The Animal Doctor

DEAR DR. FOX: My daughter is expecting her first child in December, and I am concerned as to the impact it may have on her two cats (both 4 years old). They were very, very young kittens she found on the street while living in India. She moved them to Europe with her and then to two different locations in San Francisco, where she has bought a home and is now residing. So the kitties have had serious "travel turmoil" throughout their lives, and the moves were massively stressful for them.

They are settling nicely into her new home and no further upheaval to their lives is planned -- with the exception of bringing this newborn home in December, which greatly concerns me inasmuch as the cats are both very playful and initially stranger shy. Any suggestions as to how she might prepare these guys for this life-changing event? -- G.R.R. Washington, D.C.

DEAR G.R.R.: Your daughter should buy a baby doll that cries and get the two cats used to seeing her hold the swaddled doll, pretending to nurse and hearing it cry. Let them sniff the doll and become habituated to the routine that she will adopt with her new baby. Your daughter's hormonal state affects her body odor (pheromones), which may have some effect on the cats. She should stick to the daily feeding, grooming and play routines with the cats when the baby comes into the home. Let them see and smell the baby up close. They may be afraid initially, but they should quickly habituate. They should be given extra TLC and reassurance. Someone else in the home should clean out the litter box during the pregnancy for health reasons. Have you daughter check with a pediatrician about possibly putting a net over the crib. Cats may want to sleep with the baby, and may see flailing arms and legs as an invitation to play and accidentally scratch the babe. Close proximity, and later, physical contact when the baby is older, should be monitored at all times until the infant learns not to grab and pull. Exposure to the cats should help boost the infant's immune system, and at a later age, appreciation for their sublime and playful presence.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read your recent column concerning the near complete absence of insects of all varieties, and I would like to share some of my insights and thoughts on the matter with you. Over the last few years, I noticed an activity overhead with ever-increasing frequency. High-flying aircraft, seemingly military, C-130 types I think, spraying directly from their wings, causing a dispersion of aerosol matter, crisscrossing the sky from horizon to horizon. I found many others out in the world were watching and investigating this same thing, with these results. The material is aluminum in a solution, mixed with other toxic metals, and with a substance size at micro levels, possibly nano-size, reported to pass the blood barrier with inhalation. Aluminum is a known destroyer of brain function and thought process. Medical evaluations from many years have published papers on the use of this most common metal in the Earth's crust and its toxic effects.

A recent paper published by biologists at the University of Keele and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom on the huge loss of bees found levels of aluminum in bee pupae that "might be considered as pathological with possible contributions toward neuro-degenerative disease, including Alzheimer's." Simply said, the bees have Alzheimer's and cannot function as bees.

"Aluminum Toxicity" by C.A. Shaw and L. Tomljenovic from the University of British Columbia is an exhaustive study detailing the problem with aluminum on human systems. There is much more out there on this subject. -- T.P., Arnold, Missouri

DEAR T.P.: I appreciate your letter regarding possible factors in the "near complete absence of insects" that we are witness to today; this comes along with the decline of insectivorous birds, reptiles and amphibians. While the deliberate discharging of potentially toxic chemicals -- including aluminum -- in the exhaust vapors of high-altitude jet planes ("chemtrails") is being dismissed as yet another conspiracy theory, there is clear evidence of agricultural pesticides being present in rainwater. This, I believe, is a major factor in insect declines, along with loss of plant diversity.

Certainly, aluminum has been shown to harm the nervous systems of bees and may affect our own brains. So we should avoid using aluminum cooking utensils, toiletries, medications and supplements, such as antacids. Municipal waste incinerators may be a major source of aluminum and other airborne toxins. Aluminum (and mercury) is widely used as an adjuvant in vaccines and is being questioned by many health experts, especially in the genesis of autoimmune diseases.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have adamantly opposed the practice of trap-neuter-release (TNR) as I believe -- and most scientists agree with me -- that it is cruel to cats and the wildlife that they kill and maim, and it creates a public health risk. Chris Santella and Peter Marra's "Cat Wars" has inspired some of us true cat lovers to oppose TNR. The outdoor cat hoarders never have to see the often-agonizing way their cats suffer and die; my beloved pets die in my arms at a vet's office, cuddled by me until they have drawn their last breath.

Can you provide me with any instructions to vets of appropriate healing time when an operating vet should do a final post-op inspection to pronounce that sutures are safely healed and the cat is fit for full activity? The Houston vets and city council are real wimps facing up to Alley Cat Allies. Our Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care glorifies Community Cat Program on its TNR website, and it makes no effort to educate the public about the Audubon Society's Cats Indoors! program, "catios" or cat fencing. All emotion, no science. -- P.S.W., Houston

DEAR P.S.W.: I appreciate your concerns and applaud your efforts to really help cats. But that is difficult with the ballyhoo and political posturing in the name of compassion by Alley Cat Allies. The group's lucrative fundraising and network of supporters would not exist if kittens were not so appealing and the right-to-life sentiment and feel-good involvement in "saving" cats' lives at all cost were not powerful motivating factors in what I see as misguided altruism. You are correct that it is "all emotion, no science."

For a critical review of the negative consequences of Alley Cat Allies' activities, see the column "Releasing Cats to Live Outdoors" posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net. I make the point, which is related to your question, that releasing highly stressed cats from shelters 24 to 48 hours after surgical sterilization is not humane or good veterinary care. Some vets argue that early release is better than spending more time in the shelter, and that with good surgical suturing with absorbent materials, the wounds should heal well. But with compromised immune systems, there could be other complications -- especially when they are released without prior testing for feline leukemia and viral immunodeficiency disease.

In her book "The Lion in the Living Room," Abigail Tucker notes that some ecologists characterize TNR activities, which many municipalities are accepting as scientifically valid cat population control and a humane alternative to euthanasia (they are neither), as "cat hoarding without walls." She also notes that opponents have received death threats by rabid advocates of TNR.

My call for community sanctuaries, group housing and better education of cat owners to not let their cats roam free with enforcement of appropriate ordinances are overshadowed by the current TNR cult. It is only appropriate in rodent-infested urban dystopias and very limited locations where the cat colonies are relatively isolated, pose no risks to wildlife or to public health, are regularly fed and provided veterinary care as needed.

BOOK REVIEW: "Being a Dog: The World From Your Dog's Point of View" by Karen Wild.

A lot of work went into this book, and I wish that the author had consulted with more experts on canine behavior and holistic veterinary care. Written to the dog ("What excites, scares or angers you?"), the book will help people grasp some basic understanding of canine consciousness, motivation and psychodynamics. But reviewing "10 Problems You May Face" without offering any remedies was disconcerting. Above all, the assertion that "Dogs do not have a sense of self-awareness" makes me wonder about the limitations of scientific research methodology and of those who make unverified conclusions on the basis of such research findings.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: A recent letter about a family who adopted a feral cat who likes to drag a blanket around the house got my attention. It mentioned that the cat didn't purr, and he hissed at them a lot.

In 2000, I took in a family of four feral kittens. I'd never had feral cats before. The three boys adapted well and were quite social within a few months; after a year, they acted like ordinary domesticated cats. The girl was a different story. For four long years, the only way I knew her location was when she would growl, hiss or scratch if I got too close to her, as she hid under or behind furniture most of the time. She rarely purred, would sneak out to eat when she thought I wasn't looking and was not close to the others. I gave her space and affection as much as she'd tolerate, and one day she jumped up on the couch and sat next to me on her own. After that, she purred regularly when I pet her.

Feral cats can be challenging; patience and kindness are often the keys to breaking their natural trust barrier. I hope that family's kindness and patience is rewarded as mine was. -- R.K., Waukegan, Illinois

DEAR R.K.: I appreciate you sharing your experience rehabilitating feral kittens and proving that it is possible but takes time for some to become socially responsive toward humans.

Cats are a super adaptable species genetically, quite capable of living independently as predators (with the exception of mutants such as Persian and hairless sphynx cats), or enjoying life as indoor companion animals. Still, far too many lead a double life as indoor-outdoor predators and pets. I advise never letting kittens and young cats get a taste of the outdoors because this can quickly condition them to adopting a Jekyll and Hyde existence, free-roaming outdoors and being at risk as well as a serious risk to wildlife and public health, often coming back home with dead or half-dead prey, or with some injury or disease.

Animal shelters need more resources and networks of foster homes for cats considered unadoptable to rehabilitate them and make them adoptable. Otherwise, there should be sanctuaries with group housing rather than neutering and releasing them outdoors to fend for themselves. And cat owners should never allow their cats to roam free off their property.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 14-month-old basset hound with two behaviors we'd like to eliminate.

First, she continues to pee and poop in the entryway of our house. She doesn't know how to let us know when she needs to go out. She barks only when the doorbell rings.

The second behavior we'd like her to change is to stop biting our ankles and feet, which she thinks are toys. She chews on my husband and me, and when we tell her to stop, she thinks we want to play more, and she gets too excited.

Any guidance you can give us will be greatly appreciated. -- M.H., Annapolis, Maryland

DEAR M.H.: Your young dog is doing very well voiding near the front door rather than anywhere else in the house.

Lay down a plastic sheet and newspapers and clean up as needed. Attune yourself to the dog's routine, and get her out when she is most likely to want to evacuate, especially after a nap and especially before and after she is fed. Take her to a spot outdoors where there is newspaper already soiled by her, and praise her with a treat after she does her business.

As for chewing on you and your husband, she will grow out of that. Redirect her to chew on a safe strip of rawhide or on a chew toy. If you buy a knotted rawhide bone, be sure to monitor closely, letting her chew for 10 to 15 minutes at a stretch, and remove the knotted end when it is chewed down in case she tries to swallow it whole. I prefer chews that are short tubular rolls of rawhide without the end knots. Some dogs like rubber toys, especially those that squeak when bitten. But our new rescued mutt Kota is afraid of toys that squeak!

(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.net.)