Hi all,
I'm hoping you can help. My cats are having a bit of a stressful time at the mo, and unfortunately, their behaviour in relation to this stress means it's close to the final straw with them in my husbands eyes.
We have 2 rescue moggies, that we've had since kittens. Cleo came from a friend who didn't realise what a having a kitten involved, and only lasted a week with her. Hesse was one of my foster kittens that we kept as a friend for Cleo, although sadly friends they are not! Both cats have always just 'tolerated' each other, they would, on occasion, snuggle up together, but generally just ignored each other. Cleo is a very playful cat, but when stressed becomes very aggressive. If they ever went to stay at our relatives when we were on holiday, then for a couple of days, Cleo would hiss and fight at Hesse, asserting her dominance. It would settle down and they would get back to ignoring each other until we brought them home, when again, Cleo would attack Hesse for a couple of days and settle down. Unfortunately we were burgled, and suspect Cleo maybe got kicked as she has never been quite the same since- jumpy, more aggressive and very frightened.
We moved house at the end of July, and execting the upheaval and usual battle between the two of them we used a feliway plug in. The usual fighting that would normally settle down didn't at all. In fact, Cleo was getting even more aggressive and starting to get aggressive with us. Our first baby then arrived in September and didn't go down well at all. So 2 major changes for the cats- new house and new baby. Cleo was petrified of our wee one to start with and spent most of the first month in hiding, or attacking Hesse. Hesse is completely stressed from being attacked constantly, and does appear very jealous of the baby. Hesse used to sleep under the covers on my toes, but as our daughter is in our room we have had to keep them down in the kitchen at night- another massive upheaval. She tries to sit on top of the baby while I'm feeding her, which she can't do, and I have to push her away, which she tries to stand her ground against (I know she is desperate for cuddles).
So now, Cleo continues to attack Hesse, and both cats are peeing on everything that is baby related. They have also begun scratching up the hall carpets, which is now ruined- a brand new house carpet.
I can understand why they are doing it, but husband, who hates cats- can't. They have already ruined an expensive carpet, and have peed in her expensive buggy and carseat which are impossible to wash, so still smell of pee, which in turn makes them want to pee on them more.
We can't continue to have them pee all over the babies things as it's unhygienic with a tiny baby, and husband is really annoyed at the expense they have caused.
I feel that both cats just aren't happy with the baby and with each other, and it's not fair for them to continue living like this.
Husband wants to find them a new home, which in some respects, I can agree with, but that would just be another big upheaval to them that could just stress them out even more and make it very difficult for anyone to take them on.
What can we do? I've been trying to give them attention away from the baby, but this is extremely difficult when I breastfeed with a such a young baby- most of my time is spent with her. We are using the feliway plug ins, and trying not to shout at the 'bad behaviour' but I'm really at a loss as to what else to do other than think about another home, it's 7 months since we moved and nearly 5 months since our daughter arrived, and the behaviour is getting worse instead of better.
Should we try other things? Or should we re home? :-(
Thanks in advance
Maz
