My Pet World: Howling keeps cat owner from getting any rest

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Jan 5, 2022

I am glad the suggestions I gave to Steven in East Meadow, New York, are helpful for you as well. I also recommend getting a thorough veterinary exam for your older cat. Sometimes, when one cat is ill, cats in the same household may suddenly “pick on” the sick cat. Let’s make sure your older feline is healthy and not harboring some quiet illness. As for the pheromone collars, Comfort Zone makes a breakaway collar for cats that you can find at a pet store or online retailer.

Dear Cathy,

My Jack Russell was very sensitive about his tags hitting the food bowl when he ate, so I put rubber tape around the bowl, so it didn’t hurt his ears. I thought this might help Karen from Port Washington, New York. — Kathy Connolly, Elwood, Illinois

Dear Kathy,

Some dogs (and people) can be sensitive to the sound of dog or cat tags hitting food and water dishes. In addition to using rubber (silicone) tape, another DIY solution is to glue felt onto the back of each tag to act as a buffer between tags. You also can purchase tag silencers at pet stores and online retailers. They are pieces of rubber that fit around each tag to keep them from clanging together. There are also storage pouches that attach to the collar where the tags can be stored. Or you can opt for a nametag that is riveted to the collar or embroidered to the collar to eliminate the sound entirely.

By the way, for all my readers, the new year is a great time to update your pet’s ID tags and microchip information.

========

(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)