Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: summerleft on January 02, 2008, 11:08:42 AM
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The mother of our kittens was top cat until recently, shes quite a loner and likes to be so, when she had her second and last litter she left them early and started attacking them as she had mamory swelling and didnt want them to drink. This behaviour continued and got worse and as we kept some of the kittens it never got addressed but as they kept thier distance we didnt worry.
Now one of the kittens well 1.5 yrs now has decided to start bullying mum, she will stalk her and chase her, and smack her about a bit if she gets the option, so much so its qute disconcerting, she will stare at her from a distance for hours unless i SHOO her out.
Now her sister has started helping but shes more ameanable to what I say so is easily moved on.
My question is How can I stop Polly from stalking mum cat like this, a water pistol has been suggested but I cant be around all the time.
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HAve the kittens been neutered?
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sorry, yes they have been
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What sort of setting do they live in and how many cats are there?
I mean, are they indoor only, in and out with a flap or what?
Are all the cats neutered?
How long has this been happening and was there any kind or trigger that started it off?
:welcome: to Purrs to ;D
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Given the age of the kittens and the fact that they are living at home with mum, I suspect it is just teenage rebellion - they have finally grown to a point where they are no longer willing to accept mum as the boss cat, and are trying their luck at becoming head of the pecking order - it is a normal process that all cats go through when living in a group. I would only be concerned because there are several kittens and only one mum. But limit intervention to those occasions when she is being physically hurt because otherwise the process will just be that much longer. They will sort themselves out in time ...
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Nothing really started it but humanising it a bit it seemed to be months of mum cat hissing and spitting as soon as one of the kittens went past and shes getting her own back :naughty:, all our cats are nutured except one male whos in line for it this month lol
5 cats 2 male, one neutured and then the 3 neutured females
they all have all day access outside and can come and go, Polly the bully doesnt venture outside the garden where as the others all behave normally going out and about in the fields. My oldest cat is a house cat. The cat thats being bullied now spends a lot of time in the stable yard opposite as sometimes Polly wont let her in the house.
It started about 2 months ago and has been getting slowly worse.
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I wonder if the unneutered male is having an effect - I do hope he isn't included in teh unlimited outdoor access? You might want to consider Feliway and REscue Remedy to see if the balance can be restored
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Thanks blackcat, Its good to know there might be hope, OH has said we might have to rehome if she doesnt sort herself out lol :P
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not much point, the next kitten in line will just take over where the other one left off ...
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yeah he was on about rehoming the mum, but weve had her too long IMO
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Whichever you choose to rehome, it will change the dynamics in the household and the problem will just shift - better to ride it out IMO
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I dont think you should rehome the mother but you need her to know that she is loved and you will protect her. Make a fuss of her and make her feel wanted.
Also give the troublemaker lots of attention too cos its said that ist the trouble maker that often is the one that needs care and understanding cos it doesnt feel secure.
I have probs with mine too and one birman is upsetting my big cats especially the tortie who I cant touch still. He just wants lots of attention and is very pushy with it.
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Miss S is getting spoilt lol she has her own chair near me to hide in the study I dont want to do things to OTT in case it makes things worse, but shes not a cuddly cat more a bit of fuss and thats it.
Polly also gets lots of fuss and you know the wake up video? well thats her lol I woke up this morning to find her peering over me but when I opened my eyes i swear she looked the other way and started whistling!
Many is the morning Ive found scratches that I didnt have the night before lol she also gets upset if I have a shower :doh:
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I think you have a lot of tortietude there :rofl: :rofl:
Yes I wake up with scratches too but its the birmans during the night!
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I totally agree with BC, its a pecking order thing ! The younger female is wanting to be the ALPHA FEMALE.
I'm sorry i dont know the answer to stop this though.
But i would advice you to get the un neutered male cat done. As he has access to the outside he is at a high risk of getting FIV
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all our cats are nutured except one male whos in line for it this month lol
I do appreciate the advice re neuturing but please read my whole post before doing so.
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In the behaviourial books iv read it says that a common time to get issues is from 18 months to 3 years because thats when cats socially mature.
Feliway may help, the way the books tackle it is to create plenty of safe zones for the victim to use so they can move around easily.
If you can afford it a visit from a behaviourist could really help. Many insurance policies will pay towards it ;D
:luck:
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all our cats are nutured except one male whos in line for it this month lol
I do appreciate the advice re neuturing but please read my whole post before doing so.
Oh excuse me for mis reading it !