I have a 3-year-old cat, Mason, who is my pride and joy. I have
his litter box in a spare room and I make sure it is regularly
cleaned. He always used his box faithfully until I once put a bed
up in his room. He decided to use the bed! I took the bed down
about a year ago and he was fine. I put the bed back up because I
was having company and guess what? He soiled the bed again! I don’t
know what the deal is with this bed. Is he telling me
something?
Q: I have a 3-year-old cat, Mason, who is my pride and joy. I have his litter box in a spare room and I make sure it is regularly cleaned. He always used his box faithfully until I once put a bed up in his room. He decided to use the bed! I took the bed down about a year ago and he was fine. I put the bed back up because I was having company and guess what? He soiled the bed again! I don’t know what the deal is with this bed. Is he telling me something?
A:
It’s hard to say for sure what goes through Mason’s mind when he urinates on that bed. It’s remotely possible that he has a low-grade urinary tract infection or possibly some crystals that are irritating. The stress of any change in a home can trigger aberrant behavior such as this, especially when there are underlying health problems. So a visit to the vet is a good idea to start, just to rule out any medical problems.
But Mason may simply be telling you that he doesn’t want that bed in his room. If this is the case, you have two options. Either you put the bed in a different room (assuming you have another place to set it up), or you move his litter box to a different location. Pick a quiet area in the home for his box where there is little traffic and where you won’t be changing the furniture. Mason won’t have any reason to protest any more and chances are you won’t have any more unpleasant surprises.
Q:
My pooch is due for her Parvo and Distemper vaccines in late August. The SPCA clinic will do them for a reduced cost, and I really need to take advance of their inexpensive price. However, they don’t have an opening until mid-October. If she goes past the one-year timeframe by a couple of months, will it be a problem? Can she get sick if I don’t get this done within one year?
A:
Vaccinations stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies that protect against various diseases for a certain length of time. Response to vaccines depends on the age and overall health of the dog. Traditionally, veterinarians have suggested annual boosters for Distemper and Parvovirus.
But recently, many veterinarians and most of the veterinary teaching school hospitals have switched to a longer interval between inoculations for these two diseases. Many vets now recommend triennial boosters (vaccines given every three years).
There is only one vaccine product that is FDA approved for this type of use, and you should be aware that not all veterinary clinics use this vaccine. But several university teaching hospitals have used other products in their triennial program, and three-year intervals are quickly becoming the new standard for canine boosters.
So depending on her health and age, your pooch can probably wait a while before she gets those boosters. Be sure to ask about the three-year vaccine when you take her in.
q:
How much and how often do pet dogs and cats need to be fed, depending on size and activity? Also, what about commercial treats and table scraps?
A:
Each animal is a little different. And there are many different feeding guides out there, each telling us how much to feed our cats and dogs. But every animal is unique with his or her own metabolism and activity level. So here are some guidelines for your pet’s nutrition.
Always feed a higher-end food. There is a difference in quality in different food brands and the cheaper varieties are often nutritionally inferior and sometimes downright lousy. Avoid table scraps.
There are so many ways people food can be unhealthy. If you want to cook and prepare people food for your pet, be sure to use a veterinarian-approved recipe guide.
And finally, feed your pet twice a day. Once-daily feedings can lead to digestive problems.
Feed only as much as your dog or cat needs to maintain proper weight. Usually if you pick up the food after 15-20 minutes, your pet has had enough to eat. But watch his or her weight to determine how much to feed. Too heavy? Too much food. Too thin? Add a little more to the bowl.
Proper feeding and regular exercise are the most vital ingredients to a healthy pet. Oh yes … add a lot of love to that equation and you’ll have one very happy furry friend.
