Archives of Q & A's 1999

Please enjoy the archives of letters to Dr. Cookie. We hope you will find the questions & answers entertaining, informative, humorous, inspiring, and insightful!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a one year old Chihuahua (male) and I have recently adopted a Boxer (neutered) who is about three. The Boxer is very friendly towards the Chihuahua and tries to smell him and lick him, but the Chihuahua is very afraid of the boxer. He growls and snaps as soon as the Boxer comes near, and is always on my lap, on chairs or hiding under the bed. Generally he is very friendly towards dogs (he is very used to playing with them) but he is intimidated by big dogs. How do you recommend I help him overcome his fear

Dear Ross,

You are probably dealing with 4 problems: 1) your Chihuahua was not well socialized to big dogs before the age of 3 or 4 months; 2) he is scared of the bigger dog; 3) your Chihuahua was there first and the Boxer is invading his territory; and 4) they are both males and the Chihuahua is used to being king of the castle (dominant, despite his diminutive size).  Ideally, they should have at least been introduced on neutral territory.  These things take time.  Get your Boxer to down/stay when the little guy is near.  Give them both a special treat (cheese is usually popular) only in each other’s presence.  Handouts on Introducing New Pets, Dominance Behavior in Dogs, Territorial Behavior in Dogs are available on the QuickFix Page and would be a good investment for the future peace in your home!  

Hi,

We have a Basset Hound that goes absolutely crazy when we try to clip his nails.  He tries to bite, run away, cries, etc.   Do you have any ideas?

Dear Jody,

Sometimes less is more.  First get him used to having his feet and toes touched, then touched with gentle pressure.  Take it very slowly for a couple of months if necessary.  When he seems relaxed, trim one nail and give him a treat.  That’s it.  One nail.  Take it from there.  Details can be found in the QuickFix handout on ‘Trimming your pet’s nails’!

Hello Dr.,

I recently watched "Pet Love" on the Discovery Channel, which claimed that the reason some cats were more able to become domesticated was because of a certain "calming" hormone that prevented them from being afraid of humans.  Could nervous cats lack some element of that hormone, or could there be a dysfunction of some sort with the releasing of that hormone?

Dear Jodi,

There are many things that contribute to a cat’s temperament and attitude toward people.  Genes play a major role, as does learning (i.e. the cat’s experiences with people from an early age onward).  The circulation of hormones, including cortisol, contributes to a cat’s reactivity and emotionality.  But these hormones are only a part of a pet’s makeup.  Hormones wax and wane, they are released in cycles, and so it is unlikely that they can explain away a cat’s overall attitude.  In addition, some of these hormones are released during and following periods of stress.  So, which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Was the cat’s cortisol level high because it was anxious or was it anxious because the cortisol level was high?  There is a wide range of temperament among domestic cats.  Hormones can’t explain everything.  Thanks for your interesting question!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We own a two-year old Lab and we moved to a new apartment on Labor Day. Recently, our dog has begun chewing anything he can get his mouth on including TV remotes, books, clothes, etc.  We are obviously not around during the day while he is doing this and we have tried pointing out the chewed mess and yelling at him as punishment. He never displayed any chewing tendencies this severe before (the occasional socks-but we could live with that) and we are concerned about the continued destruction. He has become best friends with the dog next door and they play constantly. When we let him out he immediately goes over to their door to search for his friend.  Could this be a contributor to the chewing?

Dear Daniel,

Moving can put everyone in to a bit of a tizzy and it can take time to settle down.  Destructiveness in your absence probably hints at the anxiety he feels when he is left alone (separation anxiety).  He needs to be tired and empty before you leave. Tips and additional background info can be found in the QuickFix handouts on ‘Separation Anxiety’ and ‘Destructiveness’.  The dog next door could be part of the solution if they get to play before you leave and not when you return…And please do not punish him when you come home.  It is too late.  The damage is done (literally) and you are only teaching him to fear your return and therefore increase his anxiety!!!

Dear Dr. Schwartz:

As a veterinarian, how do you feel about non-certified people hanging up a shingle and practicing "animal behavior" after attending a few seminars and reading a couple books? 

Dear Fellow Veterinarian ,

This is one of the reasons that board certification was so important to this relatively new specialty of veterinary medicine.  This field has now become an art as well as a science that requires advanced training and years of practice. I admit it is frustrating that there are so many self-proclaimed ‘experts’ around.  All we can do is our best and hope that pet owners will know that there is a difference in quality of care and in expertise.  Veterinarians around the country are increasingly aware of how important this specialty is and we are grateful for your referrals.

Hi Dr. Cookie,

My husband and I have a little Maltese who is about 10 months old.  We drop him off at my mother-in-law's house every morning, and pick him up after work (she stays at home during the day).  About 2 weeks ago, when I went to pick him up after work, he began to run around barking loudly, and started nipping at my mother-in-laws pant legs.  Then about a week ago, he started doing the same thing at home, when I tried to take him out the door to leave in the morning, he would growl and bark and run back to my husband and bark at him angrily.  He has always barked nipped etc. at the person who he is leaving, never me, who is taking him.   Do you have any insight?

Dear Kristen,  

You say that he has always barked at the person who is leaving and now he has learned to apply this behavior to other contexts.  Aggression tends to generalize (show up in unrelated situations) if it is not immediately corrected.  This little guy needs some obedience training ! Teach him to sit and down and practice coming and going with him on a leash.  He is acting out his excitement in an undesirable way.  It is up to you to teach him how you would like him to behave (my handout on ‘Obedience Training’ teaches you to apply commands to every day problems!).

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My 2-year-old cat Butler has been spilling his water a lot lately.  He moves his dish around when we're at work or in bed asleep.  He's done it every day for the last week or so.  He used to do it only when the bowl was dirty or had little water in it.  But I give him lots of fresh water (Brita-filtered, at that!) every day now, so I'm not sure why he's doing it.  I thought he may do it for attention because he feels neglected, but we've been paying more attention to him lately than ever before!  And I can't think of anything that's changed.  Any ideas? 

Dear Patricia from Bedford, Nova Scotia, 

This is a fun game!  Hmmm, what shall I do now?  Let’s go spill some water, that’s cool, and Mom will come running as a bonus, neato!!! You could get one of those dog bowls that doesn’t spill, or you could put his water dish in the bathtub so you won’t care if he spills it, or you could get a little table top fountain for him so he has running water to play with too!  Enjoy!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a Dusky Cheek conure who has a severe screaming problem. I've tried isolating him and he stops for awhile but when brought back out, starts screaming again. My boyfriend and I are at a loss. I also tried squirting him with a squirt gun and that seemed to work for awhile. But I didn't want to make him afraid of the water. Like I said, I'm out of ideas and it's ruining my relationship. Please help!!!

Dear Tracy,

Did he start screaming before or after you started seeing your boyfriend?  Birds are very social and emotional creatures.  Conures, among others, are screamers and your bird is upset.  Instead of squirting him, play with him!  Build him a little birdie playground with ropes and toys.  Get your boyfriend to feed him little treats in response to remaining calm and quiet.  Be patient, he may think of you as his mate and your boyfriend is stealing you away!

Hi,

I have a rabbit who lives in an outdoor hutch most of the year.  It has a small entrance into an enclosed area that is supposed to be for sleeping(especially when it gets cold out!).  Well, our rabbit poops in this area, and we can't get him to stop.  Do you have any ideas?

Dear Jim & Jody,

Well, you may have decided where he should be sleeping and where he should be defecating but apparently he does not agree and it is HIS house.  Keep his hutch clean and don’t worry about it!

Hi Dr. Cookie-

My homework this week from my Animal Behavior Class is to find out the answer to the question, "Why do cats purr?" 

Dear Bonnie, 

Cats purr because they can!  It is the result of alternating vibrations of the vocal cords and pharynx, as well as the diaphragm.  Cats purr when they are content, but also when they are anxious.  Purring is a gift a cat gives you for your love and devotion.  Each cat has his or her own style and volume.  I can identify each of my cats by their ‘motor’!  How lucky am I?!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Please recommend a small breed of dog for my nonsporting, stay-at-home family. Primary caregiver: 12-year old son with a lot of love to give.

Dear Marylou,

There are many small breeds and many small mixed breed dogs (visit your local shelter!) that would make a wonderful addition to your family.  Terriers are usually high energy dogs and may not be what you seem to want.  All puppies have high energy for at least the first year.  And all puppies should be raised as if they will grow into 150 lb Rottweilers, regardless of their predicted adult size.  Having said all this, consider a Beagle, a Pug, a Shih Tzu, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Miniature Poodle…just a few that come to mind!  Enjoy your search and remember that beauty is only skin deep, temperament and health are the major criteria.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a almost 3 year old Cairn Terrier Male. He is like an alarm clock. 6 am he's up and wants to be walked. He'll jump up and down like he's having a tantrums. How can I get him to sleep in on weekends??

Dear Claire,

It sounds like he has you well trained!  You need to do 2 things: 1) Take him for a longer walk in the evenings and play with him so he is really tired before your bedtime; and 2) Don’t give in to his tantrums, no matter what!  Attention, good or bad, is still attention!!!  

Hi,

Have a 1 year old female tabby, 8.5 lbs.   Has been in the home 2 months.  Keeps cranking her head around and licking a raw spot on her back.  Local vet gave a cortisone shot but cat keeps licking the same spot.  Does not lick other areas of her body raw.  Lives in an apartment with one adult human.

Dear Connie,

Some cats will over groom themselves when they are anxious.  This excessive self-grooming is a compulsive behavior that responds well to a combination of behavior modification and, if necessary, medication (cortisone is usually ineffective).  You have recently acquired this kitty and she is still adjusting to you, but it sounds like you both need some help to ease the transition.  Please let me know if you’d like to set up an email consult…

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Last year we got 2 new couches.  The cats have urinated on both of them.  Now we have to keep them locked up at night.  My husband is getting very frustrated with them.  What would cause this?  We have never seen them urinate on the couch, so it’s hard to discipline them…

Dear Jody, 

Territorial urine marking is seen in as many as 13% of the pet cat population.  One of the favorite targets is new objects, such as new furniture.  You will find many helpful pointers in these QuickFix Handouts: Territorial Behavior in Cats, Inappropriate Elimination in Cats….  I would definitely have your veterinarian take a urine sample from both cats to make sure there is no underlying bladder or kidney problem.  Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Crystal is a 5 year old tortoiseshell spayed female cat.  She is an outdoor cat, and has her own cat door.  Everything was normal until two nights ago when she came charging in the house as if a herd of wild elephants was after her.  My husband and I went outside to see if perhaps the neighbor cat was after her (he is male), but there was nothing in sight.  After a little while she went back outside, but within minutes was back in again doing the same thing.  Now things have gotten progressively worse and as of this writing she will not go outside at all, and if we bring her with us she stiffens up and struggles to get down to run back in the house.  I took her to her local vet yesterday, and he examined her and couldn't find anything physically wrong with her, and he seems to think that perhaps an owl might have scared her, and my husband said maybe she had been struck by lightning or something.  She has not used the bathroom since yesterday morning even though I have a littler box in the house.  I am truly worried about her and do not really know where to turn or what to do.

Dear Jean M.,

It’s a big bad scary world out there.  That is why I do not recommend that any pet be let outside unattended.  Your cat has been spooked by something out there and is behaving defensively.  Keep her indoors, in one comfortable safe room with her own food, water and litter box.  She will urinate when she is more relaxed.  If not, have her re-examined after 48 hours (or sooner if she is acting sick, and not just afraid).  Remember she is an outdoor cat that is not used to using a box very often, but she will get used to it.  Follow her own good sense, keep her indoors!  By the way, animals are injured and killed by lightning but this shows definite lesions and symptoms, none of which you describe!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 6 yr old German Shorthaired Pointer. His tail was never docked. This has never been a problem until recently. We just moved into a new home that seems to have many walls and doorways, which he wags his tail into. He swings his tail so hard the tip of it begins to bleed. He then "paints" the walls with blood. This has been happening almost daily for a month. Are there risks involved in docking his tail now? If so, what are they? Can it scar him psychologically? Our veterinarian believes this may be the only permanent solution. He feels if we bandage his tail and allow it to heal completely, it will only be a matter of time before it happens again.

Dear Steve,

Well, this hasn’t happened in 6 years, so I figure if you get it to stop it may not happen again for another 6 years!  Tails are in constant motion so they can be slow to heal.  I would rather see you bandage that tail then cut it off!!! There are surgical glues, creams that dry as invisible skin-like seals, and several other options to explore (including daily bandages).  Tails are such wonderful things, it would be a shame to give up so soon!  Tails are important tools for social communication between dogs and people to dogs too.  Tail amputation might not harm him psychologically but it would be better to avoid unnecessarily removing it and submit him to a procedure that could be avoided.   Let me know how you do!  

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Since we got him, it’s hard to find something my 6 yr old Boston Terrier like to eat.  He is a very picky eater.  He will eat moist food sometimes but not all the time; he won’t eat dry dog food.  We are feeding him scraps because that is the only thing he will eat.

Dear Megan,

You have answered your own question!  Doggies that black mail you into feeding them table scraps don’t need to eat dog food, do they?!  Speak with your veterinarian about choice of brands, quantity, etc. For folks with your problem, I generally recommend: 1) no scraps, 2) two meals a day, remove the uneaten portion after 15 minutes, and 3) stick with the well-known brands recommended by your veterinarian!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My husband and I have a female Shiba Inu  about 7 1/2 months old.  About 2 months ago, we bought a Norwegian Elkhound, now about 4 months old.     We have been having aproblem with them fighting.  It isn't serious fighting.  You can tell it's play.  But it never stops.  I knew that there would be some fighting for the dominant position but it is still continuing after 2 months.  The Norwegian Elkhound is now bigger than the Shiba and I'm afraid that one of these times she's really going to mistakenly bite too hard.  What should I do?

Dear Rebecca, 

If it is play, it sounds like they are having a good time!  Young dogs need a lot of exercise and these two sound like they are good friends!  My dogs do the same thing (both females, one large breed and one small; photos on the way on the Family Photos page, still under construction!).  If it is dominance, and part of it may well be, leave them alone.  No one is getting hurt and they will work it out!  Enjoy!

Hi Dr. Cookie!

I have a 16 mo. old Rottweiler. I can not  motivate him to run with me, all he wants to do is be dragged along no matter what speed I go. He will walk beside me very well,  but he won’t go in front of me or run along side of me.    He was saved from the POUND and I would like to keep him but I need a dog that will jump in the bed of the truck and run with me.   I live in Ottawa Ks. and have no dog trainers around here to help me so if you can give me any advice it will help.

Dear Terry,

Here are some of my thoughts: 1) Have your veterinarian make sure the dog has no hip or knee problems; 2) Rotties are not marathon runners, they are not built for speed; 3) This is a young dog who is just getting to know you, give him time! 4) Just like any athlete, dogs need to go into training to get in shape, so start slowly, WALK! 5) If he does not want to run, DO NOT FORCE HIM TO RUN WITH YOU, YOU WILL INJURE HIM PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS INJURE HIS TRUST IN YOU! 6) No dog should be riding in the back of an open truck, keep him inside the cabin where he is safe! Please! 7) Why can’t you love this dog and keep him anyway, accepting him for his own abilities?  Take him for long walks, then go on your run, knowing that your buddy is happy and secure at home.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 2 kittens - 8 and 10 weeks old.   The white one (Duchess) is extremely friendly and sociable.  The tuxedo one (Duke) is a fraidy cat. As soon as you get close to him he runs under the nearest piece of furniture.  Duke will hiss & tremble if you manage to pick him up. Eventually (1-2 min) he will calm down and let you stroke  him but the first chance he gets to leave, he'll take it.  He will now come onto the bed when he thinks we are asleep, but as soon as you move he runs away.  What can we do to help him? 

Dear Shelley,

Leave the poor little guy alone!  Not all cats are as tame as Duchess.  Let him come to you on his own terms when he is ready.  You could try feeding him while you hold the bowl but don’t even touch him for a few weeks until he relaxes. Forcing him to be held right now may backfire.  Be patient.  And don’t compare him to Duchess. 

Dear Dr. Cookie:

 I have 2 kittens who are out of control at night.  Can I buy a cage & put them in it to sleep?

Dear Angelique, 

Why don’t you make sure they are tired before you go to bed?  Wake them up if they are sleeping in the early evening, play with them, and if necessary, let them sleep in a guest bathroom or spare room with their own litter box.  You could, of course, just close your bedroom door.  They’ll adjust to your schedule in time…

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Why does my cat lick my skin?  Does it have anything to do with salt ? It doesn't seem to matter whether or not I use hand creams.  When I made up a very salty solution and  put some on my skin she tasted it and soon thereafter jumped off my lap. 

Dear ‘kobwebs’ ,

Your scientific analysis is admirable but the explanation is simple, Dr. Watson.  Your cat’s licking is a form of affection.  She is grooming you!  Enjoy!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a Brittany Spaniel that constantly chews on its front paws, I wonder if this is a nervous condition or what?

Dear Greg,

Mostly what. Licking the paws could be a form of obsessive-compulsive behavior, but it could also be an allergy-related symptom.  If your veterinarian can exclude this possibility, then get back to me!

Dear Dr Cookie    

 I have recently purchased 2 Cocker Spaniels and ideally want to keep them outside in a kennel but i am worried in case they don’t bond with humans. I take them for a walk twice a day and can see them constantly

Dear Janet,

Since you are asking my advice, I will be straightforward in giving it.  I do NOT advise leaving dogs outside, unattended, even in a fenced in area.  Your fear that they will be less well socialized is well-founded but there are other behavior/health/safety issues related to this practice.  Let them out for brief periods, walk them at least twice a day, and keep them with you where they belong!

Dear Dr. Cookie

Our 12 week old kitten plays in his sandbox and meows. He rolls in it like he enjoys it. He seems to be eliminating ok. This behavior has been going on for 2 days. It has us concerned. He is also VERY hyper. What do you think?

Dear C. Francis,

I think he is a goofy kitten who needs more play time, a variety of toys (make your own!), and possibly another kitten to play with!  I also think you should keep your camera loaded and nearby to record his silliness so you can look back and laugh! J

Dear Dr.,

My daughter lives with us and has a cat named Jasmine.  She hasn't gotten Jasmine fixed and therefore she's had 2 litters (I plan to take jasmine myself and have her fixed soon).  Anyway, Jasmine behaved normal with her first litter but, this litter she is being mean.  She has them in my bedroom but she won't let them explore and socialize with the family and our pets.

Dear Diane,

Mother cats can become very anxious if they feel overwhelmed by too much activity around them (that includes visitors, even people they know), or by what they perceive as threats (other pets, for example).  Keep her in your bedroom, close the door, and leave them be.  She may also be sick.  Have her examined by your veterinarian for the presence of any postpartum infection…and get her spayed as soon as those kittens are weaned.  Enough is enough.  Your daughter needs to take responsibility for her cat, or she is not her cat, is she?

Hello,

My neighborhood seems to be full of dogs that people free every morning to do their "dirty work" in everyone else's yard.We have spent hundreds of dollars to make our yard look nice and although I love dogs (we have a 5 lb poodle) they are killing my bushes. One Lilac bush is  almost dead from the large dogs hiking his leg on it.  Is there anything that I can do to keep these dogs from killing my plants? 

Dear THMmom,

I sympathize with your problem, having gone through similar aggravations.  However, short of keeping the pressure on your local Animal Control Officer to enforce the leash law with your negligent neighbors, there is not much else to do.  Consider putting a fence around the bushes, or transplanting the lilacs and other plants that are more sensitive.  Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a Miniature Poodle who always has his penis protruding from his penal covering.  The vet told me that he hasn't been properly groomed.  Well after he was groomed, a week later it was out once again.  I don't know what is wrong. 

Dear Holly,

Your dog’s erections have nothing to do with how well he is or isn’t groomed.  If he is not neutered, he will have several erections daily.  However, in some dogs, the prepuce can be a bit tight and extend an erection. More than likely, he needs to be neutered and you need to stop rewarding his sexual behavior with your attention!  

Dear Dr. Cookie

We have a 5 month old Miniature Poodle who goes crazy when our daughter practices the violin. We had hoped that this would get better as he got accustomed to the sound but it has not. He does not run away from the sound but rather runs towards her whenever she begins playing and begins to bark and howl. Even if we separate them by two rooms he still hears her and whimpers. Is this painful to him ? 

  Dear Megan,

Well, I don’t know how well your daughter plays BUT a dog’s ears are certainly far more sensitive than our own.  It may indeed be physically uncomfortable for him but he should tolerate it in time.  Why don’t you take him for a walk while she practices?  Or play with him? Or practice obedience?  At the very least, practice a down/stay and give him a rawhide bone to chew out his frustrations! 

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a male and a female English Setter I would like to breed but my male just can't get things in the right place, if you know what I'm talking about.  He mounts her and then that's it - there is never an insertion or anything close to it.                                                   

Dear Greg,

Inexperienced males can take time to figure things out.  His behavior is normal.  I don’t know how old they are but the female should be close to 2 years old before she is bred.  You can help him by guiding his penis manually.  Speak with your veterinarian for more information. If you are not an experienced dog breeder yourself, it might be best to have these dogs neutered & leave it up to the professionals.  Your dogs do not need the experience to be better pets...!

Dear Doctor::

We have 1 Labrador  who is now 4 years old. He is a male, black, fixed. His name is Loupo. We bought another Labrador 4 weeks ago, a female, blond, 12-weeks old. Her name is Chloe. They play in the fenced-in yard, though Chloe doesn’t yet the difference between play and hurting. Loupo had obedience-training 3 years ago, when he was about 8-months. Today, I tried to walk both of them outside our fenced-in yard. It was good for a while until Loupo spotted other dogs in the street. He was uncontrollable. Choker, restraint pull or what, he went wild towards the other dogs. Chloe attached to the split-leash tumbled along. It was sheer Hell. The neighbours pulled-in their dogs and scolded me for having a vicious dog. What am I doing wrong? Why did this happen?   Thank you so much Dr.

Dear Werner ,

Loupo’s aggression toward other dogs could be any or all of the following: territorial aggression, intermale aggression, pack defensive aggression, dominance aggression, poor socialization with other dogs.  When was the last time he was walked through your neighborhood?  When was the last time you practiced obedience with him when things were quiet?  It seems important to first define his problem and then work with him to correct it.  I am available for telephone & email consults.  Together, we can help Loupo and perhaps prevent Chloe from copying her ‘big brother’!

Dear Dr Cookie,

I gave my daughter a 8 month old Oriental Neutered Male cat  She also has 3 little boys aged 4, 3 and 6 months.  He won't come out in the day time, but when the children are asleep he was coming out and joining them, lying with them and seemed quite settled.  They had him for a week with no dramas, until one day he got on their bed and defecated on it, since then he urinates on it if he gets the chance.  Is he too distressed and should I remove him?  He seems scared of the children. I've told them to shut the bedroom doors, but he has started to hiss at them if he cannot hide under the bed in the daytime. Thanking you in advance for your help,

Hi Chris from Australia.  It may be too much too soon for this little guy.  How much contact did he have with children during his first few months of life?  This affects him now.  He has just arrived in a new home with a lot of unfamiliar energy and it is normal for him to be anxious.  He needs to feel sheltered in one room so he can build a safety zone from there.  He is marking his territory and that too is understandable, if not desirable.  Order the QuickFix Handouts on Inappropriate Elimination in Cats, Kids & Pets, Moving to a New Home, and Territorial Behavior in Cats.  These will give you all the info you need.  And if not, let me know!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 21 pound 3 year old cat. With two cats, keeping Shekina's food separate has been a challenge. When he was on diet food, it became a constant (losing) battle to keep him away from the other cat's food. The other cat now eats in his own "fort" - we switched Shekina back to regular food and he seems happier than he was, but he is still ALWAYS hungry and begging for food. At feeding time, he just meows incessantly and then sucks up the food he is given at a disturbing pace. Sometimes, right after eating he'll meow incessantly too. We're worried about his size and hate the fact that he so focused on his food. This food battle has been going on for more than a year. Any suggestions?

Dear Jeni,

Cats can become obsessed with food if 1) it is the highlight of their day, and 2) they are rewarded for vocalizing/begging with food.  Dig in your heels and ignore his nagging.  Play with him instead, make him chase after dry food one piece at a time as part of his feeding.  Feed both cats (before he asks you for it) in a different room so they have their own portion.  Control his quantity of food, and his obnoxious behavior, and he will begin to lose weight.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Louie is almost 2 years old.  A beautiful Cocker Spaniel that I adopted from the Humane Society when he was 1 year old   He becomes totally fixated on moving shadows and will tear up grass with his teeth in a mock attack on a shadow.  He seems to be extremely obsessive to the point of not being able to divert him to other interests - even food.  When we go out, I take a ball or frisbee for him to play with and try to keep his attention with that but he prefers shadows.  It doesn't seem healthy.

Dear Vickie,

Shadow chasing, in the extreme form you describe, is an obsessive-compulsive behavior that may be controlled with psychoactive medication and behavior modification.  Louie needs help and so do you.  Please contact me to set up a telephone consult? 

Hi Dr. Cookie

I am looking for a definition of what my vet called our newly adopted adult cat: an "alpha" tomcat. he is a very large male. He was neutered yesterday, but I am still wondering whether his large size &/or social conditioning before we adopted him will make him aggressive with our other 7 adult cats.

Hi Sue.  There is no such thing as an ‘alpha tomcat’.  Social hierarchies in cats are far more complicated than in dogs, or even people.  Their ranks are determined by individuals involved, where they are, and even what time it is.  It is impossible to predict how he will interact with your other cats although size is not necessarily a reliable predictor.  Order the QuickFix handout on Introducing New Pets and Territorial Behavior in Cats to learn more!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 4 month old Shiba Inu puppy. She is great, however, she very fearful of me. She plays with my daughter, and comes to my wife sometimes when called. but I scare her.   I don’t speak in a loud voice to her, and I massage and pet her when I can, and I also give her treats.  She has only been with us a week and she's being less timid around the house. and playing more often than she did at first. We have also stared socializing her with other dogs and people which she does very good at.  

Dear Franky D.,

She may be behaving submissively toward you, which is similar but not quite the same as fearful.  Speak softly, avoid direct eye contact, crouch down rather than stand over her, and give food rewards for approaching you.  She may not have had much contact with men in her formative socialization period but she should come around with your patience & love.  Enjoy!

Dear Doctor,

Recently our neighbors across the street have been fostering a 1 yr old unneutered male snow-shoe cat. I have visited this cat regularly and have fallen in love with it. Unfortunately, my mother says the cat is too old to be neutered without the chance of spraying, and therefore denies me the chance to have this cat. I would love to have this cat for my own.  Is it too late to get this cat neutered so that it will not spray? It has had no problem with spraying before, at least from our neighbors report, but I also have a 4 year old rather large Russian Blue neutered male cat. Will he pose a threat to the spraying as well?

Dear Emily in MI,

Thirteen percent of pet cats mark their territories with urine.  Some of them are neutered, some of them aren’t.  You can’t blame hormones for everything, although they are part of the solution if not the prevention.  Take the cat, have him neutered.  Introduce him gradually to your big Blue (QuickFix topics to order will give you great tips: Introducing New Pets, Moving to a New Home with your Pet, Inappropriate Elimination in Cats) and chances are good things will be fine!

Dear Doc.,

I have 2 English Mastiffs. My 10 month old male is a show dog and we go on 3 day dog shows.  He WILL NOT go to the bath room! We are talking 3 days!!  And as soon as we are home he goes.  What can I do to help him?

Dear Emmaree,

Some dogs are very particular about where they choose to urinate or defecate.  He is still a puppy and traveling away from home to an exciting and unfamiliar environment with so many adult dogs will make him uncomfortable.  He should outgrow this problem, however, this is a good example where training a dog to void on a verbal cue comes in handy!  Tips are given in my handout on House Training Your Puppy or Dog.  Enjoy!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I've got a new cat (a 8 month old female, spayed, shots) from an animal shelter a couple of months ago as a companion for my other cat (5 year old male, neutered, shots) following the death of his companion cat. They bonded after 2.5 days. They get along famously, play together, sleep together in my chair. She sleeps on my lap, and curls up next to me. But this new cat, Grace, neither purrs nor meows. She has opened her mouth to hiss, but no noise, just a vacant gape. She appears to be completely mute. The vet hasn't mentioned any physical anomalies. Are purring and meowing learned behaviors?

Dear Ellen,

Vocalizing is an instinct but there are learned components.  For example, cats learn to ‘meow’ for food! In your case, she may simply be going through a period of adjustment and when she is more relaxed, the purring will emerge.  She may have had a viral infection that affected her upper airways, including the larynx and pharynx, which might also affect the sounds she makes (although this should be a temporary situation).  Finally, she just may be a cat who vocalizes very little.  Glad that things are working out for the new ‘couple’!

Dr. Cookie:

My 7 year old black neutered tom cat brings home pieces of clothing as gifts. He comes and goes via a cat door and is happy, healthy, not too aggressive and even puts up with my baby boy. Anyway, somewhere between midnight and 3 a.m. nearly every night, he drags home pieces of clothing, rags, stuffed toys, and dish towels (he's really big on dish towels). He will try to drag them through the cat door, but mostly drops them in the front or side yard. I even wear some of the t-shirts he has brought. The only problem we have is that, during the summer, he brings live snakes into the house (gardner snakes, only, thank god).

Dear John from Moscow, Idaho,

Well, this is a new one! Perhaps he was a clothing designer in a past life? Or perhaps a flea market dealer? This is very interesting redirected predatory behavior. Sounds like quite a bright boy! You could get a cat door that only allows him out but not in so you can control some of the stuff he collects...or you could just keep him inside :-D !

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 3 year-old neutered male cat whom we got from the pound when he was about four months old. He was unusually aggressive as a kitten, biting my ankles for no reason, and curling around to bite my arm if I picked him up. And if upset he was more likely to attack than to retreat. He grew into an extremely big, powerful animal who never became sociable, did not care to be picked up or held on a lap, and had a very low tolerance for prolonged contact of any kind. We areexperienced cat owners, having had a number of cats of varying temperaments, so we decided to keep him and see if he might calm down as he got older. Well, he is somewhat better with us than he was, but recently we had two successive house guests who stayed in a room he thinks of as his, and he was a menace: hissing, spitting, circling, stalking, blocking their way, hissing at us when he couldn't get rid of the guests, and looking really wild-eyed.He does not even tolerate people who come to the door. I can see no option but to put him down, for the safety of all concerned, but I am having a terrible time with it. I have never put any animal down beforeexcept when it was clearly at the end of its life. This one is young, physically healthy, and beautiful, in his wild way. It is up to me to make this decision, and I currently feel like a traitor, patting him and yet sending him to his death.

Dear Maureen from Grimsby, Ontario,

Many young cats, including my own, go through aggressive phases. If these are treated early enough, the aggression can be significantly decreased. In your case, he is showing severe territorial aggression toward ‘intruders’ in your home. You seem to be fine with him otherwise, despite his untamed behavior. A simple solution would be to crate him in a cat ‘condo’ or a room of his own when you have guests, or even to board him at a kennel or your veterinary clinic. You could even hold him back with a harness and leash although I would be concerned that he turn on you if he can’t reach the guests... euthanasia is not your only answer. Consider contacting me for a consult to discuss all your options. Even if it is just to help you make a painful decision, I am here.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Our cat ( a stray that adopted us in October) had a hysterectomy 8 weeks ago, after she weaned her 1st and only litter (now 13 weeks old). Her mood has changed dramatically, she used to love to sit on our laps, purred constantly, followed us everywhere and was very sweet. Now she hisses, bites, and ignores us and the two kittens we still have and stays away from the house for many hours at a time. Is it hormonal? Will she get over it?

Dear Laurie in France,

It is normal for a mother cat to become aggressive toward kittens at weaning. This is what keeps them away from her so her milk can dry up and she can get on with her life! It is also the time that the kittens begin a life of their own. She may be resenting their presence if she is not a cat that likes to share her territory. You might be better placing the kittens in good homes. She could also be reacting to something outside, and so it might be an idea to keep her indoors once the kittens are gone. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 1 year old cat who is not going all the way into the kitty litter. Instead she goes half way in, then sticks her bottom over the edge of the tray (it's quite high) and
poops on the tracking mat below. The kitty litter has a cover and to use it she must climb in through a hole.

Dear Rachel,

Some cats object to the build up of odors in covered boxes. She may be trying to tell you something! Keep that box extra clean!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My friend has a 3 year old, male, neutered Pomeranian named Fox. He seems to be afraid of everything. He is afraid of feet and brushes and baths, which leads his owners to think he may have been abused. He growls at people often, every time he is picked up, or if someone is putting on his leash. It usually seems like a case of "all bark and no bite," but the other day, when I was babysitting the 12 year old boy in the family, he growled at me and bit me, in a growling and snapping frenzy, breaking the skin in several places, etc. I got him to go to his crate, and locked him inside, until the parents came home only minutes later. This dog can't be taken to public places, has a really hard time meeting new people, can't even be picked up without snarling and snapping, and is a nervous wreck all the time. He has bitten everyone in the family numerous times. Everyone still loves him so much, and he seems to trust them, but anything can set him off, and suddenly, he's barking and snapping at people, and sometimes there doesn't even seem to be a clear reason. Being only 4 pounds, they claim he's not "a real threat" to anyone. My friend, who owns Fox, tells me she's just accepted that this is the way he is.

Dear Meghan,

I find it significant that you are more motivated to seek help for the dog than are his owners. The major problem with toy dogs is often that they are treated like toys when they should be treated like dogs. They don’t know how small they are and are usually not trained the way a big dog would be. Yes, there are certainly solutions. The first would be for you not to jeopardize your own safety by exposing yourself to this little terror. The next step would be to encourage your friend to contact me so she can deal with this problem once and for all.On the other hand, it is only a problem if the owner thinks it is a problem. At the very least, it sounds like you are a good friend to have...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I brought a 10-week old Siamese male kitten home last week. He spent the first few hours investigating, and was shown his litter box and food area. My concern is that when he's not sleeping, playing, eating or being stroked he meows all the time. Is this a feature of the Siamese cat, or could there be something wrong? Either way, is there anything I can do to try to stop him meowing constantly?

Dear Victoria,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Siamese cats. Owners of Siamese cats say they are very vocal. This may well be part of the breed, although I suspect that keeping them occupied and challenged with play and attention will decrease their vocalizations. There has never been a study to really determine whether they actually vocalize more or just more loudly. Certainly, the Siamese voice is distinct. How about another kitten to keep him busy when you can’t?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a one year old female cat, named Mashka. She's usually a great cat, except in the evenings. She starts meowing non stop. It seems as though something is
bugging her. She's neutered so I don't think she's in heat. What is going on with her and what can I do to help her.

Dear Juliette from Los Angeles,

Cats are normally more active at dusk and dawn. I am glad she is staying indoors. This also means you need to compensate for the activity she craves...keep her busy!

Dear Dr Cookie,

I have an ex-tom cat who is about 4-5 years old (he was an adult when we had him desexed) and has a few quirky personality traits. Firstly, when we feed him, he sometimes looks at the food and then at me and won't eat unless I pivot the bowl 180 degrees (the bowl has 2 compartments). He is then quite happy to eat. I tried putting the food in the side I thought hepreferred and sometimes he eats straight away, but more often than not I have to change it. He will also walk away from the bowl I put it in to another bowl and will then meow until I put the food where he is. Also, the back door and the front door are directly opposite each other and he will come in the back door and meow and look at everyone until someone opens the front door for him to go outside (when he has just come in and the back door is still open!) Also, sometimes when I am home alone and he is outside, he will meow until I come and look for him and then he runs to me and rubs up against my leg.He is an affectionate cat who meows and purrs a lot and we all love him heaps and don't mind about the above, but I was just wondering why he might be doing these things as none of our other 3 cats do it.

Dear Kris from Cairns, Australia,

This big boy has you well trained! His ‘meows’ are attention seeking behavior and you have now been trained to perform a sequence of behaviors just because he pushes your buttons! Don’t respond to the behaviors you don’t like, and respond to the ones you do. And give him attention before he asks for it! Sounds like a great guy, enjoy him!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

In June, we found an 8 lb male poodle mix in the road in front of our house. After unsuccessful lost ads, we took him to our vet who said he was about 2 years old. He was certified healthy and we gave him all the necessary shots and had him neutered. Since we already had 4 dogs and 8 cats we put him up for adoption. We had noticed possessive behavior with toys and his bed prior to the adoption. (the bed behavior was almost a sexual ritual-fluffing and humping the bed) He would growl and nip if you came near him. The people who adopted him brought him back after a month threatening to have him put down because he bit the woman when she moved his bed. He is house broken and crate trained and a delight most of the time and very affectionate. He has the cutest personality and gets along well with both cats and dogs. However, this week he grabbed a small chocolatebox and when I reached for it he came at me. That night my husband found him asleep in the closet on his jeans. When he went to pick him up he went through the same aggressiveness and nipped my husband on the hand. This morning he was humping a quilt and when my husband nudged him with his foot and said "StopSammy." , he was bitten pretty badly on the ankle. It is like he has a split personality. We don't know what to do at this point. Do you have any suggestions? We really don't want to have him put down.

Dear Sammy's Mom,

This little guy doesn’t know he only weighs 8 lbs. He was neutered late, which means that he has lots of memories of his sexual urges and experience even though the hormones are no longer in circulation (hence the masturbation and part of his 'attitude'). He has also never been ‘put in his place’ with appropriate obedience training. He needs work, and probably a lot of it. The question is whether or not you have the time to invest in him. Consider my handouts on Obedience Training, Dominance Behavior in Dogs, and Possessive Aggression. They will tell you what you need to know and do... Good luck!

Hello Dr. Cookie,

My 10 year old grey tom cat sits around and licks plastic bags. He does it multiple times daily. Sometimes he'll purr while doing it. He does it randomly -- so it isn't on a schedule or anything [like always doing it after eating or sleeping]. A friend said that it is a deficiency that
the cat thinks he can satisfy by licking plastic. Is there any truth to this?

Dear Stacey from Boston, MA

No, this is not related to any nutritional deficiency. More than likely, it is a form of obsessive compulsive behaviors. I would be happy to make a house call to help you with your boy. I am concerned that the behavior could progress to his swallowing the bags...please email or call me at your earliest convenience? Meanwhile, put away your bags!

Dear Dr. Cookie

Dog behaviorists here in Maine feel that excess protein in dog food contributes to aggression and anxiety. They recommend cutting the dogs protein after 1 1/2 years old to less than 20%. What is your opinion regarding this.

Dear Reen from Maine,

Well, I know that there are no board certified veterinary behaviorists in your state so the people you have spoken to may be dog trainers that claim to know more. It has been proven some time ago that protein has nothing to do with behavior problems, unless the animal is deficient in protein by starvation... Dogs should be on an adult formula food shortly after they are neutered and certainly by the time they are 1 year old. OK? OK!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 5 month old Jack Russell Terrier that I have had for about 3 months now. I have been trying to house train him, but I work a lot and I don't have much time to focus on his training. Over the last month he has developed a nasty habit of backing up until his anus is touching the wall and than defecating until the feces slides down the wall to the floor. Why would he be doing this and what can I do to prevent further damage to my walls?

Dear Adam from Tampa, FL

This is a form of territorial marking with feces. Respectfullyt, I must comment that you are not fulfilling your obligation to him. If you do not have time for him, why did you get him? If you are have no time to house train him, how about his obedience training? JRs can become little menaces if you don’t get a handle on them. Focus on this dog. Order my handout on house training, which includes crate training as an option. Focus on taking him to obedience training, or order my handout on the same. Or focus on finding him another home! At least consider hiring a dog walker to help him get through the day... Hope things work out!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 2 twin brother cats about 9 months old, both neutered. They are terrified of my live-in boyfriend. They were away from him for several months while I worked in a different city, but now we are living together again and they won't come out when he's in the apartment; they sleep in their carrier or the litter box. The other night we came home and they were on the chair with no place to run, and they were shaking as he got close and when he reached down to pet one, he got so scared he piddled. They aren't scared of anyone or anything else, not even the vet. He promised to be nice to them, but I want to know if there's any hope of desensitizing them so we can all get along. How should I go about doing it? Or should I give up? Please help!

Dear Alyssa from North Dakota

I wonder if your boyfriend scared them, unintentionally or not, when he reappeared in their lives. If you need to ask him to ‘promise to be nice to them’ he may not have been (perhaps the cats are aware of a problem that you have not yet discerned?). They may have been particularly scared when they moved to your new place and this could have sensitized them to any intruders. Confine them to one room and let them regain their confidence. Only you should go in there for a few weeks. Then, bring them out one at a time when things are quiet and hold them while your boyfriend pets them and gives them a special food treat. I can give you a step by step plan with all the details but I’ll need more info so please don’t hesitate to set up an email consult, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a beautiful red Australian Cattle Dog. He is great companion with a lovable personality. When he was a puppy, he was obnoxious and playful towards other dogs, until a Rottweiler I was keeping attacked him. There were no injuries, but since then, he is afraid of all other dogs (except for the huge German shepherd my dad has). Even my grandmother's Shih-tzu has him rolled on his back and submissive. I love my dog, and always will, but is there a way to take away his fear of other dogs?

Dear Justin McGraw,

Your puppy was traumatized and is acting defensively. His submissive behavior is his way of being safe rather than sorry with any unfamiliar dogs. This is not necessarily a bad thing! Keep exposing him to other friendly dogs so he can build healthy new relationships. He will relax with dogs he knows and perhaps lose some of his fear over time.

Dear Dr. Cookie--

My 7-year old mixed breed is very sweet and well-behaved, and adores walks.Suddenly, though, when we go out together she sits down at the bottom of the porch stairs and absolutely refuses to go further. She does this only when my husband or I take her alone. When we all go together or some other friend or neighbor goes along she happily leaves the yard with us. I'm at wit's end because I know she really enjoys walks (so do I!). Why would she suddenly impose this weird restriction upon herself?

Dear Bryna from North Carolina,

It might be wise to have your veterinarian examine her for any underlying physical problem, just in case. In middle age, she may have some stiff or sore joints for example that make walking without real incentive a bit of a challenge. If she checks out alright, you could bring smalls bits of a dog biscuit (remember, Dr. Cookie believes that an occasional cookie is a good thing!) or tidbits of cheese along as incentive. Vary the walk and take her to a local park where she can play with other dogs. Summer heat could be affecting her, too. Let me know how you do!

Dear Dr Cookie,

Our neutered 8 year old male cat "Joe" has started "mating" with teddy bears, fluffy dog slippers, any stuffed toys lying on the floor. He has just been doing this for the last two months. He was neutered at around 5 months old. Is this behaviour normal? Can we do anything to stop it? Does he ejaculate? Please help because we don't need anymore teddy bears bred - we have enough as it is!!!!!

Dear Fleur & Hannah (concerned mum & daughter!!),

Tell your daughter to pick up her toys! ;-D I have a detailed handout on this topic you would find interesting...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We adopted 2 littermate cats about a year ago. They were 2 1/2 year old at the time we got them. One developed medical problems and is no longer with us. The remaining cat, Boo-Boo was very lonely with the loss of her sister and about a month later (early April), we adopted a male kitten. The two have been getting along fine, but recently (since early June), Boo-Boo has been defecating in an inappropriate location whenever we leave the house for more than a few hours or close the bedroom
door at night.

Dear Stephanie & Tim

Separation anxiety does exist in cats but your boy kitten might be harassing her in your absence (male kittens play more roughly than females). You may also need to keep that box cleaner, and in fact you should have at least 1 box per cat. A detailed discussion of Inappropriate Elimination in cats can be found in a handout on the QuickFix page.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 8 week old Lab pup tries to mount people's legs. It's embarrassing to them and to me. Why would such a young thing do this and how can I discourage this behavior?

Dear Gemma the New Puppy Mom

Dominance behavior is normal but should be discouraged when directed toward people. QuickFix handouts you should order: Obedience Training (will help you to apply the skills to every day situations such as the one you describe) and Dominance Behavior in Dogs. The handouts are a valuable resource for pet owners so try ‘em, you’ll love ‘em!

Hello, Dr. Cookie,

I wonder if you could give us some advice. We have a 1 year old male Westie who has had a perfect temperament. Over the last few weeks, however, we noticed quite a bit of aggressive behaviour towards other dogs. At first we thought it was only when he was on a lead but it is getting now to the fact we are worried whenever he is let off (which is every day up the downs). Due to the fact we are expecting our first baby in a month we sought advice last week from our vet explaining he situation, and
he advised us that neutering would not be necessary at this time.

Dear Nicola from the UK,

Neutering will certainly help to curb interdog aggression and I’d advise this as soon as possible. However, hormones are not entirely responsible for his aggression. He should also be better controlled overall so some serious obedience training would be in order. This is important to do prior to the arrival of your child. Information is available in the handouts on Introducing Pets & Kids, Obedience Training...Keep him on a leash until things are sorted out, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 9 and 1/2 year old Yorkshire Terrier, but the little monkey eats her stools constantly. I tried everything with her. Our Vet told us to try this powder stuff, which we gave Gypsy but it did not work. She has been doing this for ever, we try and pick them up as soon as she does them but sometimes she is faster then we can pick them up.What can we do?

Dear Brenda from Gatineau, Quebec (Canada),

The only thing that works reliably to stop coprophagia (the ingestion of stools) is to prevent the opportunity. I suspect that if your Yorkie was on a leash you would be able to pull her away from the stool, and give her an alternative delicious treat to enjoy while you pick up her little package. If necessary, walk away from the area and return to clean up once she is back inside. A complete discussion on Coprophagia can be found in the handout on Elimination Problems in Dogs. Bonne chance!

Hi Dr. Cookie:

I have a 2 1/2 yr old terrier. He is an extremely loving and caring dog. However, he has been killing squirrels and birds. Last week he caught a kitten and killed it. A couple of days later he ran over to sniff a dog and then grabbed it by the neck and shook it. Thank god the other dog was okay. I spoke to a behavior specialist at the humane society. They basically said that due to the fact that I have a one yr old and am currently trying to conceive that they do not recommend we keep him. How do I know if this is just a dog being a dog or predatory aggression that could turn on my children? He is a very loving member of our family and to have him put down seems cruel. Please give me some insight I would be forever grateful. I have been sick since speaking to the humane society and can barely eat or sleep.

Dear Kym,

Predatory aggression is a natural instinct in dogs. Terrier breeds were primarily bred to hunt small game or pests that burrowed into the ground (terra=soil). For instance, the Jack Russell was bred to hunt rats. But most dog breeds were developed to hunt something (Dachshunds were bred to go after badgers, Poodles to retrieve water fowl, Foxhounds to go after fox...). When the predatory instinct is uncontrolled, as it is in your dog, you need to look into gaining better control over the dog. Restraining him on a leash, in a penned in area of your yard, bells on his collar, even walking him with a basket muzzle may be necessary. Give him another ‘hobby’ such as agility training or field training (hunting after ‘fake’ prey). His aggression toward the other dog may have been instigated by his recent predatory escapades but it could be another type of aggression, too. Not every dog that is a skilled hunter will attack children but statistically the risk of aggression generalizing toward other defenseless creatures remains. Before you do anything drastic, please read my detailed handouts on Predatory Aggression and Children and Pets. And get some sleep!

Dr. Cookie,

Our Lab has a habit of licking her forearm down to raw skin. We have had two collars already. The leg will heal and we remove the collar and she goes at again. What can we do!

Dear dlfloyd,

Psychogenic licking (formerly called acral lick granuloma) is a form of obsessive compulsive behavior. However, it is important to make sure there is no other skin pathology. You report that the leg does heal when she is prevented from licking herself so I suspect it is a purely behavioral issue but a biopsy might be worthwhile to confirm this. Obsessive licking responds well to behavior modification and psychoactive medication. Won’t you please consider contacting me to set up a telephone or email consultation?

Dr. Cookie,

We have a 1 year old 5 lb. male Maltese. Three weeks ago we bought him a playmate, a 7 week old Shih tzu/Bichon cross male who came from a litter of 8. From day one, the pup showed his teeth and nipped aggressively towards our Maltese. The puppy goes for our Maltese's neck under the jaw trying to take out a chunk of skin but usually ends up with a mouth full of fur. As of a week ago our Maltese has been letting the puppy know that enough is enough. He growls and shows teeth but this seems to get the puppy more angry and he refuses to let up. When my husband and I pull the pup away from the hind legs, he goes right back to the Maltese with more spite. This is definitely not puppy play and I think our Maltese knows it also. Our Maltese will timidly try to approach the pup at times but the pup goes to bite him, showing teeth and growling. We treat them both equally, as in what one gets... the other gets also. The pup appears to have no fear of our Maltese and we are frightened that when the pup grows, he will do serious harm to our Maltese. I have spoken with the breeders and they are just as stunned by that behavior as we are, as both these breeds are known to be non- aggressive.

Dear Dan & Linda from Canada, eh!?

Aggressiveness can occur in any dog breed. Your puppy sounds like an unusually assertive dog. Despite your best intentions of finding a companion for your Maltese, I suspect he would say he was perfectly happy before this little terror arrived. Be kind to your first baby. Return the Shih tzu so that he can be placed elsewhere (as a single dog in a home with no children and with owners who have lots of experience). I am always concerned when I hear of this much aggression in such a young pup. It is never a good sign of what can be expected down the road.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I went away for our Honeymoon and I left my cat with my Aunt for 2 weeks. My cat is "Pumpkin," she is about 5 years old, and she is very attached to me and I am very attached to her. I would talk to her a lot and say "how are you my little pumpkin" and sweet things like that. I felt bad about leaving her - my aunt has an old cat and now she has a dog. My cat was scared of the dog and my Aunt said Pumpkin was always hiding. My Aunt called me today and said Pumpkin died. I am so sad and shocked. She found her in the basement under the steps in a half opened little closet. She said her paws were crossed and her head low and her eyes open, but she wasn't breathing. My Aunt did not tell me until today and I need to know why, how she died. I know she was under a ton of stress being there and was heart broken without me. She was a very pretty cat and healthy. Can you tell me what happened?

Dear Sabrina,

What a sad story and on your honeymoon, too! Sweetie, I don’t know what happened. You could play Monday morning quarterback and wish you had left her elsewhere, or perhaps not at all. Sometimes, though, extreme stress can trigger a medical problem that was subclinical, meaning there was a problem that had not yet surfaced. An autopsy might be helpful in determining the cause of death and this might help you to get over your guilt. I know how painful this must be, but you must let her go. She is at peace. This was not your fault. You have a right to live your life and be happy. Pumpkin’s loss must not be allowed to detract from your new life. Keep your happy memories of her with you always. And concentrate on making new ones of your own.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Love your column. I have 14 cats. All strays which are all fixed. One of my cats, a calico has a hard time around the other cats. She starts to growl which sets off the others, who in turn attack her. She gets so upset and frightened that she urinates on top of my stove and sprays all over the house. I really don't want to put her down but she is wrecking the house

Dear Robin from Newmarket.

I hope you will not put this little calico down. It is not her fault that she does not fit into your colony. That’s the luck of the draw. I suggest that you find her another home, or set her up in her own room where she can feel safe in her own little territory. Fourteen cats is a lot of cats. Consider that you are lucky that only one is misbehaving and having adjustment problems. Help her, please don’t harm her! Thanks, I know you won’t!

Hello Dr. Cookie,

Six days ago we caught some feral kittens about 5 weeks old. We will foster them until old enough to adopt out. All 3 are loving to my husband and me. One is still afraid around strangers. This kitten is also a female who is larger than her two brothers. When they play fight she easily dominates the littlest kitten. She plays rough, bites and will not let him go when he cries. Do I need to fear she will hurt him? They are in a cage with about 11 square feet of floor space. I take them out at least once a day to run around the kitchen while our adult cat is closed in the bedroom. Do they need more space or run time?

Dear Pat Paris,

There is a phenomenon called ‘masculinization’ that occurs when a female is born in an otherwise all male litter. We don’t know exactly what happens but the suspicion is that this female is bathed in testosterone in utero...Your little kitty sounds pretty butch but she could also just be taking advantage of the runt, who happens to be a male. Sometimes, it is best to separate the weakest so that they can catch up on their own time. Consider placing the little guy with another foster litter or simply place him in his own pen with lots of dangling toys. Hope you find good homes for these little guys! Congrats on your efforts.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My mother's cat, female, approx. 5 yrs. of age, was in an open window with a screen in it. Another stray cat was outside. Mom's cat started meowing a lot. She went to the window to see why she was meowing...her cat attached her and bit her arm. It frightened her, she grabbed a pillow and put it up to the cat. The cat attacked the pillow. Mom closed the window and has not opened it since. Her cat is the most wonderful, loving cat I have ever met. She brushes her and picks her up. Very mellow cat. Could you tell me why the cat bit her? Mom is afraid of her now. I need to explain why kitty bit her.

Dear Sandi,

Redirected aggression occurs when the intended target is unavailable. The aroused cat then lashes out, quite literally, at the nearest available target. Your Mom was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her cat was probably outraged by this territorial intruder, which is a big deal to a cat! It can take them several hours or even days to calm down in extreme cases. If this window looks out onto an area where outdoor cats frequently parade, it is probably best to make that window inaccessible or put a frosted acrylic cover over the lower pane that allows light to come through but no clear view of what lies beyond.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 1 year old female Great Dane. We rent a basement suite to a couple with a 6 month old male Great Dane. He is quite aggressive in play and at one point wore a muzzle due to the fact that he bit our Dane's neck and left several puncture wounds. They feel it is okay for our dog to correct him but "to a point". If it appears she is over zealous, as the young male refuses to submit, she is pulled away and held back. At this point the young male generally gets very aggressive and "goes after" the female. He also does a lot of barking, growling, and biting to entice play behavior. I feel she should be dominant and backed up for dominance, they feel he should be dominant per his personality and eventual larger size. Is there a right way to deal with the situation before it escalates?

Dear Nancy,

Eventually, the male Dane sounds like he has the temperament to take over not just your female Dane but everyone else, too, and over indulgent owners are not helping him or you. Play aggression is generally inhibited and does not usually result in such injuries as you describe. It is unwise to interfere when they are trying to work it out because it delays resolution (see my handout on Dominance Aggression, includes details on how to resolve this situation). However, if they are getting injured I think it would be wise to keep them separate and let this boy get it on with other dogs that can put him in his place on neutral territory such as a park. He may be dominant but your dog has territorial priority. If his owners are unable to control their dog at this age, what is coming down the road? You might want to consider tenants with a Beagle... Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have two Himalayan cats, aged 8 mos. They are not litter mates but were born and raised in the same household. The male was castrated at 5 mos. of age. At 6 mos. he started spraying the walls where the food and litter box is. I have not noticed any other areas. Being a Veterinarian, their litter box is kept clean. Any suggestions?

Dear Docrw673,

Some cats are prone to marking with urine, and if the circumstances are right, they will do so. This has nothing to do with whether or not they are neutered, although neutered cats have one less motivating factor (sex) to mark. I notice the following: you have 2 cats but say you have just 1 box! You should have at least 1 box per cat and if there is a problem you should have more. Also, how close are the food dishes and litter? They should be very far apart (6 ft. or more) since cats will often not void where they eat. Start with these suggestions...

Dr. Cookie,

Do you have any information on a high frequency sonic deterrent for donkeys that bray throughout the night and early morning? I live in an agriculture zoned area which is mostly residential with one acre lots. The adjacent property has many animals, of which the braying donkeys wreak sonic havoc. I am at wits end and thought something with high frequency would provide a Pavlovian effect to curtail the noise. Is there any merit to my idea? Do you have any suggestions? The owner of the animals is not very helpful.

Dear Ann & Allen,

Braying donkeys can’t be much fun when you are trying to sleep (or any other time for that matter!). I don’t have much confidence in sonic deterrents for behavior problems in general. Why they are braying? If these donkeys are not neutered it may be mating season. Contact your local Animal Control Officer who is trained to intervene on your behalf with your neighbors.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a healthy pure breed yellow Labrador Retriever. Recently I have had to drive him places and for some reason his mouth gets full of saliva and it is almost like he is frothing. He usually shakes his head to clear his mouth and by doing that his saliva is thrown all over my car. Is there a smell in my car that bothers him? Can I do something to help?

Dear Manesh,

Sounds like one of 2 things. Either he is getting a bit carsick (excessive salivation can be a symptom of nausea) because he is not used to car rides, or he is really excited about going for a ride (drooling can also be a ign of excitement)! Does he seem anxious, or is he a big goober Lab that is all pumped up and ready to go? Take him for short trips more frequently, making sure you go somewhere fun. He should get over this in no time...

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have 2 Golden Retrievers. Noel is about 3 years old. She was adopted from the Humane Society when she was about 18 months old. I had two initial problems her. The first July 4 that we had Noel (last year), we discovered that she was fearful of loud noises. To say she was freaked out would be an understatement. I contacted our vet and got her a prescription for medication to keep her calmer during the holiday. This helped somewhat, but Noel simply has not been the same dog. Since then, she has been more inclined to behave nervously and frightened - she pants, paces and follows me everywhere.Two weeks ago, our neighbor's son was firing a paint gun. It makes a noise akin to a firecracker. Noel was frantic - long after the couple of noises. She even tried to dig under the fence in our back yard (this has never happened before). Since that time, she has become unable to tolerate anyone outside of the family to be in the house. Also, her fear of new people has gotten worse. She pants, paces, refuses to listen to basic commands, and follows us around constantly (to the point that my own nerves get frazzled). She will go to her crate, only to come back out, as if she just can't stop the movement. Noel refuses to leave my four-year-old daughter alone. She trails her everywhere she goes, often knocking her down in her need to be closer closer closer. Even my oldest dog has been seen trying to 'shake' Noel. My fear is that Noel has become so frightened that aggression is not far behind. I have done some reading about behavior modification techniques and also wonder about medication that can help her. What more can I do?

Dear Tami,

What you describe is a generalized panic disorder triggered by an initial terrifying event (Fourth of July). You describe a classic phobic response that has since generalized to many triggers. I would agree that in such a complicated case psychoactive medication may be part of her treatment. Many dogs have excessive fear responses to loud noises and this can often be treated with a behavior modification problem. In Noel’s case, however, her anxiety level is so high and she is sensitized to an escalating degree. Please contact me so we can set up an appointment to help your poor puppy...Fourth of July is here again!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a 5 month old Shiba Inu. Cody is very fearful of strangers. He began this behavior about 3 weeks after we got him at 9 weeks of age. I have socialized him from the time we got him, i.e. puppy preschool for 6 weeks, I take him to the park, my grandson's baseball games and practice, etc. I currently have a trainer working with him and he advises using the phrase "Cody, make friends” and giving him a piece of cheese. This works well with family members and friends but he will not take a treat from a stranger. I walk him 3 times a day and many people approach him. I was trying to coax him up to people but just recently have stopped and just let him stand by and check them out.

Dear Muffin 0228,

Many pups go through a shy phase. I would not force him to interact with everyone. Sometimes, a shy pup can be pushed the other way with too much socializing...it might be wise to build his confidence and limit his social exposure for a few weeks. I don’t see the usefulness of the trainer’s phrase but it would be helpful to reward his friendly behavior. Cheese might not be his favorite or he might be sick of it so make his food tidbit something very yummy (a tiny piece of freeze-dried liver for doggies is something my dogs love!)... Make him sit and stay to earn his reward, which is opposite to running away from people. Above all, be patient!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Hello from a fellow Montrealer! We have 2 male cats, Oreo who 5 years old, and Tiger who is 3 years old. The problem is with our little Tiger, he likes to chew on electrical cords. I went around the whole house and hid & taped away all the electrical cords. And which ever wires I could not "put away" out-of-site, I sprayed with bitter apple. Tiger, as it turns out, doesn't mind the bitter apple taste! This is a very dangerous thing that he is doing...I read in a book to try put some Tabasco sauce on the wires. I'm worried about doing this, it seems particularly cruel. What do you suggest? I just adore my cat and am
so worried that he will hurt himself!

P.S. Love your website, what a terrific resource!

Dear Alissa from Montreal,

Well hi there, eh?! I definitely agree that this is a high risk behavior. The problem with aversive tastes applied to electric cords is that a) the cat could develop a taste for Bitter Apple® as well as Tabasco®..., and b) he still needs to bite into the cord to get the ‘punishment’. In my opinion, the best solution for this dangerous habit is to prevent opportunities. That might mean closing off rooms and placing commercial wire covers on the cords (the kind they have in offices so chairs can roll over them...). Also, give him other stuff he can chew (more variety in toys, a patch of grass you grow just for him...).

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I adopted a 2nd Greyhound 1 month ago. She has had 3 urine accidents and 1 poop accident, she does go outside to the bathroom but also goes inside with no warning of her having to go. She seems well adjusted otherwise, she eats and gets along with everyone in the house, I wonder if she is a "problem" dog or just need a little more time to adjust to us. She is crate trained, but I hate to keep her in there all the time.

Dear Schmidt63,

My heart goes out to retired racing Greyhounds. What a hellish existence they live until they are adopted into loving homes. Patience, she has only just arrived. Don’t keep her in a crate, keep her with you! Take her out for a walk every 2 hours and give her lots of praise for voiding outdoors. Remember she was not a pet and never house trained. Just give her ample opportunity to earn your praise (lots of walks) and she’ll catch on. These sighthounds have more nobility and sensitivity than any of the people that ‘use’ them. You already know that. She will prove it to you in no time!

Dr.Cookie:

We have a 4 month old Rottweiler/Shepherd male we acquired from a shelter 2 mos. ago, had Parvo when we got him but is physically fine now. Wish I could say the same for the couch and mattress he ate holes in, not mentioning the WALL he has ate or the carpet!! Also potty breaking problems. Behaviors are at night (have tried kenneling but he cries and scratches at door until pads bleed). I have had many types of dogs of my own, as well as did fostering, but am at wits and budgets end. This pup belongs to my son and they are buddies, he gets lots of attention, has a large yard to play in, is walked daily, and taken hiking once a week, has toys galore and a playmate, my 6 mo old spayed Chow/Shepherd. Any ideas other than a second job and hair replacements for the ones I'm pulling out?

Hi Donna,

Golly gee! Take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay! This pup has classic symptoms of separation anxiety which occur at night when he is kept away from his favorite people (because they are sleeping and can’t pay attention to him). Separation may be more of an issue with shelter dogs, for obvious reasons, but they almost always calm down in a loving home. Besides, he’s just 4 mos. old, and what you describe is not uncommon in unsupervised puppies with energy to burn either. Try putting his crate in your son’s bedroom, or leashing him to your son’s bed. Give him a little rawhide bone at bedtime and make sure he is tired enough and ‘empty’ before his lullaby.

Hello Dr. Cookie,

I have two 1 and 3/4 year old adorable Lhasa Apsos. They are for the mostpart very good dogs. The problems that I have with them is their excessive barking when outside in our fenced in yard and they see neighbors in their yards. Don't know how to stop them from barking so much? We moved into a new home last August and the problem we are having is that they can be outside in our yard for hours on end and then they come in and urinate on the carpet. They also do this if they are left out of my daughters room and the rest of us are sleeping still and they have been left outside already. They are also still going to the bathroom in our basement - game room area when we are gone from the home. I really don't want to get rid of them, but we are remodeling our home.

Dear Kim,

These 2 problems are related in that you never got these pups on a leash walking schedule so that you could reinforce them for eliminating outdoors. Dogs that are left outside and unsupervised for extended periods (more than just a few minutes) frequently regress in house training (if they ever were house trained) and become barkers. Remember that Lhasas were bred to be watch dogs, so in a way they are doing their job. But if they had other activities (2 long daily walks on a leash, obedience practice with you every day, structured play, etc.) they wouldn’t be so reactive. Order these 3 handouts on House training your puppy or dog, Territorial behavior in dogs, Why it’s important to walk your dog. It will give you all the information and tips you need.

Dear Dr.,

We have a new male puppy, 7 weeks old who is a Lhasa Apso. He is absolutely adorable & smart but loves to bite. I have spent major $$ on toys for him to chew, however, he is biting our hands, arms, toes, ears - basically anything he can get his teeth on. Any discouragement only seems to motivate him to thrash back and forth with our flesh in his mouth, causing great pain. At first it was cute, now it's painful & concerns me. We have tried ignoring him when he bites, saying no bite and holding his mouth shut, but to no avail. I think that he sees our hands and bodies as just another play toy, he isn't mean but underestimates the power of his teeth & bite. Our veterinarian says that we should have him neutered early - and that should help. May God richly bless you in all that you do,

Dear Julie,

This much persistent aggression in such a young pup worries me, too, particularly when he ‘retaliates’ against punishment. Neutering will not impact his basic temperament. He is a very dominant little guy but he is also undaunted by your reprimands at only 7 weeks! Your correction of holding his mouth gently shut is appropriate but he needs more convincing. You should be prepared (whenever he behaves this way and react immediately) to do the ‘alpha roll’. Wearing gloves as protection (if you can, in advance of his tantrums), swiftly roll him onto his back in a submissive posture and hold him there until he goes calm and limp, which might take up to 10 minutes or so. Don’t let him roll over until he is limp or he will be reinforced for his efforts. This exercise is appropriate only for very young puppies. If you do not see any change in the next 2 or 3 weeks, you should return him to his breeder.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 14 year old male cat (Snow) is white, deaf since birth, and now diabetic within the past year, will not stop urinating every day in various areas of my carpet since he was diagnosed being diabetic. He has had many tests done for urinary infections, kidneys, liver and all have proven negative. I also have another cat,a 9 year old male tabby, who became diabetic months after "Snow" when he was diagnosed with pancreatitis. This cat is also taking Flagyl® for chronic diarrhea (colitis) as a result of his pancreatitis. "Snow" will defecate in his litter box. However when he urinates, half the time he will either use his box or use various spots on my carpet. No matter how often I clean the litter box (once a day) or completely remove the odour in the area he has chosen to use with prescribed cleaners from vet clinics, he ends up finding another favorite or new spot to use. I have tried using another litter box, different litter and that doesn't work either. I can only tolerate so much before I would have to resort to euthanasia. He is completely destroying my wall to wall broadloom carpet and I can't afford any more money on more tests. I know of course I will have to choose to put him down if he won't stop urinating on my carpet and I've resorted to trying everything. Please help me if you can.

Dear Robin in Toronto, Canada!

Diabetes is often difficult to control in cats and is frequently accompanied by behavior changes such as inappropriate elimination. I also wonder if Snow is not turned off from the box because of his house mate’s diarrhea problem. His acquired aversion to the box may also be related to the change in odor in his own as well as your other cat’s diabetic urine. Just one extra box won’t do when he has multiple targets. Invest in some aluminum foil roasting pans (cheaper than regular litter boxes) and fill with your usual litter filler. You might also cut up some cheap carpet remnants to line the pans with (eventually cutting this away a bit at a time) since he may now prefer carpet. There are many tips to try and these are covered in detail in my handout on Inappropriate Elimination in Cats. At the very least he should be confined to one room to limit his undesirable habit. Please consult this before you resort to putting Snow down? You certainly have your hands full and must be feeling a lot of stress.

Dr. Cookie,

Hello!! I recently brought home 2 kitty littermates that were left in a parking lot. My veterinarian and I figure they are around 10-12 weeks old. The second night at home I noticed the male kitty suckling on the female. I know this is a result of the kitten being taken away from its' mom too early. Is there anything that I can do to help "wean" my new little kitty?

Dear Kelly,

Kittens are generally weaned by the time they are 2 months old (although strays will sometimes nurse longer, if their mother allows them). Suckling behavior can persist as a comfort behavior (kind of like eating chocolate when you feel down, well, it works for me anyway!). I don’t really think you should worry about your new babies. He will outgrow this but you could simply pick him up and pet him until he falls asleep, making sure, of course that he doesn’t continue the behavior with you!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I recently purchased an adorable 8 week old female German Shepherd puppy. She is very friendly but extremely hyper. Would obedience training help calm her down? How old does she have to be before I can enroll her in an obedience class?

Dear Sheila T.

Obedience training should begin with you from the time you take your puppy home. But obedience training is not enough to ‘calm her down’. She needs several long walks a day, controlled play time with you (using toys and obedience skills), as well as social time with other dogs. Puppy classes vary in their enrollment age so ask around. Ideally, she should begin as soon as she’s about 1/2 way through her shots. So start on your own! My handout on basic obedience is excellent and will give you important tips on how to apply training.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I am writing to you because I have a Chow Chow about 9 years old who is giving me problems with our mail person. At first I thought it was the uniform. But on occasions they do not wear a uniform just plain street clothes and he still wants to eat them. If he is on his chain he will try to get lose and attack. and if I keep him in the house he will do his best to get to the mail person I have to fight him to stay away from the door. The dog is a real good dog. And most of the time he does not act like your normal Chow. When he is around other people (children) he is the biggest baby.

Dear Spitfire,

Your Chow Chow is no different from other dogs that are territorially aggressive. Dogs that are tied up on chains may become more aggressive than other dogs and I do not recommend it. There is a step by step program to desensitize your dog to the mail carrier and it is available in a handout on the QuickFix page (Territorial Aggression in Dogs; Obedience Training, too). Meanwhile, don’t leave your dog out there when the mail is due,- take him for a walk! Protect your poor mail carrier!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Our 15 year old cat has just recently begun to urinate in the corner of our bedroom. While he is elderly, mobility is not really a problem. About 3 months ago he was diagnosed with the early stages of kidney failure, but as recently as two weeks ago his blood test had not shown a progression of the disease, but rather a slight improvement. His BUN is well within normal range, and his creatinine is only slightly elevated. Is this problems behavioral, or a sign that the vet might be misinterpreting the problem?

Dear SNON,

Inappropriate urination may be a problem in renal failure cats in advanced disease, however, your aging cat may be losing litter training because of an additional problem such as a lower urinary tract infection or anxiety (source?). Get back to the basics: clean box, add box to the corner, urine sample, etc.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I found a stray male cat in winter when it was real bad out and brought him inside. He was really lovable and affectionate and good. A couple months ago-he started attacking me--first-he would grab my ankles with his claws--sometimes-he would attack several times at once-leaving bleeding holes in my legs-then he would be really sweet again--but while he was attacking-he looked crazy-his eyes looked strange. This only happened once in a while-i would just be standing-not even bothering him. So, now he stays on my porch on the chair. I put food out and water and he is so happy to see me and I pet him - then come in and cry the rest of the day because I love him so much and I am afraid he will get hurt outside. He was outside for 7 hrs yesterday and he still attacked me real bad.

Dear Nanci,

Not all cats are tame to the same degree. Some stray cats are very adoptable, others are not. We don’ t know his history so it is difficult to pinpoint the type of aggression but it could be a form of dominance aggression. If you are intent on keeping this difficult cat, leave him on the porch with a cat door. Minimize your contact with him. You must not jeopardize your own safety or health. And consider all the other very beautiful and gentle cats at shelters near you that would love you back as much as you love them...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have taken in a shelter/rescue ferret that our local ferret society doesn't have room for at the moment. He is an adorable boy, thought to be about a year old. He was found wandering through the city, alone. He has had a metal tag pushed through his ear like an earing and all for of his canine teeth pulled out. When I first removed him from the carrier, he smothered me with kisses, and he does this every time he sees me, but when he is alone he hides and becomes terrified. When he is allowed out he hides under the bed unless I am holding him. I understand he was mistreated and I am giving him time, but the problem we are having with him is that he refuses to use the litter box and when we do put litter in, he eats it. I have tried to say "no" and move him to the box when I see him about to "do his deed", but this scares him and instead he jumps from the box and hides in his bedding, where he finishes what I didn't let him start. He is on the adoption list now, and although he is the most loving animal, I fear that if we can't train him and stop his fear of being reprimanded that it will be hard to adopt him out.

Dear Crystal,

Punishment is not the way to go for house training, especially when there is a history of abusing this poor little creature. Try confining him in a ‘kitty condo’ cage and change his litter to another substrate (even shredded newspaper may do). He will be able to build confidence in his own space. Take him out when you can hold him. Keep food/water separate from the litter. Time and patience and positive reinforcement only should do the trick! Best of luck with your foster work and good for you!

Dear Dr. Cookie

Joe is a neutered male tabby cat and he adopted me 3 years ago. He was my neighbor’s cat (she had 8 too 9 cats at the time) who decided he wanted me to adopt him and I found my self falling in love with him. Joe adapted well to my house and became an indoor cat. He got along fine with my two cats(Amir and Princess). In fact Amir and Joe are best of friends and play together like kittens. Joe is very possessive of me and will follow me all day if he could. The problem is he will use my leg as a scratching post, and when he cuddles in my lap he will get up and scratch my leg. I tell him no and end the cuddling time, which he hates, but does not seem to stop the behavior. Also the other cats are not allowed on my lap (Joe's rules). For Princess this does not matter for she is half wild(she was a stray) and likes being on her own most of the time. Amir on the other hand would like to be on my lap, but when he does Joe will push him off my lap or join him.

Dear John,

As dominant cat, Joe has priority over the favorite resting places, which include your lap. The other cats will naturally defer to his wishes. As for using your leg as a scratching post, saying ‘no’ is not enough. Place a scratching post close by and immediately direct him to using it instead of your leg. He may have a preference for sisal, shag, cardboard in vertical or horizontal planes so see what works! He sounds like a great guy.

Hi Dr. Cookie!

I have 2 indoor cats, one is 15 yrs and the other is 3 yrs. They get along pretty well except when the 15 year old goes outside in the yard with us. When we come in, the 3 year old goes absolutely wild. She attacks the other cat with a vengeance and is out for blood. The older cat becomes so scared, she is afraid to move.

Dear Lwrnonc,

Two choices: 1) Keep them both inside! and 2) Keep them both inside!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Alice is a beautiful Himalayan and was about 8 months old when she was given to me after being a stray near my brother's home. This was about a year and a half ago. On the day she arrived, she meowed nonstop. I figured it was her way of lettingme know she was scared and anxious. After a month or so, she quieted down. Since I live in and urban area, we found a harness to fit her and let her go out on a 15-20 ft. small nylon cord. She's checked on often to ensure she's not tangled up and that no strays are confronting her. For the last month or so (since the weather has turned warm), Alice has started to meow very loudly several times a night, anywhere from 2:30AM to 6:00AM. At the beginning it seemed if one of us would turn on the faucet so she could have a drink (she won't drink out of standing water) she would quiet down. When that didn't work, pouring a little bit of food into her dish would pacify her. We started to think maybe it was the attention she was craving, so we would put her into bed with us and pet her or play with her string. Lately nothing works except letting her go outside. If we do that, neither of us get any sleep because we are worried that she has gotten tangled or that some animal might hurt her, so we are constantly getting up to check on her. We are both very tolerant people, but this lack of sleep is shortening the wick on the temper. I know that some of your responses to similar problems is to ensure that she is sleepy when we go to bed. There are days that we have been outdoors with her for almost the entire day and she hasn't slept hardly at all that day, and she still exhibits this behavior.

Dear Kathy & Jeff,

Yes, you do need to make sure she is tired so that her sleeping schedule coincides better with yours. However, cats and dogs don’t sleep 8 hrs straight. They normally wake for a short time every couple of hours. In giving her attention when she vocalizes (water, food, play) you have reinforced her attention seeking behavior. The best way to deal with it might be to confine her to a room where she can be comfortable with water and litter and let her learn that vocalizing no longer gets your attention. You will have to hang tough for a while and absolutely not go near that room or the problem will be even harder to extinguish. Also, it might be best to keep her exclusively inside so she'll be less confused about her restrictions.Sweet dreams!

Dear Doctor,

I live on a 5 acre ranchette with 16 dogs and my 3 horses. The dogs are all rescues that have been dumped in the desert to die and wandered upon my gate. Since I cannot turn away these animals I take them in and they are now my family. They typically get along fine until one or the other gets excited (Redirected aggression ) and a huge fight occurs ( pack style ) or one or the other decides to try and up his place in the pack hierarchy. There are 3 dogs in particular who seem to get ganged up on more then the others and some have been badly injured as a result. I'm afraid that one day I won’t get to them in time to break it up and one of these lower in the pecking order will be killed. Is this common for them to actually KILL another after living with them fo