Ask The Cat Lady!

Sally Bahner is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and has a private feline consulting practice. She is the "Dear Sally" on Tracie Hotchner’s Cat Chat Radio (www.catchatradio.com), found on Sirius, the Martha Stewart Living channel. She is a longtime editor and writer on everything feline.

Q: Dear Sally:
About once a week I leave Susie alone overnight. She tolerated it okay until I had to leave her with my neighbor for 2-1/2 weeks to care for my mother. Since then, Susie has been distant.  She cries during the early morning hours for my neighbor, staring at the ceiling because she hears her or smells her upstairs in the second-floor apartment. She stares blankly ahead often, listening for sounds of her beloved friend. Sometimes she climbs onto the shower curtain rod (!) to be closer to the ceiling and closer to the sounds of my neighbor. Susie has always been acutely sensitive, and I wonder if the abandonment she felt when I was gone has made her distrust me and she now clings to the "savior" from above.
My little family — just Susie and me — now seems sad and broken.  I've heard of cats who find new homes all of a sudden, and I get the feeling if Susie were outside she would set out on her own to find the security and love she thought was solid.
She is eating okay but not with the gusto she always had, and she is still grooming herself as usual.
Catherine
A: Dear Catherine:
Obviously Susie received excellent care from your neighbor and bonded with her. Will Susie be staying with your neighbor on a regular basis in the future? I'm tempted to see how Susie would react from a social call in her own turf from the neighbor. Are you and your neighbor friends enough to socialize around Susie? It could assure her that she has not been abandoned by her special friend.
Right now you need to make Susie's home environment extra special: some new toys, special treats, extra attention. Also, if she hasn’t had a check-up in a while, it couldn’t hurt to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
I'm almost wondering how a companion would work out — if it would help Susie or add to her insecurity.
In terms of my favorite Spirit Essences (www.spiritessence.com), try "Changing Times" and/or "Self Esteem." Susie is certainly a kitty that needs human contact — unlike the stereotype that brands cats as solitary creatures!
Sally

Ask the Lazi Birds!

Steve and Diane Lazicki have been rescuing and working with birds for over 8 years, as well as raising them as pets since childhood. They live with over 150 birds in their "bird house," so they have a wealth of bird expertise. Direct your bird related questions to the Lazi Birds.

Q: Dear LaziBirds:
How can I tell if my bird is overheated? And is air conditioning safe?
Mark
A: Hi Mark:
First, if your bird's beak is open and he's panting (like a dog) as well as his wings being slightly extended, it's a sign of overheating. You want to get the bird away from the sun and mist him. You can buy spray bottles that adjust from a stream to a mist. Although air conditioning is OK for birds, (not directly on them) you should never bring an overheated bird directly into an air conditioned room without cooling him down first.
We have so many birds that a hand held spray bottle takes forever, not to mention hand cramping. We bought a plant mister with a pump action and long nozzle. It has a trigger and is simple to use. They are inexpensive and oh so convenient. Make sure the bird has time to dry before bringing him into air conditioning. I hope this helps.
LaziBirds
 

Reptile Man!

 Ron Wulff, the Reptile Man, has worked for one of the big retail pet stores for 6 years as a reptile and aquatic specialist. He rescues reptiles and runs www.nopaws.com, dedicating his time to educate people on exotic pets. Direct your exotic pet questions to Reptile Man.

Q: Dear Ron:
I have a pet Bearded Dragon.  I usually fill his water bowl and place it in the tank.  Last week, I put it in the tank empty and poured the water in after.  When it started splashing, the lizard jumped down off its rock and stuck his head in the water bowl and started drinking.  When I stopped pouring, he stopped drinking and looked up at me.  I started letting the water trickle back in and he drank more, so much in fact, that he threw up.  Is this normal?
Stan
A: Hi Stan:
Many reptiles from dry parts of the world do not recognize standing water in a bowl as something to drink.  It is important to mist the tank of such animals so they can lick up drops of water.  The splashing made by pouring the water into the bowl causes the lizard to recognize it as water. He might not have had any for some time for him to suck it up like that.  Try misting the tank every morning.  The lizard will probably flatten himself out, like he is annoyed.  This behavior is actually designed to capture drops of water and channel them forward to where the animal can access it.  The small amount of water daily is better than the big gulp.
Ron

The Bunny Expert!

Susan adopted her first house rabbit 5 years ago and soon after got highly involved in rabbit rescue. She has volunteered at a local rabbit rescue group and a local animal shelter working with rabbits. She has since co-founded 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue Inc. Susan can surely answer all of your rabbit questions!

Q: Dear Susan:
My friend told me I should keep simethecone on hand because I own a rabbit. I am not sure why.
Sherry
A: Hi Sherry:
Yes, if you own a bunny infant gas drops (simethicone) should be in your medicine cabinet. Recently I had to use it on one of my bunnies. Bunnies often get gas (sometimes from eating certain foods or other reasons). When they do not eat and do not move around as normal they may have gas. Giving simethicone promptly can help the gas pass and get bunny back to normal. If it does not get bunny back to normal then a vet visit is needed asap in case of a more serious problem. If left untreated a bunny can go downhill very fast and even die. Bunnies need to eat and keep their gut moving. Hay is very important to keep the digestive track in order. Infant gas drops has been a lifesaver for me many times.
Susan Curtiss