Who Says You Can't Train A Cat?
Mieshelle Nagelschneider, The Cat Whisperer

Self-proclaimed Cat Whisperer Mieshelle Nagelschneider shares her secrets to training cats. Yes, training cats! Believe it or not, Mieshelle truly believes you can get a cat to do what you want it to do. So are Mieshelle's cats well behaved? She says, "Yes!"

Mieshelle states that the most common issue with cats is the litter box. People say everything was fine until the cats turned around age two. Mieshelle explains this by saying that is when they reach their social maturity and want to structure their social hierarchy. They want to work out a timesharing arrangement for the box with the other cats in the household, but if they can't do it very easily, they will just carve out their own area like under the dining room table or on your couch. However, even with multiple cats, she has no litter box issues, as she has plenty of them scattered around her house.

So can you really train a cat? Mieshelle states that you can train anything with a brain, even a goldfish. If you have fish, you might notice how they all swim up to the top of the tank when you are standing there with the food. You have trained them to do this. So hopefully we can train our casts, as they have trained us very well!

Unlike dog, cats don't have any need to obey us, as they are not pack animals. However, some of them are motivated by food or attention. You can clicker train your cat do simple tricks like "high-five" or to come when called. Cats are usually kept inside the house, so they really need to have their minds working. So training them with a positive-based rewards system like clicker training is a good thing.

* How to harness the power of "friendly pheromones" to improve their cat's appetite, exploration, grooming, and play
* How to tell when their cat might be having a medical issue, and how to solve behavioral habits that are usually caused by medical problems
* Where, when, and how to create a litter box environment that will provide their cat with easy access and reduce its anxiety
* How to end aggression in multiple-cat households and help their cats coexist peacefully

Talk To Your Dog
Regal.ai/dog

What Breeds Are Predisposed To Cancers And What Types?
Dr. Gerald Post, Veterinary Cancer Center

Believe it or not, some breeds of dogs are pre-disposed to getting cancer. Dr. Gerald Post, founder of the Veterinary Cancer Center, is back on the air with a list of breeds that have a better chance of getting certain cancers.

There are things you can do to help prevent cancer in your pets. Give them a good balanced diet, keep them at a good weight and keep them active. Also, have them seen regularly by a vet, so if something does show up, you can find it early.

However, there are some breeds that are predisposed to either one or multiple cancers. Here is a list of some of those breeds:

*Golden Retriever: Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma
*Rottweiler: Osteosarcoma, Histiocytic Sarcoma
*Flat-coated Retriever: Lymphoma, Histiocytic Sarcoma
*Scottish Terrier: Transitional Cell Carcinoma
*Greyhound: Osteosarcoma
*Large and Giant breed dogs: Osteosarcoma
*West Highland White Terrier: Transitional Cell Carcinoma
*Boxer: Lymphoma, Mast Cell Tumor, Brain Tumor
*Chow Chow: Gastric Carcinoma

By knowing what breed you have and what to look for, sometimes you can catch diseases, as well as cancer, at an early enough stage so that you can potentially cure them. When your dog reaches age 5 or so, you should routinely do ultrasounds, x-rays and physical exams every 6 months to a year. These tests are not necessarily expensive, and can cause you and your dog a lot less pain and suffering, as well as save you money in the long run.

And if you have a large breed dog, you should be on the lookout for any type of acute lameness. Bone cancer in these dogs are much more common than in smaller dogs.

But what about mixed breed dogs? No, they don't have a better chance of getting cancer from the breeds they are descended from and are less likely to get cancer at all. Mixing of two breeds' genes tends to bring out the best in both.

And what about our cats? Most veterinarians only see domestic shorthaired cats, so breed specific literature on cancer risk is much less robust in cats than it is in dogs. There are, however, certain breeds of cats that are at risk for other diseases. Some British breeds have one type of blood type, while Siamese cats tend to have one type of mast cell tumor.

With new genetic testing we will be able to determine if the increased risk is breed related or family/line related.

How To Build The Perfect Litter Box - Dr. Debbie

Elimination issues are a main reason for veterinary visits and a primary reason for relinquishment of cats at shelters. House soiling problems can be multi-factorial, with an overlap of behavioral, environmental and medical causes. Feline house soiling can be managed however with sleuth work and patience. The challenge is to think like a cat.

First and foremost, say this and repeat it…"My cat does not eliminate out of the litter box to get even with me." Cats do use urine and fecal scent marks to communicate territory, but this isn't done with spite or in effort to "get even" with you. Inappropriate elimination is a cat's way stating that something isn't right in their world. Understanding this is key before tackling feline house soiling. Focus on what's wrong in Simba's toilet area, not on how the house soiling makes you feel.

Start With a Vet Check
Cat owners often struggle with house soiling mishaps for months or years before enlisting help from their veterinarian. But seeing the veterinarian should be the first step, since health disorders may be at the root of some house soiling issues. Your efforts in restoring litter box usage will be doomed if an underlying medical cause is not addressed at the same time.

Size Does Matter
Make sure your cat's litter box is of adequate size to allow maneuvering. Litter box size should be one and a half times the length of cat's body length. Height of the edge also matters. For older kitties, try lower profile litter boxes or plastic under bed storage boxes. An arthritic older cat won't complain or cry in pain with arthritis, she'll just chose to eliminate elsewhere.

Consider the View
Cats don't want to be startled while in the loo. Don't place the litter box in a high traffic area where people and pets are always a-coming and going. Cats prefer a low traffic area where they can have an eye out on things.

Don't place the litter box near appliances which give off noise, vibration and heat, all which disturb your cat while eliminating. Once a negative aversion is created, your cat may not return to use that box in the future.

Ditch the Litter Box Cover
While some nervous kitties prefer the privacy of litter box covers, the majority of cats dislike the tight quarters and limited ventilation litter box covers provide. Consider how you feel in a public porta-potty... do you like to touch the walls when inside? Sure, people like the way the lid contains odors, but does it really matter how little odor comes from the litter box when your cat is pooping on your oriental rug?

Provide More Than One Box
A common error is assuming that one litter box is all your cat needs. What cat owner loves the litter box, and relishes seeing more of them in the home? But the more the better when it comes to faithful litter box usage, especially with multiple cats. The general rule is to provide one more box than the number of cats. Some cats share litter boxes, others will not. Unless you provide alternate sites you may have elimination issues in multiple cat homes.

Another special consideration is differences in cat's personalities- timid cats may avoid crossing paths with other more assertive pets in home. Be sure to provide litter box sites that won't be blocked by other animal's movements.

If you live in a multilevel home- you must provide litter box sites on each level. This is especially important in multi-cat homes, those with senior cats or those with health conditions.

The Pick of Litters
Litter texture preferences vary and there are many choices from scoopable, clay, crystals, or natural litters. However in one research study of cat's litter box habits, it demonstrated that the majority of cats prefer fine grained scoopable clay based litters that have carbon as their odor absorbing ingredient. Every cat is different though, so try other litter varieties until you find your cat's preference.

Skip the Scents
The verdict is still out on what odors cats prefer, but avoid heavily scented litters or deodorizers if your cat is missing the box. Interestingly enough, one study showed cats preferred cedar and fish odors, while avoiding citrus and floral scents, while another study concluded cats preferred fish or bleach smells to other scents.

Kitty Litter Depth
Ideal litter depth is 2 inches- more isn't always better. Some cats thrive on scratching the bottom of the pan, which is obscured by excessive amounts of litter.

Keep It Clean
Cats are fastidious by nature and will avoid using a soiled or smelly box. The overall cleaning frequency depends on the number of cats in the home. General advice is to scoop twice a day and deep clean the litter pan weekly. Change out clumping litter every 2-3 weeks.

Build It and Kitty Will Use It
By building your cat's dream litter box, your cat will find litter box nirvana. And you'll come to enjoy a better relationship with your kitty family members without those unwanted "presents" in the foyer.

Dog Was Among Privileged First To Be Blessed By Pope
A yellow Labrador Retriever was among the firsts privileged to receive a physical blessing from Pope Francis's hands. Belonging to a visually impaired radio journalist, the dog entered the Vatican's vast Paul VI audience hall and quietly sat down close to his owner as the pontiff thanked thousands of journalists from all over the world. They all came to Rome to cover the conclave that led to his election as the first Jesuit, first non-European, first Latin American pontiff. As the man waited in line to enter the hall, the security guards told him that most likely he wouldn't be allowed to get in with his dog. But after a few minutes, Vatican officials gave him the green light and he was accompanied by a Swiss guard to the audience hall. They let him sit near the first row of seats. At the end of the pope's magnetic speech, a selected group of media notables and Vatican-linked communicators was presented to the pontiff. While the journalists lined up to be greeted by the Pope, some performing the "baciamano," the traditional kissing the pope's ring, others embracing him in bear hugs, Vatican officials approached the man and his dog. They said that the Pope had asked to meet them. He had seen the dog and wanted to see both of them. The dog walked on the stage, briefly sniffed the Pope's white dress and black shoes and then waited patiently as his owner talked to the pontiff. His owner asked for a blessing for his wife and daughter at home. In a fitting image for a pope inspired by the patron saint of animals, the Pope bent down to caress the dog and said a special blessing for his dog too. He broke the ceremonial rules, as the presence of the man and his dog on stage wasn't previously arranged.

Dog Ingests 111 Pennies
A dog in Manhattan was doing just fine after vets successfully removed more than one hundred pennies from his stomach. The owner of the 13-year-old Jack Russell terrier said his dog was more like the Tasmanian Devil, since the energetic pooch ate just about anything he could get. That included 111 pennies that were knocked to the floor when he went after a bag of bagel crumbs left on a desk. Vets pulled the pennies out five at a time during a two-hour operation and they got to keep the change.

Dog Made Unplanned Trip To Ireland On His Own
A New York woman said she was beyond upset after she found out that her dog made an unplanned trip to Ireland on its own. It happened as the woman and her family were moving to Phoenix. She put her six-year-old English Springer Spaniel on a United Airlines flight to meet up with her husband and daughter, who had already made the move to the desert. But just seven minutes before the dog's flight was scheduled to land, she got a call saying her dog had accidentally been sent to Shannon, Ireland instead. She said she almost fainted at first, although the airline promised someone in Ireland would feed and walk her dog before the dog made the seven hour trip back to the Newark, New Jersey airport. The woman said she spent some time with her dog before he had to hop on another plane to reach his final destination in Arizona. United apologized for what they called a rare incident, and refunded the woman's money.

American Pets Are Obese
Obesity isn't a just a problem for Americans, it's a problem for American pets. Over half of both dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight. Fifty-six percent of dogs tipped the scales at what their veterinarian would consider to be "overweight" or "obese," along with sixty percent of cats. Those figures account for approximately 80 million dogs and cats who are living under the care of Americans who are at increased risk for disorders like diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypertension and many cancers. In cats, there is a significant escalation in the number of type 2 diabetes cases. For dogs, certain breeds, like Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, were found to be at greater risk for obesity than others.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1322)