Getting Schooled

Don't remember when I picked up this book;
probably at a resale shop or garage sale!

I've only been able to skim this one

Anything by John Bradshaw is good!

Can you tell that I'm doing some research?  The cats are schooling us!

You see, Angel isn't enjoying her two brothers as much as we humans are.  I thought we'd tried the 'right stuff' to integrate them, but if they are unsupervised...and within paws length...growling, hissing and whappy paws ensues.  I feel that Manny and Chili Bruce would be happy to completely ignore Angel, but she instigates the battles. 

And here is another rub; everyone talks about introducing the resident cat to a new cat, or kitten, or dog.  We've got a multiple deal here!  Luckily, we are able to partition off the house into five zones, and move the cats around, so all get good exposure to the humans and the scent of the others.  But when they *SEE* each other, the fracas begins.  So, we have cardboard and newspaper taped up over the glass in our french doors, or have solid wood doors.

I have hormone diffusers on order; should arrive tomorrow.  The Hubby is going to put up a fuss over those, but since we close the cats off into separate areas, each area needs it's own diffuser.  Feeding them on opposite sides of a door appears to be a nothing-burger; they eat and it's no problem.  So...somehow...someway...someday...we want to turn the key in Angel's mind from intruder to no threat.  Am thinking about clicker training too.  Has anyone tried it before?  Please let me know in the comments!

Yes, they've only been here since 12/1/17, so it's only been six weeks.  Many of you have mentioned that months of transition can be expected, and to JUST HAVE PATIENCE. 

Disclaimer: The books shown here were purchased by me; did NOT receive one or any as a gift or as an inducement to talk them up for more sales.  While I know nothing of The Eckstein's, I have watched several television shows by both Jackson Galaxy and John Bradshaw, but I don't know them personally.  Wish I did!  But not with camera crews; our house is too messy for broadcasts!  Plus I'd have to lose about 75 pounds...

Minibar's Mom!

Jackson Galaxy, the self-proclaimed Cat Daddy, has a television show that airs on Animal Planet: see info here.  I have been a faithful viewer since the program began in 2011.  The premise: people have a cat whose behavior is making their human family crazy.  One early episode ("Wildcat! originally aired May 21, 2011) has always stuck out in my mind; that of kitten Minibar, who was too feral and unsocial for her owners, Carre and Brian.

Jackson in glasses, Carre and Brian.

Jackson Galaxy helped the couple find ways to encourage Minibar to come out from under the furniture, with play and better access to litter boxes.  By episode end, Carre and Minibar had truly bonded together, even after a chase through a studio full of wood, shelving and tools!

Imagine my surprise, while watching a brand new show this weekend (you see how I waste my time?) on the DYI Network, entitled "Sight Unseen".  A California couple of Carre' Calloway and Wes Borland purchase an old mansion in Detroit, Michigan without actually visiting it first, and the episodes follow them as they renovate a once luxurious home.  More info can be found here.

The mansion

Wes and Carre'

Imagine my surprise when I recognised Minibar's mom!  Yep, the Carre from 2011 and Carre' from 2016 are the same person!  And it turns out, Wes Borland is pretty famous for his guitar music with the band Limp Bizkit, and Carre' is Queen Kwong, an indie rock band.

The Hubby was fairly impressed that I had remembered her face after all this time, and research on the internet then gave me the answers, (and all of these photos!)  Cats were mentioned in an episode of "Sight Unseen" but no cats were actually on camera, darn it.  

So, how cool is this?  Well, I don't know how cool it is, but I do know that this couple is severely pro-animal, they like cats, and they like Detroit. Makes them A-OK in my book, since I've lived in Metro-Detroit for my whole life, I'm vegan, and you KNOW that I lurv my kitties!