Meet Chrissy, Short-haired (Kristine is her human)
SHARING MY HOME IS DIFFICULT
FAYE’S VALIDATION
Note: the ‘Validation’ process in Faye’s sessions is evidence that Faye is genuinely communicating with the animal. She knows nothing about the animal except breed and age – and only has a photo to refer to.
• Chrissy has been quite sick before – sneezing and finding it hard to breathe
• She doesn’t like being touched much, as she feels the human touch can’t always be trusted
• Can have a very soft, gentle energy
• But also tends to be quite frisky and can have an intense, determined focus when engaged with something (very different personality to other household cat, Alfie)
• Has a brave nature and can be bossy in temperament.
(Kristine confirmed the above – “I’m always calling her ‘brave’, and she developed cat flu while in the shelter where she had sneezing and breathing difficulties”)
THE PROBLEM (KRISTINE’S PERSPECTIVE – her human)
We adopted Chrissy from the local animal shelter and are worried about the cat flu symptoms she is still experiencing. She came with a litter of kittens. The litter was adopted out, she was left by herself and then she got very sick. As soon as we got another cat, Alfie, she started with the sneezing and breathing problem again.
Is she going to become more settled with Alfie, or is this going to continue to be a problem for her?
Also I am the only one who can pick Chrissy up – and, even then, it only lasts about 20 seconds. She loves affection but the moment you want to give her a cuddle she panics.
CHRISSY’S CONVERSATION WITH FAYE
STRESS & LOSS
The sneezing and breathing problem is stress-related, beginning from when her kittens were taken away from her at the shelter. Now, any kind of perceived ‘loss’, like you going away or bringing the new cat (Alfie) into the home, will be a stressor.
WHO INVITED ALFIE?
Chrissy clearly doesn’t understand Alfie. She is a feisty, playful kitten. Whereas Alfie, new to the household, is an older cat who suffers from past trauma and hides a lot. This takes her aback. So Chrissy will hiss, growl and get defensive. With Alfie’s arrival, Chrissy is unsure of her position. She would like a friend, but the two issues are:
1. Alfie’s arrival is taking away from her being the sole animal there (she will get over that).
2. Chrissy wants to play – she has lost her kittens but hasn’t suffered trauma like Alfie has.
UPS AND DOWNS OF SIBLINGS
Q: How do you feel about Alfie?
A: (a big sigh) I’m starting to feel less threatened.
Chrissy doesn’t like change, and having Alfie there is a change. To her, ‘Dad’ (the male human in the house) protects her. So she feels safe. Chrissy’s giving me the feeling that it will just take time, she will work it out. It is likely she will work it out before Alfie does. He still has a lot of the trauma to work through. Chrissy’s challenges are just innocence and learning the ropes of this new home situation.
CUDDLES
Chrissy feels panic when being cuddled. It’s not personal. It is more needing to build trust around being held. Some animals from rescue shelters try not to get too close because they are aware they may be ‘moved on’ again. So reassuring her that this is her ‘forever home’ is very important.
MY OWN HOME
Chrissy says: “I’ve been one of many before coming here”. Now she looks forward to being loved and cared for by one family. She was comfortable in this home. But now there’s the matter of Alfie to deal with.
FREEDOM
Chrissy can be bossy at times. She was cornered by dogs once in the past. She doesn’t like being locked in tight spaces. Chrissy wants to boss Alfie, but she doesn’t think he’ll allow it.
CHRISSY’S SOLUTIONS
• Leave it to me to sort it out with Alfie
• Give me love and patience and I’ll be more comfortable with cuddles
• Keep telling me that I’m here for good (I won’t be moving on to another family)
• My health will improve the more comfortable and secure I feel here in this family
THE OUTCOME
Since communicating with you, Chrissy Mittens (as we call her) has become quite the character. She is still my “brave” girl and I tell her all the time how proud I am of how strong she is after being such a young mum and now to be sharing a home with Alfie. She is slowly adapting to being held, for short periods of time, and sometimes purrs. She wants so much to play and hang out with Alfie but the old boy is still a little stubborn – they sometimes get their ‘crazy pants’ on after breakfast though and I have caught them chasing and playing together until it becomes a little too much for Alfie and his crazy pants become cranky pants! Poor Chrissy Mittens!
Her sneezing is improving and it seems to be triggered by changes in temperature more so than Alfie these days. When Alfie goes out for his nightly fix of nature, Chrissy stays close to home and will run to the door to call him in for bed time with me. They both like to sleep on their beds in our bedroom every night now and we really feel like we are becoming more of a family every day.
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