DEAR READERS: The synopsis of ways to improve the well-being of indoor cats published this summer by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association and by the International Cat Care vet group has a serious omission. The groups present several aspects of cat ownership, which owners and the veterinary profession need to address in their relationships and educations. (Full story: doi:10.1177/1098612X251353656.)

They make no reference, however, to the socio-environmental enrichment provided by sharing a home with another cat. There is anecdotal evidence that two cats living together are happier and healthier than single cats who only have human companionship. Litter-mate pairs and mother-and-kitten combinations provide the emotional and physical stimulation conducive to overall well-being. Prey-catching activities can be redirected via interactive games with cat owners and between cats during play.

Some cats who live with no other animals exhibit separation anxiety when their human companions are away. Keeping two compatible cats can prevent this and other behavioral problems -- especially biting and scratching their owners, which can have serious adverse health consequences. Kittens playing together, and with their mothers, learn to interact without causing injures to each other, and are therefore less likely to injure their human companions during playful interaction.

Most cats need a quiet place where they can eat, drink and use the litter box undisturbed, especially in busy homes with children. Also, it needs to be more widely recognized by cat owners that neutering, especially of male kittens, makes cats more amenable to living exclusively indoors.

For more details about these issues, and about preventing various behavioral problems, see my book “Cat Body, Cat Mind.” It documents what cats have taught me -- and their owners -- over many years.

DISTURBING UPDATES ON AVIAN INFLUENZA

Veterinarian Dr. Jane E. Sykes has raised the red flag of warning in her article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association entitled: "Companion animals and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza: Cause for concern?" (Full study: doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.06.0388.)

Since its first appearance infecting people in China in 1997, this virus went on to infect people in southeast Asia and Egypt. By 2006, cats succumbed, showing respiratory and neurologic disease. In 2021, a strain of H5N1 called clade 2.3.4.4b "suddenly appeared in Europe and spread rapidly to the Americas, wreaking havoc on wildlife and crippling poultry and dairy industries," reads Sykes' summary. "Between 2022 and 2025, dozens of domestic cats died, most often following raw meat consumption" or after being allowed out to kill and consume wildlife that was infected.

Most human infections associated with poultry and dairy contact have been mild, Sykes reports, but now the genotype D1.1 strain has been linked to severe illness and death. The strain has additionally been detected in dairy cattle and domestic cats.

Since cats can clearly play a role in spreading this virus to humans and to farmed animals, Sykes advises (as have I) that all owned cats should be kept indoors and allowed out only into a wildlife- and escape-proof enclosure or “catio.” Since no vaccine is currently available, farm and barn cats should be closely monitored, neutered to reduce their numbers and, ideally, not allowed in close proximity to confined dairy cows and poultry (including backyard chickens).

Fewer people traveling by air and congregating in confined spaces will also help reduce the spread of this virus. All traffic and trade in unquarantined wildlife should be prohibited. Above all, governments must urgently increase funding to support veterinary services under the One Health umbrella to effectively monitor and prevent potential pandemics such as this avian influenza virus.

More than 100 federal scientists who track bird flu, including vaccine and food safety experts, were laid off in April by the Trump-Musk DOGE group as the deadly pathogen ripped through dairy herds and poultry flocks. This egregious error should have been immediately rectified.

For more about One Health, see: onehealthinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/One-Health-Umbrella-v12-4.pdf. See also the article entitled "Why and How to Apply the One Health Concept," found here: impakter.com/why-and-how-to-apply-the-one-health-concept.

ELEPHANT SEAL POPULATION WILL TAKE DECADES TO RECOVER

The population of southern elephant seals on Argentina’s Peninsula Valdes has declined by 60% after an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in 2023, pushing the species’ status from “least concern” to "endangered." Researchers say the population will likely take at least 70 years to recover -- and that's if no other outbreaks or environmental issues occur.

“When you remove such a big mass, you completely upset the balance of the ecosystem,” said wildlife veterinarian Marcela Uhart. “No other species can replace elephant seals in the ocean.” (Full story: BBC News, Nov. 6)

(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: Fleas and ticks can easily infest dogs and cats. Ticks can spread serious diseases including rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and borreliosis (Lyme disease), while fleas -- the most common external parasite found on pets -- can transmit bartonellosis (cat scratch disease), plague, murine typhus and tapeworms.

Safe, inexpensive methods of dealing with these ectoparasites are available. (For details, see this post on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/preventing-fleas-ticks-and-mosquitoes.) But big pharmaceutical companies have their own toxic insecticides they developed for use in agriculture. Not content with applying these chemicals to the foods we eat, companies are spinning them off as flea and tick killers for pets -- often at grave risk.

The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar contains two active ingredients: imidacloprid and flumethrin. These insecticides are harmful to animals, to the people who pet them and to the environment -- especially when dogs wearing these collars enter a lake or stream. (For details, see drfoxonehealth.com/post/companion-animal-risks-of-flea-and-tick-insecticides.)

Now, Merck is promoting Bravecto Quantum, an injectable insecticide (fluralaner) for dogs that it claims can give protection for up to a year. The company states: "The most commonly reported adverse reactions in a U.S. field study included lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes and pruritus. ... Fluralaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxazoline-class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures.”

What more can be said beyond "beware"? The convenience of an insecticide collar, topical treatment or injection should not override safer preventive measures. I would first choose a botanical spray, such as this one, which I also spray on myself when walking my dog: earthanimal.com/product/apothecary-natural-flea-tick-herbal-bug-spray-for-dogs-people. It is infused with cedarwood and peppermint oils to produce a fresh, minty scent loathed by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

Also consider this oral supplement that helps repel fleas and ticks: earthanimal.com/product/apothecary-natural-flea-tick-daily-internal-powder-supplemental.

AN UPDATE ON CANINE LYMPHOMA

Lymphoma is one of the most common types of cancer in dogs today. I recall weeping upon seeing a friend's dog sitting on his lap at our local dog park: The dog's lymph glands in her neck had swollen to the size of two golf balls. My friend said that this was her last visit to the park; he was off to the vet’s to put her to sleep.

Please see this informative post from ImpriMed, a canine medical company, about some of the potential causes of lymphoma.

"There are a few (causes) that have been linked to the cancer, the obvious one being genetic predisposition. Certain breeds are more likely to succumb to lymphoma than others. Unfortunately, golden retrievers are super likely. One out of eight goldens will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

"There has also been a link found between (lymphoma and certain) garden pesticides. ... Dogs play in the grass that you use (pesticides) on. They roll around and have a great time. Then they come back inside and set out to clean themselves by licking their body that has just rolled in the grass. Lo and behold, your pet is ingesting pesticides. ...

"I’m sure it’s unsurprising, considering everything we know already about the habit, but being in a home with a smoker can cause cancer to develop in your pet. ... Secondhand smoke will make the people and animals around you sick. As a smoker, you are putting a damaging substance into your body and the bodies of those you keep closest to you."

(Full story: imprimedicine.com/blog/what-is-canine-lymphoma.)

(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 DR. FOX: We get alerts all the time about a rabid cat they find here and there. At this point no one should inject their pets and livestock with anything until proven safe. And they have been dropping rabies vaccines from planes for the past few months in several states -- odd, don’t you think? -- S.R.E., Charlottesville, Virginia

DEAR S.R.E.: Spreading bait laced with modified live viruses has been going on for decades to help prevent rabies from spreading in wildlife communities and rural municipalities. It has proven safe and effective.

Both inactivated (killed) and modified live viruses are used in anti-rabies vaccinations, depending on the vaccine type and target species. Inactivated vaccines, typically administered via injection, are commonly used for humans and some domestic animals. Modified live vaccines are often used for oral animal vaccination programs to control rabies in wildlife. Careful monitoring of viral strains is important because they mutate and may render vaccines less effective in providing protection.

MORE CONCERNS ABOUT COVID INFECTIONS, VACCINATIONS

Studies have found that, rarely, some COVID-19 vaccines (specifically the adenoviral vector-based ones) are associated with a specific, very rare blood clot condition called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), also known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). This condition is distinct from the “microclots” observed in some patients with severe, acute COVID-19 and long COVID.

See the study "COVID-19 Vaccines and Autoimmune Hematologic Disorders" by Maria Eva Mingot-Castellano et al., published in Vaccines in 2022.

FIRST HUMAN DEATH FROM NEW STRAIN OF AVIAN FLU

A Washington resident has died from complications related to H5N5 avian influenza, the first human case of this strain and the second U.S. avian flu death in 2025. The patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions, likely contracted the virus from his backyard flock of birds, according to health officials. Although there is no vaccine that protects people specifically against avian influenza, health experts say seasonal flu vaccines reduce risks. (Full story: CNN.com, Nov. 21)

For a deeper investigation about the risks of another pandemic -- while federal health and science agencies are being dismantled -- see this article co-authored by my friend and fellow veterinarian Dr. Bruce Kaplan: impakter.com/bird-flu-what-the-first-death-from-rare-h5n5-strain-reveals-about-us-public-health.

The other strain of this virus, H5N1, is infecting and killing all manner of wildlife, domestic cats, backyard poultry and those in factory farms, as well as sickening dairy cows and infecting their attendants and veterinarians.

PROTECTING PETS, BACKYARD FLOCKS FROM AVIAN FLU

Avian influenza primarily affects wild aquatic birds and domestic poultry, but backyard flocks and even pets may be at risk. To help veterinarians and the public, the AVMA has developed guidance on identifying, treating and preventing bird flu in pets and backyard poultry. Early detection is critical, so owners are encouraged to monitor their animals closely for signs of illness and consult their veterinarian if concerns arise.

Visit this page for more information: avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-companion-animals.

(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.)