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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / August 2006Question: Can cats kill other cats?
OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. All are spayed/neutered. The guys love to spray, and I've tried everything under the sun (even FeliAway) and nothing works. So, as you can imagine, I do a LOT of cleaning. About a year ago, 4 more dumped kittens joined my home. 3 males, 1 female. I spayed/neutered them all. My cats are generally pretty laid back and no real fighting ever occurs (there are the rare smacks and hissing, few and far between). One of my "first" cats, Biggles, has recently begun terrorizing the female of the "second" group, Figment. Figgie is such a docile, sweet and affectionate cat, and usually so is Biggles. It's not a constant. It happens about 2 times a week....I'll be sitting in the living room or wherever when I'll hear Figgie give out a terrified scream. I'll run to investigate, only to see her running from Biggles, who's hot on her tail. I've never actually SEEN any contact, but I assume that's what's making Figgie yowl like that. There are never any scratches or other wounds to Figgie, and Biggles runs for his life when I raise my voice and grab the squirt gun. My mother, who lives with me, is 100% sure that Biggles intends to kill Figment and that one or the other must go ASAP. I'm not so sure.....I know that cats live in heirarchies, and I'm thinking this is their way of figuring out where they both belong in it. Then again, it doesn't seem like Figs is challenging Biggles in any way (although she does seem to like to stare at him, which I know can be a "dare" kind of thing). I've searched and searched for a solution to all of this, then I thought I'd ask you guys for your opinions or advice. I do NOT want to give any of my furkids up (I'd liken it to chopping off an extremity) but I will if Figgie is in mortal danger. What do you think? Let them duke it out? We're planning on moving up north in about 3 months, so I know everyone's lives will be upheaved and it could all go away...or intensify. ANY THOUGHTS?? Heeeeelp!!! > OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're > siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > ANY THOUGHTS?? Heeeeelp!!! I had a similar situation with two of mine for a while, and even though they *would* actually get into rolling, tearing, screaming, wrestling matches, there was never any serious physical harm done. I would be more concerned if it was two males going at it, but in your case it's a male going after a female (like it was here). Moving house helped a lot, and Feliway helped a lot. You may need to use Feliway for 3-4 months or longer before stopping it, and be ready to use it again if need be. >> OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're >> siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > use Feliway for 3-4 months or longer before stopping it, and be ready > to use it again if need be. I agree, Feliway really can help. >>> OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're >>> siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > >I agree, Feliway really can help. Let me piggyback on here, and say, well, of course it's possible, but highly unlikely. And cats make a lot of noise when they're fighting, to startle or scare the other cat. That's why the one being attacked screeches-- to scare the attacker off. They are probably not yelling in pain, but it sure can panic the human residents. Keep your eyes open and the squirt bottle ready. And yes, do try the Feliway. You might want to isolate the aggressive guy. PS, moving might not be a bad thing for this situation, since it will certainly knock Biggles' cockiness down a peg or two, at least temporarily. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War A lot of running and yelling is a very long way from one cat killing another. I might not want to leave them both in the same room if I left them home alone, but baring any physical injury I wouldn't be too worried either. Nine cats is a large clowder to have in one home, and it sounds like everyone is getting along pretty well. Our Jake, a 10 pound meezer used to wrestle with our ancient 4 pound poodle. They used to take turns instigating it and sounded like they were killing each other, but never drew blood. Jake kept his claws in and Taffee didn't have enough teeth to do any damage. They both enjoyed these fights tremendously. Jo > OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're > siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > ANY THOUGHTS?? Heeeeelp!!! > OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're > siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > ANY THOUGHTS?? Heeeeelp!!! Well, I have to tell you I had a cat when I was growing up, Wink. Wink was a drama queen. We had another cat, male, named Sooty. Sooty loooooved Wink. Now, mind you, he tried to snuggle up to her, but she would SCEAM at him like she was being murdered. Sooty was a very mild boy. A big baby in fact. But, you can't have another cat screaming at you. He learned to keep his distance. One day, I heard Wink screaming fit to wake the dead and a few never been born. I went in to see what the matter was. Here was Sooty, some 10 feet away laying down and he was LOOKING at her (just looking, no dare stare or anything). Just looking! And she was wailing away as though he was terrorizing her. It was so silly. But my point is, the amount of noise a cat makes does not necessarily equate the amount of contact being used. If this has been happening with some regularity and you see no contact OR evidence of contact, the cats are not trying to kill each other. > OK, here's the deal: I've had about 5 cats for about 4 years. They're > siblings, 4 male and 1 female, I found abandoned on the side of a road. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > ANY THOUGHTS?? Heeeeelp!!! Especially since you find no bites or injuries, I'd let them duke it out. Cats, like humans, can have disagreements, even with those they seem closest to. They eventually work it out among themselves, and in my experience, human interference may only prolong the adjustment process. It's remotely possible that an intact feral male might manage to kill another in a dispute over a female (although even that is highly unlikely) but yours are not ferals, and have all been neutered. (However fiercely animals in the wild may battle one another, SFAIK the only animals that deliberately kill members of their own species are humans!) > It's remotely possible that an intact feral male might manage to kill > another in a dispute over a female (although even that is highly unlikely) > but yours are not ferals, and have all been neutered. (However fiercely > animals in the wild may battle one another, SFAIK the only animals that > deliberately kill members of their own species are humans!) Male cats kill kittens all the time. If a new male lion takes over a pride, the first thing he does is kill all the cubs. Nasty but true. Other animals aren't any better. Jo > What do you think? Let them duke it out? We're planning on moving up > north in about 3 months, so I know everyone's lives will be upheaved > and it could all go away...or intensify. > > ANY THOUGHTS?? Heeeeelp!!! Like Karen's Wink, we have a drama queen called Cocoa, who will scream fit to wake the dead at the slightest hint that contact might be made by one of the other cats when they are being mischievous towards her. And we are talking a real full-on cat fight scream that brings us running to see who got killed - never happened yet! I will add another vote for Feliway diffusers and sprays. Deb.  Signaturehttp://www.scientific-art.com "He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would; He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield > > What do you think? Let them duke it out? We're planning on moving up > > north in about 3 months, so I know everyone's lives will be upheaved > > and it could all go away...or intensify. If you aren't finding any sign of physical injuries, I wouldn't worry about it. Our dominant queen, Nocturne, rules the other two females with an iron paw but none of her messages seem to get through to tom Smokey. (All four are fixed) Smokey is in love with Nox and wants to be touching her at all times, whereas she wants him at the other end of a ten foot pole, and so there is often hissing, growling and yowling as she tries to get it through his thick head that 1. she doesn't want him touching her and 2. she also doesn't want to get up from her soft chair. Periodically he chases her through the house and periodically she slaps him across the face, but there's never any wounding or danger. --Fil Smokey is in love with Nox and wants to be touching > her at all times, Awww...poor Smokey-Poke...then again if you fall for the Queen of Darkness I guess you have to expect it! whereas she wants him at the other end of a ten foot > pole, Is that far enough for her divine-ness? Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > whereas she wants him at the other end of a ten foot > > pole, > > Is that far enough for her divine-ness? While Nox /acts/ like she wants Smokey somewhere farther away (ie a Siberian gulag, the bottom of the ocean), I've seen her get agitated and upset if Smokey is away at the vet. Apparently he is her property and must not be taken from her territory without permission... (He is also her kennel boyfriend. Take her out of her "kingdom" and she meatloafs right next to him for companionship! Bizarre!) --Fil > (He is also her kennel boyfriend. Take her out of her "kingdom" and > she meatloafs right next to him for companionship! Bizarre!) That makes me think that there's some territorial thing going on. When in neutral (ie, not belonging to either of them) territory, perhaps she doesn't feel she has anything to guard. Or maybe she just feels very nervous in a strange environment, and at least Smokey is familiar. Any port in a storm... Joyce > That makes me think that there's some territorial thing going on. When > in neutral (ie, not belonging to either of them) territory, perhaps she > doesn't feel she has anything to guard. > > Or maybe she just feels very nervous in a strange environment, and at > least Smokey is familiar. Any port in a storm... If she really hated him, she wouldn't be so upset when he was at the vet. I've noticed she doesn't like when she's not in control of things. She hates when Dylan is gone at the hospital over night too, she hates when I visit friends overnight, she hates when we move around furniture. And, she hates when she can't make Smokey do what she wants him to. She's already got Kumani respectfully afraid of her and Tyche utterly submissive to her, but Smokey wont' do "what he should" and it makes her hiss. But put her in a kennel and she clings to Smokey, someone familiar and "hers." --Fil > > What do you think? Let them duke it out? We're planning on moving up > > north in about 3 months, so I know everyone's lives will be upheaved [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Deb. Yup. I cannot believe how bad it can sound. Once I figured it out it used to make me laugh to hear this gigantic noise out of this itty bitty and no one even near her. > Yup. I cannot believe how bad it can sound. Once I figured it out it used to > make me laugh to hear this gigantic noise out of this itty bitty and no one > even near her. It's incredible! What's really hilarious is not that Cocoa is such a wuss when she thinks she is under attack, but if one of the other cats gets into a situation - the two boys often have a play-fight - and makes a noise, she will go galloping into the middle of the fray and start beating them up left right and centre! 'How dare you make such a racket - break it up and behave!!' And once when Merlin accidentally misjudged a jump and fell off a table, she rushed over to him and gave him a slap!! Talk about double standards :-) Deb. Signaturehttp://www.scientific-art.com "He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would; He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield > Like Karen's Wink, we have a drama queen called Cocoa, who will scream > fit to wake the dead at the slightest hint that contact might be made by > one of the other cats when they are being mischievous towards her. And > we are talking a real full-on cat fight scream that brings us running to > see who got killed - never happened yet! Miranda is also a drama queen, as I discovered this summer on the island. When Linus or Kasper was chasing her, she would make the most horrible noises, sounding like they were killing her,though they are nowhere near her. Then the big boys would get scolded and Miranda would slink away looking very pleased with herself. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > Miranda is also a drama queen, as I discovered this summer on the > island. When Linus or Kasper was chasing her, she would make the most > horrible noises, sounding like they were killing her,though they are > nowhere near her. Then the big boys would get scolded and Miranda would > slink away looking very pleased with herself. Lacey is a drama queen as well except that she'll start it by going up to one of the guys and bapping them. Then she'll run and when they chase her she'll turn around and hiss and then growl and scream. DH gets mad at the boys for picking on his little angel. I say, "Rusty, she started it!" and he replies "She did not, she's being picked on, my precious wittle girl." Puullleessee. <vbg> Julie ...It's not a constant. It happens about 2 times a week....I'll be > sitting in the living room or wherever when I'll hear Figgie give out a > terrified scream. I'll run to investigate, only to see her running > from Biggles, who's hot on her tail. I've never actually SEEN any > contact, but I assume that's what's making Figgie yowl like that.... Fluffy and Kitty do that all the time. Sometimes it's obviously a game of chase and they take turns as to who does the chasing. Other times it sounds serious and one of them lets out a bloodcurdling scream as if he or she was being torn apart. But, they never actually engage in battle. The most they do is a little sparring but their claws are never out. Sometimes one of them will be peacefully sleeping and the other one will charge over and someone will scream and run and the chase is on. I'm not sure if the charger or chargee does the screaming. It seems like they take equal turns being the aggitator. One of their favorite games is for one of them to get in their "Kitty Castle" and try to box each other through the doors and windows. One of the most irritating aspects of their relationship is when we are sleeping and one of them is on the window ledge behind the bed right above our heads and the other one jumps up on the bed. That usually sets off a chase and the one on the window ledge has little regard for the humans sleeping right below and sometimes will jump right on us with a scream which makes for quite a rude awakening. They don't always do this. Sometime they both sleep peacefully on the bed with us. I think this behavior is part play and part territorial domination. We don't intervene as they never use claws or bite each other. However, we have to watch out that we don't get run over during some of their more intense chases. I have three cats, Muddy, Mojo & Emily, every now and then, Mojo chases Emily and if you just listened to them you'd think WW3 was breaking out. In reality, the worst is that Emily sometimes retreats to a chair under the table and swears like sailor at Mojo, no damage has ever been done to either cat as far as I can tell. -- Nik Simpson To all who have answered: THANK YOU for your kindness and reassurance!! I sat my mother down and read all of the replies, and I really think it put her mind at ease (she would wail louder than Figgie when the pursuits began). I too think it's all about dominance and what belongs to whom. While they will still be carefully monitored (perhaps even the videocam set up in places to catch the actual 'contact'), we both feel a lot better and think this will eventually pass. We just have to both be vigilant and keep eyes open while still giving them space to figure each other out! Thanks again, fellow ailurophiles :-) >To all who have answered: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Thanks again, fellow ailurophiles :-) One final thought-- some extra playtime for Biggles probably wouldn't hurt, to get rid of some of that excess energy. Good luck. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > ....I'll be > sitting in the living room or wherever when I'll hear Figgie give out a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > There are never any scratches or other wounds to Figgie, and Biggles > runs for his life when I raise my voice and grab the squirt gun. Female cats yell after sexual intercourse. The male member has barbs that catch the female's vaginal lining on withdrawal, causing pain such that the female will not want to mate with another male. SignatureMatSav > Female cats yell after sexual intercourse. The male member has barbs that > catch the female's vaginal lining on withdrawal, causing pain such that the > female will not want to mate with another male. Actually, what it does is stimulate ovulation. It does NOT prevent her from mating with another male, and in fact, that might be exactly what she does. Litters of kittens are famous for having half brothers and sisters from different daddies. Joyce > MatSav <matthew | dot | savage | at | dsl | dot | pipex | dot | com> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > what she does. Litters of kittens are famous for having half brothers > and sisters from different daddies. Thanks Joyce - I sit corrected, with a furry friend lying on my lap :-) SignatureMatSav > <jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt@sonic.net> wrote in message >> Actually, what it does is stimulate ovulation. It does NOT prevent >> her from mating with another male, and in fact, that might be exactly >> what she does. Litters of kittens are famous for having half brothers >> and sisters from different daddies. > Thanks Joyce - I sit corrected, with a furry friend lying on my lap :-) One of the best ways to be corrected, I guess. :) There's a photo series in one of those "Cats in the Sun" books that shows a female being mounted by several males at once. Well, only one at a time is actually successful at this, as the others are lined up behind him and succeeding only in mounting each other. But in subsequent photos, other boys are having their turn. So, while the pain caused by the male *should* cause the female to swear off mating for good, apparently the girls have a very short memory. It's always funny to see the female turn and give the male a good swat at the end, especially if it's tigers or some other big cat. Joyce >>....I'll be >>sitting in the living room or wherever when I'll hear Figgie give out a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > catch the female's vaginal lining on withdrawal, causing pain such that the > female will not want to mate with another male. Oh really? Have you ever seen a female cat in heat, whether she's already mated or not? |
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