My Pet World: A dog's tongue color may indicate signs of illness or breed

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Dec 7, 2022

Dear Christine,

Whenever an animal changes their habits, it's important to get them to the vet to ensure nothing is wrong. Many health problems first appear as appetite loss. Her sudden change in appetite, however, and the perceived unhappiness you see in her demeanor, may also be signs of an underlying health problem. She is 10 years old and a senior feline now. The vet also can prescribe medication to stimulate her appetite.

If your cat has a clean bill of health, then feeding her half a can of food daily doesn’t cost you any more than her eating the entire can, which is what you desire. Sometimes, animals lose a little appetite as they age. Maybe try to feed her the second half of the leftovers around lunchtime to see if it’s still fresh enough for her to eat. Otherwise, look for cat food that comes in tiny cans and pouches with smaller portions, and try the three flavors you know she already enjoys.

Dear Cathy,

A much better answer to Steven of Dix Hills, New York, would be to live-trap those feral cats coming onto his property. Then bring them to the local humane society or an enclosed cat sanctuary. Feral cats and outdoor house cats kill far too many birds. It’s estimated that cats kill 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually in the U.S. with 69% of these kills attributable to feral or unowned cats. Cats that are pets should be kept indoors or in outdoor enclosures. To do any less puts pet cats and birds in danger.

— Carla, Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Carla,

Most humane societies and animal control agencies don’t accept feral cats unless they have a barn cat adoption program. Animal shelters are not willing to take feral cats in, only to have to euthanize them. So, Steven would need to first call local organizations to see if there are any groups with such programs.

If feral/community cats are fixed, they don’t reproduce kittens – and it reduces annoying mating behaviors, like spraying and fighting. When these cats are fed, they also have less of a need to hunt for food. Every one of these feral cats was either abandoned by someone or their offspring. So, amen sister, to keeping feline pets inside the home or in an enclosed outdoor structure.

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(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.)