» BLACK CAT BALL     

Friday, Oct. 28, we all had a super time. The Ball was to benefit In Defense Of Animals and Neighborhood Cats click on http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/ There were awards given to friends of feral cats. The stunning cat head sculpture awards were designed by Eric Dever. I was one of the judges for the Cat Costume Contest. It was quite the event!

My workshop in Toronto was a marvelous turn-out of cat guardians who wanted to expand and share their knowledge of cat behavior. My co-worker was Jack, a strapping, young white and gray cat. Jack was content to lap up his catnip and to receive compliments and strokes from the class. It was an informal therapy session for him and he would drift off into a lazy snooze inside his Sherpa Bag.

One of the guardians needed a solution for her now incompatible cats. The younger cat teased and tormented his twenty-years-old companion. He also ran his claws over the sofa and rugs. I explained that the younger cat was frustrated because he wanted a playmate. The senior cat was his scape-cat because he preferred to just hang out. I recommended that the senior cat should be kept in a sunny room with all of his creature comforts and a cat-friendly heating pad when she and her husband were away from home. This way there wouldn't be any confrontations. They might arrange for someone to come and play with the "rascal" when they weren't home or they could consider the adoption of a young cat or kitten that was very cat-oriented and would live to play with their frustrated younger cat. A sturdy new scratching post would protect their furnishings. Click on to my site and then Carole's resources. 

My first workshop in Toronto was during a blizzard. I'm happy to say that this time the weather was "the cat's meow".

Dear Carole:

My cat has been licking her stomach bare for the last couple of years. We have just moved interstate and she has now licked off most of her hair from her chest down to her legs. She has been given medication from the vet before but it has never helped. I am hoping there is a natural way to help her.

Melanie


Dear Guardian Melanie:

Poor, dear balding cat! That's no way for her to live. It sounds like she licks out of angst. You might relate such behavior to a nervous person who bites nails or relentlessly scratches his or her head or neck. Your move contributed to her angst and now her tension target has increased boundaries. Here are some treatment steps to relieve her self-mutilation or psychogenic alopecia: 1) Feed her a food that's rich in omega fatty acids or you can use a vitamin supplement to rejuvenate her skin. 2) Whenever you notice that she's about to lick or scratch, distract her with your voice or a toy. 3) Synchronize a vet visit so she can receive an injection to relieve the discomfort. 4) If she's catnip receptive, a sprinkling of nip a few times weekly will help her body to unwind and relax. 5) Sometimes 1/4 teaspoon of brewers yeast mixed in her food will nourish her skin. It's also high in the B vitamins which fight stress. You could do this once or twice daily. Some cats enjoy the taste. 6) Seven or eight drops of the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for anxiety can be added to her water daily. You can purchase it from Whiskers, 1-800-WHISKERS or from a homeopathic shop. 7) Tell her that she's getting better and praise and stroke her. 
There may be situations that you can modify if you feel they are stress provoking. You can refer to testimonials on my web site (http://www.thecattherapist.com/testimonials.htm) for more information. My book, THE TOTAL CAT, has a chapter on overgrooming. Maybe your cat is lonely and needs the right companion, introduced the Wilbourn Way. There is hope for her recovery but it will take time and coordination. Her deviant behavior is a symptom of anxiety that doesn't usually evaporate instantly. Good luck

Dear Carole,

I have a three year old cat named Cheetah. It's somewhat a miracle she is even alive. I work for a landfill, she showed up in a dumpster, it appeared as though someone tossed her there. By the time she was captured by some co-workers, she was so weak, she weighed a mere three lbs you could see and feel every bone in her body, had a frost bitten tail and an abscess. That was two years ago and since has recovered into a healthy happy cat.

However, about three weeks ago, cheetah fell ill with what the vet said was probably a virus like a cold or the flu, she had a high temperature. She became lethargic and began to hide in strange places especially those not on the ground. I was so scared I was going to lose her, she was so sick, but she recovered from that just over a week of falling ill.

This now brings me to my newest dilemma, since falling ill and recovering, Cheetah has adopted a very strange new behaviour. The biggest of these is the fact that over the past week she's become absolutely terrified of the floor. It has gotten to the point where if I put her on the floor she kinda dances and hops around until she finds an elevated space. I can tell by looking at her she is stressed and scared when she's at ground level, she will come down long enough to eat and use her littler box that's it. I don't understand it at all, there is no reason I can think of that the floor would upset her so much. I read one article that suggested fleas, but that is not a problem, nor is any other pest. She used to like to go out in the yard, even the ground outside seems to be a problem for her though.
Hope you can help!

Erica


Dear Guardian Erica:

Cheetah is suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder. Her current illness triggered her residual angst of her abandonment in the dumpster and her torment. The floor has become her tension target, so she avoids it. She's become floor-phobic.

To ease and remedy this angst, the following measures should help: 1) Place a small soft rug or very fluffy towel on the bed. Feed her on this security object and praise and comfort her while and after she eats. Hang out with her for a while to reinforce the comfort. Repeat this for at least a week. 2) Move the towel or rug to the floor beside the bed. If she doesn't feel secure enough to eat here return to the bed and try again on the floor when she's very hungry. You might even brush her here or/and give her catnip. 3) Some soft background music will soothe the two of you. 4) If there's no break-through, a vet visit may be in order. Also, an anti-anxiety drug would be an option and continue to follow my behavioral tips. This recovery may take time and patience but Cheetah will slowly rally.

Hi Carole!

I have a 3.5 year old neutered, male Persian Cat that has been acting weird for the past 2 weeks. In the middle of the night, I will wake up to him push in the back of my head with his front paws. While he's doing this, a strange gurgle is coming out of his mouth. One time I put my hand back there to stop him and he bit me. He NEVER bit before! He is the most docile creature there is! I also woke up twice last week to him humping my foot (which is under the comforter) with that strange gurgling noise. Is he sleep walking?
Thanks in advance for your help!

Amy 


Dear Guardian Amy:

Sounds like your cat is having some very sensual moments. A neutered cat can retain his sensuality. Some cats are more sensual than others. Your cat's behavior is triggered from energy and manifested in a sensual way—related to his sexuality. 
You can help him to work out this energy by engaging him in vigorous play. Perhaps a companion cat or kitten is the solution or you might try to arrange compatible play dates with sociable cats or cat-friendly dogs. Make sure his diet is nutritious. You should be able to channel this horny behavior to more acceptable behavior.

Hello. Hopefully you can help my cat. For a couple of weeks now, my cat has been growling, hissing and chewing on his tail. He hides underneath of the ottoman or the couch and I can hear the growling underneath. He has become anti-social. When he does come out, he's constantly looking over his shoulder at his tail like it isn't a part of him. Then he'll run around trying to catch it hissing and then he'll disappear again. Any ideas what the reason could be?
Thanks so much

Heather


Dear Guardian Heather:

Must be that something excited or frustrated your cat and now his tail has become his "tension target". Once this behavior starts, it can become a constant compulsion. As with your cat, he's become obsessed with his tail. The slightest discomfort triggers his angst and his tail becomes his "tension target".

I'll assume that he's already been neutered so his anxious behavior isn't related to high sexual energy or angst. His anxiety may be related to some current or even past issue that's wreaking havoc with his emotions. Try to evaluate present and past situations that might have affected him psychologically. If so, see if there's something you can do to rectify the situation. 1. Perhaps some special daily private time where you dote on him. Soft meditative background music would relax the two of you. 2. If he's a solo cat, the right companion with the right introduction, (Refer to my book, THE TOTAL CAT.) might please him. 3. A homeopathic remedy such as the Bach Flower remedy for anxiety might calm his body and emotions. 

You should have him vet checked to rule out any physical problem. Diet is very important. A food allergy could also contribute to this obsessive compulsive behavior. A collar may be needed to prevent his reaching his tail and the vet may find it necessary to prescribe an anti-anxiety drug. Oral or injectable medication would ease the ache and itch your cat has created. Do hope you solve this destructive puzzle.

Hi, I just came across your website, it's awesome! I have 
four cats but I'll just to keep this to two questions.

1. Two of my cats like to chew on my fingers and they purr a lot when they do it, I heard it means they're relaxing but it hurts when they chew. Could it mean something else?

2. One of my cats was born with a missing foot. The stump has becomes exposed sometimes because he runs on it. Is there anything I could do for him? The vet said she may have to amputate it.
Thank you so much for your time! 

Ms M.


Dear Guardian M:

When your cats chew on your fingers, it does relax them because they associate the action and feeling with their fond memories of interaction wit their mother cat. Because chewing on your fingers can't tickle, distract them with a toy they can comfortably and safely chew on.

So very sorry about your dear cat's handicap. There might be a prosthetic that would protect the stump. If there isn't any other safe alternative, amputation may be the solution.

All the best!

Tuesday, November 29, '05


» CAT FLAP ANGST

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