 |
|
|
A clip from Michael Patrick's Cats of the Masters:
Rene Magritte, once a struggling artist, agreed to take any commission that might earn a cent or more. When he was approached by an obscure writer of children’s verse, to accept an assignment to illustrate The Cat in the Hat, he produced this canvas within a few days. The writer rejected it because he wanted the cat to wear a hat, not actually to be in one.
 |
| The Cat In The Hat -- Magritte |
 |
| "We're out of flowers" |
 |
| Anne and Amelia |
From Puerto Rico:
Stray pooches jet off to shelters in the Hamptons.
David Brownstein, one of the executives charged with helping this U.S. commonwealth through its fiscal emergency, launched his latest rescue effort at dawn on a San Juan airstrip. As a tribute to David’s rescue mission, I have offered to help any of the adoptees in need of my assistance.
Follow the link below:
David Brownstein, one of the executives charged with helping this U.S. commonwealth through its fiscal emergency, launched his latest rescue effort at dawn on a San Juan airstrip. As a tribute to David’s rescue mission, I have offered to help any of the adoptees in need of my assistance.
Follow the link below:
My Cat's Therapist
Vice Online magazine -- Motherboard section features one of my consults --
Vice Online magazine -- Motherboard section features one of my consults --
 |
| Noni |
“A
case for you?” was the subject of a query I received from Rona, a Facebook
friend and writer. Her neighbor had a triple fracture of her shoulder from a
recent fall. That was a month ago. Now she was attacked by Noni her
sixteen-year-old cat. This was a first. His unprovoked nip even drew blood.
I arranged a phone consult with Blythe, Noni’s, guardian, for the next day.
I arranged a phone consult with Blythe, Noni’s, guardian, for the next day.
“You’ve come highly recommended by my vet,” said Blythe. "Noni seems to be going
nuts,” she went on. "I can’t live with this crazy cat. He stares at my sling and
tries to climb on to my shoulder, and yow, does that hurt! Noni’s pissed
because I can’t lift him up to sit on my lap. He’s always been a lap sitter. I
love him, but he frightens me when his body puffs up, and he lets out a
guttural yell. I can’t live like this. My senior body is more fragile than I
thought.”
NONI’S PROFILE
 |
| Benny |
By
the time Blythe had filled me in on Noni’s history, it was clear to me why Noni
had this melt-down. He was found sick and injured as a tiny kitten. Blythe
adopted him at seven months old. Benny, a young puppy, joined the family six
years later. Although possessive of her, Noni hangs out with Benny and allows
him to share Blythe.
NONI’S SEPARATION ANXIETY
After
her fall, Blythe and Benny went away to stay with her sister, and a cat sitter
took care of Noni. She returned home without Benny who remained away for a few
weeks. He was home now and being walked by Blythe’s generous neighbors. Noni
mirrored Blythe’s angst and pain from her fall; suffered separation anxiety
when she and Benny were away. He was confused and frightened when she returned
home without Benny.
Noni’s
attack cat behavior was triggered by fear. His anxiety was the catalyst. He
resorts to fight
when he’s threatened. Flight would be easier to deal with, but it wasn’t Noni’s M.O.
MUTUAL TRUST-GAP
“Noni
shouldn’t be so crazy now. I can’t trust him. He was
always a little aggressive, but he never, ever bit me,” said Blythe.
I
told Blythe that Noni’s world was totally upset and shaken. “Your sling is a
source of fear for Noni. He senses your pain, and the sling cuts off his usual
contact with you.
“So
we can’t trust
each other. But what can I do to help my befuddled cat? How do I live with
Noni’s anxiety attacks?” she said.
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE
“Delete
the crazy and nuts name calling.” I explained that her voice sharpened and her
body contracted when she did this.
"Accentuate
the positive. The calmer you are, the calmer he’ll feel and act.”
“Ah, the
ripple effect,” chuckled Blythe.
TREATMENT FOR AGGRESSION
- Reassure him. Build his confidence. Tell him he’s okay, you’re okay. A positive spin wins out.
- Lean on your sense of humor. Refer to your sling as the “recovery sling” or “sling to health”. Chip away at his and your sling angst.
- Don’t compromise his good qualities. You’ve had 16 good years together.
- When he appears agitated, distract him with a snappy, loud tone of voice and a toss of a toy or other object. This will redirect his focus.
- Hang out with him when Benny has his walks. This can be Noni’s “private time”.
- Nurture yourself with whatever lightens and inspires a fun, happy mood. Noni will benefit and so will Benny.
I
reminded Blythe that fiber would help to relieve Noni’s constipation and to add
a teaspoon of pure pumpkin or sweet potato to his daily dinner. The more she
relaxed, the more his handsome, senior bod would unwind.
 |
| Noni, blissed out |
I
ended Noni’s session with a distant Reiki treatment to restore balance and fun
to their body, mind, and spirit and told Blythe I would send Noni’s case report
to Dr. Elliot and recommend that she prescribe a homeopathic remedy to
reinforce Noni’s behavioral program.
 |
| Benny is back home -- much to Noni's delight |
PROGRESS REPORT
A
few days later Blythe sent me the following:
Noni
is great now -- a different cat! I am very slowly making progress and starting
physical therapy -- dance therapy tomorrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_96hewoVjlE
Carole's Been Anthologized
In The Big New Yorker Book of Cats see Lulu, The Cat The New Yorker Left Behind by Lois Metzger, Huffington Post.
Loss Wreaks Sadness and Aggressive Behavior
“OMG,
Carole, it feels so good to see Oreo and Tigger so close together, and Tigger
hasn’t tried to beat Oreo up,” said Ronni. “I knew you could help them. You’ve
always been there for me and my cats, and this is my third cat generation.
TIGGER’S GRIEF TURNS TO AGGRESSION
 |
| Tigger is at a loss |
Ronni’s
husband Lance had recently passed on and she contacted me to do a grief
therapy and restoration session. Tigger, her six-year-old cat was very close to
Lance and up to the very end, rarely left his side. They had adopted Tigger from
a shelter where he was dumped after his right front leg was amputated. He and
Oreo had always been best buds. But within the past few months Tigger seemed to
ignore Oreo, and lately he chased and pounced on Oreo who quickly ran for
cover. Boo, the matriarchal twelve-year-old usually hung out close to Ronni and
preferred her own private time and space.
 |
| Boo is the matriarchal kitty -- la grande dame of this catdom |
GRIEF THERAPY
I
told Ronni that she was still in shock and major transition. Her cats mirrored
her emotional grief and angst. Tigger’s reaction was to strike out at Oreo. He
became Tigger’s tension target for emotional and physical release. As the
relaxation music played in the background, I seated myself on the floor and
asked Ronni to tell me all the ways in which Lance shared his love, fun and
happiness. After she did, I told her that each day she could remember how good
he made them feel.
LANCE’S LEGACY
“Tell
the cats that Lance will always be with you -- that the four of you will always
be there for each other, and that you’re all okay now that Lance is at peace,”
I said. Ronni nodded and sat down beside
me. “Put
Tigger in charge. Tell him Lance left you in charge, because he knew you would
take care of us in a loving way,” I said.
 |
| A toy to change the mood |
“I
get it, the good old sense of humor. Tigger is very needy and needs to feel
very special. He’ll feel acknowledged by my feeling when I say this even if he
doesn’t understand my words,” said Ronni. While Ronni talked, I sprinkled
catnip on some tissue paper, along with a few toys. Ronni’s face lit up as Tigger
and Oreo stretched out not far from each other as they buried their angst and
focused on toys and fun. Cat play eases angst and creates harmony.
THE SIXTH SENSE IS LOVE
What
a pleasure it was to see Ronni lighten up and her three cats react to her
reaction. I explained to her that the music, catnip, toys, touch -- as Ronni
stroked and talked to them -- enhanced their five senses. Lance’s love would
live on as their love for each other would.
DISTRACTIONS
I
reminded Ronni to distract Tigger when he appeared agitated -- flick of tail,
ripple of back, flattened ears. The clap of her hands, a loud shout or tight
hug if he was within reach, would redirect his attention. She should also find some
new and fun distractions to welcome new fun into her life.
 |
| Oreo and Tigger -- play bridges renewed friendship |
HULA HOOP FUN AND THERAPY
Almost
immediately, she told me how she once loved to “hula hoop” and that would
totally add a resurgence of fun to her time-line. I laughed and agreed that it
would provide her cats with continuous entertainment. She promised she would
pick up a hoop from a friend who had a few extra.
REIKI AS THE TIE THAT BINDS AND BALANCES
I
concluded the session with distant Reiki where I mentally thought of the
learned symbols that created balance of mind, body, and spirit. Ronni responded
with a hug, and I told her how her wedding on roller blades was such a fond
memory of mine.
“Yes,
I married my instructor. How’s that for balance?” she said.
Weird Rituals
 |
| Eating ritual |
Q.
Why is it that my cat meows, runs to his food dish and mews until I appear by his side? Sometimes a few
strokes and praise satisfy him, but not always.
A.
He wants your approval and company to enjoy his food. It may be because he
didn’t have the attention and nourishment he needed from his mother cat. You’ve
become his surrogate mother or security object — his food association. You’re
the comfort and companionship he wanted and lacked as a kitten.
Q.
Why does my cat sometimes avoid my enthusiastic cat lover friends and cozy up
to those who are allergic, fearful or indifferent?
A.
She may not always be in the mood for a high display of hands on high-energy
affection from a cat lover. Whereas, your cat may be intrigued by your fearful
or allergic friends, or she may be agitated by their angst and approach them in
a way to stamp it out. Opposites can clearly attract!
Q.
Why is it that one moment my cat purrs away as I stroke him and out of nowhere,
he gives me a nip on my fingers. It’s a Cat or Catch 22!
A.
Evidently, he wanted to be stroked but only so much. He became over stimulated
by your touch and decided he wanted to be close by with no more physical
contact. A flick of his tail, ripple of his back may be a signal for “no more,
I’ve had enough.”
A Cat Devoted To His Post
Biggie's passion for his Sisal Rugs Direct post delights his guardian whose furnishings are now catproofed.
Select Cat Products at Sisal Rugs Direct. Check out their special discounts.
Orion's Catitudes
(Orion, a recovering feral rescue, gives his cat-speak on cat issues)
(Orion, a recovering feral rescue, gives his cat-speak on cat issues)
 |
| Orion gives a ©whisker wave |
FAMILY RECOGNITION AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS
Orion
wants to take this opportunity to congratulate, his aunt and my sister, Gail
Mutrux, the producer, on her film The Danish Girl. Alicia Vikander won
an Oscar for her role of best supporting actress. Always an advocate for equal
opportunity, Orion supports the right of gender-identity -- the paramount theme
of The Danish Girl. Although you won’t see a feline star, there’s a
singular dog who will tug at your heart strings. Gail optioned the book for
this movie sixteen years ago. Determination and substance persevere. Orion can
attest to that.
Orion
was also pleased that an Oscar was awarded to Inside Out for best animated
feature – a gem of a movie with an exquisite insight on emotions.
 |
| The Danish Girl |
 |
| Alicia Vikander with Gail |
 |
| Cats and emotions |
BLISSED OUT CATS
 |
| Rosie his Mom prefers to be cool |
 |
| Bennie blisses out with heat |
 |
| Colby wants some of Lamb Chop's bliss |
 |
| Abi and Paco communal bliss. Notice the paw connection |
I first wrote about cats and their emotions in the early seventies. At that time I was a tail or trail-blazer in the treatment and documentation of feline mental health. I was recently mentioned in an article by Jon Levine for News.Mic — read more
Mayor's Alliance For NYC's Animals
 |
| Volunteer Extraordinaire |
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
 |
| Adoptapalooza at Washington Square Park |
