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[Music]
No let's get to you I've never had many
interactions with cats he has always had
this kind of fear and phobia of cats
the idea of cat phobia I've always been
very drawn to in terms of trying to get
those people to turn around one person
is afraid of cats and an entire three
generations completely poisoned so
where's he at he oh that he squeezed
himself where do you feel like his fear
levels that right now
I think he's that like an 8 out of 10
not I was scared by my presence I'm used
to that
come on in Steve what I decide to do is
use it let's get these guys working with
not towing I just want you to look at
him and tell me what you're seeing he's
cornered and he looks more scared than I
do let's say you weren't afraid of him
what would you do to comfort him I think
just to pet him and maybe give him a
treat how about we start there okay it's
just it doesn't come natural to me -
that's fine that's okay come on out
though I know a lot of people who just
don't like cats but the way his hand
extends towards natto Steven is
possessed with fear the first part of
your homework is nanos gonna be an
indoor cat we close the window I'm not a
big fan of cats being indoor/outdoor we
know that it diminishes the length of
their lives we know that statistically
are you okay with adding cat stuff
because the more we give him to own here
but less he's gonna want to own this I
think putting it that way makes me more
confident and adding things like that
because then it's taking him away from
our stuff and give him his I love
hearing that pick key spots you already
did it the cat tree in your room right
in the window just lose himself in
watching Birds and things like that
staying active without being active out
there right it's important Steven for
you to get past where you're at I want
you to start getting natto into daily
rituals treating petting touching I want
you to step up and do it
okay have it your job right now is to
challenge and support your next
assignment is introduced even to the
greater cat world in this case I'm going
to send you guys to a cat cafe
everything how happy is Steven not too
happy here's what I want you to do act
as though you love cats
in order for Steven to face his fears I
need Steven to go way outside his
comfort zone that's gonna be intimating
I feel like if you could be comfortable
around a bunch of cats
they'll help ease you and to be more
affectionate with not though just be
around cats I'm willing to make that
step hopefully that'll get me more
acclimated to the cow world so I'm here
for my last visit with Steven and
Heather and their cat nacho and the last
time I was here men not those problems
with the least of my problems
we had intergenerational cat phobias all
of them scared of cats yeah I'd say so
wow we have lying going on all kinds of
drama
hopefully that is contained and also not
so as well let me just ask you straight
up since the last time I was here has he
peed on the couch truth no truthfully
yeah and I think that just a few days
when we got the cat furniture oh yeah I
saw some change in his demeanor the
first few days I had anxiety three right
I feel like to be honest I was okay
because I knew if he did make a mistake
I would be able to confide there you go
okay you know not having any pee in this
house after nanos been locked up you
don't even realize how huge that is as a
sign that he's accepted the house he
doesn't experience the stress and
anxiety that led him to peeing in the
first place and that is a cause for
celebration
all right toes like yeah nice try guy
there we go oh nice going man he's had a
little bit if Steven just keeps up the
feeding the playing the penny he's gonna
figure this out very quickly that natto
is actually his friend and in no way
could be that cat who would carve his
eyes out
you ready to go back to the cat cafe not
my first choice so I'm wondering what
the exposure is gonna be like this time
as long as you keep having that reaction
that means we're not where we need to be
let's just get you back on the horse so
to speak and get you in front of some
cats come on let's go
I'm a little nervous for sure
[Music]
the best way to do that is to get a bag
of treats she a grabber she's she likes
to pull your hand towards you biggest
problem that Stephen has is this
ingrained physical response cat comes
Adamle suddenly pulling away that's
going to attract trouble because
suddenly Stevens a squeaky toy I've been
putting Steven to his challenge line all
day and then slowly moving that line
more and more now this this is the final
test I want Steven on the ground at the
cats level I mean if he can sit
comfortably with five cats here then
there's a better chance that he can sit
comfortably with one cat not so at home
don't forget the power right there
shrinking back meat up the power you
should sit up you control this they
don't control you tell me where you're
at right now what are you looking at
what are you taking in right now I'm
okay right now
um because now I'm I've fed both of them
so I'm a little bit more accustomed to
their behavior yeah okay so for you
you're finding out that when your energy
is nice and calm cats like you its
energy yeah all energy
I'm going to leave you and so's Heather
okay the worst thing that can happen in
this moment is that any of these cats
bites or scratches Steven because I'm
flashing forward 20 years from now and
he's telling his grandchildren to avoid
cats at all costs by using the treats as
a diversion I'm able to bring them
closer to me but then also bring him
away from me I'm actually really
impressed about what I'm seeing right
now I mean it's crazy nine months ago he
couldn't even be in the same room with
nacho and now just the gross than that
sure couldn't I
you
