DEAR JOAN: We have two cats, a brother and sister about 2½ years old. Both seem to be normal, happy indoor cats.
The male cat, Will, however has been a high-peeing cat since he was a kitten. The girl, Lyra, pees like a normal cat.
I have a high-wall kitty litter container, but it is a pain to clean up as he pees all along the walls and sometimes out the front entrance. The kitty litter container is in a closet, with a partially closed door, and there is no apparent reason why he might feel stressed in any way there.
Is there anything we can do to change this behavior?
— Rick W., Walnut Creek
DEAR RICK: Your first step is to the vet’s office. There could be a medical reason for Will’s misfires.
If Will gets a clean bill of health, there are a couple of things you can try. Cats are very particular about their litter boxes, and some don’t like to share, even with a sibling. You can try giving Will his own box with very tall sides. Put it in a secluded spot, but you don’t need to put it in a closet. That might be another issue.
This won’t stop the miscues, but putting mats or pee pads around the litter box will make cleaning up a little easier.
Readers, do you have any suggestions for Rick and Will?
DEAR JOAN: I wrote to you the other day saying that the sunflower seeds I put out are not as popular as I thought they would be. How do birds know what they will like, since they gobble the seed down without tasting it. Maybe they think that if it looks like a seed, that’s good enough.
— David, Palo Alto
DEAR DAVID: What birds choose to eat is primarily based on their species, which directs them to the type of food that is the most beneficial for them. While some birds have a more varied diet, they generally fall into categories – seed, nut, insect, carrion and nectar feeders.
Physical attributes also come into play. For instance, a hummingbird wouldn’t be able to eat a sunflower seed or chow down on a meat carcass, although they do eat a large number of insects.
If birds aren’t going crazy for your sunflower seeds, it might be because they don’t recognize it as something they want to eat. Birds do taste their food, although they don’t have as many taste buds as we do. Texture is the more important factor for them.
DEAR JOAN: I’m curious about giving raw rice to birds. Is it all right for them to eat?
— Emily Sparks, Montclair
DEAR EMILY: After last week’s column, when a reader mentioned he puts out rice for mourning doves, I’ve had a flood of questions concerning the safety of rice.
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The dangers of feeding rice to birds is an urban legend that can be laid on the late Ann Landers’ doorstep. In 1988, she warned against the practice of tossing rice at newly married couples, saying it was harmful to birds. It resulted in thousands switching to throwing confetti or petals or blowing bubbles at happy couples.
Landers was misinformed. Rice is not harmful, and many birds that prefer eating grains, including waterfowl, eat it straight from the rice paddies. So yes, raw rice is OK for birds.
Animal Life runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
