cat is leaving damp paw prints on surfaces, it might be a signal that she’s feeling nervous.

“I have seen the presence of a wet paw print left by patients who are nervous during a veterinary exam,” says Julie Reck, DVM, a Fear Free Certified veterinarian and owner of Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill in South Carolina. “Paw pads are one of the only places that have sweat glands in the cat’s body. They are designed to provide a cooling mechanism through evaporation during hot external temperatures, but when cats are scared or nervous, cortisol and adrenaline flood through the bloodstream. Those hormones inadvertently activate the sweating mechanism that was designed to provide thermal regulation to the body.”

Another characteristic of paws is that they have claws. In the case of cats, the claws are protractible, meaning that the cat can extend them at will. (The exception is cheetahs, with semi-retractable claws that act like cleats, providing traction for the speedy cats.) When the cat is at rest, the tiny but sharp sabers are too, cloaked by protective skin folds and fur. Keeping claws sheathed until needed prevents wear from striking the ground and allows cats to move silently on those soft paws.

Q&A

Housetraining hints

for older puppies

Q: We got a Shih Tzu puppy during the winter. It was really cold, so we potty trained her on pee pads. She is now 11 months old. Is there any way she will figure out that she needs to go outside to go potty?

A: You can definitely teach her that outside is the place to go, but it will take some time, training and scheduling.

Start as if she were still a puppy (and she is, mentally, even if she looks full-grown). As soon as she wakes up in the morning, pick her up and take her outside to potty so she doesn’t have the opportunity to use the pee pad. Stay with her and praise her immediately after she pees or poops. If you have a clicker, click immediately after she is done going potty, and give a treat.

Do the same thing immediately after each meal, after she wakes up from a nap or after you’ve been playing with her. If you know when she typically likes to use the pee pad, set a timer so you can take her outdoors just before she would normally use it.

Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether.

Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out.

She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she needs to go out. These could include going to or looking at the door or stairs, whining or pawing at you. Each dog has different behaviors, so watch carefully until you know what hers are. You can read more about housetraining at fearfreehappyhomes.com -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Don’t toss floss

in cat’s reach

-- You probably know to keep things like yarn, string and ribbon out of your cat’s reach, but don’t forget about other stringlike items, such as dental floss. After you’ve flossed, place it into a trashcan with a lid so your cat can’t steal it to floss his fangs. If he swallows it, floss can cause an intestinal blockage, a life-threatening emergency that requires surgical repair. Floss can pass through intact. If you notice it hanging out of your cat’s rear, don’t try to pull it out; you could injure him. Let it pass on its own, and take the cat to the veterinarian if you see signs such as vomiting, appetite loss, straining to defecate, depression or acting as if the abdomen is painful.

-- Pets with hair loss (known as alopecia) may be experiencing a hormonal imbalance, an infection or an allergic reaction. Take them to the veterinarian as soon as you notice unusual hair loss or itchiness. If there’s no obvious cause -- such as parasites -- skin scrapings and bloodwork may be helpful in pinning down a diagnosis. Signs of abnormal hair loss include bald spots, hair loss in a single area or hair loss on both sides of the body.

-- Lovebirds are small parrots popular for their inquisitive, affectionate and lively nature as well as a long lifespan of 10 to 20 years. Nine different species are found in the wild -- Africa and Madagascar -- but the ones primarily available as companion birds are peach-faced, masked and Fischer’s lovebirds. True to their name, they are social and cuddly and do best with at least one other avian friend, although they can also bond with humans. Beware: Lovebirds chatter pleasantly but can also have a loud screech that may not make them suited to apartments with thin walls. -- 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.

Before choosing a breed, research its historical purpose and decide whether you’re prepared to live with its associated behaviors

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

The dog trainer received a phone call from a couple wanting to hire her to help train their new 9-week-old German shorthaired pointer. “You must like those high-energy hunting dogs,” she commented as they spoke.

“No; why do you say that?” the man replied.

She learned that he had chosen the breed because he’d always thought they looked nice, and he wanted a dog to hang out with. The couple didn’t realize that their highly active puppy would grow up to be a highly active dog. They were prepared to walk the dog around the block, not go running or hunting with him.

As human lifestyles have changed, from hunting mammoths and gathering roots and berries to pushing a cart through the supermarket, it’s easy to assume that our dogs have evolved right along with us to have a more relaxed lifestyle. In fact, the brains of different breeds have evolved differently depending on the traits for which they were bred, according to a study (”Significant Neuroanatomical Variation Among Domestic Dog Breeds”) published earlier this month in the Journal of Neuroscience.

That’s right. Now there’s science behind the advice to consider working heritage before choosing a breed.

Researchers looked at brain scans of 62 pet dogs representing 33 breeds. Their findings established that brain anatomy varies significantly in dogs, likely in response to human selection for particular behaviors. “Through selective breeding, humans have significantly altered the brains of different lineages of domestic dogs in different ways,” the researchers write.

Those differences in brain anatomy aren’t simply linked to the dogs’ body sizes or head shapes. Their neural networks are actually different, based on the traits selected for in particular breeds. For instance, breeds that tend to have cognitively complex jobs such as herding or police work have larger prefrontal cortexes, the area of the brain involved with planning and decision-making.

In an interview with Jill Radsken of The Harvard Gazette, lead author Erin Hecht, Ph.D., assistant professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard, said she and her collaborators could see that breed differences weren’t randomly distributed, but were focused in certain parts of the brain. They identified six networks of the brain where anatomy correlated with types of processing important for different breeds: reward; olfaction; eye movement; social action and higher cognition; fear and anxiety; and scent processing and vision.

The finding? Dogs have multiple types of intelligence that suit them for specific types of work, such as retrieving, herding, seeking out scents, guarding and, yes, companionship. They aren’t born knowing how to round up sheep or retrieve pheasants or sit in a lap, but they do have a propensity to learn those behaviors.

So if you’re thinking about a Dalmatian, for instance, know that they were bred to run behind carriages for long distances.

German shorthaired pointer: bred to seek out and retrieve all types of prey in rough terrain.

Border collie: bred to run miles daily and control challenging livestock.

Siberian husky: bred to pull sleds with endurance and speed in snowy, icy conditions.

Beagle: bred to hunt rabbits over hill and dale.

Jack Russell terrier: bred to chase and dig out prey.

Rottweiler: bred to drive cattle to market and pull carts for butchers.

Miniature poodle: bred to be a circus dog or truffle hunter.

Papillon: bred to be companions, but with the highly active nature of their spaniel ancestors.

Greyhound: bred to sprint after and bring down prey.

Labrador retriever: bred to retrieve bird after bird, all day, every day.

Chihuahuas: bred as companions and ratters.

You get the picture. Do your research and choose wisely.

Q&A

Sink the stink!

Reduce urine odor

Q: Ugh! Why does my cat’s litter box stink? -- via email

A: We hear you! Poop can be removed with a scooper, and so can a certain amount of urine if you use litter that absorbs liquid and forms a clump, but the pungent reek of ammonia can still remain until the litter is changed or the box itself is cleaned.

No one likes the smell of ammonia, which has a characteristic odor best described as “decaying fish.” As urine decomposes, ammonia is the primary compound released by odorant molecules.

Urea, the primary component of urine, is odorless, but as it goes through bacterial decomposition, an enzyme called urease forms and converts urea into ammonia. Cat urine tends to contain a higher amount of urea than the urine of other animals, including dogs and humans.

Another chemical compound that contributes to the scent of cat urine is felinine, a urinary amino acid. Like urea, it has no odor -- until it starts to degrade. Then it releases sulfur compounds, known as thiols, that cause a sour odor.

Other factors include the cat’s age and sex. Older cats typically have less efficient kidneys, and that can contribute to extra-stinky urine. Male cats also produce urine with an especially offensive odor, thanks to the presence of testosterone. They also have higher levels of felinine in their urine.

Cats have a highly developed sense of smell. If they stop using the litter box, it may well be because they find the stink as offensive as you do. To keep odor down, scoop every time you see that your cat has used the box, dump old litter after two weeks and replace it with new -- after you’ve cleaned the box with warm water and a mild, unscented soap. You’ll both be happier. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Frenchie aids 49ers

emotional health

-- Zoe, a 1-year-old French bulldog, has become the NFL’s first emotional support dog. Acquired by Austin Moss, the team’s director of player engagement, she hangs out with players and helps them relax, especially if they’ve had a rough day. She’s good for their mental health, players say. That’s especially true for Solomon Thomas, who experienced depression after his sister died by suicide last year. Spot Zoe on Instagram (@the49ersfrenchie), where she already has 2,467 followers.

-- Heads up! Did you know that cats’ heads come in three basic shapes? They are typically round, such as on Persians, exotics, Himalayans and British shorthairs; square or rectangular, as seen in Maine coons and Norwegian forest cats; and triangular, such as Abyssinians, Siamese, Bengals and Cornish Rex. Most random-bred cats tend to have more of a triangular, or wedge-shaped, head.

-- Meet the Xoloitzcuintli (say “show-low-eats-queent-lee”). This hairless dog from Mexico dates to pre-Columbian times and is characterized by a barenaked body; large, erect ears; and a wrinkled brow. A coated variety has short, smooth hair. The Xolo, as he’s known for short, comes in three sizes: toy (9 to 18 pounds), miniature (13 to 22 pounds) and standard (20 to 31 pounds). The exotic, clever dog gives all his love to family members, presenting strangers with an aloof demeanor. To keep their skin in good condition, Xolos must be bathed weekly and moisturized regularly. Sunscreen is a must when they’re outdoors. Coated Xolos need weekly brushing. The best thing about a Xolo? Because there’s no hair to insulate you from his warm skin, he serves as a living hot water bottle on cold nights. Just remember that if you’re bundling up because it’s cold -- indoors or out -- you’ll need to keep him warm, as well, with a cozy coat or sweater.

-- 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.

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.