My Pet World: How do I get my dog to relieve himself in the backyard?

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Feb 15, 2023

Dear Cathy,

We have two five-year-old cats who are brothers that we have had since they were four weeks old. They are very bonded. The problem is that Ben is always biting Jerry's neck. Ben's front claws rub the fur off of Jerry's back while he does this. Jerry tries to hide or go under furniture to avoid Ben doing this. We thought Ben would grow out of it, but he has not. After finishing his meal, Ben steals the rest of Jerry's canned food. Jerry also has a habit of chasing our other (elderly) cats, which they hate, so we have them in three different areas of the house. We have never had to do this before. Help!

— Sherlee, Las Vegas, Nevada

Dear Sherlee,

Assuming all your cats are fixed, the next step is to get feline pheromone collars for Ben and Jerry. Feline pheromones mimic a mother cat's after-birth release of pheromones that help her form a bond with her babies. In this instance, we are using it to calm Ben when he is around Jerry, and calm Jerry when he is around the elderly cats. Use pheromone wipes or sprays on the elderly felines to ensure full coverage for everyone. This is not a solution, but it can help make everyone less anxious.

Next, always interrupt unacceptable behaviors. Shake a can of coins or use a Pet Corrector (makes a shhh! sound) to get Ben's attention when he acts aggressively toward Jerry. Yes, it may startle Jerry too, but at least Jerry will associate the sound with Ben getting off him. Also, shake the coins or use the Pet Corrector when Jerry chases your elderly cats. When you get his attention or interrupt the behavior tell him “no" firmly. You also may need to step in between Jerry and the elderly cats to redirect him to run in another direction.

As for the food, consider getting Jerry and Ben their own microchipped feeders. These feeders only open when the cat with the matching microchip is standing in front of the feeder. If Ben is eating everyone's food, however, that solution could get costly with multiple cats. You also can feed Ben in a closed room and leave him there until Jerry and the other cats are done eating.

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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.)