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.

CONTEST HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER

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.

On Saturday, August 21-25, take a trip to the Cat Acatemy at Union Square.

I hope you will join me and my cat Orion from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. when I will be one of the speakers. Your questions are very welcome. Click on to my home page for more information.

Oscar the Cat Predicts Death

Oscar is the feline resident at a nursing home in Providence, Rhode Island who seems to have predicted the deaths of 25 of the residents. In case after case, when he has curled up next to someone, it usually means they have less than four hours of life left. I was interviewed about Oscar by NBC-TV.

Read all about Oscar on their site. To watch my video, scroll down the right and click “cat therapist.”.

My Cat Has Hepatitis

Carole,

My eleven-year-old female calico, Angelina, contracted feline hepatitis recently. One month ago the vet put her on antibiotics and steroids. (I apply them in her ear.) She has improved but has not fully recovered.

I was planning on taking a two-week trip for business in July or August. I have never been away from Angelina before for more than a night but I postponed my trip and am thinking of canceling it altogether—even though my roommate, who also has a bond with Angelina, could take care of her. I am fearful that the psychological effect of the separation might have an adverse effect on Angelina's precarious health. Am I being realistic or overprotective?

Thank you,
Seth F.
NYC

Dear Guardian Seth,

I don’t think you’re being overprotective. On the contrary, you are being very realistic and compassionate. Angelina is a senior cat and hepatitis is a serious disease. She could experience no major discomfort if you went away and your roommate sounds very reliable, but on the other hand, there’s no guarantee that your absence wouldn’t trigger some separation anxiety that would slow down her healing.

If you couldn’t postpone your trip, you could call home daily to check her progress and even use speakerphone so she could hear your voice. You could, also purchase my CD (http://www.thecattherapist.com/caring4yourcat.htm) and listen to it with your cat. It is a bi-species CD. This association would relax her and remind her of you when the CD was played.

But to rule out any potential problems with Angelina’s healing, it would be best to postpone your trip until at least two or three weeks after she’s back to her old self.

I’m Giving Up My Cat

Carole,

I have had my cat since she was a kitten and now she is about three years old. I just recently got married and my husband doesn't like cats. I am always feeling guilty because I don't spend much time with her anymore. At night we lock her in a room. If we don't, she will scratch on our bedroom door all night.

Before I got married, my cat always slept with me and always got lots of attention from me and my roommate. My grandmother really loves my cat and I am going to give her to her. I think she will be much happier because she will get more attention. Do you think my cat will have a problem adjusting to my grandmother and her new home?

Trish

Dear Guardian Trish:

Sounds like your cat will have a marvelous home with your grandmother. Because they already have an amicable relationship, your cat should be able to adjust quickly. Be sure to take along your cat’s favorite toys and other belongings.

There will be culture shock because it’s a new environment. To reduce this shock, your grandmother should start your cat off in the room with her litter box. Once she becomes used to that space, your grandmother can slowly introduce her to one room at a time

My CD will help to relax your cat and impart information to your grandmother.

Terrified of Affection, Unless…

My family has always had cats so I grew up with them. Right now we have a 12-year old-female, a 3-year-old male, and a year-old male. They get along well. The two boys are especially social with one and other. Our two older cats are very affectionate with us but our most recent addition is very strange. Every time we try to pet him, he slinks down to the ground and scurries away from us. But every time we use the bathroom or sit a certain way he allows us to pet him. All of our cats are fixed. Is it he or we?

JN

Dear Guardian JN:

Your cat is selective where he seeks affection because of his inner fears and angst. When you are in the bathroom or in other similar sitting positions, your body is relaxed. He is attracted to your relaxed energy which is non-threatening to him. The more he becomes confident about these selected places, the more he will be able to transfer this acceptance to other situations. It will take time and repetition and your two other cats will be his role models.

Amazon Continues To Look The Other Way

Why is it that Amazon continues to sell books on ANIMAL FIGHTING? Can their business be that bad?

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.

You should begin to notice some changes in Reggie’s demeanor in several days. If there isn’t any improvement within two weeks, it may be best to put the kitten refuge on hiatus for several months. At that time you could start again and use these recommendations. But I do hope that Reggie unloads his animosity. “You can do it Reggie!”>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..

Feral Cats

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.

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