Jan. 26—Fourth in a series.
Larry’s teeth and gums felt much better; modern medicine also lifted his oppressive anxiety. Curley gained confidence and was learning to relax — out from under the bed. They were still kept separated from Moe while swapping halves of the house. Perching on floor-to-ceiling cat trees and venting their predatory proclivities on stalk and pounce toys had them behaving like real cats.
Fulfilling lives for our former feline foes reduced their collective angst and diminished the risk of nuclear conflict. Keeping the peace would be a lifelong challenge. For these gentlemen to ever safely comingle, they would also need alone time. Cats are social creatures, but only to a point.
Richard was pretty handy. I advised him on building and installing hide boxes at various heights in different rooms. Much like their wild brethren, these kitties could sneak away and meditate. They guard secrets we’ll never unravel.
Moe’s previous life was largely outdoors; his new home was located near a busy street. The solution was a generous-sized outdoor catio with tall climbing structures and a few hide boxes. A cat door allowed Moe to escape to his playground, steering clear of Larry and Curly, the militants within.
Karen and Richard were committed. During catio construction, they mounted a Scare Crow Animal Deterrent booby trap on their fence to discourage the prowling neighbor cat from agitating what was likely to become a delicate truce among Larry, Moe and Curley.
We now had a foundation for success. I counseled my clients to very slowly, over several weeks, bring Larry and Curley incrementally closer to one side of a covered baby gate, with Moe on the other side. During twice-daily controlled exposures, the boys would enjoy snacks and gentle petting. Gradually the sheet covering the gate was raised and later eliminated. When the Berlin Wall finally came down, Larry and Curley went about their lives as though Moe didn’t exist. And, hey, a gin rummy tournament was never in the cards anyway. Karen and Richard declared victory and went about their lives, too.
For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com
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