A sleeping cat may be dreaming

* Do cats dream? Well, we know they remember things - think of the cat who avoids plastic bags after getting one stuck on his head while playing - so it makes sense that they may share our ability to dream, as well. Dreaming is a normal part of organizing or reorganizing memories - sort of a subconscious filing system. Like humans, cats have two kinds of sleep. The deeper kind - characterized by rapid eye movements - is known as REM sleep, and that's when dreams occur in humans. When cats twitch their limbs and whiskers during sleep, they are in the REM stage. We'll never know what they're dreaming about, but it's probably safe to say that it involves a never-ending supply of food; fat, slow mice; and humans who obey their every command. Oh, wait - the latter isn't a dream. They experience that every day!

* Two dogs in Flint, Mich., recently tested positive for lead toxicity, a reminder that pets are vulnerable to tainted tap water, reports Rebecca Kruth for Michigan Radio. Michigan's state veterinarian, James Averill, says dogs, cats and other pets in Flint and other areas with poor water quality should drink the same filtered or bottled water as their owners. If they are bathed in tap water, it's important to keep the shampooing session brief and dry them as quickly as possible. Signs of lead exposure in pets vary and may include vomiting, diarrhea and behavior changes.