Carole is available for bi-coastal house calls, international phone consults and her current book is THE TOTAL CAT (Quill). She also sees appointments at Westside Veterinary Center in Manhattan. Subscribe to Carole's free newsletter on her website by clicking onto www.thecattherapist.com/wilbourn_way.htm

My column will appear online the second week of every month.
If you have a question guardians, please send an email to Carole. Scroll down to see my column. I can't answer every email I receive, so please check the archives. Your answer may be already there.

On Saturday, April 28th, there will be a march in cities around the nation in memory of the companion animals who have lost their lives because of the contaminated food recall. Visit www.pnv2.com for details.

My most recent cat therapy presentation was at the Mid-Manhattan Library. This was to be a very special evening as, unlike my former appearance, I would be able to have a feline guest as co-speaker. But at the zero hour, the guest to be's guardian took sick. What to do! My robotic cat was fun but there's nothing like a real cat!

My Diana -Moon-Dust was over the rainbow. Now my Orion had only been with me since November (Refer to archives 2/13/07). So I had a little talk with him and decided that he would do fine if he had continuous therapy.

Well Orion outdid himself. He was content to hang out in my arms while I did my presentation and the 140 guardians were fascinated by his poise and lack of angst.

When one of the attendees asked why I used the term guardian instead of owner, I explained that a cat was not an object, like a piece of property. A cat was part of the family, a surrogate person.

Immediately, the attendee added: “So the term guardian implies a caring and emotional connection. I get it,”she said. “What a lucky cat!”

Later on when an attendee started to say "I am the owner of...", there was a chorus of "Guardian not owner."

My presentation ended with me signing my book, The Total Cat, while, Susan, one of the librarians, hung out with Orion.

"Coquito was a totally different cat in Barcelona. He purred for the very first time, played like a kitten and was super affectionate," said Sharon. She went on to say that this remarkable behavior had changed now that he was back home with his two companions. Sharon told me that I was referred by her veterinarian and wanted me to make a house call to evaluate coquito's behavior. "Maybe he wants to be the only cat. I don't want to give him up but I want him to be happy," Sharon said. "He's not even five years old." I asked Sharon a few morequestions and scheduled the therapy session.

The three cats greeted me at the door. "Hi guys," I said. "Coquito is the gray, Houdini the orange and Guanaco is the Siamese," Sharon nodded and introduced me to her husband. While the cats checked out my presence and I, in turn, observed their interactions, I turned on my humpback whale music to add to their relaxation.

During the session I took a case history and observed Coquito's interactions with his companions and solo. "Well what do you think?" Sharon asked. "What's the prognosis?"

"Coquito has "multiple catsonalities. When he's home with his companions, they're his number one priority and he's affected by their feelings and interactions, whereas when he's away with you, there's no sibling competition or rivalry."

"So you don't think he's depressed or that we have to give him up?" said Sharon, with a sigh of relief. As she spoke, she picked up Coquito and hugged him. Guanaco, the senior cat, immediately, gave her a head butt, while Houdini wandered over to her husband.

I told Sharon that Guanaco needed to be included verbally whenever they interacted with the other cats. They could say "right Guanaco" or any mention at all so he would feel included and in the loop. Coquito and Houdini would reap the benefit of Guanaco's increased comfort.

"I see, the ripple affect," said Sharon. I nodded and suggested that she arrange for a cat-friendly child to visit and play with Coquito as he had fun with her assistant's child. They could take Coquito with them on their next trip to Barcelona and continue to take him on other trips as long as he did well. Her sister could stay with his companions as she did before.

"That sounds great," said Sharon," and we'll certainly check in with you if we notice there's any problem." I gave Sharon a few more recommendations and reminded her to play the recording of the session to reinforce and recreate the power and therapy of the session. "Yes, it's a terrific security object for them and will also relax me," said Sharon. I told her that I would be in touch with her vet and said good bye to her cats.

If you have or had a cat 13 and older who is fabulous, and even if he or she is no longer with us, you are invited to enter IDA’s Fabulous 13 and Older Cat Contest. Just tell us what makes your elder cat a winner and a cat that cannot be forgotten in 50 words or less! Please include a photo with your entry and send it to: thecattherapist@idausa.org or to CATS ON THE COUCH CONTEST c/o IDA at 3010 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, California 94901.

The deadline for entries is June 1, 2007.

1st prize: "I am my cat's guardian" short-sleeved t-shirt, IDA commuter mug, and IDA greeting cards set, and phone consult with The Cat Therapist

2nd prize: "I am my cat's guardian" short-sleeved t-shirt and an IDA commuter mug.

3rd prize: IDA license plate frame and black IDA logo lanyard.

This contest is in memory of Diana-Moon-Dust, my 18 year old cat who was very, very FABULOUS.

Dear Carole,

I live in the Nutley, N.J. area and I just got engaged. We are also proud parents of three needy cats. We are planning our wedding in a year, and we will need someone to watch them while we are on our honeymoon. We really do not want to board them if we don’t have to. The problem is, each one of our cats has an eating issue. One eats too much, the other gets intimidated by the other and won’t eat unless you bring her plate in another room. Is there a pet sitter that we would be able to trust with all these issues, or are we better off boarding them for nine days?

Kim

Dear Guardian Kim,

Yes, Kim it sounds like you really do need a special person to look after your catdom while you are on your honeymoon. There’s a marvelous organization called the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) that you can contact at www.petsitters.org or call them at (856) 439-0324. They should be able to put you in touch with a professional cat sitter within your neighborhood. I was a speaker at one of their annual conventions in San Diego and I was very impressed with their members. My guest cat and her seven feline companions have a cat sitter from NAPPS and their guardians are very pleased with the sitter’s care.

Best of nuptials to you, Kim, and thanks for being such a caring guardian.

Dear Carole,

Hello, my cat’s name is Winni. He is 16. His adopted brother died 2 weeks ago. He was diabetic and was a terror to Winni. He weighed in at 25 pounds to Winni’s 7 pound size. He died recently of a blot clot to his hind legs and Winni is very sad. Help!

Regina

Dear Guardian Regina,

So very, very sorry about your Winni’s adopted brother, but glad you and your Winni have each other to comfort.

You might want to think about a new companion for Winni if he continues to be forlorn. Perhaps, a four-month-old kitten or an older cat that is very cat-oriented and prefers the company of cats to people. You can refer to my book, The Total Cat, especially the introduction, for the best match for Winni. (Refer to www.thecattherapist.com)

In the meantime, nurture yourself and Winni with sweet memories of the time you three had together and enhance your environment with pleasing aromatic scents, such as lavender and calming music.

Dear Carole,

Our cat Timmy is frightened of storms and is a very sensitive cat. Any suggestions?

Becky and Howard

Dear Guardians Becky and Howard,

Storms can be frightening, especially to a sensitive cat. The following tip will help to desensitize Timmy to his storm trauma.

Record the sounds of thunder and lightning from your computer or from any other source. Play it back for Timmy in a small cozy room with soft music in the background. While it plays, stroke him, give him one of his favorite objects, along with catnip or a treat. Repeat this at least several times. The more he becomes used to the sounds of a storm with positive associations, the less angst he will experience.

This fear is a symptom of his hyper-sensitivity. Good nutrition, perhaps daily brushing, a multivitamin, and telling Timmy that he's becoming so mellow and fearless will add to his confidence.

Within a month or two of this program, you should notice some improvement in Timmy's behavior.

TESTIMONIALS

Thank you for sending along your testimonials. It lets other guardians know that their cat questions can be solved and lets me know that my column is helping cats to leave the couch.

Fabulous Felines

Don't miss out. You owe it to your cat/s. Scan photos to thecattherapist@idausa.org

Click on to Fabulous Felines and you'll see why this is a Feline Must!

Testimonials

Cat guardians, There is a new addition to CATS ON THE COUCH. Click on to TESTIMONIALS and read all about Winston and his rescue.

Stroll With Your Cats

There's a perfect and fun way to safely enjoy the outdoors with your cats. Click on to thecattherapist.com and then to Kittywalk

Cat Talk

CAT TALK is now available. Find out what your cat is TRYING TO TELL YOU. So guardians, click on to the Cat Store.

Carole's Newsletter - "The Wilbourn Way"

The Wilbourn Way Newsletter is Carole's free email newsletter, which brings you Carole's personal view on cat culture monthly..

Molly Of Myers Keswick Is Rescued

"Oh come on Molly you can do it," said cat therapist Carole Wilbourn.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Cat therapist Carole Wilbourn used the sounds of whales on tape and catnip to try and lure Molly out Wednesday. CBS

Feral Cats

Saturday, September 9, in San Francisco, the third annual National Feral Cat Summit will take place. You don't want to miss the only conference in the U.S. devoted exclusively to feral cats. Click on to neighborhoodcats.org for details.

Feral Cats

Each day we strive to give our cats the very best care. Helping feral cats is a valuable and wonderful way to extend social response to Neighborhood Cats can be your source of assistance.

You may even be the guardian of a feral cat—so you're aware of the beauty they possess. My late cat, Ziggy-Star-Dust was a feral kitten and the cure for my anxious, reformed attack cat, Sunny-Blue. After Sunny passed-on, Star-Dust took on many of his Sunny's traits—particularly, Sunny's Siamese cry. He was nine years old at the time but lived until seventeen. He taught me so many things, including patience and loyalty.

There is a chapter on feral cats in my book, THE TOTAL CAT, click on to my site, thecattherapist.com, for more info. You can also refer to the archives for my column, click on to Archives at top of page. There are articles from 11/04, 1/05, 11/15/05.

Let us all be socially responsible for feral cats on behalf of our own cats.

Remember, please add a picture of your cat along with your cat questions.

» CAROLE'S NEWSLETTER--THE WILBOURN WAY"