Regular readers of my column may recall when I wrote eight years ago about Floyd, my problem cat who was peeing outside of his litter box. This cheapskate could hardly believe it as I spent $200 to have an animal behaviorist come to my house. She spent three hours interviewing me, on tape, and then taking a tour of my home.

"Floyd feels he's under attack by neighborhood cats," she said. Cats roaming the 'hood were apparently spraying and even pooping near the egress windows along the perimeter of my house. Floyd, an indoor cat, could watch his attackers and no doubt smell them. It drove him crazy and I was oblivious to it.

The pet shrink's remedy was to place some crystals along the perimeter that deters cats, put a film on the window so Floyd couldn't see his enemies and place Feliway diffusers (like Glade plug-ins) to calm him down without drugs. It worked. Floyd returned to his litter box.

Recently, Floyd's sister, Thelma Lou, developed a similar problem. After 14 years of perfect behavior, she started pooping a few inches outside of her litter box. Time to call back the behaviorist. Had a two hour session in my new home. The verdict? "Too much change." A new home, different food, new visitors. The solution was a trio of Bach's flower essences: Agrimony, Aspen and Chestnut Bud. I picked up several bottles at the Wedge co-op and put the prescribed number of drops in Thelma's food.

What seems like voodoo has worked like a charm once again. After two days of lapping up the essences, Thelma started using her litter box again.

I can't promise that your pet will react as well to therapy as mine apparently do, but if your dog or cat needs help with inappropriate peeing and pooping, excessive barking, compulsive behavior and agression, consider hiring a pet shrink before surrendering as a last resort. Below is a list of resources.

Best Friends Behavior (612-624-0797). The fee is $150 for the first hour and $125 for additonal hours for an at-home visit.

University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (612-869-6451). Fees: $413 for a 2-3 hour office visit for dogs or $519 plus travel for a dog home visit. A 90-150 minute office visit for cats is $207 or $292 plus travel for a home visit. The fees include two months of free phone or e-mail consults.

Animal Humane Society (763-489-2202). A free behavior hotline is staffed by trained volunteers. Leave a message for a callback within a day or two. Also ask about low-cost classes on cat or dog aggression, cat socialization and house training and destructiveness for dogs.

As a good friend said to me, pets are not disposable when they inconvenience us. Take responsibility within reason or don't get a pet in the first place.