DEAR JOAN: I’ve been studying lots in regards to the avian flu and the hazard to home cats. I’ve two cats, now 4 years previous, that I harness educated once they have been kittens.
They love their 15-minute walks within the again yard. I stroll each individually since they’ve minds of their very own as to the place they need to sniff.
I watch the place they’re strolling to examine for fowl poop, then once I convey them inside, I clear their toes with unscented child wipes.
Do you suppose that may preserve them secure from the avian flu?
— C.J., Nice Hill
DEAR C.J.: I believe I’m going to appoint you for Cat Mother or father of the 12 months. You’re doing all the things proper, in your cats, and for wildlife.
You’re proper to be involved. Avian flu – H5N1 – has unfold to different species together with cattle and family pets. Cats are significantly prone due to their pure looking and stalking habits.
Common tips are to observe pets when open air, preserve them clear of untamed birds, poultry and cattle, and keep away from wetlands, farms and parks the place these animals is likely to be in bigger numbers.
As well as, it’s beneficial we don’t feed our pets uncooked rooster or meats, don’t give them unpasteurized milk, and ensure exterior water is clear. We additionally must be aware of our personal hygiene, ensuring we don’t stroll by fowl droppings and monitor them in.
The chance to our pets is minimal, but it surely is sensible to watch out. Simply preserve doing what you’re doing.
Whereas we’re as regards to fowl flu, I’ve had letters from two individuals I respect who imagine I overstated the chance to passerine birds – songbirds – in a latest column about an ailing finch, stating that it’s way more doubtless the fowl died from one other illness. They felt I might need brought about undue panic amongst yard birders.
There have been experiences of the flu spreading to passerines, however the numbers are small. It’s necessary to make use of warning it doesn’t matter what fowl ailments are floating round. The recommendation stays the identical: if you happen to see lifeless or ailing birds, take down feeders and clear them totally earlier than placing them again up; take them down for a number of weeks if you happen to proceed to see distressed birds.
DEAR JOAN: In reference to your latest column about lacking avocados, I might wager {that a} human obtained the avocados. A few years in the past, we lived on a nook lot in Palo Alto with a really productive apricot tree. We have been away for one weekend across the time the fruit was ripe, and got here dwelling to search out our tree totally stripped.
You possibly can inform it’s an individual as a result of when the squirrels “picked” the apricots, actually they simply took a number of bites and there have been partially eaten apricots littering the bottom. I wasn’t too upset as I don’t actually like contemporary apricots, however I used to be shocked by the chutzpah!.
Carol Zink, Redwood Metropolis
DEAR CAROL: I’ve had a number of letters from people who find themselves divided on who took the avocados, however the lack of stays on the bottom actually is robust proof of human involvement.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
