My Pet World: Why pets do (or don’t do) things — Understanding their preferences | My Pet World | Columns

Dear Cathy,

My dog has zero interest in toys. He doesn’t fetch, chew, squeak, or even look at them. I’ve tried balls, stuffed animals, and ropes. He won’t play with anything. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong?

— Ashley, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Dear Ashley,

You’re not alone. Some dogs love toys, some tolerate them, and others completely ignore them – and all are perfectly normal. There are a few reasons for this.

Some dogs simply never learned how to play with toys, especially if they didn’t grow up with them as puppies, so they don’t understand what to do with a rope or a squeaky duck.

Others just have different play styles. Some dogs like to chase toys, some prefer to chew, and others enjoy toys that dispense treats or make sounds. If the toy doesn’t match what your dog naturally finds fun or rewarding, he may not interact with it at all. Some dogs also prefer people or other pets over toys, so they may choose social interaction instead of toy play.

To help your dog learn to enjoy toys, try a variety, not just different versions of the same toy. Toss a ball, drag a toy on the floor, or hide a treat-dispensing toy and let him discover it. Sometimes, movement or scent can make the toy more interesting than simply handing it to him. One of my dogs never liked toys, but he loved going for walks and playing hide and seek.

So, don’t worry. A dog who doesn’t play with toys is not missing out as long as he is happy, healthy, and content being near the people they love.

Dear Cathy,

I just got two little kittens. (They are not related.) One ended up sick with diarrhea and did not make it to the litter box. He has been to the vet and received meds for dehydration and a sinus infection. I have cleaned the carpet and hardwood floor with bleach and purchased the enzyme cleaner, however, they both keep sniffing around the areas and I am afraid they will pee near there. Any suggestions of products that I can try to deter the area?

— Cindy, St. Louis, Missouri

Dear Cindy,

When kittens soil outside the litter box, especially after illness, it’s important to clean thoroughly and remove every trace of odor that could draw them back. You did the right thing by using an enzymatic cleaner made specifically for pet stains. Skip bleach or general household cleaners as they have no impact. Enzymatic products break down the proteins in urine and feces that even a cat’s sensitive nose can still detect after cleaning.

Be sure to follow the directions closely – soak the affected areas, let the solution sit for the full amount of time, and blot rather than scrub, so the enzymes can work deep into carpet fibers or cracks in hardwood. Odors can penetrate floors and carpet fibers.

For hardwood floors, you can also use a hard-surface pet odor neutralizer designed for wood or tile to make sure the smell doesn’t linger beneath the finish. Once everything is dry, lightly mist the area with a cat-safe deterrent spray, if it's not too close to the litter box, to discourage them from revisiting the spot. Sprinkling a litter box attractant in the litter box for a few weeks can also help redirect them to the right place. So, you are on the right track with enzymatic cleaners, just continue with cleaning, deterrent, and litter box attractant.

Dear Cathy,

In response to Sharon from Northampton, Pennsylvania, whose cats are scratching her furniture, I would like to share my experience. I have had cats for more than five decades – and they all scratched something! I also learned that every cat has scratching preferences. Some like furniture; some like rugs. My current cat was scratching the carpet until I bought a curved cardboard scratcher. He won’t touch the flat ones! The real trick is figuring out what type of scratching surface your cat prefers.

— Ann, Richmond, Virginia

Dear Ann,

You’ve discovered something very important: Animals are individuals, and what works for one cat may not work for another. Scratching posts are a perfect example. Some cats prefer vertical posts wrapped in sisal rope, while others may favor flat cardboard scratchers or curved corrugated styles, like your feline.

The next trick is figuring out how to place it in the right place, since location matters too. Scratching isn’t just a behavior; it's a natural feline need. You might have to experiment with different scratching surfaces until your cat finally says, “Yes, this is the one.”

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)