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)
September, 2011
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
On that tragic day in September, I witnessed the attack on the second tower. Soon after I was able to give advice to those many guardians whose homes were uprooted by the tragedy and who wanted to do the best for their animal companions. Although a decade has passed since that catastrophic disaster, the effects are still greatly felt. IDA wants to extend its heartfelt support to all of you and your animal companions whose lives were irrevocably changed on 9/ll.
HURRICANE IRENE AND CATS
Thanks Orion, you're such a cool and accurate barometer. Although all night the wind howled and the rain fell in buckets, my Orion didn't freak out. His unremarkable reaction to Irene was my cue that we were out of harm's way. His muscle memory didn't contain any past traumatic feelings of what he now experienced with Irene on the loose.
Because a cat is a magnetic force for changes in the atmosphere (catmosphere), a cat's behavior is often a true reflection of what one can expect. Some cats are more sensitive than others. What about your cat?
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SUBTEXT
IT'S REIKI TREATMENT TIME
My Orion is hanging out with his Reiki doll for a reason. It's time for his Reiki treatment. This consists of petting and placing my hands on various parts of his body, while I envision learned Reiki symbols. By the time we've finished, the two of us are relaxed, refreshed, and inspired. Orion is an exemplary model of the power of Reiki.
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.)
MOVE YOUR BODY
"Move Your Body," a Beyonce song, is the theme song for Michele Obama's Let's Move campaign for fitness of mind, body, and spirit. Orion wants Bo to be the poster dog for this movement. Go Bo!
OUR CAT HOWLS WHEN I WALK THE DOG (Dog Rivalry)
Hi Carole,
Why does our young, spayed, female cat howl each night when I take the dog out?
Hi Guardian Rob,
What a cat! She definitely wants to be part of the action. "Include me," she says. After all it's nighttime. Cats are nocturnal, so she's really on her game. Tell her that you're taking "her" dog out to make "her" life easier and healthier. Remember to engage her upon your return. Rob, keep your cat in the loop so she doesn't have to broadcast.
OBSSESSIVE EATER (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
Dear Carole,
Several years ago, our cat Yoshi was missing for two weeks. We searched all over for him. Oh, how we smiled and cried when the night he arrived back at our doorstep. Though he found his way home, he was skinnier than we had ever seen him. Ever since he’s become obsessed with food. Yoshi’s almost 20 pounds now. When he eats, he has a voracious quality to him. Otherwise, he is the friendliest and most easygoing, carefree cat. But I am worried that his weight problem is related to a traumatic experience from being starved when he disappeared from home. Although we’ve restricted his food to two meals a day, I feel that we need to address the underlying problem for his food obsession. Please help.
Thanks,
Emelie
Hi Guardian Emilie,
It sounds like your Yoshi]s food obsession is a result of post-traumatic stress disorder from his anxiety-ridden days of being lost and food-less. To Yoshi, each meal may be his last. An empty plate is a reminder of no food.
Emilie, here is a plan to treat Yoshi's food obsession:
- Divide Yoshi's food into a few small meals. Melon, broccoli, and any other low calorie foods might interest Yoshi—as long as they agree with his g.i. system.
- When he's eating, talk to him softly Play some low-key music to relax him, and continue the music throughout the day.
- Brushing will help to relax his body.
After about two or three weeks of his treatment plan, distract him with a toy or other diversion before he's cleaned his plate. After a few minutes, he can return to his food. A repeat of this distraction will enable Yoshi to change his focus and still be able to return to the security of his food. Slowly but surely, he will become less dependent on food as his major security object.
Emilie, search out some new toys for Yoshi. A new scratching post, a tunnel of paper bags, and a flashlight or laser beam might encourage him to break into a trot.
A Reiki treatment would be healing for him. You can find my site at the top of this page for more info. on Reiki.
Best of luck with your Yoshi's fitness plan.
THE TIE THAT BINDS (Charlie's own Puppy)
One afternoon on my way home, a fluffy, medium-sized dog kept turning his head to stare at me. He sat beside a puppy as his guardian chatted with another person. But when the guardian turned my way, I realized that she was Susan, an old friend and former client.
"Susan, Charlie kept staring at me. Now I know why. And who's the puppy?" "Remember, we talked about how when Charlie became feeble and unhappy, how a puppy might rejuvenate him?" As I nodded, Susan went on to tell me how the puppy hung on Charlie's every move. No more Charlie angst for her two cats ever since Charlie's puppy appeared on the scene. The puppy was a constant bundle of smiles.
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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