My Pet World: Cat’s high-velocity purring both annoying and charming
These questions were answered by experts at BlogPaws 2015 in Nashville, Tenn. Hundreds of pet bloggers gather each year for continuing education with their pets.
Q: My cat always purred loudly, but now his motor seems to be getting even more powerful. The more attention I give him, the more and louder he purrs. I never thought I’d ever complain about purring! What’s going on? — C.M., Baltimore, Md.
A: Maybe you should compete “and set a new Guinness record,” says Sandy Robins, author of “The Original Cat Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Cats” with contributors Dr. Arnold Plotnick, Lorraine Shelton and Sarah Hartwell.
In May, a kitty from Torquay, Devon, in the United Kingdom, set the Guinness world record for loudest purr by a domestic cat. Merlin, 13, was adopted from an animal rescue center by Tracy Westwood, and her daughter, Alice. Merlin registered a purr measuring 67.8 decibels — beating the previous record of 67.68 decibels set in 2011 by Smokey, another British cat.
So how loud is that? It’s so loud that the family must turn up the TV when Merlin is purring. He’s louder than the average washing machine.
If your cat is purring louder with attention, you could simply withdraw the attention as the purr grows louder, Robins suggests.
“But please don’t do that,” she adds. “I’m jealous and love purring, and want a cat who purrs like [yours]. I think it’s simply wonderful, and I’d never give it up.”
Q: My iguana, Paco, is about 8 years old and until recently was a great pet. Now his personality has changed. Some days he likes me, and others he chases me aggressively or acts like he’s never seen me before. What I should do? — C.C., San Diego
A: He chases you? I wouldn’t give him the opportunity, since full-grown iguanas can reach 6 feet long and deliver a formidable bite. Not to mention that a good swing of that tail could break your leg. I’m not suggesting any of this will happen, but if you can figure out if anything you’re doing is causing Paco to be aggressive, stop doing it.
Meanwhile, Dr. Laurie Hells of Bedford Hills, N.Y., who has a special interest in alternative pets, says adult iguanas just don’t change for no reason. Kidney disease, in particular, may be the first potential problem to rule out. Other possibilities include improper calcium or phosphorus levels, or the fact that the heating where the iguana is kept isn’t quite right.
“By the time we witness a change in behavior, there may be an underlying medical explanation that’s been going on for months, or even a year or more,” Hells says. “This is why a visit to a veterinarian who has experience treating iguanas is a very good idea.”
Q: My dog, Frisco, is perpetually picking up yucky stuff on walks and eating it, like rabbit poop, bits of paper, whatever. I tell him “no” and “bad,” but he’s not getting the message. It seems like every other week he has digestive issues and loose poop. Medication calms his stomach, but I’m worried that one day he’ll pick up something that will cause a much more serious problem. Any advice? — A.M., Arlington Heights, Ill.
A: Beginning with the obvious, dog trainer Harrison Forbes of Nashville says to do the best you can to walk Frisco in places where he won’t find rabbit feces. Forbes is also afraid you may be off on the timing of your “no’s” and “bad’s,” unintentionally reinforcing Frisco’s habit of picking up things. To get the timing right, ask for hands-on help from a dog trainer or certified dog behavior consultant.
Another tip from Forbes: “Pick up the pace, giving your dog less of a chance to stop. However, many dogs don’t need to really stop; they have a knack for picking up objects on the fly.”
If Frisco is paying attention to you — looking up at you — it’s less likely he’ll see objects on the ground. A professional trainer or behavior consultant could show you how to teach your dog (using treats) to pay more attention to you than objects on the sidewalk.
In any case, what you’re doing now is obviously not working. Dogs who eat anything they can grab may one day swallow an item that could cause a life-threatening obstruction. However, unless Frisco is making a meal of rabbit poo, this snack may not be the source of his tummy problems. Forbes wonders if the stomach issues exist independent of Frisco’s walk-time snacking. Certainly, this is something to ask your veterinarian.
STEVE DALE hosts the nationally syndicated “Steve Dale’s Pet World” and “The Pet Minute” and is a contributing editor to USA Weekend. Send questions to petworld@stevedale.tv. Include your name, city and state or visit stevedalepetworld.com.