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.

CONTEST HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH NOVEMBER 15th

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.

My cat, Orion, and I were speakers at the NYC Cat Acatemy that was overflowing with feline guardians. It was a fun-filled catmosphere.

The Cat Acatemy is now on national tour. If you’re unable to attend the Acatemy in person, you can learn to think like a cat with cat napping and my other online lessons. Score well on the aptitude test and you can get your online degree. The more you think like a cat, the better your feline relationship will be. You may need a little help from your cat. But won’t your cat be proud of your choice in higher education where the tuition is free? Click here to participate in the fun.

Find out how you can help feed homeless animals for free with a simple click.

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, scroll down the right and click “cat therapist.”.

Tom Cat on the Scene

Hi Carole Wilbourn,

We're fostering an un-neutered male cat and his son because his guardians are moving. Our spayed, female, cat is unable to get along with the un-neutered male cat. She has screeched, hissed and growled, and even let out some clear white fluid from her vaginal area. This happens every time he tries to approach her.

I don't find her growling and hissing odd. However, she seems to spray clear white fluid from her vaginal area, as if she is in heat again. She was spayed at six months, but had gone into heat at four and five months. There were no other un-neutered toms for her to mate with while this was going on, and she never got pregnant.

Is it possible the un-neutered male is giving off some sort of smell that is setting her off? We've had to keep them separated constantly from each other because she gets so worked up and I hate seeing her so upset.

Thanks,
Kaeli A.

Dear Guardian Kaeli,

Yes, your spayed female is clearly aware that this male cat is “intact,” a tomcat, an un-neutered male. She can sense this by his demeanor, energy level and his scent. She may possibly have some retained ovarian tissue that wasn’t removed when she was spayed but I think you would have been aware of this sooner. You could discuss this with your vet.

Continue to keep the cats separated and talk to the tomcat’s guardians about having him neutered. He will be a happier and healthier cat. My book The Total Cat will give them additional information on why he should be neutered.

Devoured Whiskers

Hi Carole Wilbourn:

I have two female cats that are sisters. Both have had kittens and have chewed off their kitten’s whiskers. I asked my vet, but she has never heard of such behavior and had no luck finding an answer on the internet. Why do you think my cats are whisker-chewers?

Thank you,
Michelle V.

Dear Guardian Michelle:

It sounds like your females became overzealous with their maternal duties. They became carried away and chomped off their kitten’s whiskers. You may want to make sure they have a balanced diet and make arrangements to have them spayed. Their “whisker-chewing” may be a symptom of emotional stress, and there is already a huge overpopulation of homeless kittens. Best of luck to you and your cats.

Surrogate Cats

Hi Carole Wilbourn,

Why does my cat howl at night and carry around my beanie babies in his mouth (which are now his toys) and transfer them from one room to another one? He howls while carrying the toy and seems quite anxious about it.

He primarily does this behavior at night, and now one of my other cats has followed his lead. One cat takes the toy from one room to another, then the other cat takes that same toy and moves it somewhere else. It's really weird to see.

Thank you,
Christine
Huntington Beach, Calif.

Dear Guardian Christine:

Your two cats have a good game going—almost like a relay race in slow motion. The beanie babies have become their security objects or surrogate kittens. Cats are nocturnal creatures so the timing is right. They’re definitely of the creative bent and how generous of you to donate your beanie babies to fostering their nightly ritual.

The Humper

Hi Carole Wilbourn,

I have two five-year-old cats who are brother and sister from the same litter. The male was neutered at a few months old and recently has been humping two bed blankets at night when we go to sleep. When I pet him to try to distract him, he lets out a loud meow and will try to nip at my hand. He never bites on a regular basis and has always been a wonderful loving cat. Please let me know if you have any idea how we can stop this and if he is ok or if there is something wrong.

Thank you for any help you can provide,

Emily G.

Dear Guardian Emily,

Not to worry! Sounds like a release of pent-up-energy. A neutered male is still a sexual creature and has decided to adopt your bed blankets as a salute to bedtime. A vigorous evening playtime may help him to release this energy and you might give him his own blanket to work out on. But don’t be surprised if he prefers yours. My Cat Caring CD will help to relax him and give you all kinds of valuable cat tips.

Amazon Continues To Look The Other Way

Why is it that Amazon continues to sell books on ANIMAL FIGHTING? Can their business be that bad?

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.

You should begin to notice some changes in Reggie’s demeanor in several days. If there isn’t any improvement within two weeks, it may be best to put the kitten refuge on hiatus for several months. At that time you could start again and use these recommendations. But I do hope that Reggie unloads his animosity. “You can do it Reggie!”>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..

Feral Cats

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.

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