Is Fluffy fretting? New product claims to know

Japanese patch tests sweat secretion levels — sign of stress — on paws

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updated 3:06 p.m. ET April 29, 2007

TOKYO - There’s a lot of talk about stressed out humans, and now a company in Japan reportedly claims it has a product that can tell if Tabby or Fido are wound a little too tightly.

The Nikkei (nee-kay) Weekly reports the firm, Medical Life Care Giken, has developed a paw patch that it says detects excessive sweat secretion, which is believed to be a sign of stress.

The round, pin-sized patch is applied to the center pad of the animal’s paw and changes color depending on how sweaty the pet is.

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The newspaper says the company expects strong sales amid a pet boom in Japan.

Doting Japanese pet owners are known to go to great lengths for their pets’ well-being, taking cats and dogs to specialist masseurs and even acupuncturists.