THE WILBOURN WAY BLOG
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(AKA Cats on the Couch) For a better view Click http://cattherapist.blogspot.com/
Dear Readers,
Matilda’s Annual Celebration to benefit the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s animals was all that it aspired to be and more.
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| Reiki for Zeus the Fire Chief |
Cat Catchy Notable News
Take a look at the “New Trend In Turkey To Help Stray Cats”
What do you make of Donald Trump’s alleged cat?
A government office in the southwest shares cat adoptees with their employees for eventual adoption.
<ADOPTEES >
You’ll want to see the exhibit by the Museum Of The Moving Image -- How Cats Took Over The Internet
http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/events/featured/adoptapalooza/index2015US2.htm
Carole's Been Anthologized .....
In The Big New Yorker Book of Cats. See Lulu, The Cat The New Yorker Left Behind by Lois Metzer, Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lois-metzger/lulu-the-cat-the-new-york_b_3983154.html
Ruined Couches; Litter Box Issues
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| Com Com |
“I don’t want to part with Com Com,” said Nancy, “but we can’t go on like this.” Com Com slithered his long, handsome body into the living room as Nancy spoke.”
Nancy had adopted Com Com from a woman who was about to send him to a shelter. He had been declawed at four months, and when he was unable to coexist with her two new cats and dog, he went to live with a friend who returned him when he started to avoid the litter box.That was two years ago, when he moved in with Nancy.
He was now five, and Nancy had already replaced her couches a few time. His “incidents” were not limited to the couches and usually occurred during the night. Com Com didn’t sleep with Nancy as she was a restless sleeper but had the rest of the apartment to cozily spend the night.
I explained to Nancy that Com Com’s litter box issues were triggered by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was traumatized by the loss of his original home, his tolerance of stress was overstretched and the removal of his claws made him emotionally more vulnerable. Com Com’s incidents of indiscriminate urination and defecation were symptomatic of his angst. His bladder and rectum were his stress targets. When he relived the “old” occurrences, he had an anxiety attack and avoided the litter box to communicate his discomfort.
As I spoke, Com Com climbed on to Nancy’s lap and stretched out as the mp4 of relaxation music played in the background. “ So what can I do to make him feel better and dispense with these symptoms?” said Nancy.
These are some of the major recommendations I offered to relieve Com Com’s PTSD:
Com Com’s behavioral program
- Continue to play Com Com’s music which will remind him of his session and reinforce his relaxation and self-confidence.
- As most of his incidents occur during the night, sequester him in the bathroom with his litter box and creature comforts. Do this in a fun, seductive way. He may prefer his box in the bathtub, and put a few wee wee pads on the floor as most of his incidents were on a soft surface -- which reminded him of the comfort-contact he had with his mother.
- Make an appointment with the vet to rule out any medical problems such as irritable bowel syndrome which can also trigger bladder discomfort. A diet change may be recommended.
- Increase his confidence with your acknowledgments of him: “ Com Com, you’re so mellow, so courageous, so handsome and relaxed.” Whatever makes you feel good will work for him. He’s so sensitive to your voice and body language. Accentuate the positive.
As I said my Good Byes I sprinkled some more catnip on one of Com Com's toys and asked Nancy to follow up with a progress report.
Nine days later Nancy emailed me:
I want to thank you for guiding me to understand Com Com’s character. He is such a sensitive, intelligent cat. I’ve become more sensitive to his needs. Since you were here he has consistently used his litter box, which is now in the bathtub. He only had to be sequestered for a couple of nights. I leave him food in his bowl before I go to work. He eats some of it but waits for me to return from work before he eats the rest. As he eats, he looks at me and wants me to stroke him. If I move away, he stops eating. I now realize that as long as we appreciate Com Com and are sensitive to his needs, he will feel better, slowly recover from his PTSD and won’t have the need to display such un-catlike behavior.
I messaged Nancy that I was so very happy that Com Com was happy, and may he continue to recover.
ORION'S CATITUDES
(Orion, a recovering feral rescue, gives his cat-speak on cat issues)
Grooming is a constant in your cat’s life. Orion’s cat speak on this issue is: “After my daily brushing, I want to be dust-busted.”
And there are those cats that opt for mutual grooming. Although, sometimes one cat is the master groomer.
Shanti, one of my former patients is the groomer extraordinaire. There’s mutual pleasure as she grooms, Kitty, one of her younger cat-mates. And there’s vicarious pleasure from their guardians who smile on automatic pilot.
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| Kitty & Shanti in grooming bliss |
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| Iggy with his toy |
Orion has long been an advocate and activist for equal opportunity for animals, and likewise for people. Affordable housing is high on his list of priorities.
So he is especially a fan of the mini-series, SHOW Me A Hero, on HBO, this Sun at 8 p.m., EST.
My sister, Gail Mutrux, is the executive producer. Bruce Springsteen’s music is always a total treat.
Carole's Take on Oscar The Cat Who .....
Reiki Sparks Trust
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Happy at his guardian’s Reiki treatment
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As I did the Reiki placements for his guardian, notice where Happy placed his paws. Such a statement of trust and intimacy which will enhance and reinforce Happy’s trust in himself, his guardian and will be transferred to others.
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A CAT DEVOTED TO HIS POST
Biggie's passion for his Sisal Rug Direct post delights his guardian whose furnishings are now catproofed.
Scroll down to Natural Cat Products at Sisal Rug Direct. Check out their special discounts.
Attack Cat Behavior
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| George |
“Do you mean that George attacked and bit my leg because Henry didn't want to get into his cat carrier?” said Kate.
I nodded and explained that George's aggressive outburst was a reaction to Henry's angst, combined with a mixture of brotherly protection. “He redirected his aggression to you because you were the source of Henry's discomfort. ”
“But George again attacked Kate that evening near her eye when Henry returned from the vet, and later went after Henry. We separated them for awhile, and finally George was okay,” said Ted. “What do you make of it?”
“George had an anxiety attack.” I went on to say that his subsequent attack on Kate was triggered by post vet hospital angst. Henry smelled like a different cat, and George sensed that Henry was somewhat anxious. So we had the ripple or domino effect. He targeted Kate. Henry was next. George’s attack on Henry was a symptom of feline rivalry which is frequently exhibited under angst.
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| Henry |
The two cats centered their attention on the toys I provided as we talked. A week had passed since George’s “attack cat” behavior, and Dr Napolitano of Westside Veterinary Center, had checked him out and done a blood test to rule out any medical problems. She referred Kate and Ted to me to start George on a behavioral program. If needed, an anti-anxiety drug would be added to reinforce George’s behavioral program.
I coached Kate and Ted on how to avoid post vet angst in the future.
(For Post Vet Angst Treatment Plan scroll to Pusein's story http://www.thecattherapist.com/blog.asp?b_blog=P4OvctQfpYmITFYGLx7kuYNx2BYgWfq61q24TJT/YLMFPDp4K74UfLlc1Y+DsirNMSLy0+Aoh1qB3Qhvnr/hngkDZOrPgGdEwFbFQUZjHRQpftH2j+POOfYczjqdaX9gIg9uMvCJDFhpMjDgtImmFHksD/dzTuHURrkX/F0ZVhY=)
(For Post Vet Angst Treatment Plan scroll to Pusein's story http://www.thecattherapist.com/blog.asp?b_blog=P4OvctQfpYmITFYGLx7kuYNx2BYgWfq61q24TJT/YLMFPDp4K74UfLlc1Y+DsirNMSLy0+Aoh1qB3Qhvnr/hngkDZOrPgGdEwFbFQUZjHRQpftH2j+POOfYczjqdaX9gIg9uMvCJDFhpMjDgtImmFHksD/dzTuHURrkX/F0ZVhY=)
From Kate’s follow up email to George and Henry’s session:
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| Calm and happy together |
They have been calm, happy, appropriately playful and overall very sweet. George seemed slightly jumpy the last day or so but we think that is because of the construction outside as well as work that started this week in our hallway. Neither one are lap cats but on Monday night I was able to get Henry to sit between Ted and me on the couch as we watched TV! It was so sweet and amazing. George was off taking a nap under the bed which is his usual habit after dinner so no rivalry either! And, yes, we did mention him as we know a cat is always aware even if asleep.
Thank you again for your guidance and advice and we will continue to implement your recommendations.
I emailed Kate that they should tell George and Henry: “We’re so glad we have you to coach us through this construction.” Your mood and verbal emphasis will inspire them and instill confidence rather than instill doom and gloom. You want to reinforce with positive dialog to defer an anxious or uncomfortable tilt.
My feeling as I wrote a case report to Dr. Napolitano was that with their behavioral program, therapeutic music and distant Reiki (http://www.thecattherapist.com/moreaboutreiki.asp) George and Henry's relationship would slowly grow healthier and stronger.
My feeling as I wrote a case report to Dr. Napolitano was that with their behavioral program, therapeutic music and distant Reiki (http://www.thecattherapist.com/moreaboutreiki.asp) George and Henry's relationship would slowly grow healthier and stronger.
Mayor's Alliance For NYC's 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's Animals http://animalalliancenyc.org/help/volunteer/index.htm
A Free Consultation With The Cat Therapist
