My Pet Wordl: How to help your dog enjoy car rides
A: I think you're a hero, and so does Dr. Colleen Currigan, who has a certified cat friendly practice in Chicago and is the incoming president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. "Go for it! Adopt this cat -- he sounds great," she cheers.
While the feline immunodeficiency virus (or FIV) is often referred to as feline AIDS, dogs and people are not susceptible. You didn't mention if you have another cat. FIV cats can transmit the disease to other cats, though increasingly shelters are adopting FIV cats into homes with other cats.
Currigan explains, "The disease is primarily transmitted through bites. When care is taken, and cats are introduced to one another very slowly and there are lots of resources (toys, places to snooze, scatchers, etc.) and there aren't too many cats in too small a place, then fighting rarely occurs."
Currigan, president of the Board at Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, points out that FIV cats can be more susceptible to illness, and sometimes chronic mouth, ear or skin problems. However, not all FIV cats have these issues. With twice annual veterinary exams -- which all cats should have anyway -- preventive care often precludes problems before they become bothersome. Many cats with FIV live a long life succumbing to illnesses common to old age, not associated with FIV.
Currigan adds one more point, "FIV cats (usually they're male cats) tend to be the friendliest cats -- they make wonderful affectionate pets."
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Q: I can't find this information anywhere else -- perhaps you can help me with my art history class. Is it true that that the black cat used in the work of French artist Matisse actually belonged to him? Do you know other artists who painted cats from the Renaissance onward? -- S. C., El Cajon, CA
A: Some of the great artists of all time adored felines, including Leonardo da Vinci, who once declared, "Even the smallest feline is a work of art."
The book "99 Lives: Cats in History, Legend and Literature," by Howard Loxton (Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA, 1998; $17.95) is a great resource. This book confirms that Henri Matisse called the cat you referred to his "devoted companion."
In 1526, Francesco Ubertini painted a rare portrait of a young woman with a cat. Michelangelo depicted cats in some of his work.
However, according to Loxton, the first artist to make cats a major subject was Gottfried Mind in the 18th century. Mind's favorite cat was Minette; the artist would reportedly hold long conversations with her while he worked.
More recently, an artist named Jim Davis created Garfield.
"The Encyclopedia of the Cat," by Dr. Bruce Fogle (DK Publishing, New York, NY, 1997; $34.95) also has a nice section about cats in art.
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