ArcaMax

"To the best of your friend's ability, adhering to your general schedule will help the cat adjust while you're away," says Atlanta-based certified cat behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson. "Leave on the TV for background. I suggest a hockey game; you're in Buffalo, you're a hockey fan and many cats like to follow the puck. If not, a radio station playing soft music is a good idea."

Johnson continues, "Leave out fun toys, but have your (pet-sitting) friend rotate some of the toys, so there are new ones added daily, as old ones are hidden for a few days. Even something as simple as an empty box can enrich a cat's life."

Another great stress-buster is Feliway; you plug in a diffuser that emits a calming pheromone. Spraying scents such as lavender, rosemary or honeysuckle also relaxes some anxious cats.

"Cats don't wear watches," adds Beth Adelman, a certified cat behavior consultant in New York City, "But they know the difference between (you) being gone for a few hours and several days, especially if the absence is unusual. The truth is, the cat hasn't seen your travel itinerary and may even wonder if you're coming back. So, hiding treats in food puzzles and rotating interesting toys to give your cat something else to think about."

----

Q: I adopted an American Shorthair cat in Taiwan, my first cat ever. Recently, I purchased your cat behavior e-book "Good Cat!" (available via Amazon. from Chicago Tribune publishing, $2.99) and it opened up my eyes, but also gave me reason to worry.

My cat has a balding belly from licking his fur. In Taiwan, the humid climate can cause skin problems for pets, but now that I'm in the U.S., he's still losing hair on his inner thigh and belly. Every two to three weeks, he gets a shower with special shampoo and cream. I also wonder if he feels pain in the bald spots, because petting him there is "off limits." Because he gets so traumatized by veterinary visits, I hesitate to take him. Any advice? -- A.K., via cyberspace

A: Seeing a veterinarian is suggested, says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sharon Crowell-Davis, a professor of behavior and anatomy at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens.

"If it's too much a struggle for you and the cat to get to a veterinarian, perhaps a veterinarian can come to you who makes house calls."

When pet owners suggest something, they're often correct. And if you believe pain is an issue, you might be on target. Then again, it's not unusual for cats to tell us that petting their bellies is not their favorite thing.

Crowell-Davis assumes that allergies, including flea allergies, have been ruled out.

She says that even if the cat's skin problem was addressed properly in Taiwan, he remains entrenched in the licking behavior.

"Definitely, that licking can be a psychogenic (behavior) issues," says Crowell-Davis, "But before going there, though, I'd ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist to rule out any ongoing or lingering skin disease. If that is ruled out, indeed do see a veterinary behaviorist."

========

(c) 2015 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.