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)
October, 2011
A TRIBUTE TO STEVE JOBS
The Apple Store is not only people-friendly. It's animal-friendly. This photo of my Orion along for my One-On-One lesson says it all. A wide variety of dogs mill around with their guardians, and a couple even brought along a goat to celebrate their marriage. Apple's only rule is that you clean up any unforeseen messes.
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT
FELINE ENVIRONMENTALIST
You’ll notice that not only is my Orion playing with an insert from a roll of paper towels, but it’s actually a “green toy!” How’s that for a statement!
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
(Orion, a former rescue, will represent cats and offer nuggets of wisdom regarding Bo, the rescued First Dog—a Portuguese Water Dog.)
FUR IS OFF THE CATWALK IN NORWAY
Orion purrs to that and recommends that Bo should be the poster dog for that wonderful victory. Go Bo! And while we're at it, Orion is awaiting West Hollywood City Council's final approval to ban the sale of fur apparel, the first such ban in the nation.
CATCENTRICITY
Hi Carole,
I'd like your take on this basket situation. It's a three-generation basket. My first cat used it to sleep in but later dragged it around and slept elsewhere. Zena, my next cat who lives with me now, did the same—although the two cats never met. I recently adopted Desi whom you see hanging out in the very same basket. Zena no longer drags the basket around and doesn’t appear to mind that Desi has taken it over.
Do you think Desi will jilt the comfort of the basket and become a "dragger"? What is it about this basket?
Thanks,
Kate S.
Hi Guardian Kate,
Call it a coincidence. Many a cat will eat the very same food and suddenly give it up.
A cat so loves to call the shots. I will say that the shape of this basket makes it inviting and secure enough to cuddle up in. It could be that as time when on, your two cats dragged it to declare their independence, a sign of empowerment. Zena, your current top cat, now has Desi to control, so no longer has to make a power statement with the basket.
MANDY
Hi Carole Wilbourn,
I have a senior cat named Mandy who's sixteen. You'd never know it. She's a ball of fire and has an excellent bill of health. Her cat mate passed on several months ago. At first she seemed bewildered and was not her usual playful self. But as the days passed, and I spent more time playing with her, she snapped back. I usually work at home, so we have lots of time together. But I have to take a business trip so Mandy and I will be apart for two months. Her favorite person will stay with her, but he now lives with a small dog. Although his dog is cat-friendly, I'm not sure if Mandy would appreciate the "addition." He could leave the dog with his sister who lives in my building, which would enable him to see his dog frequently. What do you think is best for Mandy? She's my priority, but I want to be considerate of my friend's relationship with his dog. Thanks for your help.
Helen
Hi Guardian Helen,
Isn't Mandy lucky to have a guardian like you? Not to worry! Here are my recommendations:
PRE-INTRODUCTION
- Start Skyping with your friend while you have Mandy on your lap, and his dog is beside him. This way they can get a quick look at each other. Even if Mandy leaves your lap, she'll still feel connected to the conversation. The dog might even bark once or twice, which will desensitize the culture shock for Mandy.
MANDY MEETS THE DOG
- After you've Skyped a few times, your friend can visit with his dog on a lead. Repeat the visits three or four times, and you'll be able to get a feeling for Mandy's reaction. Be sure to concentrate on Mandy during these visits so you don't ruffle her whiskers. You could even play some music on your iPod to relax all of you.
- Praise Mandy effusively after your friend and his dog leave to create a positive association.
CONCLUSION
I think it would be best if the dog stays with your friend's sister, but he can bring his dog to visit Mandy when you can arrange to Skype or speak on the phone-even if it's for a short period. This way Mandy can be reminded of the sessions you had before your trip. Repeat this a few times so they become used to each other, Because Mandy is a senior cat, I don't want to create any unnecessary separation anxiety for her while you're away. This would be the best plan now for all of you and, especially, Mandy who's in her golden years.
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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