FURRY FOOTNOTES
by Joseph A. Crock, D.V.M.

   Grandpa said if you don't use it, you lose it. Millions of our purring pals are brain-dead - they've lost it upstairs, while at the same time they've gained it around the middle. And their owners have no idea, because that's how we expect cats to be. It's great that more people are restricting their cats to life indoors. Cats that wander free outdoors get hit by cars (the No. 1 cause of death of death for outdoor cats), are exposed to infectious diseases and are prone to fights with other cats, dogs and wildlife.

   The truth is life may be more exhilarating for cats allowed outdoors. However, as a veterinarian, it's my job to encourage safety and good health. Cats should be indoors. The problem is indoor life can be downright boring. Many indoor cats are clinically depressed. These couch-potato cats robotically move from the sofa to the food dish to the litter box. And they may have given up once-tidy habits, such as self-grooming.

   Estimates from scientific studies indicate anywhere from about one-quarter to half of all indoor cats is overweight. That makes them vulnerable to various diseases such as diabetes. However I am also concerned about these chubby felines' mental fitness. Although intelligence is difficult to define, experts agree cats and dogs are about in the same league. We'd call it abuse to allow millions of dogs to vegetate, yet as a society we're content when our cats do just that. People think cats are naturally anti-social, and that is just not true. It's not that we don't love our cats; it's that our expectations of cats are based on mistaken notions.

  People don't think about training cats because cats don't have to interact in the real world as dogs do. However I guarantee cats are just as trainable as dogs. You just do it differently. Teaching your cat tricks can make a huge difference. The bond you have with your cat will be forever changed. Your cat will learn how to learn, and you'll learn that cats can learn - despite everything you've ever thought about cats. To get your cat off the couch and into the real world, you might consider getting your cat a pet. A fish tank or even a lizard can be like cable TV for cats. Of course, the family must be committed to caring for the new animals - and protecting them from the cat so they don't become an hors d'oeuvre. Otherwise there are lizard and bird videos made for feline viewers.

  Some but not all cats enjoy the companionship of another cat, a dog or even a large parrot. I must warn you that adding another pet to a household with another older established cat could cause urine marking in the house even if that cat is spayed or neutered. It is probably best to get two kittens at the same time for companionship and to avoid behavioral problems. If adding another pet, be sure to gradually and carefully introduce it into the household.
Play with your cat. Use an interactive toy and pretend it's a real meal - like a bug [a Cat Dancer toy], a bird [a fishing pole toy with feathers] or a snake [a Cat Charmer toy]. All cats live to be hunters.

  Not all cats like the same games or the same toys. My own cat, Elvis, prefers my laser light pointer. I use it more for him than I do lecturing at Columbus State. Cats get bored fast, so rotate the toys. Let your cat hunt for her food. You can teach your cat to bat around Play-N-Treat balls, little plastic gizmos that kibble falls out of when rolled. Eventually hide the balls around the house so your cat can put her prey drive to practical use at mealtime. Provide a ledge with a view. Watching an outdoor bird feeder is like live theater for cats. Allow your cat outdoors in protected safety. Build your own "cat run" out of plywood and mesh, or purchase a do-it-yourself kit at a pet supply store.

  You won't find 'terminal boredom" listed as a condition in medical textbooks, but it should be there. Boredom fosters ill health. Visual and mental stimulation turns out to be just as healthful for cats as for dogs. Luckily, homes can easily be transformed into kitty playgrounds, and that makes life much more satisfying.

FURRY FOOTNOTES
by Joseph A. Crock, D.V.M.
740-927-7899
jcrockdvm@aol.com

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In Italy they opened the casa windows at midnight and heaved out anything they no longer wanted. In Thailand they threw water on friends, visitors and passersby in order to guarantee abundant rain for the next growing season. In Switzerland men dressed up like trees and lurched from one farmhouse to the next, scaring away evil spirits (not to mention neighborhood dogs).

What all those "theys" were doing was greeting the New Year in some of the many fashions in which it has been greeted throughout time and across cultures. However, we the people of the United States were content to ring in the new by watching the big ball descend over Times Square. Maybe we watched one of Guy Lombardo's successors. Perhaps we kissed people on the lips whom we wouldn't ordinarily kiss at all during the rest of the year and many of us made a couple of well-intentioned resolutions.

Perhaps we'd best not look back to last year's resolutions and account for their success or lack thereof; instead let us look forward and find resolutions that we know we can keep. Hmmmm, what would those be? Why not make some resolutions concerning the health of your pet.

If your dog or cat is not neutered, well, what are you waiting for? Start the new year out right for yourself, your pet and, believe it or not, society as a whole. Our country and our entire planet are currently suffering from a severe pet overpopulation problem; in truth it is the pets who are suffering. There are simply not enough homes for all the dogs and cats born each year, yet for some reason many pet owners refuse to have their pets altered.

To set the record straight, spaying and neutering is not cruel. It is a great act of kindness one can do for his or her companion, an act that will also greatly enhance the relationship between owners and their pets. An altered pet is more loving toward its owner, its life is more content, and it is likely to live longer, too. Now there is a New Year's resolution that can keep a pet owner beaming with pride for years and years to come.

Okay, you can admit it. We understand. If your pet is perhaps a bit overweight, or even downright obese, you need not hang your head in shame. Look at the positive side; you know the new year and all that. Why not start your year on a healthy note and resolve to get your pet back into shape.

Unfortunately, a great many pets amongst us are overweight, but to aid these pets, there are now a number of diet pet foods on the market that can help Fluffy or Fido slim down without depriving them of the full tummy feeling. The most difficult obstacle in such a program is usually the owner who can't resist sneaking treats to a dieting pet. Once you make this resolution, resolve to stick to it and consult your veterinarian about the best program for your pet's needs.

Now here is a resolution that could fit hand in paw with one you might have made yourself. You guessed it, exercise. Pets, as well as their owners, need daily exercise to keep them healthy and energetic.
Exercise also happens to be one of the greatest stress relievers known to mankind. While it can keep you sane amid a busy work schedule, it can also help pets expend excess energy that might otherwise be directed toward furniture, expensive houseplants or the new leather shoes that you got for Christmas.

If all these terrific reasons for a daily exercise regimen aren't enough, here is another one. By ensuring that your pet is receiving its daily dose of exercise, you are spending time with your dear companion that, studies have shown, is probably helping to keep your blood pressure low and helping make your life a happier one.

Few people truly enjoy going to the dentist, but if you think about the reasons why, it is usually because many of us do not take proper preventive care of our teeth. Well, we are not the only species with such woes,
Dogs and cats also require routine dental care. This begins with daily tooth brushing - yes, tooth brushing - with a toothbrush and toothpaste specially designed for animals. Toothpaste's made for human use are too harsh for pets and can make them sick. Also remember that fluoride is a heavy metal and not meant to be swallowed.

However brushing alone, as we all know, is not enough. You must seek veterinary help from time to time, preferably at least once, and perhaps twice a year. A thorough cleaning and polishing of your dogs teeth done by a veterinarian will help protect the animals teeth and mouth from gum disease, infection and all the other problems that can plague our own oral health.

Now that we've essentially covered the basics, it's up to you. It is time for you to evaluate your own relationship with your special companion and decide what else might be a positive step for you to take in 2003. For instance, if your pet isn't wearing a collar and identification tags, this should be an important - and immediate - step you take toward improving your pet's care. You may also want to consider having it micro-chipped. Also don't forget to get its license.

If your dog's behavior and training has been on your mind of late, why not sign up for a local training class, even if your dog is no longer a puppy. You can teach an old dog new tricks.

You get the picture. So as we plunge into the new year ahead, remember that you have the power to make it a positive one for you and your pet.

Oh yes, I have one final comment. GO BUCKEYES!!!!!

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