THE WILBOURN WAY BLOG
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Dear Readers,
A touch of Reiki to restore and enhance balance to our mind, body and emotional well-being. Let there be peace!
Oxford was Anna’s college
graduation present. She was a three month old kitten. That was eleven years
ago. During that time
Anna had various roommates, was married for a short period, and lived first in
Texas and now in New York City. Oxford has been her tie that binds.
Although she’s the only cat, Oxford has
continuous live entertainment. She has her own pigeon community whenever she
chooses to hang out at the nearest window. Last spring the pigeons built their
nest on a nearby window ledge. Oxford became glued to the window when the eggs
turned into baby pigeons. With spring on the wing, there’s sure to be a repeat.
One
of Anna’s questions was about Oxford’s relationship with Anna’s late grandmother.
She told me how Oxford shadowed her grandmother whenever they stayed at Anna’s
parents. Wherever grandma was, Oxford could be found. She especially loved it
when grandma knitted. But several months ago, when grandma became sick, Oxford
slowly became the fair weather kitty. She totally avoided grandma. A few months
later grandma passed on.
I explained to Anna that Oxford was
threatened by grandma’s change and decline in body, mind and spirit. She wasn’t
able to accept or integrate a “different” grandma so she resorted to flight.
Not every cat has the Florence Nightin-Cat instinct. Oxford did what she had to
do to protect herself -- a genuine survivor -- who instinctively ruled out
becoming an emotional sponge. (http://www.thecattherapist.com NBC -- Oscar the cat).
Anna nodded in agreement, and Oxford --
birder extraordinaire -- jumped up on the window ledge as a pigeon flew by.
CAN
OUR 22 YEAR OLD CAT TOLERATE THIS KITTEN?
AND CAN WE?
AND CAN WE?
“What a looker your Rex is and so regal,”
I said, as I watched this
22 year old, lick away at the catnip I’d sprinkled on some tissue paper. Ron
and Ross, his guardians, had engaged me to make a home visit to evaluate and
advise them on their current conundrum -- a young female kitten -- who now sat
at a distance with her eyes glued on Rex.
She showed up on their door step one
morning. They had no intention of keeping her but had her checked out by their
vet. No health problems. Although she was quite petite, he thought she could be
several months old. He didn’t think she’d been spayed because he didn’t find
any trace of a scar from an incision and recommended she be scheduled for
surgery in the near future.
Ron and Ross named her Sabrina and very
slowly introduced her to their Rex. In the meantime they put the word out that
she was for adoption. That was over two
weeks ago. They were very clearly of two minds. Yes, they were smitten by her,
but their Rex came first. Would his physical and emotional health be threatened
by her presence? She was, indeed, major culture shock, to the three of them. Rex’s long time
companion and buddy, Wrinkles, had passed on a year ago. It was Wrinkles who
took care of Rex. How would Rex
integrate this vivacious young kitten into his lay back and sedate life? And,
they were skeptical about their relationship with her. Rex’s kitten days were
but a memory. Would they be able to accept her kitten ways? Would she be better
off with another family?
As the guys conveyed their thoughts and
feelings, Sabrina dashed about. Rex eyed her as he curled up in his basket. At one
point when she pranced over to him, he let out a small hiss. Off
she darted. He yawned and gave a stretch. On another occasion, when she was
under the dining room table, he gingerly walked
over and positioned himself under his chosen chair. Regal Rex!
“So Carole, what’s your insight? Is it a
good match? Should we accept Sabrina into our family? What about our Rex?”
As
Sabrina bolted down the stairs from the second floor and Rex sat next to the guys on the couch, I gave them my impression and
recommendations. I told them that Rex had given his seal of approval. Why not?
Sabrina provided him with continuous entertainment, and she appeared to play by
his rules. She seemed to sense that her “whereabouts”
depended on his approval. Sabrina was endowed with street smarts. But when Rex
couldn’t satisfy her need for play or contact they could pinch hit for him in
this way:
THE
WILBOURN WAY: INTERACTING
WITH A NEW KITTEN
-
Acknowledge Rex verbally whenever they talk, touch, or play with
Sabrina. Mention his name so he feels included -- in the loop. You could say,
“Okay Rex, play with Sabrina. We got your message. You have other things to do,
or we’ll feed her so she doesn’t eat your food.
-
Visitors should also focus on Rex.
-
It’s important that you acknowledge Rex orally even if he can’t
see or hear you. His “cat sense” kicks in -- so don’t try to outwit him.
-
If Rex chooses not to
sleep with you, Sabrina shouldn’t either. Bedroom privileges are a high
priority.
Rex had been declawed. They wanted
Sabrina to keep her claws but without harm to Rex and damage to their
furnishings. I told them to clip Sabrina’s claws. Rex would give her a good nip
if she got out of line. They noticed she’d scratched the carpet once. I
recommended the Felix Katnip Tree, ww.manta.com/c/mr0q79s/felix-katnip-tree-co to praise her whenever
she used it and a very sharp “no” when she scratched their furnishings. “You have a large house so
you’ll probably want to have more than one post.”
I autographed a copy of one of my books to Rex and his family which would fill them in on more of THE WILBOURN WAY.
"So you really think we should keep Sabrina?"
I told them they should take it one day at a time. She certainly entertained Rex, and maybe he wanted them to join in the fun. Perhaps it was time for a new chapter. "Maybe you could adopt another kitten so Rex could have another consort," I chuckled. "But if a friend does adopt Sabrina, it's thanks to you for being the perfect rehab."
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT I autographed a copy of one of my books to Rex and his family which would fill them in on more of THE WILBOURN WAY.
"So you really think we should keep Sabrina?"
I told them they should take it one day at a time. She certainly entertained Rex, and maybe he wanted them to join in the fun. Perhaps it was time for a new chapter. "Maybe you could adopt another kitten so Rex could have another consort," I chuckled. "But if a friend does adopt Sabrina, it's thanks to you for being the perfect rehab."
MARATHON
MONDAY
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
WIPE OUT NOISE POLLUTION
You may have a cat or dog that freaks or bolts at the sound of a horn or any sudden loud noise. Perhaps you do too. Noise pollution is on the rise. Stophonkaholism.com http://beauhanson.com/6511/1158607/work/76-honkaholism) is a campaign that helps obsessive horn blowers to curb their honks. Orion would like Bo to be the poster dog for a nationwide campaign. Go Bo!
