A Home For Christmas - Carole Wilbourn
Carole Wilbourn, The Cat Therapist, has been the leading voice in feline therapy for over 5 decades. She has helped thousands of cat moms and dads explore, face, and resolve cat behavioral and health issues. Carole is truly the most trusted Cat Therapist in the United States.
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01 Jan A Home For Christmas

Posted at 01:04h in Blog by

The sudden loss of their guardian leads to major transitions ….

A Home For Christmas
(Loss, Integration, Major Transition)

Squash and Pumpkin

Where Was Mom? “When my mom didn’t answer her texts or phone, and I realized we’d been out of touch for five or six days, I panicked,“ said Deborah. She arrived at her mother’s building to find some notices slipped under her door.
As Deborah didn’t have the key to the special security lock, and her mom lived with two young cats, time was crucial. With the help of the fire department, they got inside. 
Her mom was motionless, stretched out on the couch. She apparently had sudden heart failure. Deborah was grateful that her mom’s end was without long suffering.

And Her Cats?
One of the cats was found in the bedroom. The other was beneath the couch. Their bowls were totally empty — no food or water. Luckily, they were neither dehydrated or apparently weak, so Deborah, a vet technician, knew she didn’t have to take them directly to Westside Veterinary Center where she worked and where I do sessions with the hospital patients.

Preps For Cat Integration
After appropriate arrangements, she took the cats, Pumpkin and Squash, to her apartment where she lived with her husband and their two cats, Hot Rod and Chili Pepper.

Hot Rod and Chili Pepper

She put her mom’s cats, who were one year old, neutered brothers, in a separate room with their “own stuff” and creature comforts.
As Deborah had consulted me in the past in regard to new cat introductions and integrations, she knew
1) Gates were essential in the doorway to their room so the cats could see and interact with each other without physical contact.
2) Also, that her cats had to be verbally acknowledged whenever she interacted with the bros, so they wouldn’t feel displaced or rejected. Her cats needed to feel in control, so they wouldn’t act out of control. Refer to April 2014 Blog — Scroll down to Dante Attacks His Two Companions. 

The next morning Deborah was awakened by shrill, menacing meows. Pumpkin had his brother Squash, cornered. She was able to distract Pumpkin with a toss of a toy so Squash could run for cover.
Three days later with separations, time out, wind down time, toys, treats — Pumpkin was still in rage mode. Goodbye to the bros who were once best buds. 

Pumpkin and Squash used to be Best Buds

Rabbit Hole Syndrome — So Many Traumas 
Deborah had wanted the cats to stay together. But Pumpkin’s grief had turned to fury. Squash was his tension target. Perhaps in time Pumpkin’s attitude towards his brother would change. But she had to consider the welfare of her guys.
Deborah had to be flexible. The right choice was critical. No way did she want to create a quagmire. There had already been so many traumas — loss of her mother, culture shock of a new environment, new cat competition. Deborah couldn’t focus on what she preferred. She wouldn’t let herself go down that rabbit hole.

Pumpkin Moves On — Major Transition
Her husband reminded Deborah that her cat-less brother might be a possible home for Pumpkin who was a real people lover. He’d be the only cat and center of attention. By that evening Pumpkin had moved in with her brother who texted that Pumpkin had made his day. “I now have a domestic compatible, companion in time for the holidays.”  
After Pumpkin left, at first Squash stayed hidden in the closet, but with toys, catnip, brushing, his music and a distant Reiki treatment, he was all purrs and ate a hearty breakfast. 

Prognosis
Because Pumpkin was the decision maker and Squash the copy-cat, with two cats to copy, he would be able to make the transition without too many twists.
“Yes, and Hot Rod, the older, can chill at will, while Chili Pepper, the younger and Squash do their thing. A vicarious fun work-out for Hot Rod,” said Deborah.

Integration Reminders For Cat Mingle

  • When the gates are opened for “cat-mingle”, it should be for short intervals — even a few minutes.
  • Start off the intervals when the cats are relaxed and mellow.
  • Return Squash to his room before there’s any sign of agitation — tail swish, hiss, wide eyes.
  • Separate the cats while the going’s good to create a positive association.
  • Repeat the intervals several times a day to increase their acceptance of each other

I told Deborah that gradually, they would gain tolerance and grow to accept each other. She and her husband would be able to give the cats the attention they needed for their relationship to evolve into a happy catdom. “Squash and Pumpkin are one of my mom’s many timeless gifts,” said Deborah.

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