Cats and Birds information on net.

Dear Readers: Hummingbirds are absolutely the most fascinating little birds. Some are among the smallest of all species of birds. If you have ever heard a "hummer," you'll understand why they are called hummingbirds. Their wings move at such a rapid rate that they make a humming sound.

Did you know that hummingbirds are the only birds that can hover and fly sideways, backward, up, down and even . . . upside down? Because of their maneuvering ability, they are unafraid of larger predator birds. They will actually dive-bomb attackers to ward them off. Hummingbirds do not fly in flocks. Their breeding season is usually the only time males and females get together.

I would like to thank the San Diego Zoo for this information. For those who would like to learn more, visit its Web site: www.SanDiegoZoo.org. When you get to the page, read the left column and click on Animal Bytes, then click on Bird. You'll find a list of all types of birds, including hummingbirds, and all sorts of interesting animal facts. You will be amazed! -- Heloise

P.S.: Our hummers in Rockport, Texas, are amazing to watch when they migrate through.

Dear Readers: Avalon Ingram of Grapeland, Texas, has a very unusual pet, a rooster named Early Bird, and his best friend, a black cat named Midnight. The photo Avalon sent shows the two of them together waiting on the back porch for their morning handout of bread crumbs and a saucer of milk. -- Heloise

Dear Heloise: Years ago, we almost had a tragic experience with our first cat. My mother had been sewing, and a needle with thread fell unnoticed to the floor. We first noticed Tootsie was not eating and had started drooling. She wouldn't let us open her mouth.

We rushed her to the vet, and under anesthesia, he removed a needle with a 15-inch thread that had been lodged across her mouth. She required careful care and monitoring for several days, but it all turned out well. She lived to be more than 16 years old. -- A.S., Harrisburg, Pa.

Ouch! Sure glad everything turned out well. Thank you for passing along the warning. -- Heloise

Dear Heloise: One of my puppies got hold of a jug of liquid laundry detergent, making a hole in it, and carried it around for a while. You can imagine the mess! Luckily, we have wooden floors.

We could not mop up the mess -- it just created more bubbles, and paper would not soak it up. What to do? I dumped a lot of cat litter on the floor and gently brushed it up. The end result was a pile of clumps, and the mess was all cleaned up. -- Michael, Statesville, N.C.

Dear Heloise: I have a dry-erase calendar that I use to keep track of things like medication administration and weights for my four cats. At the end of the month, before erasing it and starting a new month, I take a picture. This way, there is a permanent record of key pet information.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:57 AM