Orion’s Catitudes: A Rescued Recovering Feral Speaks - 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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29 Jul Orion’s Catitudes: A Rescued Recovering Feral Speaks

Posted at 02:21h in Blog by
Orion, a recovering feral gives his cat-speak and ©whisker waves on cat issues ….

“To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts” – Henry David Thoreau

** New Baby Rivalry In London
** Former Hermaphrodite/Intersex Cat
** Canine Rivalry And Culture Shock
** Orion Has Cat Sitter And Denzel Is Surrogate  ….

New Baby Rivalry In London

Smulan & Ottie distance themselves especially with the baby’s arrival

Orion is pleased there is a way to chip away at the angst of the arrival of a new baby which consumed Smulan, an eight-year-old British cat. A WhatsApp video consult was the venue for Smulan’s recovery.

Mistaken Identity – Hermaphrodite/Intersex

Smulan was found by rescuers in a car engine at about eight months old, covered with soot. A bath revealed her color not to be black. Instead, Smulan was a bi-color—white with a black trim. When it came time to neuter Smulan, she had both male and female genitalia. Yes, she was a hermaphrodite—an intersex cat. Surgery was done to remove her testes so she wouldn’t have the “tom cat characteristics” of an intact male. Her ovaries and uterus were only slightly developed. She wouldn’t go into heat. They wouldn’t be a health threat to her, such as a pyometra. No need for an ovariohysterectomy (spay).  So when Smulan was adopted by Rachel and Aaron, her status was “female”.

Canine Rivalry And Culture Shock 

Ottie has mixed emotions

Rachel told me how Smulan, who is now eight years old, lives with Ottie, a six year old dog. It was a tolerable, peaceful relationship until adopted baby Oscar arrived several months ago. That’s when their relationship became more of avoidance.  Smulan spent more time in her outdoor enclosures and Ottie usually distanced himself from the baby except when they took Oscar baby out for walks in his carriage. Ottie would only go out for walks if Oscar went along. “Smulan’s main person—object of affection is my husband,” said Rachel. She went on to say that his daily schedule has changed. “Most of his spare time is spent with Oscar. And my schedule has totally been turned upside down now that Oscar is a toddler—although I do work at home.”

Re-invention of Daily Schedule
As I finished their case histories, I filled Rachel in on my conclusions and treatment plan. “It’s been total culture shock for all of you. Baby Oscar’s cries, constant need for attention — all natural needs— have changed the family’s priorities. There’s separation anxiety because Smulan and Ottie have less private time with you, and especially because the baby has taken over most of your husband’s private time with Smulan, her reaction is to flee outdoors to dissipate her disappointment. Ottie’s reaction — although wary of the baby, he won’t be taken for walks outdoors unless Oscar baby is along, is part baby protection and part canine control. He may feel if the baby is along, there’s no chance that he, Ottie, may disappear.”

Ottie refuses to go on walks without baby Oscar

Treatment Plan —Major recommendations
*Play the link of music 24/7 to recreate the positive relaxation of their video session.
*Re-schedule your days so Smulan and Ottie have their own private time— Smulan especially needs more private time with your husband, her fave person.
*Acknowledgment is always a game changer. Whenever you interact with baby Oscar, say “Right you guys?” or however  you want to verbally include them so they don’t feel left out—abandoned.
*Tell them they had such a good idea to adopt baby Oscar. Thank them. Your relaxed body language and tone of voice will put them in their comfort zone, instead of their “left out” zone — their POV. This technique will keep you all on the same page—a family united.
*Some fresh catnip or Catnip Garden for Smulan, a new scratch post and pad. Maybe a robotic cat that purrs and some fave dog-friendly bones for Ottie, and he might rock with a robotic dog.
*When baby Oscar cries, tell them you’ll take care of him for them. In other words, you’re their au pair.
*The more they feel in control, the more they won’t be out of control.

Nurture Nod
I ended their session with a distant Reiki treatment to balance their body, mind and spirit. I reminded Rachel to do some feel-good stuff for herself, and the family would get a contact high.
Rachel would be in touch with a progress report and would schedule a follow up video consult if needed to reinforce their recovery.
Yes, this entire program would give a nurture nod to the tie that bonds.


Orion and Denzel 

Orion blisses out with his cat sitter nearby

 

Orion’s got it! He rocks with his toy and cat sitter

Orion had a cat sitter holiday when I went to Los Angeles to visit and celebrate my sister Gail’s latest movie News Of The World with Tom Hanks and her husband Tony’s movie Naked Singularity with John Boyega. Orion’s cuz, Denzel was my surrogate Orion.

Denzel is an Orion surrogate

And now Orion’s signature ……

ALL CATS MATTER

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