Joan Morris

1 week ago | mercurynews.com | Joan Morris

DEAR JOAN: One day my sister in Santa Clara was driving her car when she smelt something burning. She pulled over and popped the hood and saw that something had stashed some prickly pears in the engine. She always parks next to a cactus in her front yard. What kind of animal would stick this fruit in a car? — Tim Avila, Santa ClaraDEAR TIM: Prickly pears stashed in the engine compartment is the work of a rodent, most likely a rat.

2 weeks ago | mercurynews.com | Joan Morris

DEAR JOAN: I’ve been reading a lot about the avian flu and the danger to domestic cats. I have two cats, now 4 years old, that I harness trained when they were kittens. They love their 15-minute walks in the back yard. I walk each one separately since they have minds of their own as to where they want to sniff. I watch where they’re walking to check for bird poop, then when I bring them inside, I clean their feet with unscented baby wipes. Do you think that will keep them safe from the avian flu?

1 month ago | mercurynews.com | Joan Morris

DEAR JOAN: We have a robin that flies into our bedroom slider every morning and afternoon, starting at 5 a.m. It has happened in the spring for the last few years but stops the rest of the year. We suspect he sees his reflection and is trying to scare another bird away. We have tried scare tape on poles, rubber snakes on the step, ceramic frogs on the step and strings tied (with scare tape) from the eaves to a pole floating just above the ground. All to no avail.

1 month ago | mercurynews.com | Joan Morris

DEAR JOAN: I have a 9-year-old indoor male cat, named Jasper. We also have another indoor cat and a dog. Jasper yowls at night and in the early morning. He does not appear to be in pain and has dry food and water out all the time. He has access to a “catio” — not at night, but if it’s not too cold, we leave the window open, and he can have outdoor time in a protected cage. He’s not too interested in toys. He does like a lot of attention, which we try to give him.

1 month ago | mercurynews.com | Joan Morris

DEAR JOAN: A loved one has an active adult cat, and she allows him to jump up and walk all over the kitchen counters and dining table. She insists the cat is not “dirty” because he cleans himself thoroughly. I say that cat litter and traces of urine and feces from the litter box remain on the cat’s paws, which then get transferred to cooking and eating surfaces. As things are, I am most uncomfortable eating at her house now.