• Cats should not go outside at all in this kind of weather!

• Honk the horn or tap on the hood of your car before starting it -- even in the garage. Cats often climb up under the hood to keep warm during winter months.

• Bring pets in when possibility of frostbite exists. Ear tips and foot pads are especially susceptible.

• Make sure pet has adequate access to shelter, food and fresh (not frozen) water.

• Keep your indoor pets exercised since this is the time of the year when lack of exercise can make your pet put on weight.

• A humidifier is beneficial for your pet. It helps keep your Pet's coat and skin from drying out and becoming itchy. It also keeps static electricity to a minimum.

Many people have heard the story of the young Danish man who's dog was lost when changing planes at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport. This story had a happy ending when the dog was found 5 days later. However, anyone who loves animals can certainly understand what a stressful time it was.

Always make sure your pet has identification BEFORE they get lost. Even an indoor cat should have a simple collar of elastic and identification.

Here's a few very important things to do if you discover your pet missing.

• Distribute Posters: Give posters to neighbors, area veterinary clinics, convenience and grocery stores. Some stores have community bulletin boards. Place posters in plastic bags to protect them from the elements, and post them around the area (note: some local ordinances do not allow posting on telephone poles ≠ check with the city before you spend a lot of time putting up posters).

• Call: - Local animal shelters - Your city's pound immediately! Pets picked up by Animal Control are not kept indefinitely. - Vet clinics in the area - Daily newspaper - Neighborhood newspaper - Local community access cable stations

• Don't give up too soon: Cats especially can stay hidden for weeks, even months. Dogs can travel a considerable distance.

• Put out food and water at your front and back doors.

• Ask neighbors to check their garages, sheds, any out-buildings in case your pet has been accidentally locked inside, or perhaps is hiding there.

• Always keep a picture of your pet in case they do get lost. It will be invaluable to show to neighbors, shelters and use on posters.

• Place a classified ad -- not just once but several times over an extended period. Pets, especially cats, can disappear and stay lost for months.

Do not give up and hopefully you will have a happy ending too.

Going on vacation or just to the cabin for the week-end?
Here are some tips for making the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

• If at all possible, leave your pet at home. Have a trusted friend take care of it, hire a professional pet sitter or as a last resort board your pet at a kennel. Provide the caretaker with photos and basic information like pets name, description, your vets name and number and of course detailed care instructions.

• If Fido or Fluffy must go with you, make sure to take familiar things along. Favorite toys, pillows, dishes and a litter box for Fluffy, will help them feel more secure.

• Do not let your pet out of the car without a lease or other restraint.

• Make sure they have proper ID (on the trip AND at home).

• Do not leave your pet in a car on a hot day.

• Do not let your pet ride in the open back of a truck or let it ride with it's head out the window.

The holidays can be a dangerous time for your pets. Here are some hints to make it a safer and pleasant experience for them.

• Be aware of the extra stress the holidays place on your pet. As creatures of habit, the holiday noise and festivities can often frighten an animal. Your pet should have it's own space which is off limits to visiting friends and relatives.

• If your pet has a tendency to chew on electric cords, place them through a piece of garden hose.

• Some plants such as poinsettia, mistletoe and daffodil bulbs are toxic to pets. If you have them in your home, place them out of reach.

• Be very careful how you display your decorations. Glittering objects can be deadly to your pet. Tinsel (string, ribbon, etc.) can become entangled in the intestine and could cause death.

• Dogs and cats play with dangling ornaments. They may break them and swallow small pieces of glass. Make sure that breakable decorations are placed out of their reach or set the holiday tree in a child's playpen. (This also works great if you have toddlers in the house.).

• Cats commonly climb Christmas trees and topple them. Secure the tree to a wall, ceiling, or drapery rod.

• You may love those chocolate goodies at this time of year but they can make your pet very sick causing convulsions and even death.

• A curious nose, swatting paw, or swinging tail can make short work of a menorah! Set it up out of reach.

• 4th of July noises, crowds, flashing lights and the smell of fireworks, can all scare and disorient a pet. Prevent injury and/or loss of your pets by keeping them confined indoors or on a leash.

The Cat's Voice wishes you and your pets safe and Happy Holidays throughout the year.

Tip: Keep Your Cat Indoors

One More Good Reason!

Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS)
Someone not using his litter box?

Have you observed him visiting the litter box more often than normal or straining to urinate?

He may not have turned into a bad cat but he may have FUS. FUS can also cause your cat to lose it's appetite, act sluggish or vomit more than usual. FUS is a clinical condition that occurs as a result of cystitis and/or urethritis. At least 10% of all cats admitted to veterinary hospitals are affected with FUS.

FUS can occur at any age but is more commonly seen after one year of age. Symptoms seem to occur more during the spring time than any other time during the year. The disease effects both sexes but can be more serious in males. This disease can cause complete blockage of the urinary tract which can lead to death if not treated immediately.

If you suspect FUS, take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Treatment can consist of medication, special diet or in more serious cases, insertion of a urinary catheter and hospitalization.

After the condition is cleared up, you can help prevent it from reoccurring again by feeding a food low in magnesium. Ask your veterinarian which food would be best.

---

Litter box problems?

Most cat owners have experienced it at one time or another -- finding cat "pee" where it shouldn't oughta be! Our first reaction is to curse the culprit and blame it on spite . . . but is it spite?

Usually not, according to behaviorist. Cats who have been trained to use a litter box and then suddenly quit are trying to tell us something. They may be trying to say "I have a bladder infection, and it hurts when I go, and I'm trying to find a place to go where it doesn't hurt!" Or they may be saying "My box is so dirty I'm going to find somewhere else to go!" Or "I'm having a territorial dispute with these other cats in this house, and this is how I express my side of things!"

How do you know which of these things your cat is saying? Have your veterinarian check a urine sample at the first sign of a problem. If the urine shows signs of infections, the problem will require medication. If the urinalysis is normal, the problem is classified as behavioral. At this point a consultation with your vet or a qualified behaviorist is in order.

One final point -- the importance of a clean litter box cannot be overstated. You should have one box for each cat in the house, plus one. Each box should be cleaned daily. This simple (though time consuming) rule will eliminate many cases of inappropriate urination. If your boxes have been too dirty and now you are religiously cleaning them, good for you! But your cat has a long memory, and may still behave as though the boxes are dirty. Be patient. Don't give up on cleaning . . . and if you still need help, call your veterinarian.

Terri A Derr, D.V.M. -- Animal Care Clinic, Richfield, MN

The Best Pet Food?

It's easier than ever to ensure adequate nutrition for your pet -- just look at the variety of food in the pet stores! With all those choices, how do you choose the best food for your friend?

First of all, realize there is no one best food for all cats or dogs. Secondly, be assured that inadequate nutrition is becoming less and less of a problem as the quality of pet foods increase. Poor nutrition is usually a problem in young dogs who may not grow properly if fed poor quality food. (Just as common, though, are young dogs who develop bone problems when fed adequate rations but then over supplemented with unneeded vitamins and minerals.) Adult dogs and cats who eat unbalanced diets usually have dry skin and poor quality coats. Many other medical conditions are reflected in the coat as well, so a change of food may not necessarily be all that's required to shine up a dull coat.

Follow these rules in choosing a food for your pet.

1. Be sure the label says "complete and balanced" for your pet's stage of life. Don't feed dog food to cats-it lacks an essential nutrient cats need to prevent blindness and heart disease.
2. Don't overfeed. Obesity is by far the most common nutritional problem in our pets today.
3. Avoid generic foods. While any given bag of generic food may be nutritious, these foods are not "fixed formula"-the actual ingredients can vary from bag to bag, resulting in subtle nutritional deficiencies. One of the major advantages of the premium foods is that they have the same, high quality ingredients in each bag. Your dog or cat can eat less of the premium food and still get the same amount of nutrition.
4. Talk to your veterinarian. Some pets have medical problems that require special diets. Even if your friend is perfectly healthy, the vet who knows both you and your pet can give good, specific advice regarding your choice of pet food.

Take a look at the article on claw trimming in our In-depth: Living with Claws section.