DR. WALLACE: I have a cat, and I love her very much. I feel that she is a member of the family. Whenever I come home from school, Jingles jumps up on my lap and licks my cheek. I know that she is glad to see me and is giving me a kiss.

My grandfather lives with us, and he hates cats. Whenever I talk to Jingles, he gets mad at me and yells, "That stupid cat doesn't understand what you are saying, so keep quiet!" My dad agrees with my grandfather. He also hates cats. It's a good thing that Mom is on my side. Several times, Dad has tried to get rid of Jingles, but Mom always comes to our rescue.

Do you think that Jingles is kissing me when she licks my face, and do you think it's a waste of time to talk to her? — Kim, Mobile, Ala.

KIM: Of course, Jingles is glad to see you, and she shows it by jumping up on your lap and giving you a kiss on your cheek. Grandfather is misinformed when he says for you to stop talking to Jingles because she doesn't understand what you are saying. Actually, she does. It's not words, but the gentle tone of your voice, the pleasant look on your face and your friendly hand on her fur. Not only does she enjoy hearing you and being with you, but you also receive pleasure and enjoyment when talking to your wonderful pet.

Make sure your grandfather and your father read this column. They both are not required to love cats, but hating this wonderful furry family member is not acceptable!

YOU NEED A STRESS BREAK

DR. WALLACE: Whenever I'm faced with a difficult challenge, I really get upset if I can't solve it. When I fail, I pound my fist on anything around me, scream and say bad things. What can I do to stay calm when I can't solve all my problems? — Nameless, Sidney, Ohio.

NAMELESS: When something doesn't go your way, let it go for a while. Take what Dr. Alan Monat calls a stress break. You need to defuse the emotional buildup, which causes you to scream, curse and pound your fist.

Instead of doing getting upset, divert your attention away from the frustration. When you come back to it later, says Dr. Monat, a professor of psychology at California State University, Hayward, you'll be refreshed and have a much better perspective on how to solve it.

What should you do while you're on your stress break? Call a friend, take a shower, walk around the block, treat yourself to a favorite snack, exercise or read a column written for teens!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.