“If we ever get a cat, I’d like him to look like a male version of her,” my husband, Jon, said about Silverbell, a 2-year-old gray and white cat who I pet sat in July. Though he said it casually, his statement gave me great hope that sometime, maybe in the next year or two, we’d adopt a pet together. It had been a few years since I lost Schuyler, an adult rescue cat who developed multiple health problems during the five years she was my constant companion. I was itching to adopt again while also trying to be respectful of my new husband’s hesitancy to become a first time pet guardian.

You'll absolutely want to 'dog- ear' the final section of this Q&A with Dr. Biondolillo of Prytania Veterinary Hospital. Read part one here.

Editor's note: Dr. B., as everyone at Prytania Veterinary Hospital calls her, is my kitten Claude's vet. She and her team worked tirelessly to save him after he was rescued from the bottom of a dumpster by a kind soul at four weeks old and 1.10 lbs. My formerly named "Dumpsta Kitty" is now almost 6 months old, and 8 pounds. We both look forward to our vet visits with Dr. B.

Q: My cat pees and poops on anything she can. I love her but she is about to go out the door. I always scoop the litterbox clean, so that can't be it. It also can't be because she smells an old smell -- she peed on my new couch immediately after it was delivered. My vet said to try two litterboxes but my apartment is small, and I don't want two when she doesn't even want to use one.

A:  Your cat is stressed. That's the easy part. The hard part is figuring out why.  A cat goes to the bathroom where it feels best, where it smells best, and where it's quiet. Get down on all fours. Would you want to go where you're asking Kitty to go? First make sure the problem isn't medical, then investigate your home situation. Think like a cat.

You’ll definitely want to ‘dog-ear’ this two-part interview with Dr. Biondolillo of Prytania Veterinary Hospital. Read the second part by clicking here.

[Editor’s note: Dr. B., as everyone at Prytania Veterinary Hospital calls her, is my kitten Claude’s vet. She and her team worked tirelessly to save him after he was rescued from the bottom of a dumpster by a kind soul at four weeks old and 1.10 lbs. My formerly named "Dumpsta Kitty" is now five months and approaching seven pounds. We both look forward to our vet visits with Dr. B.]

Q: What can I do to make my pets less anxious while I’m at work?

A: The first place to start is independence training before you leave the home. Be forewarned, this takes time and repetition to teach.

A neighbor called over the weekend to tell me he found this dog at Camp and Marengo streets.

He was with a Pit/Boxer/Ridgeback mix, and a Bloodhound, but they disappeared before my neighbor could rescue them. All three dogs were friendly. My neighbor is currently keeping this dog at his house. He's not chipped, and has no identifying tags. However, the three dogs have been seen being walked by a couple around the corner of Chestnut and Marengo.

If this is your dog or you have any knowledge about him, please email me at jelliclepetsnola@gmail.com.

Thank you to my kind neighbor for temporarily taking the lost guy in for the time being.

When I first met Charlotte, an almost two-year-old black Lab (in the photo to the left, she's sniffing Shih Tzu Gumbo, another client), she was sweet but cautious while I interviewed with her mom. On our first afternoon walk, she trusted me enough to take her out in the world, but wouldn't let me pet her. Over the last few months, Charlotte has warmed up to me so much that when I enter her house, she immediately gives me her belly for a good rubbing. Earlier this week during a post-walk couch snuggle, she even allowed me to rest my head on her soft, muscular back for a few minutes. At Jellicle Pet Sitting's Fall Park Romp, which was held last month at Coliseum Square Park, one of the best parts of my day was watching Charlotte race around off-leash with the other dogs, greet strangers, and occasionally check in with her parents or me. I'd like to think our weekday walks have helped increase her comfort level in various situations.

Ever wondered about something pet-related but forgot to ask your veterinarian at your pet’s regular visit? Need a second opinion? Have a wacky cat or dog question? See something at the Audubon Zoo or on Animal Planet that seems too wacky to be true? Cause for Paws’ new “Ask a Vet” series will give NewOrleans.com readers the opportunity to ask questions of vets from all over the New Orleans area. Each month, a different veterinarian will answer as many questions as possible.

First up: Dr. Rachelle Biondolillo of the Prytania Veterinary Hospital (PVH), who worked tirelessly and successfully with the PVH staff to save a four-week-old, 1.10 lb. kitten who was rescued from a dumpster by a kind construction worker. “Dumpsta Kitty,” as he was affectionately dubbed at the PVH, is now my precious Claude. Five months old, and over six pounds, Claude is hysterically playful, adorable, and very healthy.

If you have a pet question, or are a veterinarian who would like to be included in an upcoming Q&A, please email Jennifer, jelliclepetsnola@gmail.com.

Jennifer Coleman is the Founder & Owner of Jellicle Pet Sitting and Jellicle Lagniappe.

The Bywater Bark Market, a dog lover’s paradise, is a variation on the monthly Bywater Art Market and benefits the LA/SPCA heartworm fund. Blake Vonder Haar, human member of a four dog, three cat family, is also the president and founder of both markets. She answered the following questions about the next Bark Market, on Saturday, October 17.

As I write, Claude is batting a yellow mouse all around the newly vacuumed living room. When I finish this blog post, I’ll take out his ball on a string toy and interact with him instead of watching him play, unless he has tired and curled up next to me by then. In that case, we’ll watch “Project Runway,” or maybe a little DVR’d “Housecat Housecall.” Sometimes he gets excited by the noises. Not so much by Heidi Klum. Of course, having a pet isn’t just play and snuggles. It’s not always fun or easy either, but paying attention to two of my most frequently observed (pet) pet peeves – which I am sometimes guilty of too – will make life more enjoyable and healthy for both you and your pet.

I grab the human water bottle plus the fold-up dog water bowl from my car then pat down my pockets for bags, key, business cards, and a photocopy of my ID, and walk up the steps. Before I put the key in the lock, I do one last mental check that everything’s in order, because I know that as soon as I open the door Roscoe will wake, rise, and excitedly start barking. Not because he’s particularly excited to see me, but because my presence means one thing, and one thing only: it’s time to walk!

We leash and lock up, head out the gate, then turn onto State Street, one of the most beautiful, tree-lined, flower and plant-filled streets I’ve explored in New Orleans. Over the last month or so, Roscoe and I’ve watched many a lizard dart or scatter as we quickly cover block after block. Today I notice how much larger those same lizards are, and how there’s a slight change in the air. It’s still damn hot, but there’s a hint of seasons changing.

He just did it again. My four-month-old kitten jumped up on the couch, dropped his favorite toy of the day and waited while I fished for it behind the throw pillow. When I tossed it across the room, he tore off with a flying leap, galloped to it, mouthed it, and repeated.

I thought it was a fluke when Claude first started playing kitty fetch. A few weeks later, this new game has become part of our typical routine. As a pet guardian (a phrase that’s frequently used these days instead of "owner"), and also a professional pet sitter and dog walker, I believe following a routine with pets is very important. It’s not always possible, but important nonetheless, to benefit their well-being and for building and maintaining a relationship with them.