DEAR DR. FOX: I'm having a problem with my barn cat. This cat, Samson, moved into my barn last spring. I had him neutered, and he has his shots.

Samson became so aggressive with my other barn cats that I moved them to my house. Samson now attacks me when I walk away from the barn. I thought that he needed more attention, but that only seems to make the situation worse. Sometimes I pull a string so he attacks it instead. Today he attacked me with teeth and nails, and I had a difficult time getting him to stop. What do I do? -- S.S., Potomac, Maryland

DEAR S.S.: I understand why you had to move your other cats indoors after this domineering interloper took over and became such a bully. This must have been a stressful adjustment for them as well as you.

Changing Samson's name to Sammy won't make him more of a gentleman, just as neutering a cat later in life won't erase domineering and aggressive behavior patterns and some aspects of sexual behavior. Neutering before sexual maturity and experience does make a big difference, according to early behavioral research by the late Dr. Lester Aronson, whose research on cat sexual behavior was extremely controversial from an animal welfare and ethics perspective.

Many cats play ambush games and bat at your legs as you are walking by. This is their invitation to play and often comes from a life of boredom, which, to some degree, can be alleviated by playing chase and other interactive games. Samson's behavior is in another category since he is showing uninhibited attack or predation behavior toward you.

I would say goodbye to Samson for the greater good of your barn cat colony and your own peace of mind -- and health. Cat bites can mean hospitalization for blood poisoning (Pasteurella bacterial sepsis), and cat-scratch fever can develop from infected claws, with painful lymph node swelling misdiagnosed in more than one instance by human doctors unfamiliar with zoonotic diseases (animal-to-human transmitted infections) as lymphatic cancer!

An expert feline behavioral therapist might rehabilitate Samson once any possible underlying disease is ruled out, notably hyperthyroidism, which can make some cats more aggressive.

DEAR DR. FOX: Four weeks ago, I added a new member to my family: a 9-week-old rough-coat collie.

He gets 1/2 cup of dry dog food in the morning and again in the evening. The problem is that he does not chew his food, he inhales it -- it is gone in a few seconds. I have gone online, called the vet, have had an in-home instructor, but nothing helps. I have a divider in his food bowl, but it doesn't work. I put his food in a ball with a hole in the side that drops it out a piece at a time.

I am aware collies are prone to bloat, so I'm trying to fix this problem now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. -- C.C., Springfield, Missouri

DEAR C.C.: I urge you to read up about proper puppy care and feeding, because two half-cups of dry dog food (and you do not indicate what brand and if it is formulated for puppies) is not enough. He most likely "inhales" his food because he is ravenous.

He should be fed at least four small meals daily. Give him 1/2 cup of dry, canned or home-prepared food at each meal. He needs high-quality protein and fat, with balanced calcium and other mineral and vitamin supplements. Be sure that a stool sample is checked for worms, which often infest pups and rob the animal of essential nutrients.

DEAR DR. FOX: I would like to get a small adult dog. I am handicapped and use a walker to walk, and I live in an apartment. I hope to be able to train the dog to go to the bathroom on a paper pad.

Some members of my family insist that I should not get a dog. They think that I will not be able to care for a dog because I will not be able to take the dog outside in the winter for walks (I live in northern Minnesota). I feel that a dog will be fine because I have plenty of room in my apartment to exercise and play games. Is it OK to have a dog in these circumstances? I would really appreciate your advice. -- J.C., Duluth, Minnesota

DEAR J.C.: Putting the best interests of the dog before yours, ask yourself why you want a dog? If it is animal companionship, adopt a cat if you are not allergic. Cats do not need to go outdoors, are 95 percent easier to train to evacuate indoors in a litter box and with all the interactive toys available, you can engage in stimulating games with the cat from the sofa or wheelchair. Dogs need to get out and run around, even in winter.

While you consider the best animal companion for you, think adoption first; also, consider getting two cats. Two cats will care for each other and give you hours of entertainment and devotion.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: When we decided to get a cat 10 years ago, I thought getting a couple of littermates would work well. They got along during the first couple of years, often sleeping together and grooming each other. As they matured, though, they seemed to grow more competitive for our attention. They seem to tolerate each other for the most part, but they often growl and hiss when one enters the territory of the other when one of us is around.

It seems like our tabby considers me to be her property to be defended when I'm in one part of the house, and our longhair considers me hers in another part of the house. They stiffen when I try to pet one if the other is around. If only one is on my bed, they welcome affection. If both are on my bed, they are very stiff, and they don't move. They show some of this behavior with my son, whom they both consider the most wonderful human, but they are both very attached to me, too.

The funny thing is, they don't seem to be jealous of each other when I have them outside on a leash. I wonder if they would have been better off as single pets. Their behavior is interesting and often annoying, like having a couple of your kids dislike and fight with each other.

I enjoy reading you column and my girls' diets are better because of it. -- D.B., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR D.B.: Your cats' behavior will be familiar with many cat caregivers who have two or more cats. This kind of behavior is typically "cattish" in that they assert social dominance via the places in the home -- a lap, particular chair or windowsill -- that they prefer to occupy. This behavior keeps them apart and prevents conflict: "This place is mine. Keep away, and I will respect your place."

To avoid conflicts, as when one cat is on your lap or sitting beside you, invite the other over to be groomed on the floor, and get down to do this. Groom both of the cats at the same time. You may then set up a neutral territory or conflict-free zone on the floor in the middle of your living room. Our two cats will often engage in mutual grooming, which is a prelude to play-fighting and chasing. This often ends with one being rougher than the other and they part for a while, going to their favorite personal places to lie down.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 3-year-old standard schnauzer. She is absolutely wonderful now, but was a real handful from 10 weeks until about 2 1/2 years. We are getting along well now -- except for the sneeze thing.

Ever since I have had her, if I sneeze, she attacks me, tries to knock me down, growls and barks at me. I have tried everything -- telling her it is OK, etc. Barking back at her helped the most.

Do you have any idea why she does this? Maybe the noise it makes? The other thing she does is stare at me a lot. It makes me wonder if she knows something bad about me, like I have cancer or something. She is the smartest dog I have ever had, but the staring is beginning to make me a little nervous.

We are very close; we do everything together, and I love her so much and believe she feels the same about me. Thank you for your answers to these questions. -- B.B., Washington, D.C.

DEAR B.B.: Your best solution is called "flooding" or "total immersion": Set up a tape recorder and fake some sneezes for as long as you can, then play the tape back for your dog at a safe distance away from you for a few days every three or four hours. This should desensitize her very quickly.

Alternatively, when you are just about to sneeze, squeeze a squeaky toy for her, and throw it to her. This is called "redirecting behavior," and it is a recognized conditioning technique for a variety of canine behavioral problems.

Her staring at you may not indicate that you may have cancer. Here, you may wish to look at your own anxiety state, and reconsider her stare as simply wanting your attention, perhaps to play, be groomed or taken outside for a walk or to relieve herself.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: After reading your latest column about fleas and ticks, I wanted to mention that I had a lot of success preventing ticks for my cats (whom I walk on a leash) using hydrosols, which are water-distilled oils and, therefore, safe for cats (since oils are toxic for them). These sprays would also work for dogs, and I believe the oils from which they're made are not toxic for dogs. Bay laurel and lavender are both available in hydrosol spray from originalswissaromatics.com. Rose geranium and eucalyptus are hugely effective and available from rivendellaromatics.com.

The other thing that I did to prevent fleas and ticks was to purchase garlic flower essence tincture and put a few drops in their water and take it under my own tongue because it is purported to prevent ticks. -- B.N., Potomac, Maryland

DEAR B.N.: The search for and application of safer and effective anti-flea and tick products is ongoing, and your contribution is appreciated. For other products and practices, check my website on this topic at DrFoxVet.com. I am unaware of garlic flower essence being a good tick repellent and would like to see in-field test data to confirm.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 15-year-old tuxedo cat, Tim, who is quite creative with his multicolored ribbon on a plastic wand. For the past five years, he has been using his mouth, teeth and feet to make a variety of different designs in the shape of flowers and other objects for us to notice and praise him over. Is this unusual behavior for a cat? -- B.P., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR B.P.: I am always glad to hear about the amazing things cats do. You should take photos of these cat creations -- or maybe we should call them "paw sculptures"? -- and let me see and post them on my website.

Such creative activities give us insights into animals' consciousness, dexterity and imaginative abilities. While some dogs will learn to identify spoken words and pictures of specific objects and retrieve them from an assortment of others, cats will spontaneously sort certain toys and place them in particular orders or patterns. One friend sent me photos of one of her foster-homed cats placing certain toys on separate steps on her stairs, which he did in a pattern on a regular basis. This may indicate cats' ability to essentially put things in order, if not count, and find an outlet for creative activity in the generally unstimulating domestic environment. 

But what you praise your cat for doing, he may not perceive in the same way as flowers and other objects or designs. He may simply derive great pleasure from manipulating these materials, just as our Mr. Mark Twain, a formerly feral cat, will spend intense minutes hooking a spiral of pipe cleaning wire from one claw to another, then hiding it and pulling it out from behind a leg of furniture or from under a rug where he has pushed it.

NESTLE PURINA SETTLES JERKY LAWSUIT FOR $6.5 MILLION

Julie Scheidegger reports in DVM360 Magazine: "Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and its Waggin' Train brand have agreed to a $6.5 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by pet owners in Illinois in 2012. The company makes jerky pet treats -- some manufactured in China -- that have been implicated in a nearly decadelong U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into jerky-related illness.

"Nestle Purina is not admitting that the treats made pets sick, however. Bill Salzman, director of corporate communications for the company, says, 'There is no indication the treats negatively impacted the health of dogs; this resolution allows everyone involved to move forward.' If the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois approves the agreement, it will resolve the disputed claims related to Waggin' Train jerky products and establish procedures for monetary relief and compensation.

"If the deal is approved, settlement class members will be able to claim 100 percent of reasonable economic damages incurred after their pets consumed the implicated jerky treats. Those with a documented injury, a deceased pet, food-purchase claims or health-screening claims will be compensated upon verification. Without documentation, claims are capped at $300."

For more details, visit dvm360.com. For some of the long history concerning these and other treats causing sickness and death in dogs and a few cats, visit DrFoxVet.com.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)