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) February, 2011
YOU'RE INVITED TO OUR NEXT LIBRARY APPEARANCE
In frigid temperatures, Orion and I made our way on the icy streets of New York to give our presentation at the Kips Bay Library on how to have the best relationship with your cat. Despite the forbidding weather, cat guardians came from all over in large numbers, including a spirited woman in a wheelchair. When we ran out of chairs, the security guard came to the rescue with some of the children's. Missy, the Story Pup, popped in to say hello.
Orion and I invite you and your questions to my next presentation of "You Adore Your Cat But..."
Here are the details:
Saturday, March 12th
1:00-2:00 p.m. EST
Kips Bay Library
446 Third Avenue (Orion will be the Solo Cat!)
New York City
212-683-2520
kipsbay@nypl.org
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
My Orion looks comfy with his surprise gift from one of his fans, but his mission is to spread the word that "love is where the heart is." Guardians, let's take this opportunity to thank and applaud our cats for their unconditional love.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
(Orion, a former rescue, will represent cats and offer nuggets of wisdom regarding Beau, the rescued First Dog—a Portuguese Water Dog.)
FITNESS WALKS
Orion's heard about the "fitness walks" inspired by the First Lady's "Let's" campaign to fight child obesity. He wants Bo to be the mascot for fitness walks on behalf of animal companions.
REIKI TREATMENTS FOR YOU AND YOUR CATS
I am very pleased to have completed my formal training as a Reiki practitioner. Reiki is a healing practice that promotes balance—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It usually consists of a "light touch" treatment that can bring rapid stress reduction and relief from pain and anxiety. A non-touch treatment, where learned symbols are used instead, is offered because of distance or a when a cat may not be amenable to such contact. Reiki is not a substitute for veterinary medicine, but can be used in a complementary fashion. The side effects of medication, radiation, and chemotherapy can be eased with Reiki treatments and can be particularly comforting in end-of-life compassionate care. I am now incorporating Reiki in to my cat practice to treat the "total cat," including his or her guardians.
SHADOW IS DEPRESSED (Distant phone treatment)
I recently conducted one such a distant treatment for Shadow, a young cat, who had recovered from bladder surgery. As I spoke to Mike, Shadow’s guardian, and performed the remote treatment, Mike clicked on to speakerphone. He told me how he rescued Shadow from an abandoned house. “For me it was love at first sight,” and he went on to say how Shadow was truly his shadow. By the time I’d finished Shadow’s treatment, Mike told me Shadow had started to scratch his post, rolled over next to him, and purred his happy purr. Mike marveled that it was a first since his surgery. I said that Shadow’s emotional healing had caught up to his physical. "His old spirit has returned. He's no longer depressed," Mike said. Before we finished our conversation, I gave Mike some behavioral advice, and arranged to do a follow-up.
A RACOON BIT OUR CAT
(Rabies Quarantine)
Hi Carole,
A raccoon took a bite out of our cat. Our state requires that we must either quarantine him for six months or euthanize him. To effectively quarantine him, we'd have to limit him to one 15x17 room. He is an outdoor cat who has free roam of many acres and gets antsy if he's indoors for long, He hates to be confined. How could we help him make such an extreme adjustment in a way that his quality of life isn't miserable? We don't want his psyche to be damaged.
Thank you,
Laura H.
Hi Guardian Laura,
I'm so very sorry about your cat's precarious situation but very happy that you're so caring about his well-being. I feel that he will be able to make such a transition with your generous and loving support. You want to make sure that his mind, body, and spirit are nurtured in this new and very different environment.
Laura, I'm pleased that I can coach you to successfully bridge the gap. Here is my treatment plan:
- Schedule a complete check-up to be certain that this stressful ordeal hasn't triggered any medical problems.
- Make his room as comfy and cat-friendly as possible.
- Provide a special seasonal light to simulate sunlight if the room isn't sunny.
- Encourage exercise.
- Scratching posts, pads, structures that he can safely climb. Create tunnels with paper bags, boxes, or rolled up carpet. My site (top of page) shows a Felix Post and a Natural wood post for multi-surface scratching.
- Hang a sign on his door that can say: "Private Digs of the Best Cat" - Attach his photo.
- Perhaps you could add a grassy patch for a touch of nature.
- Tell him this is his hideaway. If you refer to this culture change in a light and up beat way, he’ll soon follow your lead.
- My "Caring For Your Cat" CD will relax him, and also try a nature video.
- Follow me on Twitter for a daily tip from my cat Orion that you can post on the inside of his door.
This is extreme culture shock, but if you treat this as a temporary situation, he will be able to cope. You could contact me at any time and schedule a distant Reiki phone treatment to reduce stress for the two of you.
Laura, a cheerful, confident attitude can work wonders. You seem to have what it takes to get your cat to the finish line. On behalf of IDA and cats everywhere, here's to victory! And here's to a long and safe life for your beloved cat, far removed from the many perils of the outdoors, which we believe, is the healthiest lifestyle.
BEST MATCH FOR SYLVIE
Hi Carole,
My mother wants to adopt a new cat. As she's in her golden years, she plans to adopt an adult cat. If this cat outlives my mother, I will be the beneficiary. I'm already the guardian of Sylvie, a spayed female of three. She's always been the only cat. Any suggestions on the best match for Sylvie, if we inherit my mom's cat? We would use your Wilbourn Way to introduce two older cats.
Thanks,
Nan
N.Y.C.
Hi Guardian Nan,
What a fabulous plan! A contingency arrangement is a win-win for such a transition. The adoptee should be an easygoing, mellow male who has a "Zen-"type disposition. I have met such cats. A rescue group or shelter should be able to help your mother to locate this type of cat. Yes Nan, do use my instructions, and I'm available to do the introduction if needed.
Good luck on the new addition to your extended family.
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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