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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2015 15 By Teri DiMarino-Davidson I love my cats! I have two of them and they are as different as night and day. I also have two dogs and people often ask me if they all get along. Of course they do! They are all "brothers and sisters" and they get along just wonderfully. The old adage that dogs always chase cats is false. Dogs with a high prey drive will tend to chase anything that moves quickly and yes, my dogs will go after the cats if they do run, but these guys do it as a form of play. The dogs never hurt the cats and the cats actually seem to like enticing the dogs into a chase. They know they are all roommates and they all really like each other. There are actually more cats in American homes than dogs: an estimated 86 million cats compared to 78 million dogs. However, there is an anomaly here, since more households, 39 percent, own dogs, as opposed to 33 percent of households with cats. That's because about 52 percent of cat owners own more than one cat, compared to 40 percent of dog owners having a multi-dog homes. Our kitties like their company! Many of our Four Seasons residents own cats. Most of them are indoor cats, which is a safe practice. Our little domestic cats are no match for their bobcat cousins or the local coyotes so staying indoors is the smart thing. Cats are a comfort. Yes, they can be a bit aloof, but that is the nature of the beast. They don't need, or demand, the constant attention our canine companions do. With a good diet, a litter box to scoop and an assortment of toys, cats are the perfect "retirement pet" for many of us. Their low-maintenance lifestyle lends itself to our casual existence. You don't have to rush home from an event to feed or walk them. Many cats are super social butterflies while others hide under the bed at the first sign of someone different in their home. This has a lot to do with when they were newborn kittens. They need to be handled daily to imprint the human touch on them. They learn to enjoy the company and the affection. Some breeds of cats naturally lend themselves to a more social life. Siamese or Burmese are innately very social cats, almost mimicking dog-like behavior. And with a lifespan of 12 to 20 years for an indoor cat, you can be assured your buddy will be with you for a while. Here are some fun facts about our feline friends: • The furry tufts on the inside of cats' ears are called "ear furnishings." • Cats can't see directly below their noses. That's why they sometimes miss food or a treat that's right in front of them. • Cats sleep so much that, by the time a cat is 9 years old, it will only have been awake for three years of its life . • By spaying or neutering a cat, you add about two to three years to its life. • Cats sweat through the pads of their paws. • The more you talk to your cat, the more your cat will "talk" to you. • Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine ( 26 purrs per second ). • If your cat's tail is vibrating , it's excited to see you. And just remember… Dogs have owners… Cats have staff. Dear Tabby… I have a three-year-old dog who was 10 months old when we got him. Recently, he has begun nipping at us. What can I do? Signed, Little Nipper Dear Nipper, A dog exhibiting this behavior can become a real liability for the owner. Nipping and biting are the same thing; it is the dog using its mouth to relay its thoughts. But factors surrounding these incidents need to be examined to determine the reason behind the change in behavior. Is this a new habit or something that has been there all along and just getting worse now? Is he indiscriminately nipping to get attention or is he doing it in response to something you are asking him to do; like "get off the couch"? Is he breaking skin? Do you play "mouth games" with the dog, like tug o' war? What does he do if you make a demand of him? Have there been any changes in the household that could have triggered this behavioral change? First, stop all playing of games involving his mouth. You can't break a bad habit that you are unconsciously approving of it by calling it "play." Getting both of you into an obedience class and doing your homework can work wonders in re-grounding us with our canine friends. And remember, dogs NEVER fail obedience class… only people do. Give your dog guidance. Praise good behavior! Look for triggers that make him nip. Once you identify these triggers you can move forward in eliminating his response to them. A dog that starts biting out of nowhere is a rarity, leading me to think this may be the tip of an iceberg that has been in the works for a while. It's a cat's world… We just live in it

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