Dear Dr. Fox: I adopted two kittens from our city shelter, about 10 weeks old and from the same litter.
Now they are a year old, and I want to thank you for writing that it’s best to have two cats, ideally from the same litter. Jim and Jane get on so well as playmates; they always sleep together, groom each other and look out for each other.
Is there more than the fact that one is male and one female (neutered and spayed) to account for their very different personalities? Jim is more the introvert, and Jane is the tease and into everything.
J.M., Alexandria
DF: Cats “mirror” each other’s behavior and provide reciprocal social enrichment and emotional stimulation. As for their very different personalities, one can rule out environmental influences, because they were raised together. It is primarily their genetic differences that determine how they react, as well as their likes, dislikes and motivations.
The more one gets to know different cats and becomes attuned to their subtle behaviors, likes, dislikes and quirks, the more one realizes what complex personalities they possess, often paralleling those we see in our own species.
CHEAP FOOD: PETS PAY
Dear Dr. Fox:
I have a 3-year-old female beagle. I feed her food from a pet store and try to get the best, as far as I can tell.
I am feeding her Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Canine Formula with roasted lamb, and she seems relatively healthy.
My question relates to an article in a recent issue of Consumer Reports. Its point was that most store-bought foods are about the same, as long as they are marked as “complete and balanced.” Therefore, it said, a pet owner might as well go ahead and buy the cheapest brand, per ounce or pound. This usually wound up being a store brand from a very large chain.
D.M., Friendsville, Md.
DF: I hold Consumer Reports in high regard, but its “Tame Your Pet Costs” (August 2011) report was a washout in its comparison of manufactured pet foods.
Advising not to pay for “premium” pet food, as long as the cheaper brand is labeled “complete and balanced,” “total nutrition” or “100 percent nutritious,” is misleading, at best.
Diet-related pet health problems are all too prevalent and costly, and one of the best ways to “tame your pet costs” is through good nutrition. The health risks of genetically modified ingredients in major pet food brands is a serious issue.
I endorse the magazine report’s caution about buying pet health insurance, which, in the magazine’s analysis, is rarely worth the price. And I applaud that it advocates pet adoption rather than the purchase of a purpose-bred kitten or puppy, and emphasizes the advantages of adopting an adult animal.
LOVE TRIANGLE
Dear Dr. Fox:
My boyfriend says that I spoil my dog and therefore she will not learn to respect him. She growls at him, especially when she’s on the sofa with us.
I say she’s just jealous, and scolding her to get off the couch will make things worse.
Help! My boyfriend is almost at the point of saying it’s either me or the dog.
V.S., St. Louis
DF: You are not the only single person with a jealous-dog dilemma. Dogs (and cats) will often demand the undivided attention of their guardians when they see a visitor, male or female, as a rival for attention.
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