Partly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Partly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.

When your cat is purring, you probably assume that she’s happy. But do you really know all of the things that make cats happy — or unhappy, for that matter?

In her new book, “Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy” (Greystone Books), author Zazie Todd — a psychologist with a Ph.D. in social psychology and creator of the website Companion Animal Psychology — takes readers on a tour of cat behaviors and desires, sharing the science behind feline play, greetings, communication, socialization and more.

Over 14 chapters — plus checklists, appendices and training plans — she uncovers the evidence on why cats need hiding places, what they look for in terms of resources — from food dishes to litter boxes to toys — and how and why they interact with humans and each other. Chapters cover getting a cat; setting up a home that’s attractive to a cat; addressing behavior problems, care and lifestyle; and the needs of cats at every life stage: in short, all the things that can affect a cat’s happiness. I spoke to Todd about what people should know when it comes to keeping cats happy.

Take scratching. It’s a normal behavior for cats — important not only for grooming but also for communication and exercise — but no one wants their furniture shredded by sharp claws. But not all cats scratch alike. They have individual preferences on exactly how they want to scratch — preferences that aren’t always recognized by their people.

“Many people have scratching posts that are not very sturdy or not tall enough or they’re made of a surface the cat doesn’t like,” Todd says. “And some will prefer a horizontal surface rather than a vertical one. It’s up to us to provide cats with surfaces which they can scratch and encourage and reward them for using those rather than trying to punish them for scratching in what we think is the wrong place.”

Petting is another aspect of feline happiness that can leave people scratching their heads. New cat owners, especially those more accustomed to dogs, can get a sharp-clawed reprimand if they try to pet a cat’s belly — even if the cat has rolled over to expose it. While some cats allow it — briefly — most prefer to be petted elsewhere. And they like it if you ask permission first.

That’s right. Just as you would get consent before, say, touching a pregnant woman’s baby bump, you should give cats a chance to come to you and request petting, as well as the chance to move away when they’ve had enough. Knowing where they do and don’t like to be petted is important, too.

“Most cats do not like to be petted around the base of the tail or on the tail, and most cats really don’t like to be petted on the tummy,” Todd says. “There will be some exceptions, especially if you have a really good relationship with your cat, but most cats prefer to be petted around the head and face, which is where their scent glands are.”

What does Todd hope readers take away from the book?

One wish is that readers will toss away spray bottles, shake cans and other forms of punishment.

“Punishment isn’t good for cats,” she says. “It can make them stressed, and it risks affecting their relationship with us.”

But she also believes many readers will find that they’re already doing a good job.

“I have a checklist for a happy cat at the end, and I think people will find things that they’re already doing,” she says. “They can give themselves a big pat on the back for that, but they probably will also find some things they’re not doing. They can think about whether or not that would work for them and their cats in their home.”

Q: Why do my dog’s paws smell like corn chips?

A: Most of us have asked that question at one time or another.

Give a dog’s paws a good sniff and they indeed have a pleasant odor of tortilla chips, or maybe popcorn. For the science behind the smell, we turned to Harold McGee’s book “Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World’s Smells.”

There are a couple of reasons, it turns out. One is that paws, like our own feet, provide microbes with an abundance of things they like in an environment: warmth, moisture, food (think skin oils and dead cells) and protective skin folds, such as between the toes. When microbes take up residence, they generate strong odors, which is why we humans like to wash our feet thoroughly and frequently.

McGee didn’t find any peer-reviewed studies of dog paw volatiles — organic compounds emitted by skin — (we didn’t, either) but attributes the odor to the likely presence of a volatile called aminoacetophenone, which not only contributes to the smell of corn chips, but also to grapes, strawberries and chestnut honey.

“It’s also diagnostic for the presence of a specific bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause serious infections in both dogs and humans,” McGee writes.

The good news is that this microbe is relatively innocuous rather than aggressively infectious. It’s commonly found in soil, water and in the air. “So while the corn-chip smell may be pleasant and amusing, it’s also a reminder of the invisible multitudes clinging to those paws, some of them biding their time for a scratch or cut to infect. If the smell is strong, it’s probably time to think about a bath,” McGee concludes. Or possibly a trip to your veterinarian to make sure an infection isn’t brewing from an overgrowth of yeast organisms. — Dr. Marty Becker

— Married with pets? Even if your relationship is happy, it’s a good idea to have a pet custody plan in place in the event of a breakup. Attorney Patti Lawson, author of “What Happens to Rover When the Marriage Is Over?” recommends setting up a “petnuptial” agreement that states who the pet belongs to, who will receive custody in case the marriage or partnership ends, and spells out options for joint custody. She also recommends using a mediator if you’re having difficulty reaching an agreement. Most important, be ready to provide proof that you’re the primary caretaker or reasons why it is in the pet’s best interest to remain with you.

— Cleanup on aisle B — for bird! Birds are messy. To clean cages, you’ll need brushes with plastic bristles to clean fecal matter off perches, toys, dishes and cage bars. For birds who drink from hanging bottles, you’ll need a long, skinny bottle brush. Be sure any brushes you purchase can be run through the dishwasher on the sanitize setting. Do the same with food and water dishes, perches, some toys, and cage grates and skirts if they fit. Rope toys can go in the washing machine. Use bird-safe cleaners and disinfectants, and remove your bird from the cage before cleaning. Avoid cleansers with strong scents, especially those with pine oils, which can damage your bird’s respiratory membranes. Finally, a powerful hand vac is useful for sucking up pellets, dust, feathers and seeds.

— If you’re observing a dog training class, look for a trainer who clearly explains and demonstrates each behavior, including how to teach it; provides written materials students can refer to at home; allows time during class to practice each behavior; works individually with students on problem areas; and treats people and dogs courteously. — Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker.

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

A veteran’s memorial service for Vaughn A. Perkins will be held at Sugarland Memory Gardens at 1 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2022.

FRANCIS HORSTING — The funeral for Francis “Frank” Horsting was held May 14, 2022 at Ed L. Lee Mortuary, North Chapel, with Yvonne Evans officiated. Burial was in Sugarland Memory Gardens. Military honors were given by the Washington American Legion and VFW.

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