Compression vest may help anxious golden retriever

Dear Cathy: My 16-monthold golden retriever is frightened of certain situations. People have suggested a compression vest or shirt. Just wondering your thoughts on using one. — J. Stein, Holtsville, New York

Dear J.: Much as weighted blankets comfort people, compression vests have proved somewhat effective for anxious dogs.

One of my dogs was terrified of thunderstorms, and it required multiple strategies to calm her: wearing two compression vests, along with a pheromone collar, and using white noise to mask the sound of the storm.

She still trembled during the storm, but at least she would be calm enough to sit next to me rather than climbing the furniture like a mountain goat.

With any dog, you have to look for that special combination of things that will work.

Dear Cathy: My cat Rowdy was rescued before he could eat on his own. He weighed 14 ounces at the first vet visit. Now he’s 13 pounds. He craves attention and loves to be petted, but then attacks and bites hard, drawing blood.

I use Feliway. Do you have any other suggestions? — Diane, via email

Dear Diane: Cats have thresholds for touch. You can pet some all day long, but others will accept only a few strokes before letting you know they have had enough. It’s important to know and respect your cat’s limits.

You can improve your cat’s tolerance for touch, though. This involves first putting your cat in the right frame of mind. Medication from your vet can be used during the training process to make it easier for Rowdy to learn. You also can use a feline pheromone collar.

Once you have created this cool vibe, begin training your cat to accept more touch. If your cat always attacks after two strokes, only stroke your cat once and stop. Offer a treat if your cat will accept it. Wait a few minutes and pet again, building your cat’s tolerance to multiple strokes over time.