Carole is available for bi-coastal house calls, speaking engagements anywhere, phone consults nationally and internationally. She also sees patients by appointment at Westside Veterinary Center in Manhattan. Her latest book is The Complete Guide To Understanding And Caring For Your Cat. Her recently released CD of spoken cat advice and soothing music is Caring For Your Cat, The Wilbourn Way.
Come back to Carole's home page monthly for cat news and Carole's most recent replies to behavior inquiries from worried cat guardians. To have this home page emailed to you after the story update, click here. You will receive this exact page by email, and it will link you to the other pages in her site, and to the rest of the IDA web site.
THE WILBOURN WAY (AKA Cats on the Couch)
August, 2011
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT
ME, TOO!
As I completed a cat therapy consult on Skype, my Orion was sprawled out by my current book. It was no accident. The guardian had asked to see my book, and Orion, as always, wanted to be center stage. (As writer Margaret Benson has said: “The cat is, above all things, a dramatist.”)
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
(Orion, a former rescue, will represent cats and offer nuggets of wisdom regarding Bo, the rescued First Dog—a Portuguese Water Dog.)
PRESIDENT'S LIFESTYLE AWARDS
Bo is the perfect ambassador for fitness. And Orion was pleased to learn that Bo accompanied the First Lady to the White House as she greeted the kids who were winners of the President's Lifestyle Awards. Go, Bo!
YOUR CAT MIRRORS--COPY CATS--YOUR BEHAVIOR
"How your cat mirrors your behavior" was one of the topics at my Open Center class. One of the guardians shared how her cat Cappuccina amazed her when, ten years ago, they moved from Germany to the U.S. Cappuccina was always a talker with a very distinctive sound to her meows. As Birgit practiced her English, Cappuccina's voice actually changed. At first this change was random, but it slowly took over. She's now become a U.S.A English-speaking cat with Germanic roots.
Another guardian told how her husband is a professional magician.
He sometimes entertains their friends and family with some of his acts. A favorite is when he uses a hoop. When their two cats, Lucky and Mimi, started to jump through the hoop and actually perform for company, it occurred to them how much their cats wanted to be part of the action and, I might say, experience instant gratification.
SAMSON FREAKS OUT WHEN I BRUSH HIM
Hello Carole,
Samson, my longhaired cat, bites, hisses, scratches, and yowls when I attempt to brush him. If I don't brush him, he starts to get these horrible knots in his fur that can cause his skin to become irritated and very painful. What can I do? Please help.
Thanks,
Hope
Hi Guardian Hope,
Yes, indeed, Hope, we want to "nip" Samson's potential problem in the bud. Here's a plan to slowly let him accept your assistance:
GROOMING PREVIEW
- Relax the two of you with some soft music in the background.
- Lavender potpourri will help to soothe your senses.
- Rub his fur down slowly and gently with a moistened paper towel. Do this while you’re hanging out on the floor with him, so your body is relaxed. Repeat this a few times a day for a couple of days.
- Talk to Samson. Acknowledge his movie-star looks and what a super cat he is.
If you can get him used to this "prelude," you’re ready to use a brush, combs, grooming mitt, but stop before he gets excited. If Samson is okay with this, you can slowly increase his grooming. Tell him that you’re so happy to help him. But if Samson continues to revolt, contact your vet's office for a professional groomer who will come to your home, so you can get the help you need for Samson.
DOES BENNY SENSE THAT I'M PREGNANT (Pre-Baby Angst)
Hi Carole,
We have a six-month-old neutered male named Benny whom we adore. I'm happy to say that I'm four months pregnant. We’ve noticed that in the past couple of weeks Benny hangs out more with my husband. The other day he gave a short hiss as he sat on my lap, and then ran off. Was he frightened of me? Does he sense my baby? He continues to sleep on my pillow each night. Maybe he needs a companion? We want our Benny to be happy. What should we do?
Thanks,
Doris
Hi Guardian Doris,
Congratulations from all of us at IDA! Yes, Benny can sense your baby and feels threatened. You’re not the same Doris to him. A cat is very affected by the way we breathe, talk, walk, and some cats are more sensitive than others. Benny may also feel that you’re not as focused on him as you were. It’s only natural that there’s a pull for your attention. Acknowledge him verbally when you talk about the baby. He feels more secure with you at bedtime because your body is at rest. A feline companion may be the answer. Adopt a playful cat or kitten who prefers cats to people. My book will give you more information on matchmaking and introduction. (Refer to the top of this page.)
Doris, Benny still loves you, and thanks for being so caring.
THE ELEPHANTS NEED YOUR HELP
You can help prevent the sale of elephant ivory. Please visit http://www.idausa.org
You can now follow Carole on Twitter.
QUESTIONS TO CAROLE
Please consult with your veterinarian first to make certain that your animal companion's problem is not due to any medical condition.
If you have a question for Carole, you can email her at thecattherapist@idausa.org. We're sorry that Carole won't be able to answer all questions, but the answers to many questions can be found in her IDA archives.
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, click here.
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