MOM'S WORRIES ABOUT PIPER AND POE ARE PUT TO REST

Piper and Poe have been with their mom and dad for three months; they are a 10 months old sister and brother. Their mom tells me they had been in a couple of different foster homes before coming to them and she wanted the kittens to know they are safe and loved.

In the human family, a sister and brother having the same experiences will come away with different perspectives. In speaking with Piper and Poe, I noticed they demonstrated this trend in the pet world as well.

Poe told me it was mean where they used to live; we were not taken care of very well. Mom felt this was in their first foster home. When I look over my notes, it is obvious how the two of them reacted differently in the same foster environment.

Poe is curious and mysterious and stronger in his inner strength than Piper. He expressed he is happy living with his mom and dad and he can show who he is. He feels strong in his body and struts around, showing off. He knows he is loved and wants his mom and dad to be as happy with him as he is with them. He said he does good things to make them happy. I told him his mom and dad love him very much and I could feel his response through his love.

While Poe demonstrates who he is and his love for his mom and dad. Piper is more tentative. She knows she is loved, but her mom tells me she is hand shy. When I asked Piper the question, “What is it like to be petted?” she told me she was slapped a lot and hands scare her. I asked her what she might need to help her feel better and she said for her parents to keep loving her. She also showed me mom petting her down the back. I explained to the mom a process called ‘bladder sweep’ from the eyes to the end of the tail and down the hind legs that would help Piper feel calmer. Mom told me this is similar to what she does: After letting Piper sniff her hand, she runs her hand down Piper’s back to the end of her tail. Piper stated she loves and trusts her parents and feels young in her ‘new’ body. Mom explained Piper’s new body was weight gain, having been thinner when she first arrived.

Mom was aware of their personality differences, and the consultation gave her more information. When she got home from work, she sent the following email:

“Thank you for talking with them. I got home last night and was so happy to see them. Thank you again, my mind and heart are eased to know they are happy and feel safe and loved.”