THE WILBOURN WAY BLOG
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Dear Readers,
Grumpy Cat will star in Lifetime Holiday Movie and a new book.
Click here http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grumpy-cat-star-lifetime- holiday-710768 to read all about it
LUX
I’m very pleased to learn that Lux, the mistreated and misunderstood cat from Oregon, has a new home where he’s the only cat and a program to treat his medical and emotional issues so he’ll be a happy and healthy cat. It’s so important to treat “The Total Cat”.
Carole's Take on Oscar The Cat Who .....
LIBRARY CONNECTIONS
Hoboken Cat Therapy Program and Reiki Session
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| All eyes were on Cleo -- Reiki session |
Cleo, my co-speaker at the Hoboken Library, relaxed to catnip, music on my iPad, oohs and ahs from her very cat-friendly audience and a Reiki treatment as she assisted me in our Q&A. She went home a very happy, mellow cat. I’ll bet she gave her cat-mate an earful or two. Now her carrier will become an object of all good stuff.
"YOU ADORE YOUR CAT BUT ..... "
Cat Therapy Program. I have a feline Co-speaker. Do come along with all of your questions.
Connecticut June 26th 6p.m.
Torrington Public Library
12 Daycoeton Place, Torrington CT 06790
Call 860.489.6684 to register or email Jessica at jessh@torringto
New Jersey July 17th 7 to 8:15 p.m.
East Brunswick Public Library
Jean Walling Center
2 Civic Center Drive, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Click on http://www.ebpl.org/main/index.cfm See Calendar of Events on right, Select July 17
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT
A HAPPY TAIL IS A HAPPY TALE
Take a look at Orion’s tail. Epitome of Cool!
A new lone guy moved in to Bug the Pug’s former digs and invited Orion to check out the new landscape. He now
has a standing invite to visit -- a home away from home -- and a new admirer.
And he still has his play dates with Radio his play-pup who’s such a hottie!
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| Radio and Orion play date |
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| Cat Talk - New Digs & Another Happy Tail |
More about cat's body talk in my book Cat Talk http://www.harrietcarter.com/
CATCENTRIC BEHAVIOR
The Best Time Share
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| Annabelle |
Richard
shares his apartment with his two cats, Annabelle and Gibson. And they have figured out a bed - share. Richard starts off his
night with Annabelle and wakes up with Gibson. This gives
each cat private time with Richard and time for their recreational, private
feline pursuits. There’s
no bed-crowding here.
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| Gibson |
BABY IS OBSESSED WITH ME
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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| Little self-assured, up front & center -- Baby's role model |
Emma,
while working out of the country, had contacted me to do a FaceTime consult for
Baby. She mentioned how she felt so sad when Baby pulled away -- so
rejected. “I love her. What would you
recommend?”
MIRRORED
RELAXATION
I
told Emma that Baby was “at rest” when Emma was stretched out in bed because
Emma was “at rest”. Baby mirrored Emma’s relaxation. She didn’t feel threatened
or vulnerable.
RESIDUAL ANGST
“Baby’s
fear of intimacy is a symptom of her residual angst,” I said.
“But
I never did anything to hurt her,” said Emma.
“No,
of course not, but Baby’s muscle memory relives old stuff when she feels
approached. She feels cornered.”
I reassured Emma that she shouldn’t take
Baby’s behavior personally. “She
has a lot of emotional baggage -- kitten deprivation, abandonment syndrome --
and when she feels uneasy, she has a flash back to those feelings. Let’s call it a fear of intimacy” I
said.
“Ah,
I see, so I should take advantage of Baby’s trust when she can accept my close contact -- on my bed.
Will it ever change?”
LOVE AT A DISTANCE
I
explained that it would change with her confidence, patience and repetition.
Emma could love Baby with words, rather than touch to slowly chip away at her
residual angst.
Treatment
Plan
Distract - Redirect her focus
when she chirps. When Baby starts to chirp, talk to her softly. Reassure her.
Tell her she’s okay, Little is okay -- you’re all okay. Continue to defuse her
angst with something she likes -- a toy, a romp with Little. Maybe she likes to
be brushed. You know what she likes. Be creative but not dictatory.
Recognition of tell-tale signs - Soon
you will be able to nip Baby’s angst in the bud. A flick of her tail, ripple of
her back, flattened ears, will be some tell tale signs that it's time to distract Baby.
Relax - Stretch out on the rug or couch.
If Little jumps up to join you, invite Baby. The inflection of your voice and
body language will welcome her. Not to worry if she doesn’t join you. Remember,
don’t be dictatory. You want to lighten, not contract the cat-mosphere. Little can be Baby’s role model. Whenever she does jump up, don’t
touch her. After she’s done this several times, you can touch her -- but
briefly -- one stroke should do it.
Food
- Stroke
her briefly while she eats so she doesn’t become over-stimulated. This creates a good feeling and positive
association.
Emma
time - Give
them each one to one time with you so
they
feel especially acknowledged.
Calm
your senses - Nurture
yourself with favorite music, flowers, potpourri, exercise, Yoga. Maybe a Tweet, Instagram? Take a walk, jog,
bicycle. You
know what makes you feel good. Spread the harmony.
Prognosis
I
told Emma that what soothes her, Baby and Little will mirror. When she is stressed, she should reassure herself. It usually takes 2l days
for a person to integrate a new habit. Baby will go at her own speed. Emma had
engaged me to do this consult while she was on the road. We would follow it up
with a video consult or home visit so her cats and cat sitter would be
“totally” in sync with their program.
As
Paul McCartney of the Beatles once said, “Let It Be.”
A CAT CAN'T LIVE BY FOOD ALONE
As
I finished up my lesson at the Apple Store, my trainer told me how he was
so close to adopting a cat. The cat would be a rescue, for sure. He preferred
an older cat who wanted to be the only cat. Now and again he traveled for a
couple of days, “But
if I leave him plenty of food, enough water and a clean litter box, the cat
should be okay,” he said.
Anything
Could Happen
“No
way. Sure everything may be okay. But you can’t be sure. Why set up a crap
shoot or Catch 22?” I told him he could arrange for a friend or neighbor to cat
sit. He might even know someone who is cat-less who would love to hang out with
his cat. If not, he could engage a professional cat sitter.
Dusty’s
Template is Relaxation
I
was reminded of a guardian who had me do a session to relax her
cat Dusty and coordinate with the appropriate cat sitter. She had to be
hospitalized for a few days and wanted to feel Dusty would be in good spirits,
so she would have peace of mind.
As
Dusty stretched out I reached for my
iPad. I told his guardian the image was Dusty’s going away gift so she could “mirror” his happiness. She smiled and thanked
me.
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| Dusty -- A stretched out paw is cat 'speak' for a happy cat |
A Free Consultation With The Cat Therapist
