As
we share our Thanksgiving Day, let us all take a breath for a tribute
of love and silence for all of those lives lost in the recent
outbreaks of world-wide terror attacks and give gratitude for those
who cared for the displaced and injured. And let us work towards a
peaceful transition of power to President-elect
Trump.
I
will share my holiday with my sister Gail and husband in Los Angeles.
We will see Street Cat Named Bob on Friday. My cat, Orion, will welcome his favorite cat sitter to indulge and
entertain him. For extra kudos a number one friend will stop by. Orion loves company.
Confirm arrangements for your cat/s care if you plan to be away.
Confirm arrangements for your cat/s care if you plan to be away.
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| Email from Orion's cat sitter with visual additions |
A Home For Thanksgiving |
| Mutual love |
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| 20yr old rescued Dexter welcomed by family dog |
When a family adopted a 20 year old cat from the shelter, they never expected how much love he had left to give.
Read more.
Read more.
NYC Feral Cat Initiative
Carole's Take On Oscar The Cat Who .....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_96hewoVjlE
Farewell To Leonard Cohen, Epic And Enigmatic Songwriter
Leonard Cohen, the late poet laureate of music, shared his life with Jackson, aka Jacques, a cat who once roamed the neighborhood. Read more.
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| With Jackson at home in L.A. |
Subscribe to Carole's free monthly Blog -- The Wilbourn Way
Orion's Catitudes
(Orion, a recovering feral rescue gives his cat-speak and ©whisker waves on cat issues)
Bo and Sunny are our current “First Dogs”. Orion wonders if there will be future occupants in 2017.
A Street Cat Named Bob
This
film is based on the book of the same name by James Bowen, the true
story of how a British, stray, ginger cat transformed this drug
addict’s life. Orion, a former street cat, heartily recommends this
cool cat’s story. It takes one to understand one.
Read more.
Orion has 5 ©whisker waves for Bob
Lucy
was recently adopted from a Berkeley/Oakland Shelter. Her eyes were
irresistible — like diamonds.
NASA Sleep Promoting Light Bulb
If
your nocturnal biological rhythms keep your cat awake and/ or your
cat’s behavior interrupts your sleep, check out the NASA
Sleep Promoting Light Bulb from Hammacher Schlemmer that appeared to
enhance sleep — with a lifetime guarantee.
Read more.
Withdrawn And Depressed
(Ari's recovery)
"Ari,
my 15 year old is not himself. He’s withdrawn from my attention,
ignores his companions and mostly stays by a corner of the couch,”
said Lana. After a home session of a behavioral program and Reiki, he
slowly emerged and recovered. I was happy to write about it in my October Blog ... scroll through to Ari's article.
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| Ari's back! With litter mates Ben and Rosie |
A
Few Days Later – Lana was in the dumps:
“Ari
was making
great strides since his session. But now he’s regressed and is back
behind the sofa.” I reminded Lana to continue with their music and
to sincerely
acknowledge him.
I told her he might have a few break-downs, but not to worry, the
break-throughs would follow.
Acknowledgment Heals – Lana wrote:
“Ari’s now doing Ari things; like he play-fights with Ben, comes to me for scads of affection and has resumed his other usual Ari behavior. Thanks to acknowledgment and The Wilbourn Way.”
Acknowledgment Heals – Lana wrote:
“Ari’s now doing Ari things; like he play-fights with Ben, comes to me for scads of affection and has resumed his other usual Ari behavior. Thanks to acknowledgment and The Wilbourn Way.”
Reiki The Tie That Binds
As I sent Ari and his companions a treatment of distant Reiki, my cat Orion climbed up beside me on the couch — always front and center for the emotional catnip. I acknowledged Orion for his cat-born wisdom.
Sleepless in Brooklyn
(Nocturnal Angst)
“I
can deal with Lloyd’s download of continuous yowls during the day,
but it totally freaks me out during the night,” said Adam. “It’s
not so easy to get to work in the morning with a clear head.”
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| Lloyd beckons Adam to tuck in |
Medical
Baggage
Lloyd
was a street cat when Adam found him, about two years old and
probably abandoned. Lloyd has a chronic skin allergy which is treated
with medication and visits an allergist. So he is emotionally and
physically fragile.
Separation Anxiety
As
I listened to Lloyd’s case history, the main trigger for his
disruptive yowls became obvious — separation anxiety. Adam’s
girlfriend had moved out — together with Max, her cat and Lloyd’s
companion. Although not a terrific match, Max was company for Lloyd.
Diagnosis
Lloyd’s
meow mantra is symptomatic of his senior cat status, lower stress
tolerance, physical and emotional fragility, current single cat
syndrome, abandonment syndrome, reaction to early traumatic muscle
memory, and Adam’s biological sleep patterns.
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| Lloyd in his box |
During his session, Lloyd either curled up in one of his favorite boxes, was intrigued and soothed by the sound of my voice, along with the music, savored the nip and toys I gifted and gazed at my iPad. When I suggested that Adam hang out on his bed, Lloyd climbed up beside him, without a meow meltdown. This would create a peaceful precedent for Lloyd’s bedtime compatibility.
Treatment Excerpts to Delete Lloyd’s Meow Mantra
- Soothe Lloyd with the link to his music which will reinforce the desensitization of his session
- Decorate a large box for him to hang out in
- Divide his daily food so that he has a bedtime snack that can be eaten during the night
- Distract his focus with a toss of a toy, tight hugs or/and sound of your voice when or before he starts to yowl
- Either sequester Lloyd at bedtime or in the wee hours with his creature comforts. Do this is in a positive way, so that it’s his special space — a treat!
- Create a positive reaction. Tell him how calm and mellow he is.
- Have your iPad or computer tuned to an action site so Lloyd can get his visual fix.
I
also recommended a vet visit to evaluate Lloyd’s general health
picture and blood chemistries. (Refer
to my October Blog -- Sleepless On The Upper Westside -- where I treated Sappho, a
geriatric kitty).
Prognosis
As
Adam definitely had Lloyd’s back, his recovery was decent, but it
would take time to integrate new coping mechanisms. If his blood work
was unremarkable, an anxiety drug could be added to support and
reinforce his behavioral program to relieve his symptoms of angst.
Progress
Report
Lloyd’s
exam revealed a slight heart murmur and irregular blood pressure, so
he was started on daily medication. No other irregularities. The
medication could help to ease Lloyd’s angst.
Adam told me how Lloyd was back to his old sleep patterns. He now and again interrupted Adam’s sleep, but he did this before Max’s departure.
“But
you can’t be sleep deprived,” I said.
“No,
not to worry. It’s really okay. With a few strokes and
acknowledgment, Lloyd nods out, with me beside him. If not, he spends
the rest of the night in his private digs — the bathroom. I get my
needed nods. And maybe I can arrange for a second cat when the time
is right.”
“Okay.
If
you’re okay, I am too,” I said.
“By
the way,” said Adam, “now I totally understand Lloyd’s
meltdowns and how to react. Anyway, he was always a talkative cat.”
Monkee's Toddler-Friendly Legacy Has Evolved
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| Monkee no longer toddler-phobic |
Bear,
Monkee’s late companion, was unflappable with baby Sima, whereas,
Monkee either ran from Sima or hissed her away. But Bear bequeathed
Monkee his role of “cat nanny” and winsome ways with Sima.
No
longer,
toddler-phobic, Monkee will allow Sima to brush and even stroke him.
Monkee
The Cat Nanny
October
6, baby Alan was born. Monkee, was once a nanny “in training”,
thanks to Bear. But baby Alan has totally transformed Monkee to cat
nanny supreme.
Take a
look at the Monkee - Alan line-up.
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| Cat Nanny Monkee blisses out with baby Alan |
