Dear Dr. Forsythe:
Our two-year-old Tabby cat “Jo” has been using my husband’s briefcase as a litter box for the last couple of months. It usually happens the day he returns from a business trip. At first we thought it was funny until she ruined one of his important presentations. My husband is so mad he is threatening to get rid of the cat. She always uses her kitty box when my husband is away traveling, but the minute he returns home, the poop hits the fan. Is there something we can give her to get the upper hand? Sign me
Kitty mom
Dear Kitty mom:
This is not the most unusual of problems, since cats are very susceptible to stress and changes in the home. It is not unusual in families where the father or mother does a considerable amount of traveling for the dynamic to change frequently when the traveling parent returns home. When this happens, cats can sense difference in the social patterns of the humans. Everything from sleep patterns to noise levels to hours spent at home versus out at restaurants can affect the behavior of the family cat. “Jo” may be very sensitive to the normal activities of the family and could feel very disrupted when dad is gone. Where does Jo normally sleep? Is she kicked out of her comfy bed when dad returns home from business trips? She may not be the usual center of the universe when dad comes home, and perhaps pooping in the briefcase is her less than subtle way of letting you know that she prefers the starring role in the family.
I suggest you make sure to clean her litter pan daily, and place an extra litter box in an additional room (the utility room or the study). There is a product called Feliway spray, which is a calming pheromone spray that you can spray around areas where you want to deter her from eliminating. If this fails, there are medications which your veterinarian can prescribe that reduce anxiety in the cat. I would also urge your husband to pay extra careful loving attention to Jo both before and after his next business trip. That way, Jo won’t leave her business on his briefs.
Good Luck.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe:
Are those dog shows on television rigged? It always seems like you see the same breeds prancing around for Best in Show. The poodle is always there, but I don’t usually see other breeds like the Great Dane or the bloodhound win? Last night there were TWO poodles up for Best in Show.
Give me a Lab
Dear give me a Lab:
I do find it rather odd that it always seems that the toy poodle seems to win group, and while it does seem like they may be over represented at shows, it would be unfair to say that the shows are “rigged.” Since so much goes into the development, showing and judging of these beautiful animals, you’d have to delve into the complicated and subjective world of dog showing to have a good grasp on this interesting and bizarre world. But one thing I can fairly well assure you: there probably will not be an English Bulldog winning Best in Show at Westminster any time soon, at least not while the bulldog and the poodle are competing together in the Non-Sporting Group!
Dr. F
