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Show Community Prehistoric snail discovered at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Sure, it may have happened at a snails pace. But a rare, tiny creature that originated more than two million years ago has finally come out k of its shell in the splendid country of SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS 6 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 1998 (JUcrc yOUR Best Frleasds red-roc- southern Utah. The endangered Kanab Amber Snail - a of an inch in size - is big mere news at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, where the species was discovered last week by a team of biologists. Best Friends, already home to 1,800 rescued animals, welcomes the newly found creatures who have taken up residence on sanctuary wetlands bordering 4 three-quarte- rs Cats and litter boxes 4 t; ing situation, since there may be By Faith Maloney If your cat has developed a a blockage, and it needs immediproblem using his or her litter ate medical attention. Your vet box, this column is for you. Kanab Creek. This is fascinating news, and we will support whatever measures are necessary to protect these tiny travelers from the Pleistocene Epoch, said Faith Maloney; Best Friends V N. director. Dr. Vicky Meretsky of Indiana University, who led the team of biologists, echoed Maloneys enthusiasm. We are excited by this discovery, she said. Once full genetic testing has been completed, we will know if this is the same as the very few populations already known to exist; or whether it has mutated into a different species, equally rare and endangered. Since it only moves at about one centimeter per hour, there is no chance of interbreeding with other known populations. We are obviously delighted with the fact that it is on Best Friends land, where its safety and survival are not in doubt. Dr. Vicky Meretsky from Indiana University holds some The rare snail has a conical amber colored Kanab Amber Snails recently found at Best Friends Animal shell, unlike a regular garden snail, and is Sanctuary. dormant in winter. Added Maloney, It is hard to imagine a more fitting place for an endangered species. It is a little bit like a time capsule coming down to us from the distant past. There are generally three reasons why cats stop using the litter box: the litter box is dirty, theres a medical problem, or your cat is upset about something. Keeping the litter box clean is very important. Some cats do not like to use soiled litter, so theyll start going somewhere else. Clean out the pan at least once a day. If one of your cats suddenly starts to relieve himself outside of the litter box for no apparent reason, get him to the veterinarian right away for a checkup. Your vet will give the cat a good physical exam, including a blood test. If something shows up, your vet will be able to prescribe treatment, and the litter box problem should stop. Its even more urgent to get to the vet if you see your cat visiting the litter box often and straining to urinate. This is a life threaten- - your new will also be able to prescribe a special food to help prevent the problem from If your cat is going around spraying the walls or the furniture, this is a different problem, tied into establishing territory and sending signals to other cats. It is best prevented by early neutering. Once a cat is already in the habit of spraying, it can be difficult to stop. Its also one of the most common reasons people give up a cat. However, many people have had success using the en- -' zyme cleaners that destroy the odor left by a spraying cat, which helps stop repeated spraying. Another reason for a cat to stop using the litter box is as a protest against something that has changed in your household that was important to this cat like the arrival of a new cat. Maybe youve just had one cat at home, and you bring in another one. Maybe you already have five and you bring in a sixth. Theres no fixed rule as to how many is too many, but for one or more of the existinggroup, its just gone too far! The problem is that the new cat has unwittingly invaded the other cats -- territory and has disrupted the FREE Rotation social harmony. Urea So. Utah Tire Center Auto & Light Truck Huge Selection! Great Prices! i j 4 NEW computerized 4 wheel alignment i - system Free Pick-u- p and Delivery Road Hazard Protection Brake Lathe for Resurfacing ' - Drums & Rotors Trained Brake Specialists FREE Brake Inspection 5' New cats should always be introduced very gradually. If possible, keep the new cat in his or her own room with the door closed for a week or more. There will be a lot of sniffing and some possible playing under the door. This informs the group of the new arrival, but doesnt threaten the main areas of the house' that have already been staked out by the others. . If you dont have a separate room, then borrow a large dog carrier and create a room out of it, with a litter box at the back and food and water space up front. Most large travel carriers have a top and bottom that are held together by bolts. You can create a v. shelf area by putting a wooden panel towards the back of the 644-255- 7 carrier between the top and bottom sections of the carrier. Featuring Your other cats will be very , ei curious about .n the newcomer and will hopefully be happy to achim when you decide its Ceodrt terms made available by Crodit National Amocm&or. No payment tor 90 days on qualifying purchase. No interest Am on qualifying HU I S cept SI time to open the carrier door purchases paid n tul within 90 days Fixed rate (21 64 APR), variable rate (19 55 APR as of January 1. 1996). APR may vary. nd let the new guy out. uoY noxisq m sicJ3 arti o l muian leum ot vers dir iejg orh crimor enoKd !k S3 m sot m sw rs rv y rt a1) 9v'yf.i 'U u. omEisi? Vi, , 265 East 300 South Kanab I3gl3 2 Uggoofr. mwumam It jf sbwa t : , |