Creature feature
As we cruise through the end of May, here are some tips and tidbits from the living-with-pets grab bag.
CATS IN THE ZONE
Cat owners planning an indoor home remodeling project need to factor in the family feline’s needs along with choosing paint and flooring, according to an article in the May issue of Catnip. Cats aren’t merely territorial, but actually feel attached to their space, so any disruption can produce anxiety and undesirable behaviors such as urine marking.
Animal behaviorist Nicholas Dodman of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University points out that remodeling projects are among the top 10 reasons cats begin going to the bathroom outside of their litter boxes. Construction zone issues such as strangers in the house, loud noises, extra activity and schedule changes all spell chaos and stress for a cat.
The first step to keeping the family kitty calm during a construction project is to provide the cat with a quiet, safe place. Dodman suggests figuring out one or more areas of the house that can be closed off for the cat, then hanging plastic screens or blankets to keep noise and dust out of the cat’s space. Also post a sign to alert outsiders that the cat’s room is off-limits. To muffle sounds of saws, hammers and drills, keep a radio or television turned on in the cat’s space.
Provide the cat with food, water, a litter box, bedding and toys. Since cats like vertical space, also make sure there’s a bookcase, easy chair or cat tree where the cat can relax in elevated comfort.
Besides lowering a cat’s anxiety, I know from experience that offering the cat a sanctuary from remodeling activity can also lessen your stress. During a couple of painting projects in my house, I learned that one of my cats was unfailingly attracted to paint trays. If I didn’t keep her confined when I was painting, I’d find her lolling in a wet tray — purring and stretched out for maximum coverage. If that happened, I was faced with bathing her, an unhappy prospect for both of us.
During a project also keep the cat’s safety in mind, Dodman says. Do a daily sweep for tacks, nails and any small objects that the cat might step on or pick up. Make sure workers don’t leave toxic materials such as paint thinner lying around. Even though the chance cats will drink paint or thinner is slim, he can ingest them by licking it from his fur.
GRILLING FOR FIDO
While you’re grilling burgers or some other tasty fare for yourself and the family, you might consider treating your dog to “dog kebabs” like those described in the June/July issue of
Dogster magazine. For the kebabs, chop vegetables
into bite-size pieces and stick them on skewers. What you use depends on your dog’s tastes. Most dogs like sweet potatoes and some like broccoli, squash and zucchini.
Grill the kebabs five to 10 minutes. Drizzle them with honey or plain yogurt after grilling, but don’t add salt or pepper. Remove the vegetables from the skewer and let them cool before serving.
You’ll likely want to factor the extra food into the dog’s meal plan and feed him less kibble on grilling days.
WHAT’S IN A GROWL?
Women, it seems, may be better than men at recognizing when a dog’s growl is playful or threatening, researchers at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, reveal in Royal Society Open Science Journal.
Men and women, however, are accurate 81 percent of the time when it comes to identifying play growls correctly. For the study, 40 people listened to recordings of growls of 18 dogs. The dogs growled while guarding food, facing strangers and playing tug-of-war. Growls have distinctly different pitches in different situations, as you probably know from listening to your dog.
The study is one of many the university has conducted as part of the Family Dog Project, which was founded in 1994 to study the behavioral and cognitive aspects of the human-dog relationship. You can participate in the project’s research by filling out a questionnaire at tinyurl.com/lure22v on how your dog communicates.