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

» LADY DAY AT THE OPEN CENTER

A young black and white cat was my feline co-worker at my Open Center lecture. Her guardians named her Lady Day because, like her namesake, she had many hard knocks and when she's overstimulated she often lets out a sing-song wail. 

I first met this now lucky young cat at Westside Veterinary Center in Manhattan where I'm in residence. Two young ladies had found her abandoned in the subway and she was wailing away. They brought her to Westside to have her checked out. Although they covered the neighborhood with signs, notified Pet Finders on the web and checked with all the shelters–no luck. So Lady, who was then named Oreo, was spayed and went to live with one of their friends. But she was returned to Westside within two weeks. She had bitten her new guardian! So for the next few weeks I worked with and observed Lady. She would stretch her paws out of her cubicle, trying to attract the cat above or below. Her expression was grim. She wanted to play with another cat. Her next home would have to be with at least one other cat. Lady's aggression was a result of abandonment, deprivation and single cat syndrome. She was a high-energy cat and needed to release her energy in feline interplay. 

Well, finally, Lady had her golden opportunity. A client came in who had several cats, room for another and had a soft spot and savvy with high-energy cats. Her introduction to Lady was a mutual find. I prescribed a behavioral program and Carol, the new guardian followed one of my introductions (Refer to my book THE TOTAL CAT). With a few therapy sessions, Lady found and made her place as the TOP CAT. She respected the wishes of the geriatric cats who preferred their privacy but raced around with the others and called all the shots.
 
Lady will still let you have it if you try to become too intimate when she doesn't invite it. But at other times she will wrap herself around her guardian's heart. 

As her guardian talked about Lady Day to my class, she relaxed in her red Sherpa Bag with the music of her namesake playing softly next to her. It was one of the cassettes I used for her therapy sessions. Lady had entered the room wailing but no more. 

Dear Carole Wilbourn:

We have a 5 years old female who has just recently started to sporadically not use her litter box when she defecates. Three times she has gone on the kitchen tile about 4 feet from her litter box near the back garage door. Once she went in the bathroom also about 5 feet from her litter box. When we mentioned this to the vet, he thought it was quite strange that then she would go back to her litter box. He thought perhaps it was associated to the 4th of July, and loud noises with the fireworks, but it does not seem to correlate. I am mystified, especially since it does not seem to be related to a fresh or unfresh litter box. Sometimes I think it has to do with the depth of the litter but am unsure. I have not changed the type of litter.

This is a cat who also throws her soft food with her paw on the wall (seemingly touching it if it is not flat in the bowl). So, in short, she is a little strange and we put up with her.

However, if you have any advice on the litter box dilemma we would really appreciate it. Today she went again at the door when I was gone, but my son was home. Is she upset, or just aberrant?,

Thanks so much, 
Linda E., Middletown,. NY

Dear Guardian Linda:

The fireworks on the Fourth may have provoked your cat's deviant behavior but there is more to it. She is periodically rejecting her box because she is uncomfortable physically emotionally or perhaps a combo. If her "movements" are particularly hard, constipation may be the reason. If so add some fiber to her diet in the way of food or a gel. If your cat is spayed, it is not related to the unspayed syndrome. Make time each day to give her special attention and praise her when she uses the box. Notice the level of the litter when she does defecate in the box so you can keep it about that level. Perhaps she's "level phobic". If you need additional help, click on to my web site (www.thecattherapist.com). Her "soft food flinging" sounds like a game. Your cat is quite the character!

Carole

Hello Carole Wilbourn:

I am the guardian of a 2 years old siamese mix who is almost perfect. However he has HORRIBLE habits of chewing cords all around the house. He chews up everything from my cell phone ear piece, cable cords, telephone cords, and electronics behind the TV. I'm terrified that one day he may get electrocuted. He has a scratching post and is my only companion animal and no other problem. Help!

Kind Regards,
Sarah 

Dear Guardian Sarah:

What a serious dilemma. Yes, we need to protect him against himself. Here are some suggestions to end his indiscriminate chewing: 
1) Be sure that his diet is not lacking in nutrients. You might even want to add a vitamin supplement. Whiskers, at 1-800-WHISKERS, is a holistic store that can help you do this.

2) Fire Shield Products has safe extension cords and strips that may be the answer. Their web site is: www.fireshield.com 

3) Keep your cell phone out of his reach and any other vulnerable objects. 

4) Give him several high energy play periods daily. Keep in mind that his deviant, destructive behavior may be a symptom of the single cat syndrome. Refer to my archives 4/04, 11/04 and my book THE TOTAL CAT for more information. The Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for anxiety may be a relief. Many times behavioral therapy and an anti-anxiety drug is needed, May his chewing obsession fade into oblivion. 

» SANTA FE GUARDIANS AND THEIR CATS

MY Cat Therapy Lecture at the Santa Fe Public Library was filled with very responsible and caring cat guardians. My guest cat was Moon, a young, animated, spayed female. But her behavior this evening was quite out of character. She was perfectly content to relax and stretch out on her guardian Elsie's lap. " Moon never hangs out on my lap," Elsie said. "Why now?" I explained that our body language and discussion was so very therapeutic and "cat-friendly" that Moon was mirroring the feeling. She felt safe and secure and her increased intimacy was a testimonial to the power of our session. "So it's actually a therapy session for Moon too," said Elsie. "So now that she's broken the ice, perhaps this break-through will be repeated at home." I nodded in agreement and reminded Elsie that when Moon did climb on to her lap, she should mention her older cat's name so he would be included. (Refer to my books, THE TOTAL CAT or CAT TALK or my archives, 3/22/05 REMI'S FAREWELL, INTRODUCTION OF A KITTEN TO YOUR CAT and how to prevent and defuse rivalry.) Elsie had sought my expertise on how to introduce Moon to her older cat Lippy so they would become an item. I am happy to say they are a terrific duo. Lippy calls the shots and Moon enjoys his instruction. When she doesn't, they negotiate. Our library session ended with many happy faces. Cat guardians are especially happy when the emphasis is on cats-myself included. But best of all, Moon was very contented as her guardian, Elsie, wheeled her away in her Sherpa Bag on wheels. It was the royal feline exit. Don't you think?

Hi Carole Wilbourn:

Our 15 years old and very healthy cat has yearned to go outside all his life and my husband thought, "let's give him what he so desires". So he's been going outdoors for short periods of time. He stays close and then asks to be let in. The problem is: he's started yowling constantly and all he wants to do is go outside. I do not think it's another cat or anything like that . . . he just wants to be out there sleeping and creeping in the grass and bushes. We don't have a completely enclosed yard so we don't want him to have free reign, but the constant yowling all day and night is driving us insane. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Sincere thanks,

AJ

Dear Guardians AJ

Sounds like your senior cat is a real mover and shaker. I'm very happy that you are concerned about his welfare outdoors. The KittyWalk is an enclosure that will keep him safe. You can put all of his creature comforts in with him but you should be around to observe his "time out." Don't leave him in the KITTYWALK when no-one's around to supervise. Log on to my site (www.thecattherapist.com) and click on to KITTYWALK SYSTEMS.

I would also recommend that you have the vet check out your cat to be certain that there isn't a medical problem that's contributing to his yowling and angst. Good luck with your cat in the GREAT OUTDOORS. Thank You, Carole

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