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STANLEY AND SHELBY -- THEY ARE FEROCIOUS WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER.
WE'D LIKE TO HOST A HOLIDAY GATHERING AT OUR HOUSE
WITHOUT OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILY GETTING ATTACKED.
[ CAT HISSES ]
AS SOON AS ANYONE REACHES FOR HER, SHELBY JUST ATTACKS.
THIS YEAR IS OUR YEAR TO HAVE THE FAMILY OVER.
BUT WE'RE POSSIBLY CANCELING CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR AT OUR HOME.
BECAUSE IT'S EMBARRASSING.
OLLIE PEES EVERYWHERE.
GET! GET!
HE PEED ON MY PRESENTS.
NOT YOURS -- MY PRESENTS.
HE WILL BE EATING CHRISTMAS DINNER AT A SHELTER.
I'M ALL ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS, AND WE HAVE FINN,
WHO'S GOING TO RUIN OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SON.
HE JUMPS IN THE CRIB.
HE'S KNOCKED OVER OUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
I'VE HAD SIX YEARS.
Galaxy: I'M JACKSON GALAXY,
CAT BEHAVIORIST AND HOST OF "MY CAT FROM HELL."
WELCOME TO OUR HELL-IDAY SPECIAL.
I'VE TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO BOSTON
TO WORK WITH THREE FAMILIES
WHOSE CATS ARE LOOKING TO RUIN THEIR HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES.
EACH YEAR,
MORE THAN 9 MILLION PETS ARE SURRENDERED TO SHELTERS.
CATS ARE GIVEN AS PRESENTS,
BUT WHEN THE NEW YEAR HITS AND REALITY SETS IN,
TOO MANY OF THEM ARE EITHER REGIFTED OR RETURNED.
I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN
AND IT'S A HAPPY HOLIDAY FOR THE CATS AND THEIR HUMANS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
OLLIE! [BLEEP] GET OUT OF THERE, NOW!
[BLEEP] CAT!
*** ME OFF.
I'M ON MY WAY TO NELSON AND MELISSA'S.
THEY'VE GOT A SPHINX NAMED OLLIE WHO'S PEEING ON EVERYTHING
FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE TO THE PRESENTS.
THEY'RE HOPING FOR A DRY CHRISTMAS.
I'M HOPING HE WON'T BE REGIFTED,
AND I'M HOPING THAT I'M NOT TOO LATE.
AND I'M NELSON.
WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 19 YEARS.
WE'RE HIGH-SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS.
WE HAVE A CAT, OLLIE, THAT JUST PEES EVERYWHERE.
ON MY STUFF.
I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M GONNA GET RID OF THIS DAMN CAT.
WE'RE POSSIBLY CANCELING CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR AT OUR HOME.
BECAUSE IT'S EMBARRASSING TO HAVE THE WHOLE FAMILY OVER
AND TO SMELL LIKE PEE.
HE PEES ON THE TREE, HE PEES ON MY BED,
HE PEES ON MY SLIPPERS,
HE PEES ON THE STOCKING THAT FELL OFF THE MANTEL.
OLLIE, GET OUT OF HERE! GET! GET!
YEP, HE PEED ON THIS, TOO.
HE PEED ON MY PRESENTS.
NOT YOURS -- MY PRESENTS.
I'M SO SICK OF THIS [BLEEP] *** ME OFF.
WHEN NELSON FINDS OUT
THAT THE CAT HAS PEED ON SOMETHING OF HIS,
I THINK THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN HEAR HIM.
OLLIE! [BLEEP] GET OUT OF THERE, NOW!
I'M BLEEPING THIS, AND BLEEPING THAT.
[BLEEP] CAT [BLEEP] SWEAR TO GOD!
"GET THE BLEEP AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE I'M SO FED UP."
GET YOUR *** OUT OF HERE! [BLEEP]
I WANT TO GET RID OF HIM.
YOU WANTED THE CAT. YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE CAT.
I FEEL THAT IF WE CAN AT LEAST TRY TO HELP HIM,
THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE HIS BEHAVIOR.
I HAVE TWO THINGS THAT I LOVE,
AND TO PICK BETWEEN THE TWO, IT'S REALLY HARD
BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF THE CAT.
HOW CAN IT BE HARD?
19 YEARS TOGETHER, AND YOU'RE WILLING TO CHOOSE A CAT OVER ME?
IF HE'S NOT FIXED BY CHRISTMAS,
HE WILL BE EATING CHRISTMAS DINNER AT A SHELTER.
[ "WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS" PLAYS ]
[ KNOCK ON DOOR, CAT MEOWS ]
HEY, JACKSON.
I'M GOOD.
I'M MELISSA. WELCOME TO BOSTON. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
Nelson: HEY, JACKSON. MY NAME IS NELSON.
NELSON, IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU, BROTHER.
SAME HERE.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, GUYS.
SO, WHY AM I HERE?
OUR CAT, OLLIE, HE JUST LOVES TO PEE EVERYWHERE.
[ Chuckling ] OKAY.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT IT.
OKAY.
AND I'M THINKING ABOUT REGIFTING HIM THIS CHRISTMAS.
OH, WOW. OKAY.
HE PEES ON ALL MY CRAP.
ONE REALLY BIG MISCONCEPTION IS THAT,
WHEN CATS PEE ON YOUR STUFF, THEY HATE YOU.
IT'S NOT USUALLY THE CASE.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT,
THEY'RE TRYING TO MINGLE THEIR SCENT WITH YOURS,
JUST IN A REALLY INSECURE WAY.
SOME CATS RUB UP AGAINST YOU, SOME PEE ON YOUR STUFF.
I GOT TO FIGURE OUT IS THERE REALLY A PROBLEM WITH OLLIE,
OR DOES HE LIKE THE GUY?
IT'S CAUSING STRESS BETWEEN US, BUT I JUST CAN'T GIVE HIM UP.
AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW,
I'M GETTING MORE AND MORE PISSED OFF
BECAUSE I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DAMAGE THAT HE'S DONE.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT MUST BE TOUGH.
BUT DO YOU BLAME HIM AT ALL FOR WHAT'S GOING ON?
I AM ANGRY TOWARDS HIM
BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE HE'S NOT REALLY TRYING.
I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH HIM.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
WHEN A COUPLE HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR 19 YEARS
AND THE CAT IS DRIVING A WEDGE BETWEEN THEM,
IT TELLS YOU THAT THIS IS NO TRIVIAL MATTER.
BUT I HAD TO GET UP, SEE WHERE OLLIE'S BEEN PEEING.
UNDERNEATH THERE, THAT'S MY CLOTHES.
I'M GONNA GO OVER.
HI, BUDDY.
HI, OLLIE.
HELLO, MISTER.
HOW'S LIFE?
DUDE, IT STINKS OVER HERE.
HAVE YOU SMELLED THIS?
OHH!
[ LAUGHS ]
THE PEE SMELL IN THIS HOUSE IS PRETTY HEAVY-DUTY,
AND AS WE FOUND OUT TODAY, IT'S ALL OF NELSON'S STUFF.
LET'S GO SEE WHERE THE TREE IS, WHERE THE PRESENTS ARE
BECAUSE OLLIE IS RUINING CHRISTMAS FOR THESE GUYS.
THAT IS MY GIFT.
THAT'S YOUR GIFT.
YES. I'M REALLY T'd OFF.
THAT'S PRETTY BAD.
LET'S TRY TO MAKE THIS A BETTER CHRISTMAS FOR YOU GUYS,
AND LET'S MAKE IT A CHRISTMAS WITH OLLIE IN IT, ALL RIGHT?
DEFINITELY.
NOW, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS A BUNCH OF HOMEWORK.
THE FIRST THING IS
I'VE GOT THESE LITTLE AIR CANNISTERS HERE.
THEY'RE MY HELPER ELVES, OKAY?
I WANT YOU TO PUT MY ELVES
AROUND THE AREAS THAT HE'S BEEN PEEING.
EVERY TIME HE WALKS IN FRONT OF IT -- PSST! - IT JUST GOES OFF.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT HE CAME UP WITH THAT.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT. MNH-MNH.
I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU WITH SOME LITTLE CHRISTMAS STICKERS.
YOU TAKE ONE OF THESE STICKERS --
EVERY TIME HE PEES SOMEPLACE, ***.
YOU PUT THE STICKER DOWN.
IF YOU'VE GOT THREE STICKERS IN ONE PLACE, PUT A LITTER BOX.
OLLIE IS SAYING THINGS WITH PEE.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.
WE WANT TO HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS,
WE WANT TO HAVE A DRY CHRISTMAS.
I REALLY DO THINK WE CAN WORK THIS OUT.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS COMING HOME ONE DAY
AND OLLIE'S GONE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK.
I WILL SEE YOU GUYS IN A FEW WEEKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAVE A SAFE TRIP.
I'M GETTING VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED WITH HIM.
I THINK, IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, HE'S GONE.
I'M BACK IN BOSTON, AND I'M ABOUT TO HAVE MY SECOND VISIT
WITH NELSON AND MELISSA AND THEIR CAT, OLLIE.
IF WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE LESS PEE,
MY JOB IS GETTING A LITTLE EASIER.
Melissa: HEY, JACKSON.
GOOD. WELCOME TO BOSTON.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WHAT'S UP, BROTHER?
YEAH, I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.
HOW'S LIFE BEEN WITH YOU GUYS?
WELL...
...HE'S GONE FROM 10 TO 15 URINATIONS A WEEK DOWN TO 5.
BOOM!
FANTASTIC, MAN! GOOD.
GIVE ME SOMETHING THERE.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU GUYS SLAMMED THAT HOMEWORK.
HE IS REALLY PUTTING AN EFFORT IN, WHICH I'M REALLY HAPPY.
IT'S TAKEN A BETTER TURNAROUND FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK THE TENSION BETWEEN US HAS COME DOWN SOME,
ESPECIALLY SEEING THE WAY OLLIE'S BEEN BEHAVING
WITH THE NEW AIR CANNISTERS.
WE HAVE THAT LITTLE ELF SITTING RIGHT UNDER THE TREE.
[ CAT MEOWS ]
WE USED ABOUT SIX KITTY SANTA STICKERS,
AND OLLIE HAS BEEN USING THE LITTER BOXES MORE.
I THINK IT'S BETTER.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO LEAVE YOUR STUFF LAYING AROUND,
YES.
TWO DAYS AGO, I HAD TAKEN OFF MY SHORTS.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I GET UP TO GO TO THE BATHROOM,
AND I PUT THEM ON.
IT WAS JUST ALL UP MY LEFT THIGH.
Galaxy: THERE WAS STILL TENSION.
YOU COULD SEE IT ALL OVER NELSON'S FACE.
BUT I WANTED TO GET INSIDE TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER.
AND AS WE WALKED IN, OLLIE HEADED FOR THE BASEMENT.
I WANTED TO SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING, SO WE HEADED DOWNSTAIRS.
[ GASPS ]
HOLY [BLEEP] MAN.
[ CAT MEOWS ]
CHRISTMAS TREES ARE A STAPLE OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON,
BUT THE PINE SAP ITSELF
AND THE CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES SPRAYED ON THE TREE
SEEP DOWN INTO THE WATER THAT IT'S SITTING IN.
IT COULD BE REALLY TOXIC TO PETS,
SO COVER THE WATER BOWL SECURELY
OR GO GET YOURSELF AN ARTIFICIAL TREE.
Galaxy: I'M HERE AT NELSON AND MELISSA'S HOUSE
TO VISIT FOR A SECOND TIME WITH THEIR CAT, OLLIE,
WHO -- LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THERE ARE PEEING CATS, AND THEN THERE ARE PEEING CATS.
Nelson: HE PEES ON THE TREE, HE PEES ON MY BED,
HE PEES ON MY SLIPPERS.
AS WE WALKED IN, OLLIE HEADED FOR THE BASEMENT,
AND I'M JUST HOPING HE HASN'T PEED ANYWHERE BUT THE LITTER BOX
SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.
[ GASPS ]
HE'S GOING!
THAT'S AWESOME.
THIS IS WHAT I LOVE TO SEE RIGHT HERE -- PEEING IN A BOX.
AS LONG AS IT'S NOT ON MY CLOTHES, I'M HAPPY.
HERE'S WHAT I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT. TAKE THIS AWAY.
AS HE'S ON HIS WAY OUT,
YOU SAW THAT HE WAS SHAKING HIS PAWS A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT?
THAT TELLS US LITTER BOX TOO SMALL.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS MOMENT WAS AMAZING.
WE'VE GOT THE STICKERS THAT I ASKED NELSON AND MELISSA
TO PUT DOWN WHEREVER OLLIE WAS PEEING INAPPROPRIATELY.
THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THIS LITTER BOX,
WHICH SAYS THEY DID THEIR HOMEWORK.
BUT THE FACT THAT NELSON'S BELONGINGS
ARE STILL GETTING PEED ON
TELLS ME THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN OLLIE AND NELSON.
NOW, YOU GUYS KNOCKED LAST WEEK'S HOMEWORK OUT OF THE PARK.
WE GOT TO CONTINUE.
EVERYTHING THAT OLLIE IDENTIFIES AS REALLY PLEASANT,
REALLY LIKE A BIG PAYOFF JACKPOT,
I WANT EVERYTHING TO COME FROM YOU, NELSON.
THE NEXT THING THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT
IS THE FACT THAT WE UNCOVERED THAT LITTER BOX DOWNSTAIRS
IS JUST TOO SMALL FOR HIM.
BIGGER LITTER BOXES, OKAY?
NOT ONLY DOES OLLIE NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE AROUND NELSON,
BUT HE NEEDS TO BE COMFORTABLE IN HIS LITTER BOXES,
AND IF THESE TWO THINGS DON'T HAPPEN,
OLLIE'S GONNA KEEP PEEING,
NELSON AND MELISSA ARE GONNA KEEP ARGUING,
AND THIS HOLIDAY COULD BE OLLIE'S LAST.
GUYS, YOU HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK.
IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE A LITTLE MORE WORK,
A LITTLE MORE DEDICATION.
I HAVE A LITTLE WORRY THAT OLLIE MAY NOT BECOME 100% FIXED.
I'LL SEE YOU SOON, ALL RIGHT? TAKE CARE.
BYE, GUYS.
HAVE A SAFE TRIP.
IF HE'S NOT FIXED BY CHRISTMAS, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
HE'S OUT.
Galaxy: I'M HERE FOR MY LAST VISIT WITH OLLIE.
ALL I'M HOPING FOR IS A DRY CHRISTMAS,
AND I'M HOPING I'M GONNA WALK IN THERE
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M GONNA SEE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
HEY, MISTER. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SAME HERE, MAN.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M GREAT. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
TELL ME, GUYS. WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?
WELL...
HOW MANY TIMES HAS HE PEED OUTSIDE THE BOX
SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE?
ZERO.
ZERO? YEAH, BABY!
THAT'S AMAZING! FANTASTIC.
OH, I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
OLLIE HASN'T PEED ANYWHERE BUT THE LITTER BOX.
WE DON'T HAVE PRESENTS BEING PEED ON.
THE TREE'S NOT BEING PEED ON.
TRULY, IT'S A DRY CHRISTMAS.
COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
NELSON'S WORKED REALLY HARD DOING THE HOMEWORK.
HE'S USING ALL THE LITTER BOXES.
WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THIS BAD BOY. IT'S TOO SMALL.
AND WE ARE REPLACING IT WITH THIS BIG BAD BOY.
GAVE HIM UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
I SHOWERED HIM WITH ALL THE ATTENTION THAT HE WANTS.
IT'S TOTAL CHANGE IN HIM AND TOTAL CHANGE IN MYSELF.
I ALWAYS HAD THIS ROUGH EDGE TO ME,
BUT SEEING OLLIE AND HOW HE WAS
KIND OF MADE ME OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT MORE EMOTIONALLY.
OUR RELATIONSHIP, IT WAS REALLY BAD,
AND NOW, WITH OLLIE NOT PEEING, IT'S BEEN GREAT.
YEAH.
YOU HAVE GOT TO GIVE NELSON SO MUCH CREDIT.
AT SOME POINT, TO HAVE AN EPIPHANY
AND TO KNOW THAT, "WAIT A MINUTE.
HE WAS JUST TRYING TO GET MY ATTENTION, MY LOVE.
HE WAS COMPLEMENTING MY SCENT WITH HIS.
I GOT IT, AND I GAVE HIM LOVE IN RETURN."
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST EVERYBODY COULD DO.
SPEAKING OF OLLIE, I COULDN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
WE WALKED INTO THE LIVING ROOM,
AND THERE'S OLLIE IN A HOLIDAY SWEATER.
YOU GUYS, THROUGH ALL THE HOMEWORK THAT YOU'VE DONE,
THIS IS THE PAYOFF, MAN.
HE IS SO RELAXED, MAN.
I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND MANY BETTER SUCCESS STORIES
THAN THIS BOY RIGHT HERE.
JACKSON BROUGHT OUR FAMILY TOGETHER.
EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE HOPING AND WISHED FOR HAS COME TRUE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NICE-SMELLING CHRISTMAS.
THE MERRIEST, DRIEST CHRISTMAS IN RECENT TIMES.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD CHRISTMAS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE HELLCAT. WE HAVE TWO HELLCATS.
[ CAT HISSES, YOWLS ]
STANLEY AND SHELBY -- THEY ARE FEROCIOUS WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND A PLACE FOR STANLEY TO GO.
[ CAT HISSES ]
NOW, LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE ORNAMENTS
THAT YOU HAVE DANGLING OFF YOUR TREE.
THE WORST OFFENDERS ARE TINSEL.
IF INGESTED, THEY COULD BECOME TWISTED
AND BUNCHED INSIDE YOUR PET'S INTESTINAL TRACT.
THIS YEAR, THINK ABOUT LEAVING IT OFF YOUR TREE ALTOGETHER.
[ CAT HISSES ]
Galaxy: I'M ON MY WAY OVER TO JENNY AND DAVE'S HOUSE.
THEY GOT TWO CATS, SHELBY AND STANLEY.
AND THE CAT-ON-CAT AGGRESSION'S SO BAD
THAT JENNY AND DAVE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE OVER FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
SO I'M GONNA HEAD OVER THERE RIGHT NOW
AND SEE IF I CAN MAKE THIS HELLISH HOLIDAY A HAPPY ONE.
I'M DAVID.
AND WE LIVE IN BOSTON, AND WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR A YEAR.
AND NOW WE'RE THE CRAZY CAT PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE HELLCAT. WE HAVE TWO HELLCATS.
[ CATS HISSING ]
STANLEY AND SHELBY -- THEY ARE FEROCIOUS WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE ***.
HEY.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATED.
YEP.
[ CAT YOWLS ]
IT'S A HEARTBREAKING SITUATION
BECAUSE WE BROUGHT SHELBY IN AS A RESCUE
WHEN SHE WAS ONLY ABOUT SIX WEEKS OLD.
SHE WASN'T SOCIALIZED WITH HER LITTER
AND, YOU KNOW, GOT TAKEN TOO SOON FROM HER MOTHER.
AS SOON AS ANYONE REACHES FOR HER,
SHELBY JUST ATTACKS.
[ CAT HISSES ]
OW, OW, OW!
WE HAD THIS THOUGHT THAT IF WE BROUGHT IN ANOTHER CAT,
IT WOULD HELP THINGS.
WE GOT STANLEY AS A RESCUE
JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS TWO YEARS AGO,
AND HE HAS NOT BEEN THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT WE WANTED.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE CHALLENGING FOR US,
AND WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HOST A HOLIDAY GATHERING
AT OUR HOUSE,
BUT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE TWO CATS FIGHTING
AND KNOCKING OVER THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT PRESENTS GETTING RIPPED OPEN
IN THE PROCESS.
IT'S TOO TREACHEROUS, IT'S TOO DANGEROUS
TO HAVE OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILY COME OVER
AND GET CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
BY THE SCROOGE AND THE GRINCH.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY WE HAVE A SCROOGE AND A GRINCH.
STANLEY LIVES IN OUR GUEST BEDROOM,
SO WE CAN'T INVITE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS TO COME STAY WITH US.
THIS ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE FOR A CAT TO LIVE IN.
[ Voice breaking ] SHELBY IS MY BABY,
AND I'M SO ANGRY WITH HER
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S HER FAULT
THAT STANLEY CAN'T BE OUT HERE.
SHELBY AND STANLEY ARE CAUSING US TO FIGHT
'CAUSE WE DISAGREE ON WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS
OR WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
SHELBY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.
NO ONE -- NO ONE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO TAKE HER.
SHE'S NOT A CAT THAT CAN BE RE-HOMED.
WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO FIND A PLACE FOR STANLEY TO GO.
I CAN'T EVEN WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND
GETTING HIM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
[ SIGHS ] I DON'T KNOW.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
WELCOME TO BOSTON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
THANK YOU. SAME TO YOU.
HEY, MAN.
HEY, JACKSON. HOW ARE YOU?
IT WAS AMAZING WHEN JACKSON WALKED IN.
IT WAS JUST -- I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT JACKSON WAS HERE.
OUR OWN VERSION OF SANTA SHOWING UP TO HELP US.
YOU, TOO.
I WISH IT WERE UNDER BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES.
David: YEAH.
TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
SO, WE GOT SHELBY WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT SIX WEEKS OLD.
SHE HAD BEEN ABANDONED AT AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL,
AND SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN WITH HER LITTERMATES AND HER CAT MOM
UNTIL AT LEAST 12 WEEKS.
SO SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO BE A CAT.
AT WHAT POINT DOES STANLEY COME INTO THE PICTURE?
WE BROUGHT STANLEY IN TWO YEARS AGO.
HOW DID THAT GO?
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ CAT YOWLS ]
THEM INTERACTING, OBVIOUSLY, CAUSES PROBLEMS,
BUT IT'S THE WAY THAT SHELBY INTERACTS WITH FAMILY
WHEN THE FAMILY'S HERE.
AND WE JUST STOPPED INVITING PEOPLE OVER.
IT'S REALLY PUTTING A DAMPER ON THE SEASON FOR US.
POINT BLANK --
IF ONE OF THESE CATS HAD TO BE RE-HOMED,
WHO GETS RE-HOMED?
I THINK IT HAS TO BE STANLEY.
[ Voice breaking ] I FEEL LIKE WE TRIED TO SAVE HIM,
AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON HIM
'CAUSE I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE ALREADY DID,
AND THAT MAKES ME REALLY... [ INHALES SHARPLY ]
YEAH.
HE DESERVES TO BE HOME, AND HE DESERVES TO BE WITH US.
I MEAN, HE'S BEEN HERE FOR TWO YEARS.
IT'S NOT A GOOD OPTION.
NO.
Galaxy: THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE HERE WITH DAVE AND JENNY.
I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, THEY'VE BEEN LIVING THIS LIFE FOR YEARS,
AND JENNY DOES NOT WANT THIS FAMILY BROKEN UP.
BUT THERE'S ALSO THE HOLIDAYS.
THEY WANT TO HAVE FAMILY OVER HERE FOR ONCE,
AND THAT ADDS A NEW DIMENSION TO THIS WHOLE THING.
OKAY, SO, OBVIOUSLY...
THERE'S OUR GIRL.
AS I WALKED DOWN THE HALL, I LOOK DOWN, AND THERE'S SHELBY.
HI, BABY.
THIS IS WHAT I CALL HER CHALLENGE LINE.
NOW THAT I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY,
I'M GOING TO EXPLORE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I PURPOSEFULLY WANT TO CUT OFF THAT EXIT ROUTE
BECAUSE I WANT TO GET TO KNOW HER IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION
AND JUST GET HER TO THAT POINT WHERE SHE WAS GONNA SNAP
SO I CAN SEE IF IT WAS AT LEAST LOGICAL.
OKAY, LET'S DO THIS SLOWLY.
SHELBY. [ CLICKING TONGUE ]
WHAT IF I -- I KNOW. I KNOW.
[ CAT HISSES ]
OH, MY GOODNESS. I'M NOT BACKING UP, GIRLFRIEND.
CAN I COME IN?
OW! GOD!
SHE'LL GET YOU.
YEAH, SHE'LL GET -- SHE GOT ME.
NOW SHE'S GONNA SAY,
"WHAT DO I GOT TO GO THROUGH TO GET YOU TO GO AWAY?"
AAH!
THE FIRST TIME SHE GOT ME, IT WAS WITH WARNING.
THEN IT WAS WITH CLAWS, THEN IT WAS WITH TEETH.
THAT ACTUALLY IS THE NORMAL PROGRESSION.
SHE COMMUNICATED VERY CLEARLY TO ME.
SHE DOES SPEAK A LITTLE BIT OF CAT.
IT'S RUSTY, BUT IT'S IN THERE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.
WHILE WE'RE ALL HERE, I MEAN,
LET'S JUST DEAL WITH THE REALITIES HERE,
AND THE REALITY IS A MASSIVE WALL OF BABY GATES.
WHEN I SEE BABY GATES BEING STACKED IN A DOORWAY,
IT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING --
THAT ONE OF THESE CATS
IS BEING PERMANENTLY LOCKED AWAY IN A ROOM,
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S STANLEY.
IT'S SMALL, IT'S CLAUSTROPHOBIC,
AND IT MAKES ME FEEL PRETTY BAD FOR STANLEY.
NOW, THESE GUYS ARE GREAT CAT PARENTS,
BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
THEY FIGURE SHELBY WAS HERE FIRST.
SHE DESERVES THE HOUSE,
AND BESIDES, SHE CAN'T STAND BEING LOCKED UP.
STANLEY CAN BEAR IT BETTER, BUT THIS POOR BOY NEEDS TERRITORY,
AND WITHOUT TERRITORY, BAD THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN
EVERY TIME THESE TWO CATS TOGETHER.
AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS, GUYS.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
David: OH, MY!
THIS IS YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE OF CONFIDENCE, OKAY?
THIS IS GONNA GO ON ONE SIDE OF THE DOOR, THIS ON THE OTHER.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO START GETTING THEM UP ON THESE TREES.
EVERY DAY, I WANT DAVE AND JENNY TO DO ACTIVITIES
THAT LEAD BOTH CATS UP AT THE SAME TIME,
AND MAYBE THEY'LL FIND THEIR MOJO -- THEIR CONFIDENCE --
AROUND ONE ANOTHER ON THESE TREES.
LET'S START TALKING ABOUT SHELBY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SHELBY'S STOCKING,
AND WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, THEY'RE GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO THE MANTEL,
AND THEY'RE GONNA PRESENT SHELBY
WITH A TREAT OR A TOY OR SOMETHING, OKAY?
OKAY.
THERE'S A PROCESS CALLED IMPRINTING
THAT KITTENS GET AROUND PEOPLE.
EVERY TIME THEY SEE PEOPLE, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.
SAME THING'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE.
HERE'S THE NEXT THING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
FOR STANLEY, WE HAVE GOT TO GET HIM OUT OF THAT ROOM.
SO YOUR EXERCISE INVOLVES STANLEY'S WREATH OF TOYS.
SO, EVERY DAY, I WANT YOU TO TAKE THINGS OFF OF THIS WREATH,
AND I WANT YOU TO PRESENT THEM TO HIM AS PLAYTHINGS.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH STANLEY IS START LETTING HIM THINK
THERE'S A NICE, BIG WORLD OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM
AND IT ALL BELONGS TO HIM.
AND, GUYS, KEEP THE BABY GATES UP,
AND DON'T LET THE CATS IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER, OKAY?
I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT WE WELCOME THE CHALLENGE
TO TRY AND MAKE THIS WORK AND MAKE THIS A SOLUTION.
BUT I HAVE TEMPERED OPTIMISM THAT THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
I'LL SEE YOU GUYS SOON, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT, TAKE CARE.
I'M BACK IN BOSTON FOR MY SECOND VISIT WITH DAVE AND JENNY.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IF ANY HOLIDAY WAS GONNA GET RUINED,
IT'S BECAUSE OF SHELBY AND STANLEY.
WE'RE TALKING VIOLENCE OFF THE CHARTS.
OW! GOD!
[ CAT YOWLING ]
THINGS WERE SO BAD,
I WAS AFRAID THEY WERE GONNA SEND STANLEY TO A SHELTER.
HEY, JACKSON. WHAT'S GOING ON?
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN, BROTHER?
WELCOME BACK TO BOSTON. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU, BUDDY.
HEY, JACKSON. WELCOME BACK TO BOSTON.
YOU, TOO.
SO, TELL ME SOMETHING. HOW ARE THINGS GOING HERE?
THERE WAS ANOTHER INSTANCE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
STANLEY HAD COME OUT, AND THEY DID HAVE ANOTHER FIGHT.
A LITTLE TIFF.
[ CAT HISSES ]
AAH!
WHAT DID I TELL YOU GUYS?
I TOLD YOU TO KEEP THEM AT THE GATE.
MY HOMEWORK WAS VERY SPECIFIC.
I WANTED TO SEE THESE CATS
ON THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES OF CONFIDENCE,
I WANTED TO SEE GUESTS FEEDING SHELBY TREATS,
AND I WANTED TO SEE STANLEY PLAYING OUTSIDE OF HIS ROOM.
AT NO POINT DID I SAY I WANTED TO SEE THE BABY GATES DOWN
OR THESE TWO CATS IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER.
TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS WERE THINKING.
ACTUALLY, THEY COEXISTED IN THE SAME ROOM FOR OVER AN HOUR.
WHOA.
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOW, LISTEN. I'M NOT PSYCHED
THAT DAVE AND JENNY IGNORED MY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT,
BUT THE FACT THAT STANLEY COULD BE IN THE SAME ROOM
WITH SHELBY FOR AN HOUR,
THAT LETS US KNOW
THAT THERE'S A FUTURE BETWEEN THESE TWO CATS
THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE BLOODSHED.
ALL RIGHT, I REALLY WANT TO CHECK IN WITH SHELBY.
WHERE IS SHE AT RIGHT NOW?
YEAH, SHE'S DOWNSTAIRS.
SO, AS I'M HEADING DOWNSTAIRS,
THERE'S SHELBY, SITTING ON THE STAIRS.
AND THE BEST THING IS,
AS I WALK CLOSER, SHE JUST HANGS OUT THERE.
A LOT BETTER THAN LAST WEEK ALREADY.
HELLO, MY LOVE.
YOU REMEMBER, WE DID THIS LAST WEEK.
ALL I WANT TO DO WITH SHELBY IS
EXACTLY WHAT I DID LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
WHICH IS TO CHECK IN WITH HER WITHOUT GETTING CARVED UP,
AND I'M JUST HOPING, BECAUSE I KNOW AT ANY SECOND,
SHE COULD GO FOR ME.
NOW, PINE NEEDLES THEMSELVES AREN'T NECESSARILY TOXIC,
BUT IF YOUR CAT SWALLOWS THEM,
MAN, THOSE CAN CAUSE GREAT DISCOMFORT,
SO SOME SPRAY SOME BITTER APPLE
OR A CITRUS SUBVERSIVE ON THE PINE NEEDLES.
I'M REACHING OUT TO SHELBY, AND I'M JUST HOPING IT WORKS
BECAUSE IF SHELBY'S AGGRESSION
IS AS BAD AS IT WAS THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
THERE IS NO WAY THAT DAVE AND JENNY
ARE GONNA HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY.
[ SMOOCHES ]
MY LOVE.
WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT?
YUMMY.
DAVE AND JENNY HAVE BEEN NAILING THEIR HOMEWORK, THAT'S FOR SURE.
SHELBY'S LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK CAT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THIS TO HER RIGHT NOW.
NOT EVEN A PROBLEM.
Melissa: DAY ONE, THERE WAS BLOOD.
TODAY, HE ACTUALLY GOT KISSES,
SO WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER TURNAROUND.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, LET'S HEAD BACK UPSTAIRS.
GREAT.
SO, WE HEADED UPSTAIRS, WHERE WE GOT TO SEE STANLEY
SPENDING SOME MUCH-NEEDED TIME OUTSIDE OF HIS ROOM.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT,
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO GIVE DAVE AND JENNY SOME HOMEWORK.
THIS IS THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN.
NOW, THE FIRST THING WE GOT TO DO --
I WANT YOU GUYS TO START FEEDING THEM WITH GATES DOWN,
AND OVER TIME,
YOU'RE GONNA KEEP THOSE GATES DOWN LONGER AND LONGER,
UNTIL THEY BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.
HALLELUJAH, RIGHT?
NEXT THING IS, I WANT YOU TO HAVE PLAYTIME OUT HERE
WITH BOTH CATS EVERY DAY.
IF STANLEY HAS ONE SECOND OF STILLNESS,
WE KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE BLOODSHED,
SO I WANT TO HAVE PLAYTIME DONE IN THE LIVING ROOM
WITH BOTH CATS AND JUST KEEP IT MOVING.
THESE CATS ARE GONNA START REASSOCIATING GOOD THINGS
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AND FINALLY, I GOT ONE MORE THING FOR YOU.
HOLD ON. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
HE COMES BEARING GIFTS. [ CHUCKLES ]
HELLO!
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
RIGHT? HERE'S YOUR HOMEWORK.
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE AN UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY.
IF YOU'LL PLEASE OPEN UP YOUR BAG,
YOU'LL SEE THAT YOU TWO ARE NOT OFF THE HOOK.
THERE ARE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS IN THERE.
I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE
A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE WITH THE CATS OUT,
BEING ACCLIMATED TO FESTIVE ACTIVITIES.
I THINK HE WAS SERIOUS IN THINKING THAT
HE WANTS ALL OF OUR GUESTS TO COME OVER IN SWEATERS LIKE HIS.
IF YOU GUYS STICK TO YOUR HOMEWORK,
I KNOW WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN, OKAY?
JACKSON WANTS US TO HAVE THE HOLIDAY GATHERING
'CAUSE HE KNOWS THAT WE WANT OUR HOLIDAYS BACK.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL,
YOU LET ME KNOW.
IN THE MEANTIME, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
Jenny: THANKS, JACKSON.
TALK TO YOU SOON. BYE, GUYS.
TAKE CARE.
IF WE AREN'T ABLE TO GO AHEAD
AND HAVE THEM COHABITATE IN THE SAME SPACE,
STANLEY WILL HAVE TO BE RE-HOMED.
I'M HERE IN BOSTON OUTSIDE OF DAVE AND JENNY'S HOUSE.
I'M GOING IN FOR MY FINAL VISIT,
AND THE UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY IS UNDER WAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF FUN,
SO I'M HOPING I GET TO HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT PARTY. I CAN'T WAIT.
OH, THERE THEY ARE.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
LOOK WHO I FOUND.
All: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
COME ON IN.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR
AND SAW JACKSON STANDING THERE WITH ALL OF OUR FRIENDS
IN THEIR UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATERS.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THESE.
I KNOW. ACTUALLY, I'M NOT EVEN SURE I COME IN FIRST PLACE.
I'LL TELL YOU.
THIS IS KIND OF THE CULMINATING POINT OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
GUYS, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ON YOUR UGLY SWEATERS.
YOU'VE MADE MY TRIP TO BOSTON ALL THAT MUCH MORE WORTH IT.
AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE HERE FOR STANLEY AND SHELBY,
WHICH, BY THE WAY, HAVING BOTH OF THEM
IN THE SAME ROOM WITH US HERE
IS PRETTY AMAZING.
HAS IT BEEN OKAY WITH THESE GUYS?
HAVE THEY BEEN ACTUALLY HANGING OUT LIKE THIS?
WE'VE HAD THEM OUT AND WITH EACH OTHER
AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN
SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE.
WE'VE HAD THEM OUT HERE ONCE FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS.
WHOA! TWO HOURS?
NO FIGHTS?
YEAH, NO FIGHTS. NO FIGHTS AT ALL.
IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.
THAT IS AMAZING.
LET'S TALK ABOUT A HUGE STEP.
SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, NO FIGHTS WHATSOEVER, NOT ONE.
AND THESE GUYS BLEW OUT THE OLD STANDING TIME
OF HOW LONG THESE CATS COULD BE TOGETHER -- TWO HOURS.
HOME RUN.
I THINK SHE'S GETTING A LOT OF CONFIDENCE FROM MEALTIME.
I THINK SHE'S ALSO GETTING A LOT OF CONFIDENCE
FROM HER CHRISTMAS TREE OF CONFIDENCE.
SHELBY IS UP ON THE THIRD SHELF WITH THE MIDDLE GATE MISSING.
STANLEY HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT HE'S COME OUT.
HE'S A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE OUTSIDE OF HIS ROOM.
UH-UH-UH! YOU PLAY WITH THAT.
YOU DON'T PLAY WITH SHELBY'S.
THE PLAYING IS WORKING, AND THE GATES ARE GONE.
I LOVE IT.
AFTER TWO YEARS, WE HAVE OUR HOLIDAYS BACK.
I'M EXCITED.
TAKE CARE, YOU GUYS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY.
All: HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
TAKE CARE. NICE TO MEET YOU ALL.
BYE-BYE.
Courtney: FINN IS GOING TO RUIN OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SON.
HE KNOCKS THINGS OFF OF COUNTERTOPS.
HE JUMPS IN THE CRIB.
HE'S KNOCKED OVER OUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
I'VE HAD SIX YEARS.
TO HELP KEEP YOUR CAT SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON,
BE REALLY MINDFUL OF TOXIC PLANTS --
POINSETTIA, MISTLETOE, HOLLY.
THEY WILL ALL CAUSE NAUSEA AND DIARRHEA.
THE WORST OFFENDER, THOUGH, IS LILY,
AND THAT WILL CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE,
SO GET YOURSELF SOME ARTIFICIAL PLANTS THIS YEAR.
Courtney: FINN, GET DOWN.
I'M HEADING TO COURTNEY AND BILLY'S HOUSE.
THEY'VE GOT A BENGAL CAT NAMED FINN
WHO'S THREATENING TO RUIN THEIR BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
WITH HIS MORE NAUGHTY-THAN-NICE BEHAVIOR,
SO MY JOB HERE IS SIMPLE -- MAKE THIS HOLIDAY A HAPPY ONE
FOR THE CAT AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
I'M BILLY.
AND WE'VE BEEN MARRIED ALMOST A YEAR.
WE HAVE A SON NAMED YANNI.
AND WE HAVE FINN,
WHO'S GOING TO RUIN OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SON.
HE'S GONNA RUIN CHRISTMAS.
OKAY.
FINN IS A BENGAL AND 6 YEARS OLD.
AND FINN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE.
HE TRIES TO TEAR DOWN CURTAINS,
HE KNOCKS THINGS OFF OF COUNTERTOPS,
HE JUMPS IN THE CRIB, HE JUMPS ON THE CHANGING TABLE.
I'M JUST AFRAID FINN'S GONNA JUMP ON THE BABY.
I'M ALL ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS.
I LOVE IT, AND IT'S GONNA BE SPECIAL THIS YEAR WITH YANNI,
AND FINN TENDS TO UPSTAGE EVERYTHING.
HE'S KNOCKED OVER OUR CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE PAST.
HE EATS THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
I'M DONE WITH HIM.
HE CAN BE GOOD.
BUT HE'S NOT.
YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
I'VE HAD SIX YEARS.
BILLY'S NOT HERE ALL DAY LONG.
I DON'T THINK HE REALLY UNDERSTANDS
HOW DIFFICULT FINN CAN BE.
YOU WAKE UP THE BABY AGAIN, I SWEAR TO GOD. SHH.
MY PATIENCE HAS DEFINITELY RUN DRY.
NO, FINN.
JACKSON, IT'S YANNI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS,
AND FINN IS GOING TO RUIN IT IF YOU DON'T COME HELP US.
[ CAT MEOWS ]
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Billy: HEY. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M BILLY.
BILLY, I'M JACKSON. GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THINGS ARE NOT GREAT.
NO.
SO, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, GUYS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
TELL ME -- WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
FINN IS TROUBLE.
HE LIKES TO EAT THE PRESENTS,
AND HE'S BEEN KNOWN TO KNOCK A TREE OVER.
HE'S GONNA RUIN OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH THE BABY.
OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT A BABY.
WHAT'S BABY'S NAME?
YANNI? OKAY.
SEVEN MONTHS.
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT HE'S GONNA DO SOMETHING TO YANNI
THAT'S GONNA...
YEAH.
TELL ME. NO, TELL ME. WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?
WELL, YANNI'S GONNA TURN AROUND, TRYING TO GRAB HIM OR SOMETHING,
AND FINN IS GONNA GET AGGRAVATED.
OKAY.
Galaxy: IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
COUPLES HAVE A BABY, ESPECIALLY THEIR FIRST BABY,
THEY'RE AFRAID THE CAT'S GONNA HURT THE CHILD,
CAT WINDS UP AT THE SHELTER.
FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, FINN'S NOT VIOLENT.
HE'S MORE OF A DENNIS THE MENACE.
BUT I HAVE TO FIND TO FIND OUT IF YANNI'S IN ANY DANGER.
ARE YOU THINKING OF RE-HOMING HIM?
I COULD.
I COULDN'T JUST GIVE HIM UP. LIKE, HE'S MY BUDDY.
WHAT REALLY WORRIES ME IS THAT BILLY'S SITTING THERE,
AND HE'S SMILING,
AND YOU'VE GOT COURTNEY SITTING NEXT TO HIM, SHAKING HER HEAD.
IT FEELS TO ME
THAT SHE'S ALREADY SAID GOODBYE TO THIS CAT.
WELCOME TO CHRISTMAS LAND.
THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW, HOW LONG HAS THE CHRISTMAS TREE BEEN UP?
WE JUST PUT IT UP LIKE A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
OKAY, SO, IF YOU JUST PUT IT UP A COUPLE DAYS AGO,
HAS HE GONE AFTER IT YET?
YEAH.
HE'S EATEN IT.
WITH A CAT AS MISCHIEVOUS AS THIS GUY IS, RIGHT,
HE'S OUR DENNIS THE MENACE CAT, RIGHT,
I MEAN, HE'S GOING TO GO AFTER IT.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME HOMEWORK RIGHT NOW, GUYS.
LET'S AT LEAST GO FOR A FAKE CHRISTMAS TREE, ALL RIGHT?
SOUNDS GOOD.
FOLKS, IT'S A TREE, AND IT'S A CAT.
THEY'RE GONNA CHEW ON PINE NEEDLES.
THERE'S THE SMELL OF WOOD.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE CURIOUS. THEY'RE GOING TO EXPLORE.
THERE'S REALLY NOT A POINT
OF HAVING A CAT AND A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE, IF YOU ASK ME.
OKAY, LET'S KEEP MOVING. COME ON.
WE HEADED INTO THE NURSERY, AND ACCORDING TO COURTNEY,
THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE SHE'S THE MOST AFRAID.
HE JUMPS INTO THE CRIB.
HE'LL JUMP UP ON THE CHANGING TABLE
WHILE SHE'S CHANGING YANNI,
AND AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER,
SHE REALLY DOESN'T TRUST FINN VERY MUCH.
LOOK AT HIM.
YEAH, HE IS.
HE LOVES FINN.
AND HE GRABS AT HIM, PULLS AT HIM.
SO, WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM YOU GUYS A LOT SO FAR
IS FEAR OF "WHAT IF?"
YOU'RE SORT OF JUST WAITING.
YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE BAD THING TO HAPPEN.
AND SO FAR, NOTHING'S HAPPENED.
LET'S FIND OUT "WHAT IF?" ALL RIGHT?
Galaxy: THE FACT THAT YANNI PULLS ON FINN AND FINN DOESN'T ATTACK
TELLS ME THAT FINN IS PROBABLY NOT AN AGGRESSIVE CAT.
BUT THEY'VE GOT A NEW BABY HERE,
AND MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YANNI'S SAFE.
LOOK AT THAT.
IMMEDIATELY, DO YOU SEE HOW BADLY THIS BOY NEEDS TO PLAY?
THIS ENERGY IS REALLY PENT UP, GUYS.
HE NEEDS THIS WORSE THAN I CAN POSSIBLY TELL YOU.
[ YANNI LAUGHING ]
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT GOES AWAY?
[ LAUGHING STOPS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO, I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THIS BOY HAS BEEN IN HERE,
HE HAS NOT ONE TIME GONE NEAR YANNI.
YANNI'S NOT A TOY TO HIM.
NOW, SEEING THIS, DO YOU TRUST YOUR CAT?
YES.
NO.
HE HASN'T SHOWN ANYTHING, LIKE, AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS THE BABY,
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE HAS KIND OF LED TO THIS POINT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT I CAN'T GIVE YOU.
ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS A SENSE OF TRUSTING HIM.
SO WE GOT SOME WORK TO DO, OKAY?
FIRST THING YOU'RE GONNA DO IS YOU GOT TO PLAY WITH HIM.
YOU GOT TO PLAY WITH HIM EVERY DAY.
YOU'RE GONNA HELP TIRE HIM OUT,
GET THAT BENGAL ENERGY OUT OF HIM,
AND HELP FOSTER A SENSE OF TRUST.
THE NEXT THING I WANT YOU GUYS TO DO
IS GET A PLASTIC CHRISTMAS TREE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ON YOU A LITTLE BIT, COURTNEY.
I MEAN, BILLY ALREADY TELLS ME HE TRUSTS THE CAT.
YOU DON'T.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEND JACKSON A HOLIDAY CARD
THAT SAYS "WE NO LONGER HAVE A CAT FROM HELL."
BUT IF IT'S GONNA FAIL,
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE US THAT'S FAILING.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WORRIES ME,
AND I KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS GONNA BE,
AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT.
SAY BYE, FINN.
[ FINN MEOWS ]
Galaxy: I AM BACK IN BOSTON.
I'M HERE TO SEE COURTNEY AND BILLY FOR MY SECOND VISIT.
NOW, WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, COURTNEY WAS TOTALLY OVER FINN,
SO NOW I'M HOPING THAT I WALK IN HERE,
THEY'VE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK,
AND WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO A PEACEFUL HOLIDAY.
HI, JACKSON.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HEY, MISTER, HOW ARE YOU, MAN?
Billy: GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
NICE TREE.
GREAT.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
I'VE BEEN GOOD, BUT THE QUESTION IS,
HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN GOING HERE?
WELL, WE GOT THE NEW TREE, AND...
EVER SINCE WE'VE PUT UP THE FAKE TREE,
FINN HAS WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
NOW, THAT IS A HAPPY HOLIDAY FOR ME.
IT'S SUCH A RELIEF HAVING THE REAL CHRISTMAS TREE GONE
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FINN BEING IN THERE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE COMPANY OVER.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST TO HIM.
WE DEFINITELY STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES, MAINLY IN THE NURSERY.
HE JUST WANTS TO SLEEP IN THE CRIB.
OKAY.
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE BIGGEST CONCERN STILL,
IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT HE'S SAFE AROUND YANNI.
I WAS HOPING THAT A LITTLE EXTRA PLAYTIME IN YANNI'S ROOM
WOULD HELP DETER FINN FROM THIS BEHAVIOR,
BUT FINN IS A TYPICAL CURIOUS AND HEADSTRONG BENGAL,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STEP THINGS UP A BIT.
NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING MORE WITH HIM,
WE'RE BOTH NOTICING THAT FINN IS GETTING A BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE.
YOU MIGHT WALK BY, AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE,
HE'LL TURN AROUND TO, LIKE, SWAT AT YOU.
OKAY.
OF COURSE, I WANT TO GET UP, TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE.
IMMEDIATELY WHEN I TURNED AROUND,
THERE WAS FINN, CURIOUS AS EVER.
SO THIS IS A PERFECT TIME TO TEST HIS AGGRESSION.
WHAT I'M REALLY LOOKING TO SEE HERE IS,
DOES HE GO AFTER ME, OR IS HE GOING AFTER THE TOY?
IS IT PLAY-AGGRESSION, OR IS IT AGGRESSION-AGGRESSION?
BECAUSE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WHAT IT DOES
IS IT KEEPS THEM NOT TRUSTING FINN AROUND YANNI,
AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.
THERE WE GO.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU GUYS SOMETHING, OKAY?
NOW THAT I GOT HIM COMPLETELY RILED UP...
[ GRUNTS ]
...I'M GONNA REPLACE ME WITH THE TOY,
AND WE'RE GONNA SEE EXACTLY HOW WOUND UP HE IS.
IF YOU GOT A CURIOUS OR DESTRUCTIVE CAT,
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR GIFTS UNDER THE TREE
BECAUSE FESTIVE RIBBON IS A CHOKING HAZARD,
AND THERE AIN'T NOTHING WORSE
THAN AN EMERGENCY VET VISIT ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.
Galaxy: NOW THAT I GOT HIM COMPLETELY RILED UP,
WE'RE GONNA SEE EXACTLY HOW WOUND UP HE IS.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
COURTNEY WAS READY TO RE-HOME FINN.
SO IF THIS IS ACTUAL AGGRESSION AND NOT PLAY-AGGRESSION,
THEN COURTNEY'S GONNA GIVE FINN AWAY, AND THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT IS IT? WHAT? WHAT?
COME HERE, BUDDY.
[ CAT YOWLS ]
COME HERE.
SHH-SHH-SHH.
NOW, WATCH THIS. I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
WHEN I LET GO OF HIM, BOOM.
HE'S GONNA GO AWAY FROM ME.
YOU SEE? HE WAS NOT COMING AT ME, RIGHT?
SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS PLAY-AGGRESSION.
PLAY-AGGRESSION IS WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING WITH YOUR CAT
AND YOU GET THEM ALL RILED UP AND THEN YOU STOP PLAYING.
YOU'RE DONE, AND THEY'RE NOT.
THEY KEEP PLAYING. THEY NIP AT YOUR ANKLES.
NOW, IN BILLY AND COURTNEY'S CASE,
THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE IT'S FIXABLE.
SO I WANT THEM COMMITTING TO PLAY
UNTIL THIS CAT IS TIRED SO THEN WE DON'T HAVE
PLAY-AGGRESSION ERUPTING EVERY FIVE MINUTES.
IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD
THAT HE'S NOT ACTUALLY GOING AFTER THE PERSON,
BUT HE JUST WANTS TO PLAY MORE.
I SAW SOME GREAT STUFF IN THE LIVING ROOM.
SO WHAT I REALLY WANTED WAS TO GIVE FINN MORE ROOM.
THE GUY'S A BENGAL.
HE WANTS TO BE OUT AND EXERCISING AND HUNTING,
SO I HAD MY FRIENDS OVER AT PURRFECT FENCE COME OVER.
THEY CONSTRUCTED THE PERFECT PENTHOUSE.
AND...
[ Laughing ] OH, MY GOD!
LOOK AT THAT, YANNI!
THIS IS GOING TO BE FINN'S PLAYGROUND.
THAT'S AMAZING.
AND IN THERE, WE HAVE TOYS,
WE HAVE TUNNELS, WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
THAT IGLOO IS HEATED IN THERE.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT WE CAN GET IN HERE WITH FINN.
THESE GUYS CAN PLAY TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE TRAIN SET IN HERE.
SO EVERYBODY CAN PLAY TOGETHER.
AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.
FINN WILL LOVE THIS.
I'M LOST FOR WORDS. IT'S AMAZING.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
OKAY, LET'S GO BACK INSIDE. COME ON.
WELL, IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO REALITY,
WHICH MEANS MORE HOMEWORK.
WHAT I WANT IN THE NURSERY IS THE VERTICAL WORLD OPENED UP.
MY FRIENDS OVER AT VERTICAL CAT ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU
THE SHELVING THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO GIVE FINN SPACE -- A SUPERHIGHWAY --
AROUND THIS ROOM
AND NOT LET HIM MINGLE SO MUCH ON THE FLOOR,
WHERE HE'S GONNA WANT TO JUMP INTO THE CRIB.
THIS WAY, THEY'RE REALLY GONNA CEMENT
THAT TRUST THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEIR CAT AND THEIR CHILD.
ALL RIGHT, SO, YOU'LL GET THAT DONE WHEN I GET BACK NEXT TIME?
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, GREAT.
I'M HOPING WHEN JACKSON COMES NEXT
THAT HE SEES THAT FINN HAS NOT BEEN IN THE CRIB,
NOT BEEN ON THE CHANGING TABLE.
BUT I'M NERVOUS THAT FINN WILL GO BACK TO BEING CRAZY
BECAUSE HE'S STARTING TO GET A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE
NOW THAT WE'RE PLAYING WITH HIM MORE.
THANK YOU.
YEP.
Galaxy: I'M ON MY WAY OVER TO BILLY AND COURTNEY'S HOUSE,
AND I AM JUST HOPING THAT THEIR SON YANNI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
IS FINALLY GONNA BE A PEACEFUL ONE.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR, CAT MEOWS ]
HEY, MAN. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING? HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
I'M GOOD, MAN. HEY, COURTNEY.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU.
HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN GOING WITH YOU GUYS?
GREAT. GOOD.
WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CRIB.
NO PROBLEMS WITH THE -- YOU MEAN HE'S NOT JUMPING?
NOT JUMPED IN ONCE.
YES! OKAY, GOOD. KEEP IT GOING. KEEP IT GOING.
IF HE'S SLEEPING IN THE NURSERY,
HE'S SLEEPING ON HIS SUPER-CAT HIGHWAY.
THE WHOLE SAFETY ISSUE WAS REALLY MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
FINN HAS NOT GOT INTO THE CRIB ONCE
SINCE WE HAVE PUT UP THE SHELVES.
GOOD.
SO, OUTSIDE IN HIS CATIO, DOES HE LIKE IT OUT THERE?
THAT IS AMAZING.
OKAY, GOOD.
Galaxy: TALK ABOUT CHRISTMAS MORNING.
TO COME BACK HERE
AND TO HEAR THAT EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM THAT THESE GUYS HAD
IS NOT JUST SOLVED BUT THE CAT'S THRIVING.
FOR ME, THIS IS OPENING YOUR PRESENTS.
NOW, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
I LEFT COURTNEY AND BILLY WITH MY BIG CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
THAT WAS THE SANTA'S VILLAGE CATIO OUT HERE FOR FINN.
I LOVED IT, BUT I WANTED TO SEE FINN IN IT, SO NOW IS THAT TIME.
LET'S GET FINN OUT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, COME ON, BUDDY.
THERE WE GO.
GOOD. THIS IS PERFECT. THERE HE GOES.
FINN IN HIS CATIO WAS A CAT IN HIS ELEMENT.
HE WAS GOING THROUGH THE TUNNELS,
HE WAS SCRATCHING ON THE SCRATCHER,
AND THEN HE WOULD STOP AND BE VERY STILL
AND WATCH THE BIRDS IN THE BACKYARD.
THE MORE FUN HE HAS OUT HERE,
THE LESS DESTRUCTION HE MAKES UP THERE.
THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED.
ON THAT NOTE, LET'S GATHER HIM UP AND GO BACK UPSTAIRS.
OKAY.
BEFORE JACKSON ARRIVED, FINN WAS A MENACE TO THE HOUSEHOLD.
AND NOW THAT JACKSON HAS COME,
IT'S LIKE WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW CAT.
YOU READY TO TAKE A PICTURE?
YOU READY TO TAKE A PICTURE, TOO, BUDDY?
Courtney: FINN'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
FINN IS A NEW CAT, AND I AM A NEW, LIKE, CAT MAMA.
LIKE, I LOOK AT FINN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOW.
WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE FROM JACKSON.
YEAH.
YAY!
GOOD BOY.
I CAN NOW LEAVE BOSTON
KNOWING THESE CATS ARE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
INSTEAD OF IN A SHELTER.
MERRY "CATMAS" TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
HAVE A HELLISH CAT?
GET MY TIPS ON HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR CAT'S BEHAVIOR.
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