CAT INVERSION

Whoa! Before this goes any further. A Carolyn Hamilton wrote to defend the tail-hanging talents of Nicholas Cage, assuring us that no harm could come to a cat treated in such a manner, and noting that letters to the contrary would probably be from non-cat owners (Calendar Letters, Nov. 2).

As a current Abyssinian cat breeder and former veterinary assistant, I’d like to encourage Calendar readers to please not try inverting your cat. Contrary to Hamilton’s experiences with her own cat, it’s not uncommon in veterinary practice to be faced with surgery or even euthanasia on a cat whose vertebrae in its tail have been separated from those in its back. Hanging or swinging the cat by its tail (frequently by a child) is usually found to be the cause.

Los Angeles: Don’t invert your cats!

MONTE COOLEY

Los Angeles