I read your recent article about research showing people are not more likely to return pets acquired during the winter holidays. I work for a rescue group, and our concern has always been with potential stress for a newly-adopted animal caused by large family gatherings, travel, visitors, unusual schedules and foods during this season, just when they are trying to adjust to a new home. I don’t believe you mentioned that in the article.

That said, I was more concerned with your reference to getting pets from pet stores, which was casually mentioned several times in the article. I went further to see who you are and found you are very much an advocate for rescues and animal welfare in general. Why in the world would you normalize the selling of pets at retail stores, knowing a large number of those animals are acquired from puppy mills? This in a time when we’re finally making some progress across the country banning the sale of dogs at pet stores! I am more than perplexed and very disappointed to think that anyone reading the article might get the message that it’s okay to buy a pet from a retail outlet.

– Pamela Belknap, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dear Pamela,

Thanks for taking the time to look up my background. Having spent decades working in animal welfare, I would never advocate buying a dog or cat from a pet store – ever. But I do see how my response muddied the waters.

When I referenced pet stores, I was thinking about the many pet stores in the U.S., like Petco and PetSmart, who refuse to sell dogs and cats – although I didn’t make that clear. These pet stores support animal shelters and rescue groups by giving them retail space inside their stores to showcase dogs and cats available for adoption. (There also may be local pet stores in your communities that operate under this same philosophy.) These stores have repudiated puppy mills and kitten mills by refusing to sell puppies and kittens in their stores. But you can visit these pet stores to select a dog, cat, puppy or kitten from the local animal shelter or rescue group. So, going to these “pet stores” to adopt a dog or cat or buy a gift certificate for pet supplies shows that you appreciate their support for homeless pets.

Second, some people may want fish, small birds, guinea pigs or turtles as pets. There are not a lot of rescue groups for these small pets, but there are some, so check to see if there is a rescue group in your area first. However, if you want a small pet like this and there are no rescue groups, only patronize pet stores that refuse to sell dogs and cats from puppy and kitten mills.

I am an advocate for pet adoption. I believe animal shelters and rescue groups are the best places to find your next best friend. The message is always, “Adopt, Don’t Shop,” for your pet.

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 moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-42b9fb@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

I am a thirteen-year-old girl. My parents and I adopted a three-year-old mixed-lab female dog last August from a rescue group in South Carolina. At first, Dorie was very timid and thin, but she has gained a lot of weight and is not at all active. She prefers to either lay on her bed or on the back deck in the sun. Although our huge yard is fenced, she doesn’t like to explore. She refuses to walk on a leash, and when I hook her up to it, she sits or lies down. We stand her up, bribe her with treats, but she just plops down. I don’t believe the dog knows how to play because she isn’t interested in balls, Frisbees or tugs.

Dorie can wait hours to urinate, even when brought outside several times a day. She seems to be drinking ample water and never has had an accident. She is very fearful of the car and when we need to take her in it, my parents have to carry her to the car. She also gets carsick and anxious. Perhaps it was the long ride from South Carolina to Long Island that made her this way. Dorie has a wonderful disposition, but as you can see, she can be stubborn. I want to play with her and take her for walks, so she won’t gain any more weight. Should we worry, because she doesn’t urinate frequently? Can you please help me?

– Emma, Oakdale, New York

Dear Emma,

I don’t think Dorie is being stubborn. I think she may be older than three-years-old or have a health problem, like a thyroid condition, that is making her lethargic. Ask your parents to take her to a veterinarian for an exam and blood work and get a second opinion on her age.

If she doesn’t have a health problem or is not an older dog, then the added weight can undoubtedly make her lethargic and uncomfortable, especially in her joints. She might be more motivated to move if you reduce her weight first with a high-quality calorie-restricted diet. Your veterinarian can recommend a prescription dog food, but there are several available at pet stores. 

Regarding her limited urination during the day, it may just be a habit she developed with her previous family. If the doctor finds no health problem, there is nothing to worry about there.

As for exploring and playing, if her former family never played with her, she will need to learn how to play from you. Put a few pieces of low-calorie dog food into a simple puzzle toy, like a Kong, with a little peanut butter to tempt her. Hopefully, she will play with the toy to get the food pieces out.

She may never race around the yard looking for toys, but if you can use puzzle toys to keep her mind busy and engaged, she may eventually become a more engaged and active pet.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-9089cb@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

We have a nine-year-old, 14-pound female dog named Bernie. We believe her parents were Bichons. We brought Bernie home when she was only four weeks old because of the desperate condition she and the rest of the litter and parents were in. Our recent concern is that Bernie has become a hoarder. On her bed in our bedroom, she keeps growing a collection of socks and other clothing items. We have also found various items such as Christmas ornaments, kitchen sponges, even measuring cups. There are no changes in her behavior or health. Is this a symptom of something more serious we should be aware of?

— Grace, N. Massapequa, New York

Dear Grace,

While the behavior is not uncommon – many dogs like to grab and hide things near their beds – this is a new behavior for nine-year-old Bernie, so I encourage you to visit your veterinarian for a check-up. While she is not showing any other symptoms, pain is not something a pet owner can usually see, and new behaviors can be related to pain.

If she is physically healthy, then this could be a behavior issue related to anxiety or a newly-developed compulsive disorder, both for which the veterinarian can recommend treatments that can help. I am inclined to think this might be the problem.

In the meantime, keep things out of her reach – socks and clothes in hampers and Christmas ornaments on shelves she can’t reach – to make sure she won’t swallow anything that could block her intestines and require surgery. She could be protective of her treasures, so put her outside before gathering up the items and putting them away. Don’t deny her comforts though. Be sure you have safe dog toys to replace these items, so she is not further stressed. 

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-281c95@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

I have a three-year-old female cat. She was a rescue cat and is fixed. Ever since I took her in she has been residing under my couch, for eight days. She only comes out in the middle of the night to eat and use the litter box. I purchased the calming spray because she is shedding terribly. I think she is stressed, but she does eat well. I really want to keep her and not set her free when the weather warms but it’s breaking my heart that I cannot coax her out during the day. My other cat was two when I rescued him, and he adjusted just great. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

–  Joni, via email

Dear Joni,

Eight days is not long enough for a previously outdoor cat to adjust to living in a new home. She needs several weeks or months to adjust – and may take even more time than that before she comes near you to be petted. 

Use plug-in feline pheromones around the home and play with her twice a day using a fishing pole-type toy with a feather on the end. At some point, she won’t be able to resist the feather toy – and will bolt out from under the couch to play. The more she does this, the more confidence and security she will feel in her new home.

The fact that she is not fighting with your other cat and is eating at night bodes well for her success. Be patient, and you will eventually have many wonderful years with this feline.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-6f0845@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

I have a rescue kitten that was born June 2017. He was picked up on a freeway underpass. He weighed about 1-1/2 pounds and was five to six weeks old. I adopted him in July. He is thriving and uses the litter box, but he “eats” clothing. He started with shoe laces. He chewed the laces off my husband’s shoes while my husband slept on the couch. We put our shoes away now, but the clothing has been more of a problem. He likes to jump into laundry baskets and eat several items. We bought a new hamper with a lid, but he can still pull items through the hamper holes. I find the items chewed up on the floor next to the hamper.

He also has learned to open the dresser drawers, where he eats my night shirts. He only eats soft cotton or soft sweaters. He must be swallowing this material because I don’t find any pieces on the floor. He ate a pair of leggings that literally had 12 large holes up and down the garment.

He coughs like he is trying to throw something up, and occasionally I find grey matter and/or what appears to be shoe laces. My veterinarian took x-rays when I was fearful of a blockage, but he was fine. Maybe he is passing stuff through his stool, but I am not finding it.

He eats and drinks normally and is otherwise a very active, affectionate and adorable kitten. But I am at my wit’s end. I bought one of those devices that is supposed to keep cats out of the room by emitting a high-pitched noise; he just walks right past it.

If there is someone in Tucson that you recommend I consult with, please let me know. I have had many cats during my life, as has my husband, and neither of us has ever experienced anything like this. He is now seven months old and weighs about ten pounds.

– Brenda, Tucson Arizona

Dear Brenda,

It’s not unusual for a cat to chew and suck on things. While no one knows the reasons why, there are a few theories. Some cats might do this when they are weaned too early. Most cats are weaned around six- to seven-weeks-old. Since your cat was a stray found around five-weeks-old, there’s a possibility the interruption in the weaning process lead to this behavior. Your kitten may outgrow this behavior by the time he is two, or it could remain a lifelong habit.

Your kitten also could just have a compulsive need to lick and chew, which is something your veterinarian can address. Ask your veterinarian about medications to treat compulsive behaviors, which should reduce the licking and chewing, regardless of the reason. Ditch the device that emits a loud noise (that sounds unpleasant) and opt for gentler corrections instead. Gently tap the cat on the nose or spritz a little water on his face and say “no” while taking away the clothing or laces.

Since he has been examined and no clothing has been found in his body or passed through his stool, he may be just making holes in everything. But just to be safe, get a hamper that doesn’t have big holes in it, and childproof your dresser drawers. Spray Bitterapple for Cats (available at pet stores) on the shoelaces. You might also buy him a few stuffed animals, like you would do for dogs, to give him an alternative to clothing.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-130b65@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

My husband and I rescued a six-year-old yellow lab/ greyhound mix. He must have been abused because he has scars on his front legs and he was very skittish in the beginning.  We love him so much, but he doesn’t know how to play. We throw the ball or Frisbee and he just looks at us. He doesn’t play with other dogs at the dog park. We feel so sorry for him. Can we still teach him to fetch a ball or stick?

— Artie and Stella, Smithtown, New York 

Dear Artie and Stella,

When dogs are stressed, they don’t play. If your dog had a rough start, he probably didn’t learn to play as a puppy. Not every dog will play fetch, but there are other ways you can teach your dog to play.

Get a clicker at the pet store, and start training him to “sit,” “down,” and “stay,” so he learns that the “click” means he will get a treat for doing something you ask him to do. Once he understands the meaning of the clicker, teach him how to play hide and seek. Hide somewhere in the house or out in the yard and call your dog’s name. When he comes and “finds” you, give him a treat. He will begin to learn that running and playing with you is fun and rewarding.

Next, introduce a Kong wobbler or puzzle toy filled with treats that he can push around the house or paw open to retrieve a treat. Click and treat when he touches the toy. Or, give him a tennis ball with a little peanut butter on it. Click and treat when he touches it. Eventually, toss the tennis ball with peanut butter a few feet away. When he goes to get it and touches it, click and treat. He may eventually bring the ball back to you for more peanut butter, thus learning fetch, but he also just might chomp on the ball for a while. Either way, you are showing him the many ways to play.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-90e722@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

I have two rescue cats that I spend a lot of time playing with. One of our games is playing with a string that I drag around the floor, and they chase it. My question is, why do cats drag the string or toys to their water bowl? It’s cute but curious.

– Laura, Long Beach, New York

Dear Laura,

It’s not unusual for cats to transport play things to their water or food bowls. No one knows for sure why they do this, but some people think cats are mimicking nurturing behaviors, like a mama cat carrying her kittens to safety. Since both male and female cats do this, however, I think it might be an instinctive “hunting” behavior where they kill and carry their prey to a safe location. Cats consider their food area as safe territory. So for now, it’s a “cute but curious” behavior.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-5ba14e@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

My husband and I rescued a six-year-old yellow lab/ greyhound mix. He must have been abused because he has scars on his front legs and he was very skittish in the beginning.  We love him so much, but he doesn’t know how to play. We throw the ball or Frisbee and he just looks at us. He doesn’t play with other dogs at the dog park. We feel so sorry for him. Can we still teach him to fetch a ball or stick?

— Artie and Stella, Smithtown, New York 

Dear Artie and Stella,

When dogs are stressed, they don’t play. If your dog had a rough start, he probably didn’t learn to play as a puppy. Not every dog will play fetch, but there are other ways you can teach your dog to play.

Get a clicker at the pet store, and start training him to “sit,” “down,” and “stay,” so he learns that the “click” means he will get a treat for doing something you ask him to do. Once he understands the meaning of the clicker, teach him how to play hide and seek. Hide somewhere in the house or out in the yard and call your dog’s name. When he comes and “finds” you, give him a treat. He will begin to learn that running and playing with you is fun and rewarding.

Next, introduce a Kong wobbler or puzzle toy filled with treats that he can push around the house or paw open to retrieve a treat. Click and treat when he touches the toy. Or, give him a tennis ball with a little peanut butter on it. Click and treat when he touches it. Eventually, toss the tennis ball with peanut butter a few feet away. When he goes to get it and touches it, click and treat. He may eventually bring the ball back to you for more peanut butter, thus learning fetch, but he also just might chomp on the ball for a while. Either way, you are showing him the many ways to play.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-5e4799@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal