DEAR READERS: Please read this announcement from the American Association of Feline Practitioners regarding the group’s policy on elective declawing procedures:

The AAFP “is proud to announce a policy update ending elective declawing procedures (onychectomy) for felines in all designated Cat Friendly Practices. ... The AAFP and the International Society of Feline Medicine established the Cat Friendly Practice program as a global initiative elevating care for cats. A CFP designation is a recognized symbol of excellence showing a practice’s commitment in treating feline patients gently and with respect.”

The group says this new policy went into effect for existing CFPs Jan. 1, and “will be standard in all new practices that wish to earn the designation moving forward.”

More details from the press release: “Feline declawing is an elective and ethically controversial procedure that is not medically necessary in most instances. Many regions throughout the world, including portions of North America, have banned declawing procedures unless there is a necessary medical reason. Many cat caregivers may not realize scratching is a normal and essential feline behavior that relieves stress and allows cats to fully stretch their bodies. With proper education provided by CFPs, cat caregivers will have a better understanding of the procedure and potential risks associated with it.”

The AAFP has also developed a Claw Friendly Educational Toolkit (catvets.com/claw-friendly-toolkit), and the group’s Cat Friendly Homes website contains educational resources on the topic for cat caregivers (catfriendly.com/scratching).

DEAR DR. FOX: I put a shelter in my yard for a stray cat, who seemed to be quite old. Eventually he would come to be fed when I called him. It took him about three years to put one paw on my knee, and soon after that, he would jump onto my lap to be petted. Why did it take so long, since he already trusted me enough to come and eat when called? -- V.R., Halcyon, California

DEAR V.R.: Not all cats are cuddle-pusses, and some people who adopt young cats and kittens are disappointed when they grow up to not like being picked up and cuddled. Some such cats will come and sit close by, or on one’s lap, only when they want to. This is the “independence” of cats, which some take as rejection or aloofness.

But in my opinion, it is all genetics of individual temperament coupled with the conditioning of early-in-life experiences. Some cats by nature are innately shy, introverted and cautious, while others are outgoing extroverts. There are also “ambiverts” like our rescued cat, Fanny -- who, even after three years living in our home, will only accept being petted when in her bed. She avoids physical contact with me at any other time, yet falls down in front of me when she wants to play, chasing feathers on a string.

Perhaps male cats are generally more extroverted than female cats. While it took me six months before I could even touch one feral tomcat, he became a total cuddle-puss and one of the most playful, gentle and empathetic animals I have ever known.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: By fomenting fear, spreading false information and fostering prejudice and hatred, politicians and other leaders throughout history have facilitated the displacement, extinction or near-extinction of indigenous peoples and species alike.

Modern “wolves of Wall Street” continue these injustices, and not just in the United States. According to Associated Press reporter Sylvie Corbet, the U.S., Brazil, India and Russia have not yet joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. This is a collaborative effort initiated in 2019 by Costa Rica, France and the U.K. that aims to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 and halt the extinction of species. Fifty countries have since joined -- but not the major players listed above. Let us hope that the Biden administration will bring the U.S. into this long-overdue international initiative, and encourage other countries to follow suit.

On a related note, University of Connecticut entomologist David Wagner acted as lead author on a compilation of 12 studies, done by dozens of scientists, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report documents the ongoing apocalypse of the insects, which Wagner calls “absolutely the fabric by which Mother Nature and the tree of life are built.” Climate change, habitat loss, insecticides, herbicides and light pollution are just some of the causes of global insect declines.

DEAR DR. FOX: I love birds. When I watch a flock fly by, I wonder if they all know where they are headed. How do they navigate? -- A.C., Brick, New Jersey

DEAR A.C.: Sometimes birds do get blown off-course by inclement weather, or fly blindly into trees when alarmed by fireworks. As a rule, they rely on imprinted, instinctual navigation systems in their brains that involve various sensitivities, including the Earth’s electromagnetic field and the position of the stars when navigating at night.

Microparticles of iron in their brains act like an internal compass; humans, bees and other creatures possess the same. In 1992, researchers identified the presence of magnetite -- a permanently magnetic form of iron oxide -- in human brain tissue. Various studies have shown that brain cells respond to external magnetic fields. EMFs (electromagnetic fields and non-ionizing radiation) generated by telecommunication systems may interfere with bird navigation and migration.

Birds are sensitive to seasonal changes in the hours of sunlight, which can trigger hormonal changes associated with the onset of the breeding season or preparation to migrate. Birds may also have a conceptual map of distinctive landmarks. It is notable how Canada geese, for example, will often circle a lake a few times before landing just to make sure it is safe.

DEAR DR. FOX: A friend has a son who is highly allergic to cats. The son lives in another state and visits once a year, at most. He complains about his father letting a neighbor’s cat come into his home, even though the cats are not allowed on the furniture or beds.

Can cat dander remain in a home and cause problems many months later, or is the son being overly cautious? -- J.C., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR J.C.: Allergens can linger, but there are steps your friend can take. Cats’ dried saliva collects in their fur when they groom themselves, and it is a protein in this substance that causes problems for those with allergies. Wiping down cats with a moist sponge morning and evening can help those with mild respiratory and skin-contact allergic reactions. Spreading cotton sheets on furniture where cats like to lie and laundering them every few days can also help reduce the amount of dander in the home, along with a good air-filtration system.

All in all, having a cat or dog in the home helps reduce the incidence of allergies and infections (and therefore antibiotic use) in children. Dogs are of particular benefit because they get outdoors and bring home a variety of bacteria in their paw-pads. With exposure earlier in life, many children become desensitized.

MIDWESTERN PET FOOD EXPANDS DEADLY AFLATOXIN RECALL

From truthaboutpetfood.com:

“On Jan. 11, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. expanded its recent recall to include all dry kibble pet food products containing corn that were made in the firm’s Oklahoma plant that expire on or before July 9, 2022. More than 1,000 lot codes are affected.”

Aflatoxin is a toxic, liver-damaging mold, and in this instance, at least 70 dogs have died and over 80 became ill.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: The Better Business Bureau issued a warning late last year about online pet-sale scams that use COVID-19 as an excuse to avoid in-person transactions. The BBB received 337 complaints about puppy scams in November, compared with only 77 in November of 2019. The organization says scammers frequently ask for payment through apps instead of wire transfers.

I have urged readers in past columns not to get caught in these scams. One close friend told me she had been promised a Yorkie puppy that would be brought to her at her local airport by a courier if she paid in advance. “Never buy a puppy in a poke,” I reminded her -- go see the pup’s parents and check out the breeder’s facilities. Many pups sold online are from puppy mills, an issue I will cover in a future column in more detail. Best to adopt from a local shelter, and consider your age: If you are elderly, a less-active, already house-trained adult dog may be ideal.

My friend ended up buying a Yorkie from a breeder, but soon faced predictable health and behavioral problems (house-soiling and chewing things due to boredom and teething). And her own age-related health issues meant she could not walk the poor pup, and had to hire a dog-walker. When her dog remained restless and seemed depressed, I advised her to join a puppy playgroup. She did, and now has a much happier and healthier dog. I hope the (sensible and necessary) shutdown of puppy playgroups due to the COVID-19 crisis will soon pass, and we can all get back to a more sociable existence!

DEAR DR. FOX: We just took our 3-week-old goldendoodle to the vet. He itches himself at times, so the veterinarian said to start him on Bravecto. Is this safe? -- S.M., Medford, Oregon

DEAR S.M.: Please have your veterinarian read my article about Bravecto and related anti-flea and tick drugs, which are poisoning cats and dogs around the world, entitled “Companion Animal Risks of Flea and Tick Insecticides” (posted on my website, drfoxonehealth.com).

No veterinarian should prescribe Bravecto to a dog who is simply itching/scratching, for which there could be many reasons. Nor should they jump to prescribing a drug like Apoquel, which is the latest common, and often inappropriate, treatment. Bravecto has killed some dogs and can cause seizures. I consider it malpractice to give it to such a young dog.

Do a little detective work in my column archives for ideas about why your dog might be scratching: uexpress.com/animal-doctor.

DEAR DR. FOX: It amazes me how many people buy pets without doing their homework.

I have a 10-year-old red-footed tortoise named George. The family I got him from bought him at a pet shop when he was a cute little guy, about 8 inches long. They only kept him a short time. He is now about a foot long and weighs over 10 pounds.

The reason they got rid of him is that the size of his poops freaked them out. The couple both worked in a hospital and were very concerned about germs.

Reptiles are hard to raise. They need the right temperature, sunlight, diet, calcium and other vitamins, etc. George needs to be soaked on a regular basis. Fortunately I live in Florida, so George spends his time out in my screened lanai, and we have access to fresh fruit and vegetables year-round. His favorite is cactus pears.

He is also very social, and loves attention. He follows me around, and likes to sit on my husband’s Crocs.

There is also the issue of his long lifespan. I have already made arrangements for him should he outlive me. We love him, and I am sure he is happy and healthy, but he would have been happier left in the wild.

Our wildlife has a tough enough time dealing with loss of environment, and poaching is just added stress. There is now a big market for tortoises overseas. Something should be done, but as usual, animal welfare is at the bottom of our society’s priorities.

Keep putting out the word in your columns; hopefully some people are listening. -- L.D.R., Naples, Florida

DEAR L.D.R.: Thanks for sharing your experience rescuing an “exotic” species that has no place in captivity. International wildlife trafficking, which is linked with drug and human trafficking, will hopefully be on the agenda of the new Biden administration. That group will include -- at last -- a Native American heading up one of the government agencies that can get the ball rolling on these issues! Biden’s choice of Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico to serve as the first Native American Cabinet secretary, heading the Department of the Interior, is historic. It hopefully marks a turning point for the U.S. government’s relationship with the nation’s indigenous peoples, as well as its indigenous species and their habitats.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)