The Iams Pet Professionals, a team of 30 trained customer service representatives at The Iams Company, handle more than 300,000 inquiries a year from pet owners across the country.

Although the majority of calls to the toll-free number are straightforward pet care and nutrition questions, some can be quite unconventional. Here are some of the team's favorite calls:

• "My cat just came in from the garage and I was wondering... how many calories are in a mouse?"
• "I have a neutered male cat. How old should he be before I can breed him?"
• "Does your dog food help with emancipation?"
• "What should I feed a borderline collie?"
• "What size litter box do I need to keep my cat comfy?"
• "Is it normal for a dog to shed?"
• "How can I keep my cat from stealing my husband's toothbrush?"
• "My cat passed a stool on the indoor rug and it's stuck in the vacuum cleaner. Any suggestions?"
• "How can I get the secret recipe for your Iams Chunks dog food?"
• "How do I stop my cat from giving food to the dog?"
• "Your food turned my dog into a stud. Now what do I do?"
• "Do you know how to toilet train a cat?"
• "I have three cats. Is it true that Eukanuba Cat Food makes the poop smell better?"
• "Will chewing pop cans remove enamel from my puppy's teeth?"
• "Where can I get a six-toed cat?"
• "I really like your paw print logo. Does Iams have a tattoo?"

The Iams Company Manager of Customer Service says, "Although these questions make us smile, they're legitimate calls from concerned pet owners."