Carol:

I would like to nominate my husband, Ed Childers, for the contest, men and their cats. Not only does my macho husband rescue numerous cats in the US but he has extended his cat guardianship internationally. Recently he was on a Halliburton compound in Algeria where the cat population was starting to get out of control. After being inflicted with hideous daily discussions on how to cruelly dispose of the cats by Halliburton hands, during lunches and dinners at the mess hall, my husband had enough. He had already rescued mother cats and their litters and allowed them to take over his small hotel like room, but had also hired drivers to take the animals to vets in cities far away to be spayed and neutered. We paid for all of these services. So, Ed went to the top Halliburton manager on the compound and told them that if any of the cats were harmed he would be contacting The Houston Chronicle and sharing what Halliburton was doing. Until my husband left, no cats were harmed and he had "fixed" many of them and also found the kittens homes.

This is one example of many including another rescue, a few weeks ago, of a small kitten who was dumped at the HP headquarters, in Houston, and was surviving by eating deli scraps and running across busy streets and parking garages. We rescued him, domesticated him and found him a wonderful family to live with who have assured us they will neuter him. Marilyn Childers

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.

Cliffside Park Public Library
July 29 at 2PM
505 Palisade Ave.
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
201-945-0504

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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Dear Carole,

We rescued a 10 month old male cat. He was so docile and lovable and grateful for being taken in. A month later we had him neutered. After his recovery, he has episodes of stalking me (his "mother") and attacking my ankles. If I sit on the floor, he comes into my lap as before, but instead of purring and falling asleep, he now grabs my leg with his front claws and starts to bite me. I try to play with him every night to "exercise" him, which he enjoys. Any advice? He seems frustrated.

Hi to the cat therapist. I have a female cat about 2 yrs old, the problem she uses my couch as her resting place and living in Queensland where it is very hot she loses a lot of fur and it tends to get stuck on the couch it is real embarrassing when friends come to visit. I've tried lots of things including buying her very own cat bed, but nothings working. Please can you HELP me. HOW DO I KEEP MY CAT OFF THE COUCH?

My Cat Ran Off

Dear Guardian Anisa:

Sounds like your cat became sexually mature and may have run off to pursue female cats. Please contact neighborhood vets and shelters of his disappearance. Place signs wherever possible and include a photo or sketch of him. He could be locked in a neighbor's garage. Please put identification and safety collars on your cats and perhaps micro chips. Most of all, they should be neutered. May you find him safe and sound!