THE WILBOURN WAY BLOG
(AKA Cats on the Couch) For a better view Click http://cattherapist.blogspot.com/
Dear Readers,
Goodbye To Cat Fancy
After 49 years of publication, Cat Fancy, America’s
longest running cat magazine is being scrapped. I was a columnist for sixteen years, (Cats
On The Couch) and I truly loved the interaction and fun I had with my
readers -- many
of whose current cats I still treat. Catster, now online will debut in
February.
Read more….
THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
I remember when I took my late cat Sunny-Blue to a nursing home where one of the aides was cat-phobic. But one day she did a turnabout, as she watched Sunny cuddled up on my lap as we all watched the movie. Disney outdid itself with this one.
Inside Llewyn Davis is another movie you can catch online if you're feeling home-bound. The Coen brothers powerfully portrayed how this marmalade cat, as with any cat, can define and shape a person's life.
Whatever you decide to do for the holiday, have fun and be oh so good to yourself. Your cat(s) will love you for it.
You’ll want to make a
reservation to have some refreshments and hang out with these splendid adoptable cats. http://www.meowparlour.com
A Sisal Rugs Direct scratching post is on the way so the
cats can greet the holidays in a style that’s
fit and fun. See Natural Cat Products at Sisal Rugs Direct.
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| Feline Nanny |
Read
Rona Cherry’s article on animal companions whose love and loyalty made
a critical difference in the lives of their guardians.
One of my former patients, The
Feline Nanny, is included.
Carole's Take on Oscar The Cat Who .....
NINJA THE RECOVERING BITER
(Aggressive Cat Syndrome)
“You want me to refer to Ninja as a recovering biter,” said
Merrie. “Yes,” I nodded as Merrie wiped and
dried off Ninja’s paws after his
cat walk on their snowy porch. True to his Montreal roots, Ninja preferred
brisk, snowy jaunts -- even
if they were fleeting. Merrie would attach him to his harness, close the door
behind him, and he would tap on the window when he wanted in.
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| Ninja paws wiped |
Stop Before He Stops You -- Prevention Therapy
“He’s a nipper, and his teeth are stiletto sharp,” said Merrie as she reached out and hugged and
hugged Ninja. As his back slightly rippled, I distracted him with a throw of a
toy, and he took off after it. I explained to Merrie “Stop before he stops
you.” “But he’s so huggable.”
“That he is,” I said, “but he’s tightly wound and becomes over stimulated in a heart beat. A little goes a long way with Ninja.”
“That he is,” I said, “but he’s tightly wound and becomes over stimulated in a heart beat. A little goes a long way with Ninja.”
What We Expect Is What We Get
I told Merrie that the more she refers to him as a biter,
the more he’ll live up to her expectations. Many times what we expect
is what we get. Ninja gets what
she says by the inflection in her voice and from her body language. Call it kitty
radar, cat sense or more simply a reaction to your action. When you say
something good or positive, your body expands. Whereas something unpleasant or
negative, and your body tightens and contracts. If Ninja does go over the edge,
she should let out a sharp “NO” and follow up with a loud bang of a heavy object.
Perhaps a few sincere tears would deter him.
Merrie felt she could
adhere to my prevention therapy tips. “After all, he's had a rough life and probably has all kinds of trauma to recover from,” said Merrie. Ninja had originally been adopted from a Montreal pound where he was
labeled “Aggressive Biter”.
He’d been adopted by a friend who had to part with him when
her living situation was disrupted.
Although Merrie was allergic to cats, she was smitten with him and knew he could be a fun domestic partner. I told Merrie that a feline companion would be a natural way for him to work out his high and sometimes jangled energy, but she didn't want to totally overwhelm her allergies. I couldn't object.
Although Merrie was allergic to cats, she was smitten with him and knew he could be a fun domestic partner. I told Merrie that a feline companion would be a natural way for him to work out his high and sometimes jangled energy, but she didn't want to totally overwhelm her allergies. I couldn't object.
As Merrie worked out Ninja’s
energy with a new toy I had brought along for his fitness program, I filled her
in on the rest of his treatment program.
- Think of Ninja as a Zen cat to create a new and mellow Ninja persona. Acknowledge him with praise.
- His musical CD should play continuously as a reinforcement of his session. Think of it as his template or favorite song -- a reminder of his relaxation session.
- Add canned food to his diet — it’s less fattening than dry food and more kidney-friendly.
- Arrange play dates with a friend’s cat friendly dog.
- Purchase a Sisal Rugs Direct scratching post to enhance his fitness and preserve your furnishings.
- To avoid a delayed, anxious reaction, announce transitions -- I’m standing up, answering the phone, sitting down.
I reminded Merrie to wind his activity down slowly when she plays with him so he wasn't frustrated by
a sudden halt. As she made a few notes,
I did a distant Reiki treatment,
gave him a farewell kiss and was off to the airport.
(http://www.thecattherapist.com/moreaboutreiki.asp)
On my return flight to New
York, I thought back to when Merrie and I first met. It was when I stayed at
the Ritz Carlton to see appointments and she wrote about me in the “Montreal
Gazette”. Merrie later
engaged me to do a session for her then cat Kiki. That was over 20 years ago.
(http://www.thecattherapist.com/moreaboutreiki.asp)
I think you’ll agree that cats
are indeed the tie that binds.
ORION'S CATITUDES
(Orion, a recovering feral rescue, gives his cat-speak on cat issues)
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Protect Your Cat From The Trimmings And The Trimmings From Your Cat
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| Admirer |
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| Indulger - Let me at 'em |
Your cat may choose to admire the Christmas tree and trimmings. That’s a mutual plus. But if “let me at ‘em” is the intent, don’t be unwittingly provocative. Protect your cat from the trimmings, and the trimmings from your cat -- especially tinsel, feathers and pine needles. You may not have to hang your tree from the ceiling, but you could sprinkle some tabasco sauce on “seductive” areas, a pot of kitty grass for some chewy nibbles and some new favorite toys. Alternative pleasures -- maybe some tissue paper -- can be your cat’s fun attractions.
A CURE FOR CISCO'S PSYCHOGENIC DERMATITIS
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| Pancho |
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| Cisco Pre-Pancho |
My diagnosis was that Cisco’s ocd was triggered by anxiety. His two older female companions snubbed him. He yearned for a playmate, a companion who would hang out with him, who would play with him. If his anxiety could be abated, his ocd would too.
Cisco's Treatment Program
As part of Cisco’s
treatment program, I recommended that a vitamin E and an omega 3 fatty acid
supplement be added to his diet to combat and treat the inflammation and
itchiness triggered by his over grooming. There should be lots of play time,
and he should continue to wear his E collar for a couple of weeks before the
introduction of his new playmate. In the meantime I would contact my rescue
network to locate the very best match for Cisco.
Enter Pancho
Cisco needed a kitten that was very cat-oriented, who preferred cats to people and lived to play.
This type of catsonality is usually
typical of a feral kitten — a kitten whose mother was wary
of people and usually resorted to flight when frightened or threatened. Liz and
Rick, Cisco’s guardians, were at first reluctant to adopt such a
kitten, but I explained that this would be the silver bullet for Cisco and the
entire family.
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| After Pancho |
Time moved on. Cisco was later stricken with incurable
liver cancer. The matriarchal female of 20 also entered the pearly gates, and
that left Pancho and the second older female.
Although she didn’t care to hang out
with him, she was company at a distance. On occasion she would deign to permit
him to give her a sniff or two. But when incurable cancer took her life, Pancho
was the lone kitty.
Initially, he seemed okay. But when he cried to be stroked
and cuddled at three in the morning and couldn’t
get enough love and attention during the day, his welfare and Liz and Rick’s
peace of mind had to be restored. They were not quite ready for a new addition,
but it was clear that Pancho was a hurting.
Enter Ellie
So Ellie, a young, rescued kitty from Queens, moved in with
Pancho of Manhattan. Now he has a live-in fan and continuous entertainment when
he prefers to be a voyeur. Ellie is Pancho’s
permanent distraction. He’s her Mr. Dandy.
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| Pancho and Ellie |
Trust Gap Slowly Fades
His guardians say Pancho, their once very feral
cat, now claims a very prominent spot in their bed, is a total lap cat, and that they feel so honored that they gained his trust. He’s
still over-reactive to sudden sounds and changes in their environment, but he’s
their Pancho, and they love him. And so does Ellie.
BLISSED OUT CATS
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| Sophie looks after Denzel |
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| Mary & Lester -- tails entwined for a kitty snooze |
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| Blissed out Paint knows how to hang |
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| L.C. takes time out while Sweet Pea indulges |
MAYOR'S ALLIANCE FOR NYC ANIMALS
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Adoptapalooza at Washington Square Park
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And you too can make yourself, as well as many a cat and dog happy.
Become a volunteer with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals
http://animalalliancenyc.org/help/volunteer/index.htm
Become a volunteer with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals
http://animalalliancenyc.org/help/volunteer/index.htm
A Free Consultation With The Cat Therapist
