Bells on cats, and unencumbered freshmen
Dear Dr. Forsythe: Our cat “Max” has been on a killing spree lately. He has gotten two birds, three mice, three rats, and even a fairly good-sized squirrel last week. Whenever we see him dragging something through the cat door, we all cringe worrying about what new animal he has killed. Do you have any suggestions on what we should do? Our neighbors all call him names like “Terminator” and we are worried he may get hurt.
Max’s Family
Dear Family: Some cats love to show off their prizes to their family. It’s their way of showing how talented they are and resourceful they are. But for your neighbors to belittle him and compare him to Ahhnold is gruesome!! It would be nice if you could close the cat door and keep him indoors, but it sounds like you have a real predator on your hands, and his quality of life may not be so good if he were to be confined. The first thing I’d do is place a few loud bells on his collar to ward off potential victims and give them a chance to flee when he is approaching, You probably also want to have him tested for fecal parasites, since many rats and mice have cestode parasites (such as tapeworms) that can get into the GI tract. I had a neighbor in the Carneros area whose cat would catch and kill huge critters, and try and drag them through his modestly sized cat door. “Charlie” once bagged a raccoon of all things, and when he was unable to drag the thing through the cat door, he went out through the cat door, then proceeded o try and push the carcass through the door from the outside. After he realized this was a lost cause, his owner noticed Charlie sitting there beside the body, licking and preening while the big bloated raccoon was tightly “lodged” halfway through the kitty door. Since then Charlie wears several bells around his neck and sounds like a saint and has left his killing ways behind. This might just work for your pet, too.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My son is going away to college this fall and wants to bring his dog with him. My husband and I think it would be smarter for us to keep “Beau” here since he is really more of the family dog. Even though our son will be living at a place that allows pets, we feel that the responsibility of college plus a pet may be too much and it would be better for us keep the pet home for when he visits. What do you say?
College parents
Dear Parents: I agree with you. I think you should keep the pet as collateral. Encourage your son to come home frequently to see you and Beau. Send pictures, call your son and let Beau bark into the phone. Bring Beau to the school for a college weekend (if it is within driving distance). At least your son should get his first year under his belt before he takes on the responsibility of caring for a pet while in college. Pets require so much time and attention, and I remember the mad-capped pace of school – pets can easily be overlooked while students are racing here and there, running here and there, and darting about to tend to themselves. Better Beau stay just where he is, and let the sun, the moon, and the stars, revolve around HIM. Now the question is, what are you going to turn that extra bedroom into? How about a doggie spa??
Dr. F
