Q: I love lilies, especially Easter lilies. My two recently adopted cats are very inquisitive and explore every new item I bring home. I don’t want them to damage the Easter lilies that will decorate my home over the holiday. Please tell me cats aren’t attracted to plants. A: I’m more worried about the lilies…

Q: We read your column about the importance of not declawing cats—or, as you put it, amputating their toes. We’re convinced! Now our question is: What can we do to prevent our cats from scratching our furniture? A: Multiple toe amputation, euphemistically called declawing, causes long-term medical and behavioral problems in cats. Readers who missed…

Q: Codi, our 13-year-old cat, needs methimazole for his hyperthyroidism, but he won’t take it. I’ve tried crushing his quarter-tablet and mixing it with pilling treats and various wet foods mixed with a flavor enhancer, but nothing works. I’m at my wit’s end trying to get him to take his medicine. Any suggestions are welcome….

Q: My neighbor’s healthy, young dog died suddenly of liver failure. The vet thinks the cause was aflatoxins in a new bag of dog food, since the food was later recalled. How can I prevent something similar from happening to my dog? A: Aflatoxins are poisons produced by molds, particularly Aspergillus molds, that grow on…

Q: I recently got a Havanese puppy, Marcos, who was supposed to be hypoallergenic. However, every time I’m near him, I break out in hives, sneeze, and get itchy eyes. Would modifying his diet make him less allergenic? A: I’m sorry to hear you are allergic to your new pup. Unfortunately, no dog is hypoallergenic,…