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By Sharon Franck-Wheeler

Anyone who has ever lived with a cat who refuses to abide by the house rules knows how frustrating it can be to correct unacceptable behavior. It takes a lot of patience and persistence to teach a cat proper manners, which can be hard to come by in this world of busy schedules and stressful days. A common reason cats may end up in animal shelters or humane societies, and potentially euthanized, is the owner could not handle the burden of dealing with their cat's aggression, lack of litter box use, or destructive behavior.

There are many reasons why a cat may develop behavioral issues. Some cats develop bad habits because they have never received proper guidance from their owners. Just like children, animals need to be taught the difference between good and bad behavior. However, it is not impossible to teach an old cat new tricks.

When a cat who has historically been the model of good kitty behavior suddenly changes into psycho kitty, one of two things may be happening. There might be a health issue behind the problem; it is always wise to have the kitty checked out by a veterinarian to ensure there are medical problems behind the new behavior. It is very common for a cat with a urinary tract infection to stop using the litter box because they start to associate the litter box with a painful experience.

Sometimes unpleasant changes in behavior can be caused by an upsetting event that disturbs the cat's emotional well-being. A move to a new home, a new family member such as a baby or another animal or even a change in the location of the litter box can cause uneasiness in our furry creatures of habit. Cats that have been abused or attacked by a human or animal may carry the memories of the trauma in their psyche. Occasionally, there may be temporary event, such as the sound of a thunderstorm or fireworks that require some comfort and soothing.

Regardless of the cause of kitty's bad behavior, Bach Flower Remedies may help both you and your cat on the road to improved behavior. These herbal essences can help diminish negative emotions and balance mental energy in both humans and animals, which can reduce stress during the adjustment to the new behavioral patterns. A balanced emotional state can also positively influence how receptive your cat may be as you guide them toward the desired behavior.

Bach Flower Remedies were developed in the 1930s by Dr. Edward Bach, a physician in the early 20th century, who believed that modern medicine fell short in its treatment of health issues. Medicines were developed to treat symptoms, in his opinion, and completely ignored the cause of the disease or problem. Prevention of a disease did not factor into this reactive approach to medicine. In addition, he believed that a person's emotional state played a role in their susceptibility to disease.

Bach spent the last few years of his life researching and developing herbal remedies from plants he suspected to have healing powers that could harmonize emotional energy. He identified 38 flowers that could balance negative states such as fear, uncertainty, apathy, loneliness, oversensitivity, despair and worry. He also developed a combination of 5 flower essences called Rescue Remedy, to provide comfort in severely stressful situations.

A complete description of the 38 flower essences could fill an entire issue of The Kitty Scoop; however some of the common ways Bach Flower Remedies are used with felines include:

• Aspen -- Cats that are anxious and fearful when there seems to be no catalyst.
• Beech -- Intolerant cats, whether it be dislike of other cats or a finicky eater, can be treated. This can also be used for cranky, old cats.
• Cherry Plum -- For random aggression or lack of self-control.
• Chestnut Bud -- This can be used when a cat has difficulty learning a new behavior, such as using a scratching post.
• Crab Apple -- This can be used for cats that stop eating their normal food, refuse to use a litter box that isn't completely clean, or for other obsessive behavior.
• Holly -- Problems with aggression due to jealousy can be treated.
• Mimulus -- Treats a cat that is fearful of something obvious (loud sounds, a dog, a car ride).
• Rock Rose -- This can be used for paralyzing terror.
• Star of Bethlehem -- This can be used after a trauma, such as abuse or an accident, or to provide comfort after the loss of a companion animal.
• Sweet Chestnut -- This can be used when a cat is suffering from an illness and seems to have given up.
• Vine -- This can be used when a cat tries too hard to dominate the other cats in the household, or when a cat is spraying to claim its territory.
• Walnut -- Cats that do not respond well to change can be helped with this essence.

The essences come in 10-20ml dropper bottles and customized remedies can be made by mixing two drops of each desired remedy with 10ml of spring water. Two drops of the mix can be added to the cat's water, food, or for very easy-going cats, the drops can be applied under the tongue. For difficult cats or multi-cat households, the remedy can alternatively be applied by rubbing it behind the cat's ear.

The Bach Centre in England (www.bachcentre.com) continues to study and confirm the effects of Bach Flower Remedies. The essences can be found in many health food stores or through many online stores. To learn more on how Bach Flower Remedies can be useful in treating cats, read "Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems" by Pam Johnson or "Emotional Healing for Cats" by Stefan Ball and Judy Howard. For more general information, "The Encyclopedia of Bach Flower Therapy" by Mechthild Scheffer is a comprehensive resource.

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