Dear Steve: My cat sneaks spicy foods off my plate, usually stuff with hot peppers. She doesn’t seem to have any negative effects. Is this unhealthy? _ P.P., San Francisco

Dear P.P.: Some cats crave stuff that’s so hot it actually irritates the insides of their mouths. If your cat likes the hot stuff and you don’t mind sharing your meals, there’s no harm (as long as your cat shows no ill effects). However, do use common sense. Keep extraordinarily spicy stuff out of the cat’s reach, and be certain the peppery stuff is presented as only an occasional snack.

Beware: Excess garlic can create gastrointestinal problems, onions are toxic to all cats, and don’t sprinkle Louisiana hot sauces on cat food.

Dear Steve: My dog has been urinating blood. I’ve seen three vets and none has been able to help. Can you give me advice? _ M.B., Hollywood

Dear M.B.: Dr. Jeff Werber, the host of Petcetera on Animal Planet, sees three likely causes:

* Prostatitis, which a vet might determine with a rectal exam; X-rays can also be required.

* Bladder stones. Again X-ray is needed, but a vet shouldn’t be fooled by negative results. An ultrasound and/or double contrast study (injecting dye into the bladder) should also be considered.

* Chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder or bladder tumor. The double contrast study mentioned above can be used to determine this.

Dear Steve: My fiance and his 6-year-old male cat have moved in. I have a 4-year-old German shepherd. The cat walks around hissing, and the dog is goofy, just wanting to play. What’s your advice? _ J.S., Detroit

Dear J.S.: If the cat is walking around snarling, he’s certainly not pleased. Give the cat a part of the house, a room or two, as a refuge from “goofy.” Use a baby gate or other obstacle the shepherd can’t get around. Design places around your house with altitude, where the cat can get away from the dog or just lie back and observe. Whenever the two are together, supervise their meetings. It’s imperative that you teach the dog how to behave. Rule 1: No chasing the cat. Keep the dog on leash if he won’t heed commands.

My Pet World appears every Monday. Write to Steve Dale in care of Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL, 60611, or send e-mail to (petworld(AT)aol.com).