Cats are very curious animals, to say the least. No one really knows what a cat is thinking. They make excellent companions, as they are quiet, clean and very affectionate. My sister takes a walk every evening and is trailed, in single file, by her five cats who enjoy the walk as much as any dog would.

There is one problem: Cats are much more skittish than dogs and can be hard to deal with if they are afraid.

For example, two weeks ago some friends of mine took shifts standing under a tree trying to coax a cat down from the very top branches. The cat had never been outside before and while taken to the country for vacation, got loose and headed for the nearest tree. Even the sight and sound of his owner would not bring the cat down.

When the fire company arrived, the cat simply went higher and out of reach. Thank goodness, he did have claws which enabled him to at least get up a tree and out of harm if a dog had been after him.

After enduring the rain and a night, he stayed alive by licking rain off the leaves. The cat finally made the decision to come down, much thinner, but okay.

So, the message is that if a cat needs to be transported, put her in a carrier and don’t let the cat out until you’re in a closed room. Never, Never, Never let a cat loose in a car or take her out at a rest stop.

A tip for getting a cat into a carrier is to stand the carrier on end, quickly wrap the entire cat in a towel and dump the cat in carrier. Be sure the door is tightly shut.

Dogs and cats are living, feeling beings who shouldn’t be treated like synthetic dolls. I’ve noticed many over-pampered, over-groomed dogs who are quite neurotic. They tremble and jump at the slightest noise because they often have to go to frightening groomers too often.

If your pet is ever cut or roughly handled by a groomer, report it. There is no reason why you should not be able to stay with the pet. Would you like to be poked at, pulled on and sprayed with sickening perfumes?

Pets and war

People aren’t the only ones who suffer in war. Since I can’t help them, I try to not dwell on the countless animals killed and frightened by constant explosions. I just pray they can find a safe place, but what do they eat? You see how I have to stop agonizing over it.

Dogs and Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, but try to keep any gravy away from the dogs. I think turkey meat is okay for both dogs and cats, but veterinarians tell me that the day after Thanksgiving is very busy with stomach upsets and diarrhea, due to gravy and candy, which are both very bad for pets. In my house, I enjoy everything but the turkey. After watching the wild turkeys outside enjoying life as much as I do, I just can't bring myself to eat any animal.