A cat behaviorist is coming out to the house!

I called my vet this morning to talk about my problems with Miley and Ti. I was referred to a behaviorist - and she is coming out on August 7th, to observe the situation and give me advice. It will be expensive, but not any more than I have already spent on those silly diffusers!

I will have to fill out a questionaire first, then she will visit for 2 hours. I am so happy - and hopeful. The vet's office said that this woman works miracles with cats and HAS in the past, repaired fighting cats...cats that poop at the sight of the other one....and that is my situation too! I am so, so, so hopeful!

Love and thanks to all of you.

I am so tired of this situation and now there is light at the end of the tunnel!

SAS

Best of luck to you, SAS!

SAS you surely do love your kitties . Hurry up Aug. 7th. Major hugs to Miley and you. How's Juni faring in all this ?

This sounds great. I am very very curious what she will say. Please note every single word and give it to us. (ok.....I know....) I also have been thinking about this beahvior -I never have seen something like this.

Hey there is some hope in that story:)

Sorry to hear about your situation with Miley and Ti Sallyanne, cats can be expensive pets can’t they! I really hope it helps.
Did you ever see the Osbournes and their pooping dogs? They had some sort of dog psychiatrist in, but it didn’t seem to work very well, they just kept on pooping on the expensive rugs anyway. Hope she helps more than theirs did! We’ll all be crossing our fingers and paws here, and looking forward to hearing a report.

john

Just another thought. I don't know that much about Bengal's but could the fact that a wild cat is in the mix and not that far back generation wise cause him to have traits that would affect how he deals with other cats. The fact that Miley runs away from him in fear could trigger his hunting instincts and then he no longer has control either. Juni on the other hand wants to play and has no fear of him and so does not trigger the same reaction. Sigh....:(

Maybe if Miley has a gun, it will keep Ti away!

I will take notes when the behaviorist comes out! Until then, the doors will be locked between the cats, in an effort to build Miley's confidence level. Ugh!

Sallyanne, you are my hero! You are going to every effort to make this work and I really, really admire you for doing it. Now, if you can just keep the peace until that behaviorist gets there in August!!!! Having a Miley (in the form of Mimi) and a Ti (in the form of Butter) of my own, I feel for you, every single time you report another episode. I do think that my cats do ok because they can get enough space from each other in the two story house and by going outdoors.

Fingers, paws and claws all crossed here that the three kitties can live in harmony and you can finally relax!!!! :)

Saint SAS, you are an inspiration to us all :)

Maybe she could come over and explain to Moose The Magnificent the benefits of going on a diet! The big fellow now tops off at 25 pounds!

All fingers and paws are crossed here hoping that everything works out. Please take notes and tell us everything she does.

Good luck!

Sas, I think it is absolutely wonderful you are trying everything under the sun. I will be praying the cat behaviorist can work some miracles! I am sure it'll be well worth your money :)

Thats very promising news. I once read a book by a cat behaviorist and they can have the ability to see things that you might not be aware of that can be part of the problem. The fact that you are so willing to stick it out and try new things will be very beneficial. It must also be somewhat of a relief to realize that you are not the only one who has ever gone through this.

I hope this works for you and the entire gang.

Sallyanne, I'm so glad that you're not giving up yet and willing to try a cat behaviorist. :) I sure hope that she can help Ti and Miley overcome their issues towards each other. All fingers and paws are crossed here. Good luck. :D

What a wonderful suggestion! I'm surprised none of us here thought of that, but thank goodness your vet did. I really, really, really hope she can pull off the miracle you are hoping for.

Can't wait for Aug 7th! :)

Sallyanne, I think you are absolutely wonderful for not giving up on Ti and trying yet again to find an answer. I admire you so.
I will be praying that the behaviourist can and does help. And come August we will have all fingers and paws crossed here too!:)

Maybe we could do a closed circuit TV/video thingie and have Edwina and poor Eduardo participate.

I just cannot wait.

One of our dear Pet Talkers just sent me some web site information to go and look at, and having just peeked, I bet it is going to be interesting to see how long I will need to confine my pets, before they start behaving properly!

I will wait until the behaviorist sends me the questionaire - and probably instructions on what to do before she arrives.

I hope Miley snaps out of her blue funk before August 7th! I will take her to the vet if she is still like she was this morning. She could hardly lift her head without having a pathetic look on her furry little face. Poor baby. Maybe that's her way of controlling the situation. She is the victim. Who the hell knows. I am getting excited to think that there may be a happy ending to this situation.

Yikes!:(

That's great news! After all you've been through this could be the answer. Congrats for hanging in there as look as you have. Aug 7th is still a couple of weeks away - I pray that's it's a somewhat peaceful wait....

Keeping fingers and paws crossed that it all gets sorted out!

Keep us posted!

*HUGS*

Fingers and paws crossed that this helps.

Sas, good for you for trying something new to help your kitties!:)
I never even knew Vermont had a cat behaviorist!(having a single cat I have never needed one)
Hang in there until August 7th Miley! Help is on the way!:)

Best of luck.

Good luck with everything. I really hope the behaviorist is able to help the problem.

That sounds promising, hope she'll find a solution.

I have read a cat behaviourist's book (I think Pamela Johnson-Bennett was her name), and I was impressed how good it was. I took a lot of helpful advice from it when raising Luna - and Luna is a good girl now. :)

Good luck,

Kirsten

Great idea SAS! I can't wait to hear the outcome. :)

Poor Miley girl. Can you give her extra attention? I know with Micah, we can't even yell at him to get off the counter cause he's so sensitive. :( Poor Abys...such sensitive little creatures. When I give him even five extra minutes of attention, his little spirit soars!

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Originally posted by lbaker
Saint SAS, you are an inspiration to us all :)

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Took the words right out of my mouth! Oh I hope this will help! (((hugs))) to you and Miley, and Ti and Juni! I am allowing my mind to go wild and am picturing a Miley/Ti grooming session. I know, slap me back to reality! Fingers all crossed tightly here!

Oh! Best of Luck with the behaviorist! I hope she/he has a lot of background to refer to.
Sounds like they wish to be thorough. Can you tape record her visit? (like at a doctors?) It can free up your mind from having to keep notes.

Everything's crossed here!

These three should drive the behaviorist nuts for sure.

I guess my concern is what to do in the mean time. I hope they give me some preliminary instructions.....I guess I will keep them totally apart until August. Actually, that is what I was trying to do anyway, and it was Ti that figured out how to hand on door knobs and open doors, and changed things for a while!

Ijust now read a thread about a person having their dogs studied by a behaviorist. I suspect I will have some homework cut out for me, too. It will be interesting. I have the time, so I may as well spend it in "repairing relationships" mode.....

Right now Ti is howling, sitting outside the computer room screened in door, wanting in...... How lovely. I hope he does this when Lisa, the behaviorist is here!......

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Originally posted by sasvermont
I hope he does this when Lisa, the behaviorist is here!......

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Is there any way you can get it on tape? Know anyone with a video camera?

I know my cats are notorious for acting sick at home and FINE at the vet...sillies!!

I hope the behaviorist is able to help remedy your situation with Ti and Miley. The poor girl just seems so anxious and depressed.
Paws and fingers crossed.

ohh sas I really hope this works for you!!! :D :D

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Originally posted by sasvermont
These three should drive the behaviorist nuts for sure.

Right now Ti is howling, sitting outside the computer room screened in door, wanting in...... How lovely. I hope he does this when Lisa, the behaviorist is here!......

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I hope you still have some more wine left in that bottle that you bought recently. It sounds like you might want to pour a couple of glasses at the end of the session. :p

Good luck!

That's good! I liked to watch on Animal Planet the show with the dog behaviorist. They can actually see the problem immediately and the solution too. Let's hope she'll help poor Miley and Ti.

Last night I dragged poor Miley out from under a pile of sweaters and made her face Juni and me. She was ok with it for awhile but soon retreated when she heard "you know who" outside the door. I feel really guilty having left Ti open that door the other day. If I had put that lock on it when I was planning to, we wouldn't be in the situation right now. On the other hand, I would never have called a behaviorist in either, if it hadn't happened again!

Once Juni and I got comfortable, Miley climbed into bed too and snuggled near my arms and put her sad little head in my hand. Juni was on one side of my one arm and Miley was on the other. My heart melted. I didn't sleep much, trying to stay still so Miley wouldn't feel the need to leave and hide. She must have been so horrified that day (Monday) doing the fight thing with Ti on the futon!

This morning when I awoke, still in the same statue like position, both kitty cats were cuddled up, sleeping. Miley followed me into the bathroom, only to have Juni right on her tail! She didn't seem to mind. Progress.

I left Miley behind closed and locked doors for safety reasons and allowed Ms. Juni Rose to play with her big bro, Ti. I hope Miley regains some of her oh so needed confidence, soon!

SAS

:rolleyes:

Sounds like you had a great night. I hope the behaviorist is able to bring peace to your three kitties.

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Originally posted by sasvermont

Once Juni and I got comfortable, Miley climbed into bed too and snuggled near my arms and put her sad little head in my hand. Juni was on one side of my one arm and Miley was on the other. My heart melted. I didn't sleep much, trying to stay still so Miley wouldn't feel the need to leave and hide.

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Sallyanne, I can picture that so well in my mind with Miley and her "sad little head" in your hands. Oh I do hope she can overcome the events of this past Monday. I am sure she will with the love and reassurance of her Mommy! :)

I think you can tell an animal lover when you see one without even seeing the animal. They are the ones who have spent the night in one rigid position so as to not disturb the furry one on the bed, as you have described, and they are the ones walking all crooked and kinked! LOL!

Oh I just love little Miley so and hope that she can relax and heal.

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Originally posted by sasvermont
I hope Miley regains some of her oh so needed confidence, soon!

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It sounds like she might have already started getting her confidence back as she did not mind Juni's playing ("only to have Juni right on her tail!")

I just can't imagine how scared she must be of Ti. And it's one thing for her to be aloof and hiss at him like she did at first, but to be so terrified that she cowers at the mere sound of him is certainly not good. Poor Miley girl. :( But it sounds like she's coming around again and will be closer to her old self by the time the behaviourist shows up. I'm so hoping the behaviorist can figure out what's going on and bring about some changes....but I know you're hoping that more than anyone.

I'm glad you had a good night with Miley girl. Hopefully things are all uphill from here on. :)

Pam, you said that so well about "how to recognize an animal lover" beautiful :)
Laurie