Cat owners are sick of dealing with sick cats. In fact, millions of cats are euthanized or turned over to shelters every year due to chronic illness. The most common of these illnesses is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). FLUTD causes cats to urinate outside the litter box. They pee on beds, clothes, furniture and rugs. Not too many people can put up with this problem for very long, so these cats are often relinquished or euthanized.

A group at the Ohio State University set out to prove that many of these cats' illnesses were caused or exacerbated by stress. If they could show that illness was made worse by stress, then many cats could be saved if we simply helped eliminate their stress.

Thirty-two cats were entered in the study. Some were healthy, but the sick ones, who had been diagnosed with a form of FLUTD, were in the study because their owners were ready to euthanize them. And here is what they found. Healthy cats showed signs of illness when they were stressed and cats with disease got healthier when their stress levels were reduced.

In the study, cats were set up in enriched environments that provided as stress-free an environment as possible. They had a consistent caregiver, feeding and play times. Their litter boxes were kept immaculately clean and scary noises were avoided. The researchers even noted that they had to be careful if they were having a bad day because they didn't want the cats to sense their own stress. When the routines were altered, causing stress, cats were three times more likely to vomit, urinate or defecate outside the litter box and eat less. Symptoms like these receded when the stressor was removed.

Here are some tips to help reduce stress in your cat's lives:

• Do not use forceful punishment - ever! Reprimands only work if you catch your cat "in the act". Punishment that follows an action by more than a few seconds won't stop him from doing it again, and may even cause him to be afraid of you or the surroundings.
• Provide a room or other space she can call her own, complete with food and water, a bed, a litter box, a scratching/climbing post, a window to look out of, and some toys.
• Place food and the litter boxes away from appliances and air ducts that could come on unexpectedly.
• Give your cat several things that he/she is allowed to scratch up.
• Provide places to climb and look out of windows.
• For more information, check out Ohio State's Indoor Pet Initiative at http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats.

(Dr. Katherine A. Saenger, DVM, owns Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Kennel and is a former board member of the CAS. E-mail your questions to vetsaenger@bellsouth.net.)

vetsaenger@bellsouth.net,?Cats seem to prefer to feel like they are in control of their surroundings, and to choose the changes they want to make. When you make changes (food, litter, toys, etc.), offer them in a separate container next to the familiar one so your cat can decide whether or not to change.

* Be sure to see your veterinarian regularly. In addition to providing preventative health care through regular check-ups, they also can help you troubleshoot any issues before they become problems.

For more information, check out Ohio State's Indoor Pet Initiative http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/

(Dr. Katherine A. Saenger, DVM, owns Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Kennel (www.beesferry.com) and is a former board member of the Charleston Animal Society (formerly John Ancrum SPCA.) If you have questions about pet behavior or health, or suggestions for column topics, e-mail her at vetsaenger@bellsouth.net, and watch the column in coming weeks for her responses. See more columns at www.moultrienews.com.)