Jump on it – or not
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I have a little secret weapon I wanted to share with you (and your readers) to help keep cats off the counters or furniture in the house. I have been reading your column for some time and don’t remember you suggesting double-sided tape as a great way to discourage cats from that problem. I have been using this for quite some time and it really seems to work great. When a cat hops up onto the counter and feels that sticky tape on his paws or tail he quickly gets down and doesn’t try it again. The tape really isn’t harsh and can’t really hurt the cat, so I have found this to be an excellent solution. Hope this helps. – Ms. Pease
Dear. Ms. Pease: Thanks for sharing your secret weapon. I hope the readers will benefit from it. Some people also place aluminum foil onto surfaces that they want to discourage cats from pouncing on. One of my technicians has a girlfriend who is a certified “cat lady” meaning that she has more than five cats and she lives, breathes and speaks cat. Margie has so many clever curious kitties cruising around her house, making every nook and cranny in the house their own personal “comfort zone” that she needed some additional “weapons” of her own to keep her from losing her sanity! She found great success by placing large, very thin, single use aluminum baking/ sheets on the kitchen counters and let them overhang the edges a few inches. When one of her pampered, gorgeous English short hairs hops up onto the counter, he catches the tin pan and they both land together on the floor: lesson learned – usually after the first mishap. Margie swears by this, so I thought I would pass it on as well. I hope these tidbits help all you cat lovers and any of you “crazy cat ladies” out there. – Love, Dr. F (owner of 5 cats in 1 apartment!!!)
Dear Dr. Forysythe: I have a six-year-old Beagle who just seems to be down recently. I’ve had “Casey Chasey” tested and the doctor really can’t find much wrong with her even after doing blood work and X-rays. There was some mild arthritis in the hips. The doctor even did a sonogram and told me “she’s just aging” and offered a medicine that can strain the liver in some dogs. I hate to see her slowing down so much already, but I also don’t want to start pumping her full of drugs either. Is there anything more natural I can look into? Your input will be appreciated. – Edie, San Diego
Dear Edie: Your question comes at the most opportune time in my veterinary career and personal path of growth and exploration. After 15 years of practicing primarily western medicine, I have recently begun branching out into eastern and integrative medicine as well. After all these years I have come to comprehend that conventional medicine and surgery alone don’t always give us the answers or the cures we need to give our pets the most comfortable and happy lives we can.
A couple of years ago a friend began chatting with me about a natural supplement called Protandim while we were both watching our sons play Babe Ruth baseball. Often the skeptic, it took over a year, but I eventually gave in and began using the one-a-day supplement that activates our body’s internal defenses, our survival genes, to do what they were created to do – protect our cells from damage and disease. I’m happy to report that two years later my friend has me completely on board. This anti-aging supplement that increases the production of antioxidant enzymes that protect the body from cellular damage is a part of my daily routine.
Protandim is also used very successfully in pets with similar results. I would recommend starting Casey Chasey on this supplement daily. I suspect that within a week, and certainly within a month, you would see an increase in energy, vitality and quality of life. Because this is an all-natural botanical that in essence “turns on the body’s defense” I believe it could be a wonderful path to take Casey down. And don’t be surprised if she isn’t yanking YOU down that path before very long. – Dr. F
