HELOISE Hint avoids mealtime fighting for cats and dogs
Dear Heloise: My friends think this hint is really good for people who own cats and dogs: I used to feed my dog and cat in separate rooms because Blackie, the dog, would finish his food, then push Chelsea out of the way to finish hers.
Now they eat side by side in the kitchen, because I put a plastic laundry basket with an opening cut on one side over the cat's dish. She walks in and out and eats her meals in peace. S.J., via e-mail
Smart thinking, and peace at mealtime! Another good use for plastic laundry baskets is that they make good temporary cat carriers. Just put two of them (open sides) together and wire or tie one side shut. When the cat is put in, close it and secure the other side. Works perfectly. Heloise
Dear Readers: Trish Bentz of Columbus owns an adorable tan Chihuahua, Cooey, and a black-and-white kitten named Tod. The photo Trish sent shows Tod resting up against Cooey's back end. Looks like Cooey doesn't mind a bit.
Visit my Web site, www.Helo-ise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see these two cute little pals. Send your favorite, unusual pet photo to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279. Heloise
Dear Readers: Our little dog, Cabbie, the mini-schnauzer, has a favorite "toy" she plays with -- an empty, plastic water bottle with the top on.
Our dear friend, Dr. Jerry Parsons, a horticulture specialist, was a guest on my radio show, and Cabbie was in the studio with us. When Jerry reached for his bottle of water on the floor -- voil & aacute;! She was chewing on it. I guess since it was on her turf, it was fair game! Seems like Cabbie quietly crawled over and got the bottle. Good thing she didn't puncture holes in it -- it was full of ice water.
Another thing she has done is snatch an egg roll from one of my assistants' purses. A couple of weeks later, Joyce put an egg roll in her purse again to take it home, and, you guessed it! Cabbie took it out without anyone knowing. The egg rolls were wrapped several times with paper towels, but she still managed to reach in the purse, remove the paper towels and sneak the egg roll back into the house.
This is one little dog who could be called a "cat burglar"! Heloise
P.S. No more food within Cabbie's reach!
Dear Readers: Roadrunners are Arizona's state bird, but we have them in Texas, too. Those who have seen them know that they are quite odd-looking birds. They are not built to fly, but they can glide for short distances and can run about 15 mph on legs that are long and strong.
They mate for life and nest mostly above ground in thickets and low trees. Their sounds are different; sometimes they sound like a dove, and other times they make clacking and chuckling sounds -- not the "beep-beep" you hear if you see the cartoon.
King Features Syndicate