My Pet World: Simple alternatives for cat scratch fever
Q: My 4-year-old cat scratches our sofa, so I use a shake can filled with marbles, and squirt her with water. However, this really hasn’t helped. Any advice? — P.A., Cyberspace
A: All cats need to scratch; it’s just a matter of where. At this point, your cat has presumably been scratching in inappropriate places all her life.
Make the sofa an uncomfortable play to scratch. Place a rug runner (nubby side up) or car floor mat (nubby side up) on the sofa, or use double stick tape or a manufactured product (available wherever pet products are sold) called Sticky Paws. Cats don’t like the feel of those nubs or stickiness on their paws.
Offer alternatives near the sofa, such as a sturdy vertical scratching post (preferably lined with sisal and as tall as you can afford), as well as a horizontal scratcher (inexpensive cardboard device). Incidentally, it’s true that maintaining the length of your cat’s nails will help some.
Q: What do you think about the recent press release from the American Bird Conservancy criticizing TNR, pointing out that it’s the perfect storm for promoting rabies? —T.S., Cyberspace
A: I think it’s ridiculous. In great part, the entire point of TNR (trap, neuter and return) is to vaccinate stray and feral cats for rabies, as well as to spay/neuter the cats in the colonies where feral and stray cats live. Without being able to reproduce, the colony dwindles to a couple of elderly cats, and eventually to nothing. TNR is actually a part of the solution to lessen the incidence of rabies in cats.
For starters, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the two primary rabies vectors are bats and raccoons. Cats are much further down on the list.
The press release notes that cats, feral or not, are perceived as domestic, and approachable. Perhaps that’s the case. But the next sentence in the release should say, “and when approached, feral cats run away.” Colony cats should be vaccinated for rabies, and actually are therefore not a threat for transmitting rabies. What’s more, I believe a greater percentage of colony cats are vaccinated for rabies compared with owned cats, for whom the vaccine is often mandated by law but still ignored by owners.
It’s a fact that cat-to-human rabies transmission hasn’t occurred in the U.S. for over 30 years, according to the CDC.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the barrage from bird groups attacking TNR without providing a better solution or assisting in the TNR effort. I agree that feral and stray cats do kill too many songbirds. But baseless allegations do nothing to help. I do appreciate the bird groups’ campaigns to promote keeping our pet cats indoors (unless they’re supervised outdoors, such as within cat fencing or on a leash and harness). Not only is this beneficial to wildlife, but such cats live longer, healthier lives.
Q: My mother is a big fan of yours. She’s heard that fish oil can be given orally to dogs for impacted anal glands. She has a small dog and would like to know if this is true. How about cod liver oil? Mom has always thought cod liver is a good thing. — J.P., Houston
A: Dr. David Twedt, a board-certified specialist in internal medicine from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., says Omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish oils, are good for canine coats and can alleviate allergy problems (which might also affect the coat). Fish oils might even work as an anti-inflammatory, and some experts claim they can lessen the risk of developing some kinds of cancer.
However, Twedt knows of no study that’s ever concluded that fish oils alleviate impacted anal glands, or prevent the anal glands from impacting in the first place. Because they are good for your pet’s health, there’s no harm in trying a supplement of Omega 3 fatty acids, readily available at pharmacies and where nutrition products are sold. Omega 3 fatty acids are also added to many pet foods. And, yes, your mom was right about cod liver oil, too.
About those anal sacs, changing to a diet with more fiber, or adding Metamucil to your pup’s diet might help. If it doesn’t, your dog might scoot her rear end along the floor to tell you how uncomfortable she is when those anal sacs fill. Your vet or a veterinary technician can express or release the contents, offering relief. Left ignored, impacted anal glands can become infected.