[ HISSES ] [ GROWLS ] SOMETHING CLICKS, AND BEAR JUST BECOMES VICIOUS. HE’LL SINK HIS TEETH INTO YOUR HAND. OUT OF NOWHERE. [ HISSES ] THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CASES I’VE EVER SEEN. [ DOG BARKING ] I DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP ON HIM. [ YOWLS ] SULLY SCARES EASILY.
I AM BLEEDING ALREADY. MY GOD. HIS CLAWS COME OUT. [ HISSES ] MATT GETS STRESSED OUT. THIS IS A PUNISHMENT! Amanda: AND THEN WE END UP ARGUING.
SOMETIMES I REALLY FEEL TORN BETWEEN MATT AND THE CAT. Galaxy: I’M JACKSON GALAXY. I’M A MUSICIAN BY NIGHT AND A CAT BEHAVIORIST BY DAY.
I’VE MET CATS WITH ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. STOP IT! HEY!
OW! BUT I’VE NEVER MET ONE I COULDN’T HELP. IN MY CAREER, I’VE WORKED WITH THOUSANDS OF CATS, ONE ON ONE, ANALYZING THEIR BEHAVIORS AND RETRAINING THEM AND THEIR GUARDIANS. WHEN RELATIONSHIPS ARE AT AN END…
IT’S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL RESENTFUL. …AND CAT GUARDIANS HAVE REACHED THEIR EMOTIONAL LIMIT… I WANT HER OUT. …I’M THEIR LAST HOPE. [ YOWLS ] OW! YOU GOT SCRATCHED.
IT’S BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT HIM IN A PRETTY HELPLESS POSITION. Galaxy: CATS HAVE NINE LIVES, BUT HUMANS ONLY HAVE ONE. I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME CAT. Amanda: WHOA! — Captions by VITAC — www.vitac.com CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS [ CAT HISSING ] Hannah: WAIT A MINUTE. IT’S OKAY, KITTY. [ HISSES ] I’M HANNAH.
I’M JOHNNY. AND WE’VE BEEN DATING FOR A YEAR. I’M HAPPIER THAN I’VE BEEN IN ANY RELATIONSHIP, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROGRESS, AND HE COULD BE THE ONE. WE DON’T ARGUE MUCH, WE GET ALONG, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY EVER DO ARGUE ABOUT IS HER CAT.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.soulplatform.hole&hl=en_US
SO IF WE COULD GET THAT SORTED OUT, WE’RE SET. [ Laughing ] YOU’RE GOING CRAZY, BEAR. WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT MONKEY AND BEAR HOME… [ SQUEAKING ] …THEY WERE JUST CUTE LITTLE KITTENS AND LIKED TO PLAY AND KIND OF ROLL AROUND, AND, YOU KNOW, MONKEY WAS JUST AS PLAYFUL AS BEAR WAS. THEY’RE CUTE, LITTLE BUNDLES OF JOY, AND NO, I DIDN’T NOTICE ANY BAD BEHAVIOR. AND IT WASN’T UNTIL PROBABLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS LATER THAT I STARTED NOTICING BEAR WAS A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN MONKEY. [ GROWLS ] [ WHIMPERS ] HE’LL SINK HIS TEETH INTO YOUR HAND…
OUT OF NOWHERE. …AND START KANGAROOING YOU WITH HIS BACK LEGS. SHE SHOWED ME SHE HAD A LITTLE RASH ON HER ARM, AND I SAID, “OH, THAT LOOKS LIKE RINGWORM.” I FREAKED OUT. AND SHE FREAKED OUT. SHE SAID “NO, NO, IT’S NOT RINGWORM.” AND THEN IT STARTED SPREADING, AND SO SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR, I THINK, AND HE SAID “OH, YEAH, THAT’S RINGWORM.” [ HISSES ] HE LIKES TO CLAW ON MY CHAIR. BEAR LIKES TO CHEW LAPTOP CHARGERS.
WHOA. WHOA. WELL, TIME TO GET A NEW CORD. HE’S REALLY CRAZY WHEN GUESTS COME TO THE HOUSE. I MEAN, HE JUST — SOMETHING CLICKS, AND HE JUST BECOMES VICIOUS. [ HISSES ] NOW HE’S STARTED ATTACKING MY POOR BOSTON TERRIER.
NO, NO, NO! [ DOG BARKING ] YOU KNOW, I LOVE MY DOG. HE’S MY LITTLE BABY, SO THE THOUGHT OF HIM BEING SCRATCHED AND MAULED BY HER CAT — I DON’T WANT TO SUBMIT HIM TO THAT, SO IT WAS STRESSING HER OUT. I WAS TELLING HER, “YOU NEED TO JUST GET RID OF HIM.” AND THEN THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE HE DIDN’T LOVE MY CAT SO IT WAS JUST SORT OF, LIKE, A SENSITIVE ISSUE BETWEEN US. YOU KNOW, IT WILL STOP US FROM SPENDING THE NIGHT TOGETHER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY CATS AND HE DOESN’T WANT TO BRING HIS DOG OVER TO HAVE A CAT ATTACK HIS DOG.
SO IT DEFINITELY HAS PREVENTED US FROM SPENDING AS MUCH TIME TOGETHER AS WE WOULD LIKE. IT’S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL RESENTFUL OF MY CAT BECAUSE HE IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF MY RELATIONSHIP. [ HISSES ] [ Voice breaking ] IT’S UPSETTING BECAUSE I’M THE ONE PERSON THAT PUTS UP WITH HIM, AND THEN HE’S, YOU KNOW — SORRY I’M GETTING SO EMOTIONAL. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SORT OF AN OBLIGATION TO HIM, THAT NOBODY ELSE IS GONNA FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT I DO. I MEAN, IF I GIVE HIM TO A POUND, THEY — IF THEY DON’T ADOPT HIM OUT, THEN HE HAS TO BE PUT DOWN. I JUST — I DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP ON HIM.
Galaxy: WHEN I MEET A CAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, I’M NEVER SURE WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT WHETHER I’M DEALING WITH HYPERACTIVITY OR AGGRESSION, I’M ALWAYS HERE TO HELP. [ DOORBELL RINGS ] HEY, HANNAH. HI. I’M JACKSON. HI.
NICE TO MEET YOU. COME ON IN. JACKSON WAS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. I DON’T THINK I WAS EXPECTING TATTOOS AND SOMEBODY WHO WAS SO HIP. Galaxy: SO…BEAR.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM WHAT I KNOW, IS THAT HIS AGGRESSION IS PRETTY OFF THE CHARTS, OR CAN BE. YEAH. HE’S UNPREDICTABLE, YEAH. HIS BIG PROBLEM IS WHEN NEW PEOPLE COME INTO THE HOUSE. OH, I’M REAL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT. HE LOOKS LIKE — DEMON. …A CAGED ANIMAL. CLAWS AND HISSES AND GRUNTS AT PEOPLE WHO COME OVER TO THE HOUSE THAT HE DOESN’T KNOW. IT’S TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DON’T WANT TO BE WITHIN TWO OR THREE FEET OF HIM. YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR FEET.
BECAUSE HE’S GONNA SCRATCH YOU. CATS FEED OFF HUMAN EMOTION, WHETHER THAT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. AND ALL OF THIS STRESS AND ALL OF THIS ANXIETY THAT HANNAH AND JOHNNY ARE BRINGING TO THE SITUATION IS MAKING BEAR THAT MUCH WORSE. HAS BEAR ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM?
AFTER HE WAS NEUTERED, HIS AGGRESSION LEVELS WENT UP AND HIS PLAYFULNESS DIDN’T REALLY GO AWAY. WAS HE AGGRESSIVE BEFORE THE SURGERY? NO, NOT LIKE HE’S AGGRESSIVE NOW. SO REALLY, HE GOT NEUTERED AND HE GOT AGGRESSIVE? WELL, BECAUSE HE WAS NEUTERED TWICE.
THEY MISSED SOME TISSUE THE FIRST TIME AROUND, SO HE WAS STILL PRODUCING TESTOSTERONE. TWO INVASIVE SURGERIES LIKE NEUTERINGS WOULD TRAUMATIZE ANY CAT SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT BEAR IS ACTING OUT. IT’S A PRETTY EXTREME CASE, AND IT’S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT, NOT JUST ON MY PART BUT ON YOUR PART, AS WELL. I’M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. IF YOU GUYS ARE READY TO GO, I THINK WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE AND IN YOUR LIFE.
SO WHERE IS HE RIGHT NOW? HE’S IN THE BEDROOM, HIDING. OKAY. I’M GOING TO GO IN THERE AND SPEND SOME ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH HIM, OKAY?
OKAY. AND I WILL BE BACK IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. OKAY, GOOD LUCK. ALL RIGHT? BE CAREFUL.
ALL RIGHT. DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. WATCH YOUR TOES. [ BEAR HISSING ] WHAT’S UP, MR. BEAR?
WHAT’S UP, MR. BEAR? [ BEAR HISSING ] HI, BUDDY. I FELT THAT.
YOU MIND IF I COME SAY HI? I KNOW. I HEAR YOU.
I HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOU. HI, BUBBA. OKAY, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH. [ HISSES ] THIS IS WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO.
YOU GOT TO LET ME SEE YOU. THE FIRST THING I DO WITH ANY AGGRESSIVE CAT IS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON’T SEE ME AS A THREAT. SO I WILL BACK UP, GET THEM USED TO MY VOICE AND NOT MY BODY. I’LL MAKE MYSELF AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE, I’LL LAY DOWN. SHH.
I’LL JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THREATS OUT THERE BUT I’M NOT ONE OF THEM. COME ON, BUBBA. [ HISSES ] IF I SOFTEN MY EYES AND DO A SLOW BLINK, ONCE THEY RETURN THAT LOOK TO ME… …I’M IN. IT’S OKAY. OH, HI. HI, BUBBA.
BY GIVING HIM SOMETHING LIKE FOOD… OH, WHAT IS THAT? …IT’S SOMETHING TO MAKE THE ROOM TRUSTWORTHY WITH ME IN IT, THAT HE CAN BE EATING AND SAY “AH, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHENEVER THERE’S A STRANGER IN THE ROOM.” YEAH, BUDDY. YOU WANT SOME MORE? GOOD BOY. [ HISSES ] OH, HI! YOU HAD TO GET ME RIGHT IN THE MEAT, HUH?
BEAR ATTACKED MY HAND BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY IN FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT. HE WAS CORNERED AND HE FELT LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD WAS OUT TO GET HIM. I WANTED TO SEE HOW FAR I COULD PUSH THIS CAT, AND I FOUND OUT. SO… HOW’D IT GO?
HOW’D IT GO? [ ALL CHUCKLE ] WELL, SO FAR… OH, GOD. …SO OUCH. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I’M SEEING IS A BODY THAT IS SO TENSED UP FROM BEING IN FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT THAT THE VOICE BOX, EVERYTHING, GETS SO STRESSED. THAT — I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. SO THAT TELLS YOU HOW BAD IT IS.
RIGHT NOW, HE FEELS POWERLESS. THAT’S THE THING. HE FEELS POWERLESS AND TRAPPED. HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO STRIKE OUT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
OKAY, SO NOW WHAT I’D LIKE TO DO IS BRING ONE OF YOU GUYS BACK IN THE ROOM WITH ME, SO, WHOEVER YOU WANT THAT TO BE. DEFINITELY HANNAH. THAT WOULD BE ME.
IN DEVISING MY TREATMENT PLAN FOR BEAR, I REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW HE INTERACTS WITH HANNAH, SO I’M GONNA BRING HER INTO THE ROOM AND SEE HOW THE TWO OF THEM ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THAT’S A KEY COMPONENT IN HOW I’M GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH HIM. COME HERE, BABY. [ BEAR MEOWS ] HI, BEAR. [ MEOWS ] OH, HI. HI, BEAR. NOW TRY TO GET HIM ALL THE WAY OUT.
THE THING THAT WE’RE DOING IS BALANCING COMFORT AND CHALLENGE WITH EVERY STEP. HI, BEAR. Galaxy: YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT I’M SEEING IS THAT YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THAT INSTANTLY BRINGS OUT TRUST. AND HERE’S ANOTHER THING.
OKAY, NOW, LOOK. WATCH THE FULL-BODY STROKES WITH HIM. OKAY. TO OVERSTIMULATE HIM.
OKAY. Galaxy: YOU GOT TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO A CAT’S BODY LANGUAGE. THAT’S HOW THEY TALK TO YOU.
EVERY TIME THEY TOUCH HIM IN A CERTAIN WAY, THEY’RE PUTTING ENERGY INTO HIM, AND WITHOUT HAVING A CONSTRUCTIVE OUT FOR THAT ENERGY, IT JUST BUILDS AND BUILDS. WHEN HIS TAIL SWISHES AROUND, HE’S LETTING YOU KNOW, “ENERGETICALLY I AM LIKE A BALLOON READY TO POP.” [ GROWLS ] AND SURE ENOUGH, BEAR GOT REALLY OVERSTIMULATED AND BACK UNDER THE BED AGAIN, TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE HE COULD DECOMPRESS. Johnny: HOW’D IT GO IN THERE? I JUST WANT TO FILL YOU IN ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW IN THERE. BEAR IS A CONFIDENT CAT WHEN HE DOESN’T FEEL CORNERED, WHEN HE’S NOT UNDER SOMETHING.
I WANT HIM TO BE UP. I WANT TO SEE BEAR HAVE ACCESS TO VERTICAL SPACES. THIS WAY, HE CAN OBSERVE PEOPLE FROM A SAFE HEIGHT. HE HAS CONFIDENCE, KNOWING THAT HE CAN MOVE AROUND HIS SPACE WITHOUT BEING THREATENED, WITHOUT BEING TRAPPED. THIS WAY, WE CAN START INTRODUCING PEOPLE, FAMILY, FRIENDS, STRANGERS, WITHOUT HIM BEATING UP ANYBODY IN THE PROCESS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS ROOM WHERE HE CAN TRAVERSE UP HERE AND GO AROUND THIS ROOM WITHOUT TOUCHING THE FLOOR, SO THAT WHEN SOMEBODY WALKS IN THE HOUSE, HE’S UP, HE’S LOOKING AROUND, HE’S SAYING, YOU KNOW, “WELCOME.” YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? HE DOESN’T FEEL THAT NEED TO RUN BECAUSE THERE’S ESCAPE ROUTES EVERYWHERE, THERE’S PLACES FOR HIM TO GO. SO THE NEXT THING THAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS START TO WORK WITH THE CONCEPT THAT IN CATS, A NATURAL RELEASE IS TO HUNT AND KILL THINGS. IF THEY CAN’T HUNT AND KILL, WHEN THEY WAKE UP FROM THEIR SLEEP, PROGRAMMED TO HUNT AND KILL, THEY’RE GONNA HUNT AND KILL SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AND THAT’S GOING TO BE YOUR LEGS OR YOUR HANDS OR YOUR FRIENDS.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO BRING OUT IS MY FAVORITE TOY. PLAY IS CRUCIAL FOR PROGRAMMING HIS BODY TO WAKE UP, HUNT SOMETHING, HUNT, CATCH, KILL, EAT, RIGHT? WE CAN GIVE HIM A MEATY TREAT OR A MEAL, AND THEN HE’S GOING TO THEN MOVE INTO THE LAND OF GROOMING, GROOMING, GROOMING AND “I’M VERY LANGUID, AND I GO BACK TO SLEEP.” THAT’S THE LIFE OF A CAT. I WANT TO SEE THEM PLAYING, AND I WANT TO SEE THE ENERGY SIPHONED OFF HIM IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. I WANT HIM TO HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE VICTIM THAT HE CAN BEAT UP BESIDES ME AND THEM AND STRANGERS AND FAMILY.
ALL RIGHT. SO, WE’RE ALL GOOD TO GO? I THINK WE GOT OUR HOMEWORK. YOU GOT YOUR HOMEWORK.
THE PLAN IS LAID OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. WE WILL MAKE HIM BETTER. HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF BETTER, MORE IMPORTANTLY. I’M LEAVING HANNAH AND JOHNNY WITH SOME SERIOUS HOMEWORK THIS WEEK.
FIRST I WANT THEM TO GET HIM OFF THE GROUND. I WANT SOME VERTICAL SPACES AVAILABLE FOR BEAR. SECONDLY, I WANT THEM TO START PLAYING WITH HIM AND DRAIN OFF THAT PREDATORY INSTINCT IN A CREATIVE WAY. AND THIRD, I WANT THEM TO WATCH THEIR ENERGY, STOP BRINGING ALL THIS FRUSTRATION AND NEGATIVITY TO THE ROOM, ‘CAUSE HE’LL JUST TAKE IT, SPIT IT BACK OUT AT THEM.
SO, I’M GONNA TAKE MY LEAVE OF YOU GUYS. MEETING YOU. GREAT TO MEET YOU. THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CASES I’VE EVER SEEN, AND REALLY, IF HANNAH AND JOHNNY DON’T FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE ACTION PLAN I GIVE THEM, I DON’T GIVE BEAR A CHANCE TO SUCCEED WITH THEM.
Hannah: IT’S GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW BEAR AND MONKEY RESPOND TO THE HOMEWORK. I THINK IT’S ALL, YOU KNOW, IT’S EASY TO SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED DO. BUT TO ACTUALLY PUT IT INTO PRACTICE, THAT’S GONNA BE ANOTHER THING, SO WE’LL SEE. Galaxy: AND NOW, IT’S TIME FOR A “KITTY BIT.” FIND OUT AFTER THE BREAK.
Galaxy: 244 BONES. AND THEY CAN HAVE UP TO 28 BONES IN THEIR TAILS ALONE. IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE I LAST SAW HANNAH AND JOHNNY. I HAD THEM SHOOT SOME HOME VIDEO AND E-MAIL IT TO ME SO I CAN MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS WHEN I WASN’T AROUND.
I’M REALLY EAGER TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT I SAW. HEY. HEY. COME ON IN.
HOW ARE YOU, HANNAH? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU JACKSON?
I’M GOOD. THIS MUST BE FRANKIE. THIS IS FRANKIE. HEY, FRANKIE BOY. HEY, FRANKIE BOY.
Johnny: WHAT’S UP, JACKSON? I’M RUDE. I SAY HI TO FRANKIE FIRST. THAT’S UNDERSTANDABLE. Galaxy: HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN, GUYS?
Hannah: GOOD. Johnny: PRETTY GOOD. THERE’S BEEN A FEW ISSUES STILL. “GOOD.” “PRETTY GOOD.” YEAH.
WE’RE GETTING THERE. I’D LOVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I SAW, BECAUSE I DID SEE SOME GREAT STUFF FROM YOU GUYS. I ALSO SAW SOME STUFF THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON. SO, THE FIRST THING, OF COURSE, IS THE PERCH. NOW, THE PERCH ITSELF IS DONE REALLY WELL.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON’T HAVE THE TOP HERE. YEAH. AND THE TOP’S IMPORTANT. I NOTICE A GREAT BEGINNING USE OF LEVELS. SO, WHAT I NOTICED IS BEAR COMING UP HERE, RIGHT?
AND THEN HE WOULD JUMP HERE, AND THEN HE WOULD JUMP HERE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. AND THEN…NOTHING. WE’VE ALMOST GOT IT — BEING ABLE TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THIS ROOM WITHOUT TOUCHING THE FLOOR, WHICH IS GONNA WORK GREAT IN TERMS OF FRANKIE INTERACTIONS AS WELL.
RIGHT. RIGHT. THIS IS GONNA BE HIS SAFE AREA, AND SO, BANG, HERE. BANG, DOWN ON THE MANTLE. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEAR TAKING THE ROOM, CLAIMING THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, THE MANTLE, THE TOP OF THE CHAIR, CAN’T BE UNDERSTATED.
IT SHOWS CONFIDENCE, AND THAT LEADS US TO THE NEXT STEP IN THE ACTION PLAN. NOW, I NOTICE YOU GUYS WITH YOUR PLAYING. WHAT I SAW WAS A LOT OF HOVERING.
WHEN YOU’RE DOING THIS — NOW, I KNOW HE’S DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW. BUT WHEN YOU’RE DOING THIS, YOU’RE BRINGING THAT ENERGY TO HIM, THAT KIND OF HUNCHED, CLENCHED ENERGY. AND THE MORE YOU GUYS COME IN ON HIM LIKE THIS, THE MORE YOU’RE ENCOURAGING HIM TO STAY EXACTLY WHERE HE IS, TO CORNER HIMSELF IN FEAR.
AND ONCE HE’S IN FEAR LIKE THAT, ALL IT’S GONNA TAKE IS JUST A LITTLE SLIP OF SOMEONE’S HAND, AND HE’LL BITE, HE’LL SCRATCH, HE’LL DO WHAT HE DOES. NOW, HERE’S WHAT I WANT TO TRY. I’D LIKE YOU TO GO ON OVER TO WHERE BEAR IS RIGHT NOW. Hannah: OKAY. AND SHOW ME HOW YOU WOULD GET HIS ATTENTION.
OKAY. HI, BEAR. [ BEAR HISSES ] HI, BEAR. HI, BEAR. OKAY. WHERE’S MONKEY?
SHE’S RIGHT IN THIS CABINET. BRING HER OUT AND PUT HER ON THE PERCH FOR ME. HI, BABY GIRL.
SHE’S ADORABLE. THERE WE GO. THE ENERGY YOU BRING TO HER WE NEED TO BRING TO BEAR, WHICH IS “I TRUST YOU.” [ Laughing ] I’M SCARED, ‘CAUSE I DON’T TRUST HIM. Galaxy: IT WAS GREAT THAT WE HAD AN EXAMPLE TO SHOW HANNAH, LISTEN, THIS IS THE ENERGY YOU BRING TO MONKEY — PRESENT, VIBRANT, ALLOWING. BRING MONKEY’S ENERGY TO BEAR AND I’M SURE THAT YOU’RE GONNA GET A LOT LESS OF THE VIOLENCE THAN YOU GET NOW.
I JUST WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN BRING HIM INTO YOUR LAP. COME HERE, BEAR. IT’S OKAY. SO NOW INTO YOUR LAP, AND SEE HOW — REMEMBER, NOW, BE CONSCIOUS OF HOW MUCH YOU’RE PUTTING INTO HIM.
OKAY. THERE YOU GO. CHEEKS.
YEAH, HE LOVES CHEEKS. CHEEKS. LOOKING GOOD. A CAT SECRETES PHEROMONES FROM THEIR CHEEK AREA, AS WELL AS FROM BETWEEN THEIR EYES AND THEIR CHIN, SO WHEN YOU PET THEM RIGHT LIKE THIS, THEY’RE GETTING THEIR SMELL ALL OVER YOU. IT GIVES THEM CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY SMELL YOUR HAND.
THAT’S WHY THEY LOVE IT SO MUCH. [ BEAR PURRING ] I WISH THAT BEAR WAS LIKE THAT MORE OFTEN, BUT I GUESS IT’S JUST GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. THERE HE GOES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACKSON. THANKS A LOT, JACKSON.
YOU’RE WELCOME. I REALLY HOPE THAT HANNAH AND JOHNNY ARE GONNA WORK THIS ACTION PLAN BECAUSE, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING — IF THEY DON’T WORK THIS ACTION PLAN, BEAR IS GONNA WORK THEM, AND IT’S OVER. WHAT I’M HOPING TO SEE TODAY IS BEAR ON HIS PERCH, RELIEVED A LITTLE BIT OF HIS AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES. [ DOORBELL RINGS ] HI, JACKSON. HEY!
COME ON IN. WHAT’S UP, HANNAH? HEY, JACKSON. HOW ARE YOU?
I’M GREAT, MAN. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I’M PRETTY GOOD. I AM ABSOLUTELY STUNNED AND OVER THE MOON. Johnny: THAT’S HIS NEW FAVORITE PLACE, UP THERE.
[ HISSES ] [ GROWLS ] SOMETHING CLICKS, AND BEAR JUST BECOMES VICIOUS. HE’LL SINK HIS TEETH INTO YOUR HAND. OUT OF NOWHERE. [ HISSES ] THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CASES I’VE EVER SEEN. [ DOG BARKING ] I DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP ON HIM. [ YOWLS ] SULLY SCARES EASILY.
I AM BLEEDING ALREADY. MY GOD. HIS CLAWS COME OUT. [ HISSES ] MATT GETS STRESSED OUT. THIS IS A PUNISHMENT! Amanda: AND THEN WE END UP ARGUING.
SOMETIMES I REALLY FEEL TORN BETWEEN MATT AND THE CAT. Galaxy: I’M JACKSON GALAXY. I’M A MUSICIAN BY NIGHT AND A CAT BEHAVIORIST BY DAY.
I’VE MET CATS WITH ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. STOP IT! HEY!
OW! BUT I’VE NEVER MET ONE I COULDN’T HELP. IN MY CAREER, I’VE WORKED WITH THOUSANDS OF CATS, ONE ON ONE, ANALYZING THEIR BEHAVIORS AND RETRAINING THEM AND THEIR GUARDIANS. WHEN RELATIONSHIPS ARE AT AN END…
IT’S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL RESENTFUL. …AND CAT GUARDIANS HAVE REACHED THEIR EMOTIONAL LIMIT… I WANT HER OUT. …I’M THEIR LAST HOPE. [ YOWLS ] OW! YOU GOT SCRATCHED.
IT’S BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT HIM IN A PRETTY HELPLESS POSITION. Galaxy: CATS HAVE NINE LIVES, BUT HUMANS ONLY HAVE ONE. I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME CAT. Amanda: WHOA! — Captions by VITAC — www.vitac.com CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS [ CAT HISSING ] Hannah: WAIT A MINUTE. IT’S OKAY, KITTY. [ HISSES ] I’M HANNAH.
I’M JOHNNY. AND WE’VE BEEN DATING FOR A YEAR. I’M HAPPIER THAN I’VE BEEN IN ANY RELATIONSHIP, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROGRESS, AND HE COULD BE THE ONE. WE DON’T ARGUE MUCH, WE GET ALONG, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY EVER DO ARGUE ABOUT IS HER CAT.
SO IF WE COULD GET THAT SORTED OUT, WE’RE SET. [ Laughing ] YOU’RE GOING CRAZY, BEAR. WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT MONKEY AND BEAR HOME… [ SQUEAKING ] …THEY WERE JUST CUTE LITTLE KITTENS AND LIKED TO PLAY AND KIND OF ROLL AROUND, AND, YOU KNOW, MONKEY WAS JUST AS PLAYFUL AS BEAR WAS. THEY’RE CUTE, LITTLE BUNDLES OF JOY, AND NO, I DIDN’T NOTICE ANY BAD BEHAVIOR. AND IT WASN’T UNTIL PROBABLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS LATER THAT I STARTED NOTICING BEAR WAS A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN MONKEY. [ GROWLS ] [ WHIMPERS ] HE’LL SINK HIS TEETH INTO YOUR HAND…
OUT OF NOWHERE. …AND START KANGAROOING YOU WITH HIS BACK LEGS. SHE SHOWED ME SHE HAD A LITTLE RASH ON HER ARM, AND I SAID, “OH, THAT LOOKS LIKE RINGWORM.” I FREAKED OUT. AND SHE FREAKED OUT. SHE SAID “NO, NO, IT’S NOT RINGWORM.” AND THEN IT STARTED SPREADING, AND SO SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR, I THINK, AND HE SAID “OH, YEAH, THAT’S RINGWORM.” [ HISSES ] HE LIKES TO CLAW ON MY CHAIR. BEAR LIKES TO CHEW LAPTOP CHARGERS.
WHOA. WHOA. WELL, TIME TO GET A NEW CORD. HE’S REALLY CRAZY WHEN GUESTS COME TO THE HOUSE. I MEAN, HE JUST — SOMETHING CLICKS, AND HE JUST BECOMES VICIOUS. [ HISSES ] NOW HE’S STARTED ATTACKING MY POOR BOSTON TERRIER.
NO, NO, NO! [ DOG BARKING ] YOU KNOW, I LOVE MY DOG. HE’S MY LITTLE BABY, SO THE THOUGHT OF HIM BEING SCRATCHED AND MAULED BY HER CAT — I DON’T WANT TO SUBMIT HIM TO THAT, SO IT WAS STRESSING HER OUT. I WAS TELLING HER, “YOU NEED TO JUST GET RID OF HIM.” AND THEN THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE HE DIDN’T LOVE MY CAT SO IT WAS JUST SORT OF, LIKE, A SENSITIVE ISSUE BETWEEN US. YOU KNOW, IT WILL STOP US FROM SPENDING THE NIGHT TOGETHER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY CATS AND HE DOESN’T WANT TO BRING HIS DOG OVER TO HAVE A CAT ATTACK HIS DOG.
SO IT DEFINITELY HAS PREVENTED US FROM SPENDING AS MUCH TIME TOGETHER AS WE WOULD LIKE. IT’S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL RESENTFUL OF MY CAT BECAUSE HE IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF MY RELATIONSHIP. [ HISSES ] [ Voice breaking ] IT’S UPSETTING BECAUSE I’M THE ONE PERSON THAT PUTS UP WITH HIM, AND THEN HE’S, YOU KNOW — SORRY I’M GETTING SO EMOTIONAL. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SORT OF AN OBLIGATION TO HIM, THAT NOBODY ELSE IS GONNA FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT I DO. I MEAN, IF I GIVE HIM TO A POUND, THEY — IF THEY DON’T ADOPT HIM OUT, THEN HE HAS TO BE PUT DOWN. I JUST — I DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP ON HIM.
Galaxy: WHEN I MEET A CAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, I’M NEVER SURE WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT WHETHER I’M DEALING WITH HYPERACTIVITY OR AGGRESSION, I’M ALWAYS HERE TO HELP. [ DOORBELL RINGS ] HEY, HANNAH. HI. I’M JACKSON. HI.
NICE TO MEET YOU. COME ON IN. JACKSON WAS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. I DON’T THINK I WAS EXPECTING TATTOOS AND SOMEBODY WHO WAS SO HIP. Galaxy: SO…BEAR.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM WHAT I KNOW, IS THAT HIS AGGRESSION IS PRETTY OFF THE CHARTS, OR CAN BE. YEAH. HE’S UNPREDICTABLE, YEAH. HIS BIG PROBLEM IS WHEN NEW PEOPLE COME INTO THE HOUSE. OH, I’M REAL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT. HE LOOKS LIKE — DEMON. …A CAGED ANIMAL. CLAWS AND HISSES AND GRUNTS AT PEOPLE WHO COME OVER TO THE HOUSE THAT HE DOESN’T KNOW. IT’S TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DON’T WANT TO BE WITHIN TWO OR THREE FEET OF HIM. YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR FEET.
BECAUSE HE’S GONNA SCRATCH YOU. CATS FEED OFF HUMAN EMOTION, WHETHER THAT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. AND ALL OF THIS STRESS AND ALL OF THIS ANXIETY THAT HANNAH AND JOHNNY ARE BRINGING TO THE SITUATION IS MAKING BEAR THAT MUCH WORSE. HAS BEAR ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM?
AFTER HE WAS NEUTERED, HIS AGGRESSION LEVELS WENT UP AND HIS PLAYFULNESS DIDN’T REALLY GO AWAY. WAS HE AGGRESSIVE BEFORE THE SURGERY? NO, NOT LIKE HE’S AGGRESSIVE NOW. SO REALLY, HE GOT NEUTERED AND HE GOT AGGRESSIVE? WELL, BECAUSE HE WAS NEUTERED TWICE.
THEY MISSED SOME TISSUE THE FIRST TIME AROUND, SO HE WAS STILL PRODUCING TESTOSTERONE. TWO INVASIVE SURGERIES LIKE NEUTERINGS WOULD TRAUMATIZE ANY CAT SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT BEAR IS ACTING OUT. IT’S A PRETTY EXTREME CASE, AND IT’S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT, NOT JUST ON MY PART BUT ON YOUR PART, AS WELL. I’M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. IF YOU GUYS ARE READY TO GO, I THINK WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE AND IN YOUR LIFE.
SO WHERE IS HE RIGHT NOW? HE’S IN THE BEDROOM, HIDING. OKAY. I’M GOING TO GO IN THERE AND SPEND SOME ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH HIM, OKAY?
OKAY. AND I WILL BE BACK IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. OKAY, GOOD LUCK. ALL RIGHT? BE CAREFUL.
ALL RIGHT. DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. WATCH YOUR TOES. [ BEAR HISSING ] WHAT’S UP, MR. BEAR?
WHAT’S UP, MR. BEAR? [ BEAR HISSING ] HI, BUDDY. I FELT THAT.
YOU MIND IF I COME SAY HI? I KNOW. I HEAR YOU.
I HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOU. HI, BUBBA. OKAY, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH, SHHH. [ HISSES ] THIS IS WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO.
YOU GOT TO LET ME SEE YOU. THE FIRST THING I DO WITH ANY AGGRESSIVE CAT IS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON’T SEE ME AS A THREAT. SO I WILL BACK UP, GET THEM USED TO MY VOICE AND NOT MY BODY. I’LL MAKE MYSELF AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE, I’LL LAY DOWN. SHH.
I’LL JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THREATS OUT THERE BUT I’M NOT ONE OF THEM. COME ON, BUBBA. [ HISSES ] IF I SOFTEN MY EYES AND DO A SLOW BLINK, ONCE THEY RETURN THAT LOOK TO ME… …I’M IN. IT’S OKAY. OH, HI. HI, BUBBA.
BY GIVING HIM SOMETHING LIKE FOOD… OH, WHAT IS THAT? …IT’S SOMETHING TO MAKE THE ROOM TRUSTWORTHY WITH ME IN IT, THAT HE CAN BE EATING AND SAY “AH, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHENEVER THERE’S A STRANGER IN THE ROOM.” YEAH, BUDDY. YOU WANT SOME MORE? GOOD BOY. [ HISSES ] OH, HI! YOU HAD TO GET ME RIGHT IN THE MEAT, HUH?
BEAR ATTACKED MY HAND BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY IN FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT. HE WAS CORNERED AND HE FELT LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD WAS OUT TO GET HIM. I WANTED TO SEE HOW FAR I COULD PUSH THIS CAT, AND I FOUND OUT. SO… HOW’D IT GO?
HOW’D IT GO? [ ALL CHUCKLE ] WELL, SO FAR… OH, GOD. …SO OUCH. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I’M SEEING IS A BODY THAT IS SO TENSED UP FROM BEING IN FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT THAT THE VOICE BOX, EVERYTHING, GETS SO STRESSED. THAT — I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. SO THAT TELLS YOU HOW BAD IT IS.
RIGHT NOW, HE FEELS POWERLESS. THAT’S THE THING. HE FEELS POWERLESS AND TRAPPED. HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO STRIKE OUT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
OKAY, SO NOW WHAT I’D LIKE TO DO IS BRING ONE OF YOU GUYS BACK IN THE ROOM WITH ME, SO, WHOEVER YOU WANT THAT TO BE. DEFINITELY HANNAH. THAT WOULD BE ME.
IN DEVISING MY TREATMENT PLAN FOR BEAR, I REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW HE INTERACTS WITH HANNAH, SO I’M GONNA BRING HER INTO THE ROOM AND SEE HOW THE TWO OF THEM ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THAT’S A KEY COMPONENT IN HOW I’M GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH HIM. COME HERE, BABY. [ BEAR MEOWS ] HI, BEAR. [ MEOWS ] OH, HI. HI, BEAR. NOW TRY TO GET HIM ALL THE WAY OUT.
THE THING THAT WE’RE DOING IS BALANCING COMFORT AND CHALLENGE WITH EVERY STEP. HI, BEAR. Galaxy: YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT I’M SEEING IS THAT YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THAT INSTANTLY BRINGS OUT TRUST. AND HERE’S ANOTHER THING.
OKAY, NOW, LOOK. WATCH THE FULL-BODY STROKES WITH HIM. OKAY. TO OVERSTIMULATE HIM.
OKAY. Galaxy: YOU GOT TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO A CAT’S BODY LANGUAGE. THAT’S HOW THEY TALK TO YOU.
EVERY TIME THEY TOUCH HIM IN A CERTAIN WAY, THEY’RE PUTTING ENERGY INTO HIM, AND WITHOUT HAVING A CONSTRUCTIVE OUT FOR THAT ENERGY, IT JUST BUILDS AND BUILDS. WHEN HIS TAIL SWISHES AROUND, HE’S LETTING YOU KNOW, “ENERGETICALLY I AM LIKE A BALLOON READY TO POP.” [ GROWLS ] AND SURE ENOUGH, BEAR GOT REALLY OVERSTIMULATED AND BACK UNDER THE BED AGAIN, TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE HE COULD DECOMPRESS. Johnny: HOW’D IT GO IN THERE? I JUST WANT TO FILL YOU IN ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW IN THERE. BEAR IS A CONFIDENT CAT WHEN HE DOESN’T FEEL CORNERED, WHEN HE’S NOT UNDER SOMETHING.
I WANT HIM TO BE UP. I WANT TO SEE BEAR HAVE ACCESS TO VERTICAL SPACES. THIS WAY, HE CAN OBSERVE PEOPLE FROM A SAFE HEIGHT. HE HAS CONFIDENCE, KNOWING THAT HE CAN MOVE AROUND HIS SPACE WITHOUT BEING THREATENED, WITHOUT BEING TRAPPED. THIS WAY, WE CAN START INTRODUCING PEOPLE, FAMILY, FRIENDS, STRANGERS, WITHOUT HIM BEATING UP ANYBODY IN THE PROCESS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS ROOM WHERE HE CAN TRAVERSE UP HERE AND GO AROUND THIS ROOM WITHOUT TOUCHING THE FLOOR, SO THAT WHEN SOMEBODY WALKS IN THE HOUSE, HE’S UP, HE’S LOOKING AROUND, HE’S SAYING, YOU KNOW, “WELCOME.” YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? HE DOESN’T FEEL THAT NEED TO RUN BECAUSE THERE’S ESCAPE ROUTES EVERYWHERE, THERE’S PLACES FOR HIM TO GO. SO THE NEXT THING THAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS START TO WORK WITH THE CONCEPT THAT IN CATS, A NATURAL RELEASE IS TO HUNT AND KILL THINGS. IF THEY CAN’T HUNT AND KILL, WHEN THEY WAKE UP FROM THEIR SLEEP, PROGRAMMED TO HUNT AND KILL, THEY’RE GONNA HUNT AND KILL SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AND THAT’S GOING TO BE YOUR LEGS OR YOUR HANDS OR YOUR FRIENDS.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO BRING OUT IS MY FAVORITE TOY. PLAY IS CRUCIAL FOR PROGRAMMING HIS BODY TO WAKE UP, HUNT SOMETHING, HUNT, CATCH, KILL, EAT, RIGHT? WE CAN GIVE HIM A MEATY TREAT OR A MEAL, AND THEN HE’S GOING TO THEN MOVE INTO THE LAND OF GROOMING, GROOMING, GROOMING AND “I’M VERY LANGUID, AND I GO BACK TO SLEEP.” THAT’S THE LIFE OF A CAT. I WANT TO SEE THEM PLAYING, AND I WANT TO SEE THE ENERGY SIPHONED OFF HIM IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. I WANT HIM TO HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE VICTIM THAT HE CAN BEAT UP BESIDES ME AND THEM AND STRANGERS AND FAMILY.
ALL RIGHT. SO, WE’RE ALL GOOD TO GO? I THINK WE GOT OUR HOMEWORK. YOU GOT YOUR HOMEWORK.
THE PLAN IS LAID OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. WE WILL MAKE HIM BETTER. HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF BETTER, MORE IMPORTANTLY. I’M LEAVING HANNAH AND JOHNNY WITH SOME SERIOUS HOMEWORK THIS WEEK.
FIRST I WANT THEM TO GET HIM OFF THE GROUND. I WANT SOME VERTICAL SPACES AVAILABLE FOR BEAR. SECONDLY, I WANT THEM TO START PLAYING WITH HIM AND DRAIN OFF THAT PREDATORY INSTINCT IN A CREATIVE WAY. AND THIRD, I WANT THEM TO WATCH THEIR ENERGY, STOP BRINGING ALL THIS FRUSTRATION AND NEGATIVITY TO THE ROOM, ‘CAUSE HE’LL JUST TAKE IT, SPIT IT BACK OUT AT THEM.
SO, I’M GONNA TAKE MY LEAVE OF YOU GUYS. MEETING YOU. GREAT TO MEET YOU. THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CASES I’VE EVER SEEN, AND REALLY, IF HANNAH AND JOHNNY DON’T FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE ACTION PLAN I GIVE THEM, I DON’T GIVE BEAR A CHANCE TO SUCCEED WITH THEM.
Hannah: IT’S GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW BEAR AND MONKEY RESPOND TO THE HOMEWORK. I THINK IT’S ALL, YOU KNOW, IT’S EASY TO SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED DO. BUT TO ACTUALLY PUT IT INTO PRACTICE, THAT’S GONNA BE ANOTHER THING, SO WE’LL SEE. Galaxy: AND NOW, IT’S TIME FOR A “KITTY BIT.” FIND OUT AFTER THE BREAK.
Galaxy: 244 BONES. AND THEY CAN HAVE UP TO 28 BONES IN THEIR TAILS ALONE. IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE I LAST SAW HANNAH AND JOHNNY. I HAD THEM SHOOT SOME HOME VIDEO AND E-MAIL IT TO ME SO I CAN MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS WHEN I WASN’T AROUND.
I’M REALLY EAGER TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT I SAW. HEY. HEY. COME ON IN.
HOW ARE YOU, HANNAH? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU JACKSON?
I’M GOOD. THIS MUST BE FRANKIE. THIS IS FRANKIE. HEY, FRANKIE BOY. HEY, FRANKIE BOY.
Johnny: WHAT’S UP, JACKSON? I’M RUDE. I SAY HI TO FRANKIE FIRST. THAT’S UNDERSTANDABLE. Galaxy: HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN, GUYS?
Hannah: GOOD. Johnny: PRETTY GOOD. THERE’S BEEN A FEW ISSUES STILL. “GOOD.” “PRETTY GOOD.” YEAH.
WE’RE GETTING THERE. I’D LOVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I SAW, BECAUSE I DID SEE SOME GREAT STUFF FROM YOU GUYS. I ALSO SAW SOME STUFF THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON. SO, THE FIRST THING, OF COURSE, IS THE PERCH. NOW, THE PERCH ITSELF IS DONE REALLY WELL.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON’T HAVE THE TOP HERE. YEAH. AND THE TOP’S IMPORTANT. I NOTICE A GREAT BEGINNING USE OF LEVELS. SO, WHAT I NOTICED IS BEAR COMING UP HERE, RIGHT?
AND THEN HE WOULD JUMP HERE, AND THEN HE WOULD JUMP HERE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. AND THEN…NOTHING. WE’VE ALMOST GOT IT — BEING ABLE TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THIS ROOM WITHOUT TOUCHING THE FLOOR, WHICH IS GONNA WORK GREAT IN TERMS OF FRANKIE INTERACTIONS AS WELL.
RIGHT. RIGHT. THIS IS GONNA BE HIS SAFE AREA, AND SO, BANG, HERE. BANG, DOWN ON THE MANTLE. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEAR TAKING THE ROOM, CLAIMING THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, THE MANTLE, THE TOP OF THE CHAIR, CAN’T BE UNDERSTATED.
IT SHOWS CONFIDENCE, AND THAT LEADS US TO THE NEXT STEP IN THE ACTION PLAN. NOW, I NOTICE YOU GUYS WITH YOUR PLAYING. WHAT I SAW WAS A LOT OF HOVERING.
WHEN YOU’RE DOING THIS — NOW, I KNOW HE’S DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW. BUT WHEN YOU’RE DOING THIS, YOU’RE BRINGING THAT ENERGY TO HIM, THAT KIND OF HUNCHED, CLENCHED ENERGY. AND THE MORE YOU GUYS COME IN ON HIM LIKE THIS, THE MORE YOU’RE ENCOURAGING HIM TO STAY EXACTLY WHERE HE IS, TO CORNER HIMSELF IN FEAR.
AND ONCE HE’S IN FEAR LIKE THAT, ALL IT’S GONNA TAKE IS JUST A LITTLE SLIP OF SOMEONE’S HAND, AND HE’LL BITE, HE’LL SCRATCH, HE’LL DO WHAT HE DOES. NOW, HERE’S WHAT I WANT TO TRY. I’D LIKE YOU TO GO ON OVER TO WHERE BEAR IS RIGHT NOW. Hannah: OKAY. AND SHOW ME HOW YOU WOULD GET HIS ATTENTION.
OKAY. HI, BEAR. [ BEAR HISSES ] HI, BEAR. HI, BEAR. OKAY. WHERE’S MONKEY?
SHE’S RIGHT IN THIS CABINET. BRING HER OUT AND PUT HER ON THE PERCH FOR ME. HI, BABY GIRL.
SHE’S ADORABLE. THERE WE GO. THE ENERGY YOU BRING TO HER WE NEED TO BRING TO BEAR, WHICH IS “I TRUST YOU.” [ Laughing ] I’M SCARED, ‘CAUSE I DON’T TRUST HIM. Galaxy: IT WAS GREAT THAT WE HAD AN EXAMPLE TO SHOW HANNAH, LISTEN, THIS IS THE ENERGY YOU BRING TO MONKEY — PRESENT, VIBRANT, ALLOWING. BRING MONKEY’S ENERGY TO BEAR AND I’M SURE THAT YOU’RE GONNA GET A LOT LESS OF THE VIOLENCE THAN YOU GET NOW.
I JUST WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN BRING HIM INTO YOUR LAP. COME HERE, BEAR. IT’S OKAY. SO NOW INTO YOUR LAP, AND SEE HOW — REMEMBER, NOW, BE CONSCIOUS OF HOW MUCH YOU’RE PUTTING INTO HIM.
OKAY. THERE YOU GO. CHEEKS.
YEAH, HE LOVES CHEEKS. CHEEKS. LOOKING GOOD. A CAT SECRETES PHEROMONES FROM THEIR CHEEK AREA, AS WELL AS FROM BETWEEN THEIR EYES AND THEIR CHIN, SO WHEN YOU PET THEM RIGHT LIKE THIS, THEY’RE GETTING THEIR SMELL ALL OVER YOU. IT GIVES THEM CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY SMELL YOUR HAND.
THAT’S WHY THEY LOVE IT SO MUCH. [ BEAR PURRING ] I WISH THAT BEAR WAS LIKE THAT MORE OFTEN, BUT I GUESS IT’S JUST GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. THERE HE GOES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACKSON. THANKS A LOT, JACKSON.
YOU’RE WELCOME. I REALLY HOPE THAT HANNAH AND JOHNNY ARE GONNA WORK THIS ACTION PLAN BECAUSE, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING — IF THEY DON’T WORK THIS ACTION PLAN, BEAR IS GONNA WORK THEM, AND IT’S OVER. WHAT I’M HOPING TO SEE TODAY IS BEAR ON HIS PERCH, RELIEVED A LITTLE BIT OF HIS AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES. [ DOORBELL RINGS ] HI, JACKSON. HEY!
COME ON IN. WHAT’S UP, HANNAH? HEY, JACKSON. HOW ARE YOU?
I’M GREAT, MAN. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I’M PRETTY GOOD. I AM ABSOLUTELY STUNNED AND OVER THE MOON. Johnny: THAT’S HIS NEW FAVORITE PLACE, UP THERE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR. BEAR IS ON TOP OF THE CABINET NOW, HE’S RELAXED, HE’S CONFIDENT. GOOD BOY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE’S OWNING THE ROOM. YOU DIDN’T GET TO SEE THIS SIDE OF HIM BEFORE. NO, I’VE NEVER SEEN THIS SIDE OF HIM.
PLUS WHEN HE’S UP THERE LIKE THAT AND HE’S UP HERE AND HE’S MORE RELAXED, THEN MY DOG, FRANKIE, CAN BE MORE RELAXED, TOO. HE IS JUST LEARNING RIGHT NOW THAT LIFE CAN BE LED WITHOUT HYPERVIGILANCE. I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THAT CAT, WHO WAS UNDER THE BED WHEN I FIRST CAME OVER, WHO REALLY BEAT MY HAND UP…
OH, HI! …IS THE SAME CAT EXPOSING HIS BELLY TO ME AND GIVING ME LOVEY EYES. I’M PRETTY BLOWN AWAY. THAT IS ALL WE WANTED TO SHOW HIM. THAT’S ALL I WANTED TO SHOW HIM. WE HAD SOME PEOPLE OVER THE OTHER NIGHT, SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND WE CAUGHT SOME OF IT ON CAMERA.
DID YOU REALLY? YEAH, AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY SOME IMPROVEMENTS. GOOD. CAN I SEE IT? SURE.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE OVER? Hannah: I HAD MY MOM AND MY TWO SISTERS AND MY STEPDAD AND JOHNNY. AND ME. AND FRANK.
AND FRANK. TO SEE HIM LYING ON HIS BACK LIKE THAT, SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE, BASICALLY SAYING TO ALL OF YOU, “I’M VULNERABLE TO YOU,” WHICH IS WHAT THAT UNIVERSAL CAT BODY LANGUAGE MEANS — TO EXPOSE THEIR MIDLINE… MM-HMM. …IS ASTOUNDING. I AM ABSOLUTELY OVER THE MOON ABOUT HANNAH’S PROGRESS WITH BEAR, ABOUT HER ENERGETIC APPROACH TO HIM. BUT NOW I WANT TO SEE HOW SHE CAN DO WITH PLAY.
YEAH! GOOD BOY. GOOD BOY.
NOW THAT HE CAN CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE ROOM, HE HAS NO REASON TO FEEL TRAPPED OR THREATENED ANYMORE. HIS CONFIDENCE IS BACK, AND NOW WE CAN ALL SEE THAT PLAYFUL CAT THAT HANNAH REMEMBERS. I MEAN, THIS IS AMAZING, BECAUSE FRANKIE IS SITTING RIGHT HERE. DOESN’T EVEN CARE. NO.
NO. AND THERE’S REALLY NOTHING THAT CAN BOTHER HIM RIGHT NOW, AND FRANKIE’S NOT GONNA GET IN HIS WAY. I REALLY THINK THIS HAS BEEN A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
WE’VE SPENT A LOT MORE TIME TOGETHER. JOHNNY WILL STAY WITHOUT HAVING TO PACK UP HIS BAGS AND LEAVE. THIS IS WHY I LOVE WHAT I DO, TO TAKE A CAT WHO MOST WOULD THINK IS A LOST CAUSE AND TOTALLY TURN HIS LIFE AROUND. OVER HERE, BEAR.
JACKSON’S TAUGHT ME HOW TO SPEAK CAT, SO I FEEL LIKE I CAN ACTUALLY READ HIS BODY LANGUAGE AND BETTER ANTICIPATE WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO SO I KNOW HOW TO REACT TO BEAR. [ LULU GROWLING ] Amanda: OH! Matt: LULU, NO! [ YOWLS ] THIS IS A PUNISHMENT! ALL RIGHT, SO, REALLY, THIS IS JUST NO GOOD. IT WOULD BE LIKE GIVING UP A CHILD.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY. THEY’RE MY CATS, BUT THEY’RE MY FAMILY. OH! [ LULU YOWLING ] Matt: LULU, STOP. Amanda: OH!
LULU, NO! LULU. [ YOWLING CONTINUES ] LULU! I’M AMANDA. AND I’M MATT. AND WE’VE BEEN DATING FOR THREE YEARS NOW, AND WE’RE ENGAGED.
I HAD THE CATS FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE I STARTED DATING MATT, SO WE WERE ALREADY A LITTLE FAMILY UNIT. I TOLD HIM AS SOON AS WE STARTED DATING AND I FOUND OUT THAT HE WASN’T REALLY A CAT PERSON, THEY WERE HERE FIRST. IF IT COMES DOWN TO YOU OR THE CATS, THEY’RE MY KIDS. SHE SAID THAT WITHIN THE FIRST, I WOULD SAY TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS OF DATING. I WAS LIKE, “I’M NOT REALLY A CAT PERSON.” SHE WAS LIKE, “THEY WERE HERE FIRST.” HE COULD NEVER SAY THAT I DIDN’T WARN HIM.
THEY’RE A PACKAGE DEAL. I ADOPTED LULU AND SULLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. THEY WERE RESCUE KITTIES. SO, WE THOUGHT LULU WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS OLD AND SULLY WAS ABOUT 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN I GOT THEM.
THE RESCUE GROUP PUT BOTH OF THEM IN MY ARMS, AND I HELD THEM, AND I STARTED CRYING. AND THAT’S HOW I ENDED UP WITH BOTH OF THEM. Matt: I HAVE NEVER BEEN A CAT PERSON. I ALWAYS GREW UP WITH DOGS.
NOT ONLY DID I NOT EVER HAVE CATS, I NEVER GOT ALONG WELL WITH CATS. IF IT DIDN’T MAKE HER SAD, I WOULD TRADE THESE TWO CATS FOR THE SMALLEST, MOST ANNOYING DOG INSTANTLY. IT WOULD BE, LIKE, A GREAT TRADE.
I WOULD BE TRADING UP TO GET AN ANNOYING DOG VERSUS THESE TWO CATS. HE’S JUST MEAN. SEE THOSE TWO GLOWING, BEADY, LITTLE EYES? THAT’S LULU TRYING TO COME IN THE BEDROOM. NEITHER OF THE CATS ARE ALLOWED IN THE BEDROOM, AND AT NIGHT WE CLOSE THE DOOR BECAUSE LULU WILL MEOW FOR ABOUT 5 OR 10 MINUTES, THEN SHE STICKS HER HAND UNDER THE DOOR, JIGGLES THE DOOR, AND HEAD-BUTTS IT.
LULU KEEPS PUSHING AND CRYING TO COME IN. DO YOU HEAR THAT? AND I AM A VERY LIGHT SLEEPER, AND I WAKE UP AT THE FIRST MEOW, SO THEN I HAVE 10 MINUTES OF MEOWING AND THEN ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DOOR-JIGGLING WHILE SHE MEOWS. AND SHE SLEEPS THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. SHE CAN REALLY GO FOR LIKE AN HOUR.
IT DOES TAKE A LOT TO WAKE ME UP. AND IT’S QUITE FRANKLY NOT FAIR THAT SHE WAKES ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND THEN SHE GETS TO SLEEP ALL DAY. [ LULU YOWLING ] LULU, GO! MATT’S TRIED EVERYTHING. MATT’S SCREAMED AT HER AND PUT HER AWAY IN THE BATHROOM, LOCKED HER UP IN SOLITARY, DONE EVERYTHING HE CAN THINK OF, LIKE A DOG.
HE TRIES TO DISCIPLINE HER LIKE A DOG, AND IT DOESN’T WORK. THIS IS A PUNISHMENT FOR WAKING ME UP! Amanda: SULLY IS A VERY DIFFERENT CAT THAN LULU.
HE’S MUCH MORE SHY, HE’S MUCH MORE SKITTISH. SULLY SCARES EASILY. [ YOWLS ] AND HE CAN’T HELP IT. HIS CLAWS COME OUT. I LITERALLY GO — [BLOWS] AND THAT’S ENOUGH TO SCARE HIM TO THE POINT WHERE, LIKE, HE DRAWS BLOOD. OH!
HE SCRATCHED ME RIGHT THERE. THERE’S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CATS. AND IT’S EVERY DAY THAT MATT GETS STRESSED OUT, AND THEN WE END UP ARGUING. [ Voice breaking ] SOMETIMES I REALLY FEEL TORN BETWEEN MATT AND THE CATS, AND IT’S VERY FRUSTRATING, AND IT’S VERY CONFUSING. I COULDN’T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HAVING SULLY OR LULU NOT WITH ME OR NOT TAKEN CARE OF WELL.
I JUST COULD NOT HANDLE THAT. LIKE, THERE’S JUST NO WAY THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT MYSELF THROUGH THAT. IT WOULD BE LIKE GIVING UP A CHILD. I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY.
THEY’RE MY CATS, BUT I LOVE THEM. THEY’RE PETS, BUT THEY’RE MY FAMILY. [ ROCK-AND-ROLL MUSIC PLAYING ] [ TIRES SCREECH ] Galaxy: CATS ARE JUST LIKE PEOPLE — NO TWO ARE EXACTLY ALIKE. AND IT’S MY JOB TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EACH FELINE NEEDS.
HI. HEY. I’M AMANDA. HEY, AMANDA. I’M JACKSON.
COME ON IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. OH, YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY WELCOME.
JACKSON IS TOTALLY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. I DON’T KNOW THAT I HAD ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS, BUT WHEN JACKSON WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR, THAT’S NOT WHAT I WOULD HAVE PRECONCEIVED. SO, TELL ME A STORY.
WHAT’S UP? YOU WANT TWO CATS? YOU DON’T LIKE THE CATS? NO. AND?
THEY’RE MY CATS. I LOVE THEM. I BROUGHT THEM INTO THE RELATIONSHIP. EVER SINCE WE MOVED IN, THEY’VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEM BEHAVIORS THAT HAVE STARTED TO COME OUT. LULU CRIES OUTSIDE OUR DOOR AT NIGHT FOR ATTENTION CONSTANTLY, LIKE EVERY NIGHT AND WAKES HIM UP IN PARTICULAR.
SULLY’S GOT ISSUES, TOO, BUT — OH. SULLY’S SITTING UP IN THE CORNER GOING — SULLY’S MAIN ISSUE IS HE IS VERY SKITTISH. HE SPOOKS REALLY EASILY, AND HE’S GOT A HUGE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT.
SO ANY TIME HE GETS SCARED, HE JUST CLAWS THROUGH WHATEVER’S IN HIS WAY SO THAT HE CAN GET OUT OF WHATEVER HE PERCEIVES IS DANGEROUS. I THINK IN THIS HOUSEHOLD I’M DEALING WITH A MIXTURE OF BOTH HUMAN AND ANIMAL ISSUES. THE ANIMAL ISSUES ARE VERY EASILY APPROACHED. CATS PRE-DATE YOU, AND YOU DON’T LIKE THE CATS.
THE HUMAN ISSUE IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX, BECAUSE I’M TRYING TO TEACH SOMEBODY TO APPRECIATE CATS WHO HONESTLY DOESN’T. SO, NOW THAT I GOT TO KNOW YOU GUYS, I’D REALLY LIKE TO GET TO KNOW THE CATS. WHERE ARE THEY? I’LL GO GRAB THEM.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. Galaxy: AFTER HEARING HOW CRAZY LULU DRIVES MATT AND AMANDA, I’M PRETTY EAGER TO MEET HER FOR MYSELF. LULU! [ WHISTLES ] LULU!
HI, LITTLE GIRL. HI, LULU. HELLO, LULU. HI.
HEY, SWEETIE. LULU MADE A BEELINE FOR AMANDA AND I, AND IT’S OBVIOUS THAT SHE DEMANDS A LOT OF ATTENTION, EVEN FROM A STRANGER, LIKE ME. SO, WHERE’S MR. SULLY AT? SULLY IS IN ONE OF HIS HIDING PLACES, ONE OF HIS ACTUAL — HIS NEWER HIDING PLACES.
HE’S IN HIS LITTER BOX. Amanda: I THINK HE REALIZED THAT WE WON’T ACTUALLY GO IN AFTER HIM IF HE’S IN THE LITTER BOX. WHENEVER WE HAVE GUESTS OVER OR PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOUSE, SULLY IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. HE ALWAYS HIDES. HE’S VERY TIMID.
HE WON’T COME UP AND APPROACH PEOPLE. Galaxy: HI, BUBBA. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO, REALLY, THIS IS JUST NO GOOD. OF ALL THE HIDING PLACES IN YOUR HOUSE, I REALLY DON’T WANT HIM IN THE LITTER BOX. THERE’S THAT CONFIDENCE-DEFLATING VIBE OF SITTING IN YOUR OWN POOP, YOU KNOW. THERE’S JUST SOMETHING — FOR ME, IN MY BACKGROUND OF WORKING IN SHELTERS, THE CATS THAT I WOULD IMMEDIATELY GRAVITATE AND WORK WITH ARE THE ONES THAT WERE SITTING IN THEIR BOX ALL DAY, BECAUSE THE STRESS HAD GOTTEN TO THEM SO MUCH, THEY’RE SURROUNDING THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN SMELL. WITH CATS LIKE SULLY, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT I’M NOT A THREAT, THAT I CAN BE TRUSTED.
I CAN’T JUST GO TO SULLY. I NEED TO LET SULLY COME TO ME. HI, SULLY. AW. [ SMOOCHES ] HI, SULLY BOY. HE’S COMING OUT. [ SULLY MEOWS ] GOOD BOY.
HI. [ GASPS ] GOOD BOY. GOOD SULLY. GOOD SULLY. OH, YOU SO BADLY WANT TO COME OVER HERE, DON’T YOU?
HI, BUBBA. THAT’S AMAZING. HE NEVER LETS NEW PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY GUYS, DO THAT. THAT’S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. COME TO ME.
GOOD BOY. GOOD BOY. HI, BUDDY BOY. HI. IT JUST BLEW MY MIND THAT JACKSON WAS ABLE TO GET SULLY, LIKE, NOT ONLY UP AND OUT OF HIDING SPACES BUT IN HIS LAP AT ONE POINT.
WHEN I ASSESS CATS, I IMMEDIATELY GO TO SEE IF THEY’RE EITHER BUSH DWELLERS OR TREE DWELLERS. BUSH DWELLERS TO ME DEMONSTRATE A DISTINCT LACK OF CONFIDENCE, A LACK OF BELONGING TO THE WORLD. AND I WANT SULLY, WHO IS A BUSH DWELLER, TO BELONG TO THE WORLD, TO COME UP TO US AND DEMONSTRATE THAT HE WANTS TO OWN THE WORLD. AND THE WINDOW SILL ABOVE THE LITTER BOX IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HIM TO BE UP. IF WE CAN GET HIM UP ON THAT WINDOW SILL AND HAVE SOMETHING UP THERE THAT SMELLS LIKE HIM, AS OPPOSED TO THE COMFORT HE’S FINDING FROM BEING SURROUNDED BY HIS OWN STINK, AS OPPOSED TO SMELL, YOU KNOW?
THIS IS MY SCENT. THIS IS MY STINK, YOU KNOW? SO I’D RATHER HIM BE WITH SCENT THAN STINK.
THE OTHER THING I’D LIKE TO SEE YOU GUYS DO IS PULL THE LID OFF THAT BOX. THE MORE OPEN IT IS, THE LESS OF A READY ESCAPE IT IS FOR HIM, AND HE’LL SEARCH OUT SOMEPLACE A LITTLE MORE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL OF US. NOW IT’S TIME FOR ME TO TURN MY ATTENTION TO LULU’S PROBLEMS. OUT OF BOTH THE CATS, I THINK LULU IS THE WORST, AND SHE’S DEFINITELY THE ONE THAT I HAVE THE MOST ISSUE WITH. SHE’S NOT ALLOWED IN THE BEDROOM.
AT NIGHT, WE KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED, BUT SHE WAKES ME UP. IS THERE HIDING SPACES THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT? NO, ‘CAUSE THIS IS A NO-KITTY ZONE. THERE’S NO CATS IN HERE. I WANTED, LIKE, A SAFE HAVEN.
I WANTED SOMETHING THAT I COULD GO AND BE AWAY FROM THE CATS. NOT ALLOWING THEM IN HERE IS TERRITORIALLY A BIG BLOW. THAT’S WHY SHE WANTS IN.
SHE DOESN’T WANT IN JUST BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO MAKE THAT NOISE. IT’S JUST BECAUSE SHE WANTS A REACTION FROM YOU. THIS IS A SACRED AREA.
FOR THEM, SCENT IS MOST EVERYTHING. THEY IDENTIFY THE SECURITY OF TERRITORY THROUGH SCENT. BECAUSE THE BEDROOM IS THE MOST SCENT-HEAVY AREA OF THE WHOLE HOUSE, CATS ARE REALLY GONNA WANT TO MARK THAT AREA WITH THEIR SCENT, AS WELL. MY PERFECT WORLD INVOLVES CATS BEING IN HERE.
I’LL BE HONEST — I LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE’S AN AREA THAT IS CAT-FREE. OKAY. THERE’S CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN WORK WITH. NORMALLY, I AM NEVER OKAY WITH CLOSING OFF ROOMS TO CATS. BUT IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET MATT TO FOCUS ON LULU’S POSITIVE QUALITIES, THEN THAT IS A COMPROMISE THAT I’M WILLING TO MAKE.
SO, OUR LAST LITTLE TOOL INVOLVES A TWO-STEP PROCEDURE. THERE’S A TOOL THAT I REALLY LIKE TO USE. IT’S A MOTION-ACTIVATED AIR BLASTER.
AND I USE IT AS A LEARNING DEVICE, NOT AS A PUNISHMENT. WE’RE GONNA PUT IT RIGHT HERE, AND IT’S GONNA STAY ON. SO, ALL IT DOES, WHEN THE ELECTRIC EYE PICKS IT UP, IT BLASTS OUT SOME AIR. IN LULU’S CASE, WHAT WE WANT TO SAY IS THAT EVERY TIME YOU APPROACH THAT BEDROOM DOOR, YOU’RE GONNA GET BLASTED WITH AIR. IT SHOULD COME RIGHT ABOUT TO HERE… [ AIR HISSES ] …AND THERE IT GOES.
OH, THAT’S SO COOL. TRY TO LURE HER OVER. Amanda: LULU. AH. HELLO, THERE.
I CAN’T WAIT! FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING, I CAN’T WAIT. THERE YOU GO. [ CHUCKLES ] [ AIR HISSES, LULU YOWLS ] THE AIR BLASTER IS AWESOME! YOU’RE GONNA SEE THAT THE NEXT TIME SHE COMES UP TO THE DOOR OR THE THIRD TIME OR THE FOURTH TIME, THERE’S GONNA BE A WARINESS OF THE CAN ITSELF, AND THEN SHE’S GONNA LEARN TO JUST AVOID THIS AREA ALTOGETHER.
I’M LEAVING MATT AND AMANDA WITH SOME SERIOUS HOMEWORK THIS WEEK. FIRST, I NEED SULLY’S HIDING SPOTS GONE. AND THAT INCLUDES THAT LITTER BOX.
NO MORE LIDS ON THE LITTER BOXES, AND MOVE THEM TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR. SECOND, WE NEED TO GUIDE HIM UP TO MORE VERTICAL SPACES, LIKE WINDOW SILLS, TO MAKE HIM FEEL MORE SECURE IN THE WORLD. AND THIRD, WE NEED TO GET THEM TRAINED ON THAT MOTION-ACTIVATED AIR BLASTER AND GET LULU TO KNOW THAT THAT BEDROOM DOOR IS OFF-LIMITS. WE’LL CHECK IN IN A WEEK.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY ON TOP OF YOUR ACTION PLAN. CALL MAT ALL, OKAY?AGS GREAT. I REALLY HOPE WHEN I COME BACK I SEE MATT TAKING FULL OWNERSHIP OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE CATS, BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE MOVING FORWARD. Galaxy: IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE I LAST SAW MATT AND AMANDA, BUT I HAD THEM SHOOT SOME HOME VIDEO AND E-MAIL IT TO ME SO I COULD KEEP TRACK OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WHEN I WASN’T AROUND. AFTER SEEING THE HOME VIDEO, THERE’S A LOT I HAVE TO TALK TO THESE GUYS ABOUT.
HEY! HEY, AMANDA. GOOD TO SEE YOU. COME ON IN.
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WELCOME BACK. HOW ARE YOU, MAN? NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I SPENT A WHOLE BUNCH OF TIME WATCHING SOME TAPES.
HAVE YOU FOUND THAT AS THE ACTIVATED BLASTER IS THERE THAT SHE’S GOING UP LESS AND LESS? [ AIR HISSES ] YEAH, WITH THE AIR BLASTER, SHE DID NOT. SO, YOU’RE GETTING THE CONCEPT NOW OF WHAT TRAINING ENTAILS. THAT’S GREAT NEWS. YAY! YEAH.
GOOD. YOU BOTH HAVE A TENDENCY. YOU HOLD THESE GUYS WRONG. YOU KIND OF HOLD THEM LIKE BABIES, ON THEIR BACKS, SO, OBVIOUSLY IT’S SULLY THAT WE WANT TO DEAL WITH, WITH THIS HOLDING POSTURE, SO MATT I’M GONNA HAVE YOU PICK UP SULLY.
COME HERE, LITTLE GUY. OH. THERE YOU GO.
I JUST TOLD MATT NOT TO HOLD SULLY LIKE A BABY. HE’S JUST ASKING TO BE SCRATCHED. RELAX. RELAX. RELAX.
THERE WE GO. HE IMMEDIATELY SAYS “THAT’S IT. IT’S OVER.” I’M GOING TO PICK YOU UP, AND I’M GONNA HOLD YOU THE WAY I LIKE HOLDING. SO, A FEW THINGS THAT I’M DOING RIGHT NOW — I’M GIVING HIM A SENSE OF BEING GROUNDED.
GOOD BOY. AND… HIS PAWS ARE FREE, BUT HE’S CLOSE TO MY CHEST. HE’S A GOOD BOY.
AND NOW, YOU SEE HIS TAIL? HE’S STARTING TO FLAP JUST A LITTLE BIT. SO, WE HAD OUR LITTLE MOMENT. AND OUR MOMENT’S OVER.
A CAT’S TAIL WAGGING IS A SURE SIGN OF DISCONTENT. IT MAY START AS A FLICK, BUT ONCE IT GRADUATES TO A WAG, IT’S LIKE THE CAT’S SCREAMING AT YOU, “I’VE HAD ENOUGH. LEAVE ME ALONE.” SO WALK AWAY. I REALLY LIKED WHAT YOU DID WITH THE KITTY SILL.
IT REALLY MADE ME HAPPY TO SEE THIS VERTICAL SPACE THAT HE OWNED. AND THE LITTER BOX — GREAT WORK. IS HE HIDING IN IT ANYMORE?
NO, HE HASN’T HID IN IT SINCE WE MOVED IT OUT. THESE GUYS DIDN’T EVEN THINK TWICE. THEY MOVED THE LITTER BOX INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND TOOK THE LID OFF. BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T RESIST, THE RESULTS WERE IMMEDIATE.
SULLY JUST STOPPED HIDING IN THE BOX. EVENTUALLY HE’LL GET TO A PLACE OF SUSTAINED CONFIDENCE AND THEY’LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE LITTER BOX OUT FROM THE CENTER OF THE ROOM. LET’S TAKE A MOMENT AND HAVE OUR MOMENT OF GRATITUDE HERE.
BECAUSE SERIOUSLY WHEN I WALKED IN HERE TWO MINUTES AGO, HE IS PEACEFUL. I THOUGHT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO WALK INTO THIS HOUSE TODAY AND TO SEE SULLY UP ON THE COUCH. FLASHBACK TO A WEEK AGO, WHEN THIS CAT WAS HIDING IN A LITTER BOX, MAKING A CAVE FOR HIMSELF AND BECOMING AS INVISIBLE AS HE POSSIBLY COULD. AND THIS WEEK HE’S OUT AND ABOUT.
THAT’S A MIRACULOUS CHANGE. SO NOW WE GET TO DO SOMETHING FUN, BECAUSE IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU, MATT. WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO IS WE’RE GONNA PUT THIS HARNESS ON HER, AND WE’RE GONNA DO THIS BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE’RE GONNA TAKE HER FOR A WALK. [ CHUCKLES ] Galaxy: THERE ARE TWO REALLY IMPORTANT REASONS WHY I’D LIKE TO SEE MATT WALK LULU ON A HARNESS. FIRST, IT’S A GREAT WAY TO GET HER CRAZY ENERGY OUT AND GIVE HER THE ATTENTION SHE’S STARVING FOR.
SECOND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT’S A GREAT WAY TO BUILD A BOND BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM. IT’S NOT A DOG. I MEAN, IF YOU WALK A DOG EVERY DAY, IT GETS A LITTLE ROUTINE AND BORING, TOO. THESE GUYS — NEVER A DULL MOMENT. LET’S TRY NOW TO SEE IF SHE’LL WALK WITH ME.
THIS IS SO AWESOME. I REALLY HOPE THIS WORKS. I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN GET HER OUT. I DON’T SEE ANY REASON WHY IT WOULDN’T WORK.
COME ON. COME ON. COME TO ME. FIRST PIECE. GOOD GIRL.
GET UP, LULU. SHE’S WORKING ON IT. THERE SHE GOES. Matt: HOW MANY — WHEN YOU SAY “FIVE-MINUTE SESSIONS,” IS THAT ONE SESSION A DAY?
NO, YOU CAN DO IT AS MANY TIMES A DAY AS YOU WANT TO. IT’S AN ACTIVITY.MENT. RIGHT. Galaxy: WALKING LULU ON A HARNESS IS NOT ABOUT GIVING MATT HIS WISH OF HAVING A DOG.
LULU’S NOT A DOG. IT’S ABOUT THE SAME CONCEPT OF WALKING A DOG THAT WILL ALLOW HIM TO RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS, AT HEART, A CAT PERSON. SO, MATT… DON’T YOU LIKE CATS BETTER? I’M DISLIKING THEM LESS.
I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY HE DOES THIS AND WHY SHE’S ACTING THIS WAY. AND I FEEL LIKE YOU TRIED A LOT MORE THIS WEEK. LIKE, YOU WERE PULLING OUT CHAIRS SO THAT THEY’D HAVE MORE OPEN SPACES.
LIKE, I FEEL LIKE YOU STARTED TO MAKE AN EFFORT WITH THEM, WHICH IS SO NICE. MAYBE I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHY, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE I HAVE MORE OF A MOTIVATION NOW. WHAT I SAW WAS INVESTMENT. IT’S NOT ABOUT INVESTMENT IN OUTCOME. IT’S INVESTMENT IN LIVING, BREATHING BEINGS SITTING NEXT TO YOU THAT YOU WANT TO PROTECT.
I SAW THAT. SO, THAT’S ALL I GOT TODAY. IF YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS, YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME, ALL RIGHT? GREAT. JACKSON, THANKS SO MUCH.
ABSOLUTELY. I KNOW YOU’RE NOT TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH KITTIES YET, BUT I FEEL LIKE HE’S GETTING THERE. HE WILL BE BY THE END OF THIS. I FEEL LIKE HE WILL BE. MAYBE.
AND THAT’S NICE. MAYBE. WEIN A BIT.OU Galaxy: ALL RIGHT. BYE-BYE. Amanda: THANKS, JACKSON.
NOW THAT WE’RE ESTABLISHING GROWTH AND SEEING CHANGE IN LULU AND SULLY’S BEHAVIOR, I’M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT COME ON IN MATT’S EYES. WHEN I VISIT MATT AND AMANDA’S HOME TODAY, I’M REALLY HOPING TO SEE NOT ONLY A RESOLUTION OF THE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS WITH LULU AND SULLY, BUT ALSO I WANT TO SEE MATT BONDING WITH THESE CATS. [ LAUGHS ] GOOD GIRL, LULU. Amanda: GOOD GIRL. GOOD GIRL.
HEY, JACKSON. HEY, GUYS. HI!
THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD TO HER OUT HERE. WE HAD FUN AROUND THE APARTMENT AT FIRST, GETTING HER USED TO THE HARNESS AND THEN GETTING HER USED TO THE LEASH, AND NOW SHE’S STARTING TO LEARN WHAT OUTSIDE IS. Galaxy: I LOVE THIS.
MATT, HOW ARE YOU FEELING WALKING THE CAT? IT IS PRETTY COOL ‘CAUSE I KNOW THAT SHE’S ENJOYING IT. AND I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS GONNA GO THIS WELL, SO IT’S KIND OF FUN. AND I’M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE HER PROGRESS.
SO GREAT WORK, GUYS. NOW I WANT TO CHECK IN WITH SULLY, SO LET’S GO ON INSIDE. OKAY.
COME ON, LU. OH, MY — LOOK AT THAT! Galaxy: WALKING INTO THE HOUSE, AND THE FIRST THING I SEE IS SULLY SITTING UP ON HIS PERCH, GAVE ME A FEELING OF IMMENSE SATISFACTION.
HERE WAS A CAT THAT THE FIRST TIME I VISITED WAS HIDING IN HIS LITTER BOX. AND HERE HE IS OWNING HIS SPACE AND SAYING “COME ON IN.” REALLY, IT WAS AMAZING. WE’VE REALLY NOTICED THAT HE DOESN’T GO TO ANY OF HIS OLD HIDING SPOTS ANYMORE. HE’S REALLY JUST TAKEN TO THE NEW PIECES THAT WE’VE PUT IN.
HE’S BEEN ON THE SILL, HE’S BEEN ON THIS SILL, HE’S FINDING NEW “UP” PLACES. WE HAVEN’T SEEN HIM DOWN IN A WHILE. SULLY IS NO LONGER A BUSH DWELLER.
HE’S HE A TREE DWELLER, FULL OF CONFIDENCE. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. YOU NEVER GET TO SLEEP. TELL ME HOW THAT’S WORKING FOR YOU. IT’S REALLY LIKE A NIGHT-AND-DAY CHANGE.
I’M SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT, WHICH GIVES ME A LOT MORE PATIENCE SO THAT I CAN DEAL WITH SHELVES AND PLAYING WITH THEM AND MOUSEYS AND STUFF. THE FACT THAT THESE GUYS NOW HAVE A WORLD TO EXPLORE, WALKS TO TAKE, THAT STRUCTURE THAT THEY THRIVE ON — THAT’S WHY SHE’S DOING WHAT SHE’S DOING RIGHT NOW. THE LEVEL THAT YOU’VE EMBRACED THIS IS JUST AMAZING. I HA LITTLE BIT.FF OKAY. HIGH FIVE.
GO AHEAD. GOOD GIRL! [ APPLAUSE ] GOOD GIRL! SHE’S A NATURAL.
GOOD GIRL. AMAZING. AMAZING.
YOU…BECAME A CAT GUY. CONGRATULATIONS. [ LAUGHS ] IF I HAD A LITTLE PIN TO PUT ON YOU — “I’M A CAT GUY,” PUNISH YOU AND MAKE YOU WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK THE PAIN IS ENOUGH, OF HIM WALKING WITH A PINK LEASH. YEAH, THE PINK LEASH IS THAT PIN. THAT’S YOUR PIN.
HEY, GUYS. HERE WITH MY CAT. I SAID “MY CAT”! I SAID “MY CAT”!
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. WHOA! VERY NICE! THERE WE GO.
I HAVE SUCH A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CATS. I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE BONDED. THAT’S LIKE THE LAST THING THAT AMANDA AND I NEEDED TO REALLY HAVE, LIKE, A GREAT, JUST COMPLETELY 100% GREAT RELATIONSHIP. YOU GUYS DID FANTASTIC. CALL ME IF YOU NEED ME, OKAY?
YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE IT’S LIKE, “OH, I DIDN’T THINK I COULD LOVE YOU MORE,” UNTIL I COME HOME AND I SEE WHAT HE’S BUILT FOR THE CATS AND HE’S PLAYING WITH SOMETHING ELSE THAT I LOVE VERY MUCH, MY CATS. I GIVE HIM SO MUCH CREDIT FOR PUTTING HIS EGO TO THE SIDE, AND FOR THE LOVE OF HIS FIANCE TO SAY, “I’LL GIVE THIS A TRY.” AND WHAT HE FOUND OUT ALONG THE WAY WAS THAT HE ACTUALLY WAS A CAT GUY. BYE, JACKSON. TAKE CARE.
BYE-BYE.
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