A long time ago, one of my cats was chased by a big dog which was roaming around in the neighborhood. The cat ran back home in a hurry but the dog was still after her. Being cornered, she climbed up a tree just outside my window -- I was watching the whole scene. I felt sorry for my cat, but I was also very impressed. I wished I could climb a tree as quick as my cat!

My cat could put herself out of harm's way by climbing up a tree thanks to her claws. I am personally against declawing of cats unless the owner has a very serious reason that nobody else could argue against. Since the majority of the cats living in the United States stay in the house all day, many cat owners face issues daily concerning claws - especially the scratching of furniture. I don't consider protecting furniture from cat scratching to be a good enough reason for declawing.

Why do cats scratch furniture? Scratching behaviors are a normal, natural instinct. By scratching, cats can remove the frayed outer layers of their claws. Every time I find these outer sheaths on the floor, I know that our cat's claws are getting sharp. Scratching also helps cats mark their territories. Cats stretch their muscles through scratching. Cats maintain their physical health by scratching.

You may think to yourself then, "I accept that I can't stop my cat's natural scratching behaviors, and I don't want to declaw my cat. What options are left to me? I need to protect my furniture, too!"

One approach that is popular and widely used is making your furniture (or whatever you don't want your cat to scratch) "unattractive" to cats while redirecting their attention to something you want them to scratch instead (a scratching post, for example). Buy a scratching post that matches your cat's needs - one tall enough for the cat to stretch and scratch, and sturdy and stable enough that it won't topple when the cat puts weight on it. Finding material that your cat likes is also important. Place the scratching post close to the furniture which your cat routinely scratches and then cover the furniture with something your cat doesn't like (such as sticky tape or plastic). Encourage your cat to use the scratching post by enticing him/her by using things he/she likes (toys and treats). I sprinkled catnip on the scratching post, and it worked. Keep doing this until the cat gets used to scratching the post. Gradually, move the scratching post away from the furniture a little at a time to the location you want it to be, but please keep in mind that your cat has to accept the new location, too, or he/she may go back to the original furniture.

By the way, the bottom part of the tree that my cat climbed up when chased by the dog was always bare because my cat used the spot for scratching regularly. It served as a natural scratching post. The tree (a pine) was taken care of by professional trimmers and looked beautiful (the kind that you see in beautiful traditional Japanese garden pictures), but my cat didn't care about preserving the beautiful appearance of the tree. She kept stripping the bark with her claws. My cat just loved the big natural scratching post!

You can find more information about scratching behaviors of cats here.
For information on declawing and scratching, click here.

It's a well-known fact that many dogs eat feces. When my dog was a puppy, I was perplexed by her habit of eating feces (mostly some other dogs' feces on the street and our cat's feces out of the litter box).

"Coprophagia" - the technical term for dogs eating feces - is a mystery, in fact. No one seems to know the exact answer as to why dogs do this. There are many theories (and proposed solutions) and most of them sound very probable. To name a few:

• Medical reasons - there may be underlying physical problems in the dog, in which case, you have to take the dog to your vet. It's always important to rule out physical problems first by having your vet check your dog before you start to pursue other methods.


• Natural behavior - it is not uncommon for dogs and other animals to eat feces. It is only us humans who think feces are disgusting.


• Boredom - lots of exercise, playtime, and other distractions from feces through training may help the dog.


• Nutritional deficiency - some dogs may get good results by being fed a premium dog food.


• Learned behavior - dogs may develop the habit by watching other dogs eat feces.


• Attention-seeking behavior - punishment or reprimands by the dog owner may actually encourage the dog to go after the feces more, to get attention.

After ruling out physical problems that require medical attention, there are ways the owners can do to keep these dogs' behaviors to a minimum.

• Making feces unappealing - sprinkling hot sauce and other substance your dog doesn't like on feces. If the dog eats his own, there are products sold at pet stores you can add to food he eats. In theory, the dog stops eating his own feces because it is not appetizing.


• Training - teaching your dog not to eat the feces on command.


• Exercise and lots of attention - keep your dog's mind off the feces by giving him other things to do.


• Changing diet - good nutrition is always an important factor in dog behaviors. Find a premium dog food.


• Walking the dog on a leash - you gain more control of the dog's behaviors. This may be a bit frustrating if your dog is used to freedom.


• Cleaning up after the dog - prevention is always easier than fixing problems.

In my dog's case, I used to sprinkle hot sauce on dog feces before taking my dog out for a walk if I knew the route in advance. I also carried around the hot sauce whenever I walked with my dog until she stopped eating feces. As for cat litter, we blocked the passage to the box with a board, high enough for the cat to jump, but not for the dog. These worked, and thank goodness my dog doesn't eat feces any more - dog feces, that is. She occasionally picks up squirrel feces, and she is particularly attracted to horse feces when she walks on hiking trails. Observing such behaviors always makes me wonder what her driving force is. A time may come in the future when scientists discover what this "dogs eating feces" behavior is all about.

For more information, check out the following websites, too!
Coprophagia in the Canine
Eating Dog Feces
Why Does My Dog Eat Feces?
Stool Eating (Coprophagy)

In a previous journal entry, I talked about the iffy conditions at a local petting zoo. Today, I want to talk about how petting animals and interacting with them can help us in a lot of ways.

Research indicates that interacting with animals increases the levels of serotonin, a hormone in humans that contributes to the emotional well-being of people. It's a well-known fact that many hospitals conduct animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activities (AAA) to help improve patients' conditions and recovery.

The articles below describe how animals help in clinical situations:
Some Patients Petting Their Way to Improved Mental Health
Animal-Assisted Therapy
News-Medical.Net

Just the other day, I was talking to a man on the street with a calm and friendly dog. He told me that he has been training his dog to become a therapy dog. I wasn't surprised, looking at the temperament of the dog - calm and well-behaved, in spite of being still very young (near the end of its puppy stage). As I was talking with the man, I thought to myself, "Boy, there is no way my barky dog can become a therapy dog even if she looks adorable. My dog is very good at scaring people away..."

The benefits of interacting with animals are probably limitless. You may feel less lonely with animals. You can be more communicative. If you have dogs, you may make friends who also have their pets. You can teach children how to take good care of animals, which will help them learn the importance of kindness and responsibility. And so on...

My mother didn't like animals. She kept complaining about how animals smell and make big messes in the house. But she changed as she started interacting with pets. I remember her always petting my cats, and even started taking pictures of them. I bought a baby lovebird one day, and she gradually grew attached to it. Eventually she loved it so much the bird became her pet exclusively. At the end of the day, she always reported to me about what the bird did. I can't help being surprised how pets can uplift people's emotions, just like they did for my mother.

I hope more and more animals and humans will benefit from each other in the future for their well-being. I myself can't imagine my life without my pets. All my pets helped me grow in so many positive ways. I can't thank them enough.

Until very recently, I had never been to a petting zoo. Well, actually, I have...a long time ago when I was only a little child just becoming curious about the world outside my house. I have a strangely clear memory of the time when my parents took me to a petting zoo. I was handed a wicker basket filled with fresh spinach. Bunnies started to gather around me. Soon I found myself surrounded by countless bunnies. When I realized I couldn't move an inch and there was no way out, I remember crying out loud for help. I'm glad I didn't end up being afraid of bunnies (like Anya in Buffy the Vampire Slayer...if you know what I'm talking about...).

Then, a few weeks ago, I visited a local petting zoo. I somehow expected the place to be like the one I visited when I was a little child -- the kind of place where you can be "with" all the small animals. I was wrong. I saw many bigger animals such as llamas, donkeys, deer, goats and ponies in fences (this is understandable, you don't want yourself and your kids to be kicked by these animals by accident), and these animals barely had space to move around. Some of them looked unhealthy. As for bunnies, they were in a small cage, and there was no way I could reach them. The caged birds looked stressed and were repeating compulsive behaviors. There were no petting zoo workers to supervise people or the animals out in the field (is this typical?) I left the place with somewhat sad feelings. I didn't feel any connection with these fenced animals, including the small animals which I couldn't even touch.

Maybe I was too naive about the general image I had about petting zoos, or maybe I should visit more petting zoos, so I can see what's "typical." I know I shouldn't judge or jump to a conclusion. So, I searched for petting zoos on the Internet. Although websites don't tell you every detail about each place, it looks like there really are petting zoos run by experienced people who have enthusiasm and love for animals. These places encourage people to interact with the animals and provide more educational information for visitors. All petting zoos should be this way.

I often ask pet owners if they know what "holistic" means in pet care. Most people say they've never heard of the word "holistic" -- or even if they've heard, they don't know how the word is used regarding their pets.

In his book The Allergy Solution for Dogs, Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M. explains "holistic" in a clear and easy way: "Holistic" means "looking at the whole pet and doing what is in the pet's best interests." "Holistic care" refers to a way of thinking. The holistic doctor and owner view the dog in its entirety, rather than just blindly focusing on a set of problems or sign and symptoms."

When we have a problem, we usually try to fix the problem, but if you look at the problem in a holistic way, you may want to look into the source of the problem as well as fixing it. The advantage of this approach is that since you go to the root of the problems and learn why and how they happen, chances are you won't repeat the same mistake again...or at least you will be more careful in the future. Your mindset will be shifted to the "prevention" of problems.

When you decide to take care of your dogs and cats holistically, the first thing you should do is find a holistic veterinarian in your area. Holistic veterinarians usually help your animals with non-invasive techniques such as acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, nutrition and so on. They also consider your pets' emotional state of mind, their living environment, their owners' lifestyles, and various other factors important, too. Compared to the number of conventional veterinarians, the number of holistic veterinarians in the United States is still small, but they are worth finding. You can look for local holistic veterinarians on this website: www.ahvma.org

I myself learned about the importance of holistic health care (for both pets and humans) gradually over the years. I'm satisfied with my holistic lifestyle, although there is always more to learn. As for my pets, I usually take them to my holistic veterinarian - since she also conducts phone and email consultations, if you can't find a holistic vet in your area, you can try her.

My mother-in-law has a beautiful cat - a Persian and Siamese mix, maybe. Every time I see the cat, I find myself being enchanted by the cat's elegant appearance.

This pretty cat bit my mother-in-law one day. According to her, the cat was aroused by a stray cat just outside the window. My mother-in-law tried to pick up her own cat to calm her down, and the cat, who was still emotional over the stray, bit her arm suddenly.

My mother-in-law left the wound as it was (she used to be a nurse. I'm sure she did what she was supposed to do right after the bite). But in a few days, her arm became swollen, and she ended up in the hospital.

This can be the result of a cat bite. It is estimated that as many as 50% of cat bites and scratches become infected -- a higher rate than the infection caused by dog bites. When you get bitten by a cat, the bite marks are tiny and don't look bad, but since cats' teeth are much thinner and pointier than those of dogs, their punctures tend to go deeper into the skin. This means there are higher chances of bacteria trapped under the skin without proper care, which may lead to infections.

The following is the information about what to do when you get bitten by a cat or a dog:
Cat and Dog Bites
Cat, Dog and Other Bites
What You Should Know About Animal Bites

John C. Wright. PhD, the author of Is Your Cat Crazy? : Solutions from the Casebook of a Cat Therapist suggests in his book that when you see your cat being aggressive, or aroused by another cat's presence, then you should leave your cat alone (for your own safety) until he/she calms down - it may take the cat even for an hour or two before going back to his/her normal self.

When a friend of mine (and her large dog) came over to my place, I wanted to show her my cat, so I walked toward her with the cat in my arm. The cat got so freaked up he scratched my upper lip and dashed into another room. My lip didn't stop bleeding for a while, and now I have a scar on the skin right above the lip. It is completely my fault! The dog was a big German Shepherd mix. No wonder the cat freaked out. Thank goodness the scratched skin didn't get infected. I learned my lesson the hard way.

When I was a child, my mother often told me that she had to eat brown rice every day when she was young. What she meant was that since her family was so poor, they couldn't afford to buy white rice (the food for wealthy people). As a child, my mother was very embarrassed to open her lunch box during lunch hour at school. She told me how much she envied her wealthier classmates who brought white rice to school.

Brown rice was often associated with poverty in Japan many years ago, or at least in my parents' time, growing up during World War II. In modern days, more and more people are becoming familiar with the health benefit of brown rice. Most Americans today, if they are even slightly interested in healthy lifestyle, would probably immediately associate brown rice with healthy foods.

Brown rice provides many nutrients, such as B-Vitamins, manganese, phosphorus, iron, essential fatty acids, and fiber. When all the outer layers of brown rice are stripped away, you're left with white rice. This form of rice is soft and fluffy when it is cooked, but through processing, a lot of the important nutrients found in brown rice are gone. Such refined white rice is hard to provide various nutrients. White rice may be the epitome of modern agricultural technology, but doesn't seem to contribute to the health of animals living on this planet.

Life's Abundance Premium Health Food for Dogs and Cats contain brown rice as an excellent source of carbohydrates. This is one of the reasons I choose this product among others. Dr. Jane Bicks formulates the products based on the latest scientific data available today. If you are looking for a higher-quality health food for your pets, please give it a try.

Many of us know as a fact that during the Second World War, many prisoners became the victims of medical experimentation. We know that it is not ethical. I certainly hope that such cruel acts won't happen again.

But what about animals? Animal testing is ongoing in modern industries like medicine, cosmetics and food.

There was time I was crazy about cosmetics. I spent a lot of my money buying expensive cosmetic products. I didn't know that these cosmetics were produced as a result of animal testing. As a consumer, all I saw were the finished products, beautifully packaged and advertised by models on TV. There was no way of knowing what was involved behind the scenes.

Now I have learned (and I am still learning). I am more aware of animal "cruelty-free" products. Since it took me years before I learned these things, there are still times I fall into the old habits of feeling somewhat "detached" about animals that "seemingly" have nothing to do with my life. When I realize I'm feeling this way, I try to shift my thinking by asking myself, "What if my pets were used for animal testing? How would I feel? Would I pay for the product?"

I'm sure there are controversies as to where to draw lines when defining" animal cruelty". But I am of the opinion that unnecessary animal testing should be stopped, especially where it's only for the sake of human vanity. There are many alternatives in the world that don't involve suffering of animals. It's all about choice.

Here is a website you can learn all about animal rights:
www.peta.org