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

My column will appear online the second week of every month.
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.

The topic of my talk was ALL ABOUT CATS. My co-presenter was Nya, who hung out in her Sherpa Bag. It was so kind of her to interrupt her Saturday afternoon at home to grace us with her presence. She hung out in her Sherpa Bag, inhaled her catnip and welcomed the happy looks from her audience of cat guardians. Nya's presence and poise was a great source of inspiration for me. Cats continue to be my greatest teachers.

There were many questions. One of them concerned a female cat who was traumatized by the presence of, in her mind, an interloper. Her guardians had taken in a female cat whom they thought was lost. But after several weeks of trying to locate the cat's guardian and no luck, they realized they might have to keep her. However, their cat wouldn't leave their daughter's room, so what would I suggest they do to change this bleak situation?

I started to explain that it's often hard to match two full-grown females, especially when the resident cat has been a single cat and not very extroverted. As I began to give some tips, I remembered a young couple who wanted to adopt a cat in need. They did not have any gender, age or color preferences. I'm not usually a source of homes for cats, so this was, indeed, a wonderful coincidence.

The couple, with carrier in hand, took the Long Island Railroad out to Huntington to take a look at the interloper. The couple later returned on the Railroad, but this time they were a trio. Edye (aka, the interloper), now lives in Brooklyn with her guardians, Jenny and Jon. She is a very adored and contented cat.

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.

The deadline for entries is June 1, 2007.

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.

Hi Carole Wilbourn,

My sister has a bobtail cat named Bob that was feral. Bob eventually came in the house and has been an inside cat for the past three years. She doesn't want anything to do with the outside at all and she doesn't interact with my sister's other three cats. The problem is that, for the last six months or so, she has been urinating on the carpet and my sister can't get her to stop. Can you offer us any advice?

Thanks,
Machelle

Dear Guardian Machelle,

You don't mention if Bob has been spayed. If she's still intact, this could cause her to have these incidents of indiscriminate urination. She could have silent heats which would trigger this kind of behavior. An unspayed cat is usually more anxious, which would increase her specific "feral" characteristics. Bob may also have an infection in her bladder or another medical issue. A vet visit may be needed to rule out such problems.

If Bob has already been spayed and there isn't a medical problem, it may be a behavioral problem. Your sister could make Bob comfortable in a small, cozy space with her feline comforts. Catnip now and then might relax her. The more relaxed Bob Is, the better she'll feel and act. Try to engage her in play. Many feral cats live to play. This will take time and repetition but as Bob relaxes and feels more secure, she may reach out to the other cats.

My book, THE TOTAL CAT, has information on socializing a feral cat and also litter box problems. You can visit my site (www.thecattherapist.com) to find out more. It’s so good of your sister to take in a feral cat.

Dear Carole,

Our one year old male Russian Blue chases and bites our female Russian Blue. His aggressive behavior is not all of the time but when he does this it is upsetting. I believe he is jealous and wants all of my attention. What can we do to prevent this, and is this characteristic of the breed?

Thanks,
Michael

Dear Guardian Michael,

I'm going to assume that he is neutered and she is spayed. If not, the fur could really be flying. Anyway, yes, he may very well be jealous of "your female" and this triggers his aggressive behavior with her. If he felt she was there more for him, even if he does get most of your attention, he wouldn't be so ornery with her. You can create this feeling by mentioning his name whenever you interact with her. This way he'll feel included and won't feel zapped when you interact with her and not him. This keeps him in the loop.

Otherwise, they're book ends to "your relationship" with them. Also, credit him for her attributes (e.g., "She's beautiful because she's your companion”). Now, he's not exactly going to understand your words, but it's your tone of voice and body language that will communicate your message. You can also distract him with a toss of a toy or another diversion when you think he's going to annoy her. Occasional rough play is natural for most cats.

His ornery behavior is characteristic of any cat who takes his angst out on a companion cat, be it of jealousy, boredom, etc. You do want to make sure that he works out his energy in play so boredom isn't the trigger for his behavior. A new scratching post, window perch, laser light or tunnel of paper bags may entertain him. You can visit my site (www.thecattherapist.com), for more ideas and also find out about my News Letter.

Hi Carole Wilbourn,

My cat's name is Steve. He is neutered and about 16 months old. I adopted him from an animal shelter in November, 2005, when he was about two months old. Throughout his whole stay with me, he has never tried to sit on my lap or cuddle with me. I've never had a cat before so I assumed cats were naturally reclusive and it was normal for Steve to be behaving this way. The only time he acknowledges me is when he wants food. Any suggestions on how to coax Steve to be a more sociable cat?

Thanks,
Gabriel, Steve's friend

Dear Guardian Gabriel,

Some cats are less interactive with people, and then there are those cats that can never get enough affection. With your Steve, he might have feral cat roots or his genes may be timidity streaked. Here are some suggestions that you can try to relieve some of Steve's fear of intimacy:

• Sit and play with him on the floor so your body is relaxed. Use a toy that will allow you to stroke him occasionally and gently while he's playing. Don't stroke him long in the beginning. You might be able to entice him to interact on the bed or sofa so it's more comfy for you and to kick off a new place of interaction with Steve. Don't be graspy and breathe freely.
• Add several drops of the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for Anxiety to his water. This is a homeopathic remedy that frequently helps cats to relax. It can be purchased on the internet or at most shops that sell homeopathic remedies. In Manhattan you would find it at WHISKERS and their number is 800-WHISKERS.
• Tell Steve he's becoming very mellow and relaxed. The more you think of him becoming and being a more intimate cat, the better it will be. My site (www.thecattherapist.com) will give you more info. Good luck!

Mid-Manhattan Library

Tuesday, March 20th, 6:30 p.m.

455 Fifth Ave (at 40th St)

New York, NY 10016

www.nypl.org

There will be a GUEST cat present.

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.

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..

Molly Of Myers Keswick Is Rescued

"Oh come on Molly you can do it," said cat therapist Carole Wilbourn.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Cat therapist Carole Wilbourn used the sounds of whales on tape and catnip to try and lure Molly out Wednesday. CBS

Feral Cats

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.

Feral Cats

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.

Remember, please add a picture of your cat along with your cat questions.

» CAROLE'S NEWSLETTER--THE WILBOURN WAY"