I was that child who played with stuffed animals instead of dolls, and brought home baby birds and bunnies, snakes and toads. We always had pet dogs when I was a child. And one of my grandmothers lived on a farm, so I got to interact with chickens and pigs, horses and cows. My mother always told her friends, “When Amy grows up, she won’t have babies, she’ll have puppy dogs and kitty cats.”  Mom was right! 

 After I got married, and we moved to Eastern Kentucky for my husband’s work, jobs were scarce. A veterinarian just out of school moved back home, and opened a clinic, and I applied for the office manager position. My interview was conducted during a Chihuahua’s C-section~~I think the fact that I didn’t pass out, and could still talk while resuscitating puppies, landed me the job.

 During that job, I learned so much! mostly about what I DIDN’T know, along with the common mistakes pet owners made. I was fortunate that the veterinarian was very keen and excited to answer my questions. And of course, I shared the funny, scary, sad and happy pet stories with my mother. She’s the one who told me I should write down my experiences. So I did.
 

You have written a number of books on the subject.  Do you have a favorite, and why?
 

My favorite book is always the most recent one. A week ago, I would have said my favorite was “THE FIRST-AID COMPANION FOR DOGS AND CATS.” I love learning new things, and interviewing the emergency veterinarians for this book was an incredible experience. It’s not a particularly “warm and fuzzy” book, but I think it is a very important book that will save pet lives. 

 But last week, my latest book came out and bumped “First-Aid” out of the number one spot. More about that one later…
 

Can you give us a list of the important checkpoints a prospective cat owner should think about before they go out and adopt a kitten?

Actually, next June I’ll have a whole book released on this subject, called COMPLETE KITTEN CARE.  A few tips, though, that everyone should take into account: 

Be sure you have time. ---Kittens are babies and they need attention. Longhaired babies need grooming every single day. Kittens (or ANY pet, for that matter) are not VCRs to be put aside when you tire of them. They have no “off switch.” Adult pets require at a minimum 20 minutes aerobic exercise twice a day—energetic babies usually need more. If you can’t provide what’s needed, get a stuffed animal instead until you’re ready for the commitment. 

Christmas is the absolutely WORST time to adopt a new animal into your home. Kittens need lots of one-on-one attention and a stable, safe environment. The holidays turn your everyday world upside down with strangers coming to visit, unusual decorations that can be dangerous to kittens, and lots of distractions that prevent the quality time needed to bond during this critical period. Pets as gifts are also a very bad bad bad idea, because our choice of a kitten is so very individual. What strikes your fancy may not be a heart-match for little Tommy or Susie---the individual should always be the one to choose. Instead of a furry gift, I suggest putting together a package that contains all the kitten accoutrements—litter box, food bowls, toys, scratch object—and a gift certificate to your local animal welfare league. Make it a family event for AFTER the holidays, once your routine has returned to normal, to go choose your perfect new family member.
 

Choose kittens from a reputable source. ---Pet stores are the absolutely WORST place to get a kitten because they typically come from ‘kitten mills’ that have poor to retched health standards and zero socialization offered. These babies, if lucky enough to be physically healthy, may be emotional or social cripples unable to bond with people. Now that said, some pet stores partner with shelters and animal welfare organizations to place adoptable animals—some of these are great! But again, not all shelters are created equally. Purebred kittens cost quite a bit when the breeders are reputable because they’ve spent lots of money to make sure they’re healthy, well socialized, and a good representative of their breed. The good ones will quiz you thoroughly to be sure you are worthy of taking their kitten into your home, life, and heart; don’t be insulted, be thankful! Finally, strays and kitten waifs from friends or newspaper ads are a source that may be good, bad or indifferent. Very often, the kitten chooses you simply by showing up on the doorstep. 
 

Evaluate the kitten. A healthy baby has fluffy long fur, or silky short fur, no scabs or bumps, and clean ears, eyes, and bottom. He or she isn’t shy. The healthy kitten is curious, and approaches you willingly with eyes wide and tail pointed straight up (that’s a friendly kitten greeting offered to Mom-cat and worthy humans!). 
 

If you already have pets, consider: will you have time to pay adequate attention to them all? Are you SURE that Fluffy wants a friend—or will it be cat-wars? Do you have space for another pet? A good rule of thumb is to have no more cats than you have bedrooms so that each feline can “own” some of the territory. If you don’t have many bedrooms, enrich the environment with vertical space so Fluffy can claim the second-story property and the new kitten has roaming privileges at ground level.
 

Cats are seemingly independent creatures, but I've found that they need us more than we think they do.  What are a few good tips in order to secure and keep a cat's trust?

Consistency is key. Make sure all family members agree with and will enforce the rules of the house. It is incredibly unfair to have one person allow Kitty on the bed, and the other throws a fit at her presence. It’s not only unfair; it is confusing and can prompt distrust when you change the rules.

Learn to speak cat. Well….that is, learn to understand felinese. Listen to her voice, watch her eyes, hear what the movement of her ears, or her tail is saying. Nothing will destroy trust faster than ignoring your cat’s clear signals of likes and dislikes. If she warns you to stop petting her with little airplane wing ears and twitching tail, RESPECT her request! And if she invites your attention with a chirrup and head-butt, give her a little scritch. Believe it or not, studies have shown that cats are much more willing to accept human attention when their own solicitations get positive results. If you repeatedly ignore the cat’s overtures for attention, she’ll stop asking for attention—and will ignore your own requests for cuddles. Call it “kitty quid pro quo.” 

Cats love status quo. They are creatures of habit. Any sort of change can cause stress, upset kitty feelings, and even health problems that may result in acting out. So once you’ve found a cat box filler that Fluffy likes, don’t change it. Stick with success. Don’t move the litter box around – again, once Fluffy has sworn box-allegiance, if you move it she’ll lose it. Feed Fluffy at the same time every day. Play with her the same time. Build a routine—routines are incredibly comforting to cats, it’s something they can hang their claws on. 

If you must change something – the vet says she needs a special diet, or you really must move the litter box from the dining room to the laundry, or a stray kitten will be moving in – make changes gradually. Incremental change is much less off-putting than an abrupt change. So mix the new diet 50/50 with the old, and gradually increase the new one over a 2-week period. Move the litter box 2 inches a day until you reach the new location. Confine the new kitten in a room by himself so Fluffy isn’t insulted that ALL her territory has been invaded…let them meet gradually, and give Fluffy a chance to adjust her way of thinking.
 

You are the national spokesperson for the Purina Cat Chow “Way of Life” Tour.  How did you come into this position and what do you do?

The position has kind of evolved, I think. I’d often interviewed the researchers at Purina and many other pet products companies as expert sources for my articles on cat and dog care. I liked the people at Purina, liked their vision of “total health.” So when I developed the idea for a cat encyclopedia I approached Purina about licensing their name to use as an imprimatur on the book. It took years to approve, but ultimately “THE PURINA ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT CARE” as well as “THE PURINA ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DOG CARE” were published by Ballantine Books in 1998 and 1999, respectively. During this time, I worked as a spokesperson for the company in a limited capacity—did a few mat releases, was quoted in a couple of press releases, and was on call for radio interviews. Then three years ago, I was asked to be a spokesperson for a new program called the “Kitten Chow Lifetime of Love” tour, and I traveled to several cities where the Purina event partnered with local shelters for adoption events. It was great fun! It was rewarding to meet dedicated shelter staff and offer them and new kitten owners tips about proper kitten care.

Long story…I know. But it was that tour that sparked the idea for the current “Way of Life” events. The tour includes adoption partnerships with local shelters in 30+ cities. As the national spokesperson, I give interviews on radio and television to promote the events, and appear at selected cities to give “cat/kitten training demonstrations” with specific tips that address kitten, adult, and senior cat needs. The venue is composed of an adoption center with room for 20+ kitties, an area similar to a living room so folks can schmooze with prospective pets, and an interactive area with laptop computers for folks to access the Q & A resources at catchow.com  Oh, I’m also one of the official Cat Chow Mentors as part of the tour, and answer questions each week in my “Emotional Health” column for the catchow.com website. We’ve just finished our second year, and plans are in the works for the 2002 Way of Life events. 
 

People must come up to you all the time and ask you for advice.  What do you recommend for a list of questions and information when they actually get around to taking their cats to the vet?  Are there standard inquiries that should be made about a cat's health?

If you’re lucky, your cat only needs to see the vet once or maybe twice a year. But people live with their cats 365 days a year and so are in the best position to know when something isn’t right. Before anything else, people should pay close attention to learn what is NORMAL cat behavior for their pet. That way, if something different happens, it’s a wake-up call to check for a problem.

In the past, we recommended cats and dogs get yearly vaccinations. That has changed—vaccination protocols are now much more individualized for the pet, the part of the country (exposure rates), and lifestyle (risk factors) of the pet. I personally have my cat Seren(dipity) vaccinated each year for rabies, because that’s the law in the state of Texas. Her other vaccinations are given every three years, because she’s an indoor cat (low risk) and has no contact with other kitties (low exposure). Other cat situations may vary, so check with the veterinarian about what’s best in your neck of the woods. 

Even though vaccines may not be called for every year, an annual exam is a must for all pets—well or otherwise. Probably the biggies in health problems that people may not think about include dental disease, and obesity. Ask the veterinarian to suggest ways to keep Kitty slim, and her teeth clean. It may take an actual dentistry procedure to scale away the gunk—and take some human gumption to turn off the treat machine. Both periodontal disease and obesity can not only make Kitty miserable, but they can shorten her life. 

Ask about anything you notice has changed in your cat’s routine. Is she drinking more water than usual? Do you have to clean the litter box more often? Has her recreational vomiting become an everyday occurrence? These are signs something’s wrong. There is no such thing as a dumb question—unless it’s unasked. 
 

You have to do a tremendous amount of research for your work, then the actual writing, editing, and so on.  How do you find time to travel and to enjoy the rest of life with your busy schedule?

Frankly, I don’t travel much these days unless it’s for business. This year I had 13 trips – Only one of them was recreation, with a bunch of writer friends, but I took my laptop and worked while there. 

How do I enjoy the rest of life…well, whenever my cat asks me, I stop and pet her. And I now quit work for a couple hours when my husband comes home. And I’ve started taking off weekends here and there. Next year, I’ve got plans for some serious downtime!
 

The trauma of losing a pet is a subject ignored until recently.  Have you written anything on the subject, or are you planning to?
 

I’ve written only limited amounts on the subject to date. It’s a hard subject to cover, because I become so emotionally involved and it’s hard to maintain that “writer-ly objectivity.” In this area, not sure you can—or should—be totally objective.

My current two projects deal with senior pet care issues. One book addresses dogs, the other cats. Losing a pet is part of the deal we make when we welcome a furry wonder into our life and heart. The subject of losing a pet will be covered in these books.
 

Holidays are stressful enough for humans.  Can you recommend some ways in which to make things easier on our cats and kittens during get-togethers and parties?

For pets, the holidays can be very stressful. Cats especially love status quo and any change in routine can put their tails in a twist. Decorations can be dangerous or toxic, strange people might offer forbidden treats or leave doors open. It is infinitely better for our cats and kittens to be sequestered in a safe room away from the hubbub of parties, out from underfoot. You can give them lots of attention afterwards—they’ll appreciate that more than being chased by Aunt Jessie’s 4-year-old toddler, or hiding under the bed from Uncle Oscar’s booming laugh. Don’t think of this as jail. Think of it as respite, a safe haven. 

When you have company for more than a day, be frank with your guests and set down some “pet rules.” It doesn’t matter that Cousin Frank always let’s his cat outside—if you don’t let Frito play in the snow, make that clear to Frank ahead of time. Explain to the kids that feeding treats to Frito could make him sick—and perhaps they’d like to clean up the mess! If your family or friends aren’t able or willing to abide by your rules, then protect your cats. A couple days in the safe room is much better than losing Frito to the open door.
 

Can you tell us about some of your favorite animal companions you've had over the years?

I can barely remember Dixie. She was my mother’s dog, an English Shepherd nearly all white (very unusual) and I think she “infected” me with pet love when I could barely walk. The first dog my family had was Toby. He was solid black, a husky/shepherd mix. My book, “Competability” is dedicated to his memory—he was sent to the shelter when I was 7 years old, for killing the neighbor’s cats. I still cry at that thought…

Lady was a tricolor Sheltie my family got when I was in 4th grade. We learned doggy obedience together in 4-H dog club! I had a number of hamsters during this time and Lady herded them and my brother’s bunny and white mice. My favorite hamster was Whiskers, the escape artist. Whiskers nearly turned me into an insomniac running on her squeaky wheel at all hours. I’d grease the thing to keep it quiet, but was afraid to use something that might be toxic…Crisco worked well, but Whiskers then spent time licking off the grease instead of spinning.

My first pet as a married lady looked very much like I remember Toby. Maybe I was trying to recreate my childhood…Fafnir was a show-quality German Shepherd Dog, from an obedience line. Gorgeous boy, lovely temperament—and awful allergies that nearly killed him. I became a writer because of Fafnir. His name, incidentally, is a character in a Wagnerian opera—German name for a German Shepherd. 

I also had a Spectacle Amazon parrot for a few years. Venus was an abused bird I rescued from a client at a vet clinic where I worked. She was addicted to sunflower seeds, and had almost no feathers when I first got her. After weaning her off the caffeine-laced seeds and onto a decent diet, she returned to health. But she’d been caught in the wild (missing two toes from the experience), not hand-raised, and she was never happy. When we moved from Tennessee to Texas, I gave Venus to a professional breeder who had a huge outdoor aviary. 

Today I live with my heart-cat, Seren. That’s short for Serendipity because it was such a happy accident that we found each other. She’s on my website, and today she takes very seriously her job of being my furry muse. Seren puts her paw of approval on every page, she answers my phone (leaves it off the hook, though!), plays all the pretty buttons on the fax machine, un-sorts the stacks of file baskets, and otherwise “helps.” 

She reminds me why I’m writing—for her, and for all the others. 
 

Who's your favorite cartoon dog or cat and why?  Your favorite animal actor?

I absolutely adore Darby Conley’s cartoon, “Get Fuzzy.” The human is an ad guy. His pets stand upright on two legs, they talk to him and him to them with no problem. But they are so very much “dog” and “cat” that you want to fall on the floor saying, “Yes! Yes! That’s absolutely what my cat would say!” The dog is a Shar-Pei/Labrador mix, a watchdog (he wears a watch). Interestingly, originally the dog was to be full-blooded Shar-Pei but Darby decided drawing all those wrinkles was too much work, LOL! The cat is a Siamese. Enough said.

Favorite animal actor—Hooch from the movie, Turner and…   Before that, Spike – he was the dog actor who played “Ol’ Yeller,” and also was the dog that accompanied “The Westerner.” 

On the kitty side, I love Morris – all of them. And the kitty that plays Data’s  “Spot” on Star Trek (actually got to meet that kitty once). Today, so many of the animal actors are simply digital manipulations. I much prefer it when the actual cat or dog “acts.” And they can! Hiss on command, hit their spot, navigate the blocking…there are some wonderful cat and dog actors.
 

If you could play Santa Paws for the cats of the world, what would your Yuletide wish for them be?

To find for each of them a forever-home.
 

You just had a new book come out.  Please tell us about it, as well as some of your other more recent publications.

The most recent book came out in November 2001, called “Pet Care in the New Century: Cutting-Edge Medicine for Dogs & Cats” from New American Library. In a nutshell, the book explains what cutting-edge medicine is available, where you can find it, and how it can benefit the special pets in your life. Anything that you can imagine is available for humans is also now offered for our furry family members. I interviewed nearly 100 veterinarians, researchers and pet owners to compile the information—what an exciting project! Since more than 80% of owners consider their pets to be part of the family, people demand the same level of medical care that we expect for ourselves. Today, veterinary medicine boasts more than 20 specialties: behaviorists, eye doctors, cardiologists, oncologists, even pain management and veterinary dental specialists are available. Also, many of the teaching universities offer cutting-edge programs or experimental studies that pet cats and dogs may benefit from at low to no cost. “Pet Care in the New Century” discusses these topics and more, from options for dealing with aggression or brain tumors, to treatments for heart disease, paralysis, and urinary stones. Up front chapters describe new diagnostic tools and trends in cutting-edge veterinary medicine, as well as ethical issues such as cloning pets, organ donor issues, and veterinary molecular medicine. And to keep the book in perspective—or should I say, “purrspective?”—true stories of miraculous recoveries are included. Yogi, a kitty in desperate need of a new kidney; Wolfie, a dog recovering from inexplicable paralysis; Thurston Howl III, a 4-month-old kitten with a sick heart; and other dogs and cats that have beaten the odds thanks to their caring owners and today’s most innovative and dedicated veterinary professionals.

New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs & Cats was just re-released in trade paperback by Rodale Press in July 2001 (it’s been out in hardcover for about a year). This was a departure for me from the “western/traditional” medicine to the alternative/holistic side of things. The first chapters describe some of the types of treatment—massage, homeopathy, acupressure, herbs, natural diets, etc.—and the remainder offers an A-to-Z listing of various common conditions. Over 100 holistic veterinarians were interviewed for this book, and they offer their opinions and advice on treatment of the various pet problems. For instance, rather than giving a drug, they might suggest you push the “aspirin point” for instant pain relief, or use tea to clean and heal a “hot spot.” I learned that there is a world of wonderful options beyond “mainstream medicine” and that opening ourselves and our pet’s care up to these alternatives gives us the best of ALL worlds. It’s not an either/or situation. Integrative medicine takes the best approach to the individual animal—maybe chemotherapy to fight cancer, alongside natural therapies to boost immunity and sustain nutrition and maintain quality of life.

The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats was released March 2001 by Rodale Press. I interviewed more than 80 veterinarians to provide their expertise on how to deal with more than 150 everyday accidents and emergencies. I had become frustrated with the existing pet first-aid books—they all seemed to expect the reader to have a veterinary medicine chest at hand, or know automatically how to bandage or restrain an injured pet. This book is different—it assumes that you do NOT have professional supplies handy, and explains how to use everyday materials from your own medicine chest, kitchen, pantry, and closet to save your pet’s life. For instance, Saran wrap is one of the best first-aid supplies you could have on hand; a coffee-table book makes a great stretcher for a kitten; a honey dressing on a wound protects and helps heal the injury; bubble wrap is ideal to immobilize a fractured leg. The book includes an essential medicine chest with human medicine equivalents; an at-a-glance symptom finder; and clearly explains what to do immediately, what to do later, what can wait a day and emergencies that need life-and-death treatment NOW.

I want to thank Ms. Shojai for her kindness to animals everywhere, and for finding the time to talk to us here.  You are invited to visit Ms. Shojai's web site for more information.  ~Yasmine