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

» THE OPEN CENTER AND GERIATRIC CATS











by Terry Gruber

My second workshop at the Open Center in Soho was, partially, a salute to geriatric cats. My cat, Diana-Moon-Dust, a petite Siamese, in her golden years, accompanied me. She was very content to hang out and receive the admiration and strokes from my class. Diana travels well and her roomy, soft, Sherpa Carrier allows her to travel first class. When Diana is home, she spends most of her day in her basket in a sunny spot, stretched out on her heating pad. The heat relaxes her body, mind and spirit and enhances her slumber. You might consider a cat-friendly heating pad for your geriatric cat—a touch of the spa. 

My daughter (Jessica) and her husband have been in Germany for two years (Nathan is in the Army). Jessica had two cats who went with her to Germany—sister and brother cats. They had been with Jessica for two years since they were kittens. When Jessica found out she was pregnant and the doctor told her it was best not for a pregnant woman to be around litter boxes, Jessica shipped the two cats home to me. They made the plane trip just fine and after a day or so of adjusting at my home, they seemed to be making themselves at home quite nicely. I do have two other cats in the house, but they seemed to be getting along just fine after a week of adjusting to each other. Then, suddenly, the male (brother) died. I don't know what happened. I thought he was sleeping by the back patio door where he slept a lot and liked to look out the door. I went to pet him, and he had died. He was only two years old as is his sister. It has been over a month now and his sister only wants to stay in a bedroom on top of a dresser (where the food, water, and litter box are located). I pet her every time I walk by the room and every time I walk by, she meows for me to pet her. She loves for me to pet her and she rolls over for me to stroke her tummy, I also spend time with her every evening petting her and talking to her (I am away from home all day working). After a week I tried to take her out of the bedroom and I tried to sit in the living room with her and pet her and hold her, just to get her out of the bedroom and let her know she can go to other rooms, but she jumps off my lap and always dashes back to the top of the dresser in the bedroom. When I follow her there, she loves for me to pet her but she wants to stay in the bedroom on that dresser. She seems to be eating her food just fine and she uses the litter box just fine.... but won't leave that room. Is she still mourning the loss of her brother, and maybe even the loss of her home with my daughter? Is this all too much of a shock to her? I don't know what to do.

Sonia


Dear Guardian Sonia:

So very sorry about the loss of your daughter's cat—especially, such a very young cat. Unless it's a very special situation, a pregnant woman can live with cats. But to rule out any contagious problems such as toxoplasmosis which can be transferred to a person, a pregnant woman doesn't handle the litter box. Her spouse or another person takes care of "litter detail".

Yes, your daughter's female is in mourning. It's intensified by the separation from your daughter’s home—so we have double separation anxiety. You are doing a marvelous job in comforting her. She's staying sequestered because she feels safe and can't deal with much stimulation. You might want to schedule her for a vet exam to rule out any medical problems. Very slowly, she will turn the corner. If your other two cats are unhappy with her, a young kitten that resembles her former companion could be her remedy for recovery. You could refer to my site, www.thecattherapist.com for more info. Keep up the good work, Sonia.

Help, Carole Wilbourn: 

My husband is about to boot our first born Bengal out of the house—he's seriously talking about giving him away. He is 6 year old neutered male. About one month ago, he started screaming at night. He is seemingly fine all day, and then 15-30 minutes after we go to bed, he wanders around the house and screams constantly. It's fraying our nerves considerably. Our veterinarian prescribed diazepam twice daily—specifically at night. We moved on May 17th, but the behavior did not begin until 2 1/2 months after we moved, so I'm not sure if that's relevant. Whatever the cause, we need a solution. 

Thanks, Jennifer  

Dear Guardian Jennifer:

Sleep deprivation can make a person unreasonable—for good reason. Your cat's nocturnal angst is a result of culture shock—even though his howling didn't start immediately after your move to your new home. Deviant behavior doesn't always start right when triggered. Many times it surfaces later. So we need to make your nocturnal environment more peaceful for all of you. By this time I'm sure you've given your night owl cat many play sessions to tire him out and a pre-bedtime session is very important. Many times an anti-anxiety drug will remedy this disturbing behavior but it hasn't for your guy. So, let me give you a program for his bedtime venue: 1) Select a small room where he can spend the night. Include his creature comforts such as litter box, water, bedtime snack, cozy basket or bed and soft music. 2) Be friendly when you escort him to his room. (His companions may want to accompany him. 3) If you get up during the night don't stop in to see him, because he may get charged up. 

Think of this room as his security object. He is being sequestered so you can get a good night's sleep not for punishment's sake. You don't want to continue to build RESENTMENT. This room can be his nocturnal playground. Here he won't be as affected by your biological rhythms which may have contributed to his howling.

Make sure his diet is well-balanced and an evening brushing may help to relax his body. In time he may no longer need this nocturnal sanctuary. You can refer to my book THE TOTAL CAT for more info. Here's to satisfying slumber. 

Hi,
I could really use some advice! I have a 6 months old neutered Bengal male, Raji, who is very aggressive to my 1.5 years old, spayed female Abyssinian, Najeeba. I have had Najeeba since she was four months old and Raji since he was 3 months old. He is now a little larger than her. Raji is very domineering towards Najeeba, whose personality has changed since his arrival. He cannot stand to have anyone pay attention to her, including showing her affection, talking to her, or playing with her. When we do (which we still do often!) he jumps on her back. She has become very uncomfortable playing because of this and will show no interest other than watching from a distance.

Our solution has been removing him from the living area and putting him in the bathroom or bedroom. Sometimes we put him in the bedroom, not as punishment, but just so she can get some time alone to receive affection and to play without the threat of his attacks. It always takes her a while to feel comfortable and she keeps jerking around and looking down the hallway to see if he's stalking her.

Sometimes it gets very serious for her emotionally. He chases her through the house, she is hissing and growling and trying to fight him off, he backs her into corners, chases her onto windowsills, where she is backed up against the window, seemingly terrified, etc. It is very stressful for me as well, chasing after him, trying to stop him, while she is clearly very scared. Once he gets really worked up, there is no stopping him until I catch him. By then, his heart is racing and it takes a long time for him to calm down.

We have used Feliway and spray bottles without result, are still using "time out" and I have been giving him Bach flower remedies, Vine and Rescue Remedy for 2 weeks. I'm not sure what else to do. He kicks her out of her food bowl spot and then when she hisses and changes bowls, he does it again! He has no interest in a toy until she does, then he pounces. He likes to scare her away from a spot that she has been sitting in and then he sniffs the spot obsessively. Jumping on her back, sniffing where she's been and sniffing her bottom. What can we do to stop this? 

Dear Guardian Julia:

Unfortunately, this is not a good match. Sounds like you have a super energetic young male who needs someone to bounce around with and your fifteen years old female is not the solution. I would keep them separate for a while.

I would strongly consider adopting a young, very playful kitten to distract your mischief maker from your matriarchal victim. Use my introduction (archives, 3/22/05) and make an appointment for the vet to check out Najeeba to rule out any medical problems. Presently, you have two frustrated cats who cannot live in harmony. My web site (www.thecattherapist.com) will give you options on my various services.

» POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Dear Carole Wilbourn at CATS ON THE COUCH:

My name is Quentin. I recently acquired a one year old Siamese cat that was in a local vet office about to be put to sleep because the cat's guardians didn’t want her anymore. She is spayed and declawed. My other cat, a two years old, "very large" male, is also declawed and neutered. For the first week my wife and I have kept the Siamese in our bedroom with all her creature comforts. But she is always hiding. If I pick her up out of her hiding place and stroke and love her, she trembles and shakes horribly. My other cat looks at her and she freaks out, hissing and growling until I finally separate them. She never comes to us, except when I feed her food from my hands. It has been going on for three weeks now and she still hides. What can I do to get her to stay out and play instead of this constant hiding and growling?

Thank you,

Quentin


Dear Guardian Quentin:

Poor Siamese! She feels so terrified and disoriented! To be abandoned and now in yet another new situation has put her over the edge. She can't cope and the presence of another cat adds to her culture shock and angst. But thank goodness you and your wife are understanding and will help her to recover from her trauma and adapt to her new situation.

The following treatment will help you to slowly accomplish this: 1) She's hiding because she feels safe out of view and in a small cozy place. So provide her with a small, sunny room or enclosure with her creature comforts. 2) Keep her separate from your male cat until she feels comfortable. He should have access to your bedroom so he doesn't resent her for being excluded. 3) If she's kept in a separate small room, expandable gates can be stacked in the doorway frame so they can see each other but not have physical contact. 4) Soft music, lavender potpourri and a sprinkling of catnip on a toy or scratching post should help to relax her. Your male will also, benefit from these options. 5) Mention his name when you interact with her so he feels included. This will prevent potential NEW CAT RIVALRY. 6) Speak to her whenever you approach her or change your action to defuse transition angst. She's very vulnerable to change. 7) She may need a homeopathic remedy or anti-anxiety drug if she doesn't start to respond to this program within a few weeks. Slowly but surely, she will recover from her trauma. It is very similar to the post-traumatic stress disorder that the companion animals of Hurricane Katrina are experiencing.
 

Dear CATS ON THE COUCH:

We have a seven months, neutered male kitten named Xander that we adopted from the shelter when he was about ten weeks old. He's terrific when he's not out of control. At these obnoxious moments he bites and scratches, particularly when he doesn't get his way. He also will randomly scratch the rug and other unacceptable places. We'll never have him declawed but we do need to stop this abuse. Please help! 

Thanks, Beth


Dear Guardian Beth:

Your Xander sounds like a mixture of Governor Arnold and THE WILD ONE. But you can take the ABUSE out of his m.o.

Xander is relating to you as he would another cat. But to you, his behavior is abusive. To another cat, it would be fair game. You are no match for Xander's rough-housing. Xander is a high energy kitten who's affected by the single cat syndrome. An addition of a very playful kitten or young cat would be his cure. In fact, an older, playful cat would be a good role model for him. Aside from wrestling, grooming and sleeping matches, such a cat could be his mentor. You can refer to my book, THE TOTAL CAT, click on to www.thecattherapist.com for matching your cat's catsonality and the introduction.

To resolve his random destruction derby of your household, provide him with a substantial scratching post. Click on to my site (www.thecattherapist.com/great_cat_stuff.htm) for the Felix Post. Praise him whenever he uses the post and reprimand him sharply when he doesn't. Xander's BAD BEHAVIOR should be wiped out with these suggestions. You can also click on to my archives (www.idausa.org/cat_therapist/archives.html) for additional info. Here's to a toned-down Xander!

For help, refer to the archives because I can't answer every email in my
column. For MORE INFO, ask the cat therapist or email Carole at
thecattherapist@idausa.org

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