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.
CATS ON THE COUCH, November '09
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT
"Go Orion," I said, as he scratched away on his scratch board. "What a workout!" As he now lay stretched out with his far-away, blissful look, he patiently, but doggedly, waited for me to appear with his rubber brush, one of Orion's many high points of the day.
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.)
IT COULD BE THE SINGLE DOG SYNDROME
The First Lady had referred to Bo as being a little crazy when he playfully nipped at her ankles. Orion wonders if this could be a symptom of the "single dog syndrome." He recommends doggie play dates and vigorous play periods to wipe out Bo's nip. But a rescued cat or even dog companion would be a very cool solution.
OUR YOUNG CAT ATTACKS OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER
Hi Carole,
Back in July, we took in a young male cat who was about three months old. He's always been very loving, but he has had moments where out of nowhere he bites our youngest daughter. At first we were thinking it was a dominance issue. She's the smallest person in the house, and she tends to run from him. We got him neutered in the hope that it would calm him down, which it did in the beginning. But now two weeks later, he is going after her a little more aggressively. She has also had her moments of being mean to him, but this seems a bit extreme. We are at the point where we are looking to find him another home. Any clues why he is doing this? We are at a loss.
Thanks,
Adrienne N.
Hi Guardian Adrienne,
Poor kitty, and your poor daughter! It sounds like the single cat syndrome. He's treating your little daughter as he would another cat. Although his bites may be more aggressive than her moments of mean-ness, his point of view may differ. The best solution would be to engage him in very vigorous play periods or arrange play dates with another cat of either sex, a very playful, cat-oriented kitten, or even a cat-friendly dog. He might just be pining for lively companionship. You can refer to my archives of January, '09, for The Wilbourn Way of introducing a kitten to your cat. There's no reason to give up your cat, and now you can give a home to another. It's making lemonade out of lemons.
MY GOLDEN AGED CAT MAY BE LONELY
Hi Carole,
About four weeks ago, my 16-year-old feline friend passed on from congestive heart failure. Her mother, who is 17, remains with me. I feel she may now be depressed and lonely without her daughter and constant friend. I was thinking of getting a companion for her, but I’m not sure of which gender and age. If you have any advice, I would really appreciate your expertise. Thank you so much.
Chris
Hi Guardian Chris,
We're so very sorry about your kitty. Why not take a little more time before you make any decision to adopt a friend for her. During this time you can make sure that her health is okay and get a better sense of whether she wants a companion. If so, adopt a young, healthy, spayed, female cat who resembles your late cat and one who loves to be with other cats. I'm sure you'll make the best decision.
BEDTIME EYE DASHES
Hi Carole Wilbourn,
Let me tell you that I adore my cat. It's just the two of us. We're a cool couple. He's a ball of fire. I play with him, and he even has play dates with the neighbor’s cats and dog. There’s only one difficulty - at bedtime, he makes a game out of sudden mad dashes at my face. He seems to be reacting to the fluttering of my eyes. If he accidentally doesn’t use the velvet paw, my eyes could be at risk. I would never get him declawed and he does allow me to clip his claws. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Millie
Hi Guardian Millie,
I can see why your kitty is such a joy to hang out with - except for his bedtime havoc, which must be resolved quickly. You can protect your eyes by wearing the eyeshades that are often given out on air flights. They should be available at a drug or health food store. Slip them on at bedtime so you can slumber without fear. Celebrate your super catdom!
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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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