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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / November 2004Ok, I need help...
...with keeping the peace. Since two kittens came to live with us two weeks ago, and the initial quarrantine period is up now that they don't have any more symptoms of URI (going to vet tomorrow for shots), they have periods of being out and about the house. I still close off the downstairs because I want to be able to keep an eye on them, and I close my bedroom door because Rhett still needs to be supervised in the litterbox dept. Shamrock absolutely adores the kittens. He cleans them, plays with them, and now he is "protecting" them from Bonnie. She is less than thrilled with their presence, and hisses at them when they get too close. I think Shamrock is bothered by her hissing at them, and goes to attack her when he hears her. He is relentless with her, and she gets very stressed out by his chasing. He doesn't hurt her, he just chases her. My problem: how do I split up this group (or do I?) to acclimate everyone? Currently the kittens are in their own room when I'm at work and when I'm sleeping. This is mostly for their own safety because the room is kitten-proof, and I'm finding out how something seemingly safe can become lethal if there is no supervision. Now I'm also not sure how Shamrock and Bonnie get along all day when I'm gone because she was very skittish tonight when I got home from work, more than usual (former feral, still acts feral often) and the way he has been acting tonight makes me wonder if he is mean to her all day. How do I get the adults to get along now, after bringing in kittens? The two adults have always adored each other. Or do I let the adults work it out since they have such great history?  SignatureCheryl > Or do I let the adults work it out since they have such great > history? Bingo! Watch out to make sure no-one's going over the top, but otherwise hands off and be nice to everyone, no matter how bad their language. I generally use the occasion to speak soothingly to both parties. Since Francis has passed his tests and joined the general population, I have heard my big three use words I had no idea they knew! They're swearing like sailors at the little guy, but then he's asking for it because he will not leave them alone. He dances up and leads with a batting paw, and comes right back when they take a swipe (or two) at him. I'm seeing no claws displayed, and they're willing to sleep on top of me along with him (although not touching), so I'm not overly worried. It's their hierarchy, and they have to work it out. They'll all be fed, watered, littered, and loved regardless of who is #1, and I'm making sure they know it. Of course little Francis, who loves to sleep next to my face so my breath warms him, has totally stolen my heart, but that's not my fault. ;-) Priscilla Signature"It is very, very dangerous to treat any human, lowest of the low even, with contempt and arrogant whatever. The Lord takes this kind of treatment very, very personal." - QBaal in newsgroup alt.religion.christian.episcopal >> Or do I let the adults work it out since they have such great >> history? [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Priscilla Since there is two of them (babies) there is this wierd ganging up thing going on here. Of the four abandoned babies, I had the "pick of the litter" and picked the two that seemed the most agressive and outgoing and playful because I knew they would have to deal with Shamrock, who is a bit of a bully. I never guessed that he would become possesive and turn on Bonnie. I'm trying to let them work it out, but Bonnie is high-strung. She started out just watching from the corner when the kittens are playing, and Shamrock joining in their games. But when a kitten comes close to Bonnie, she hisses and Shamrock attacks her. Then he doesn't let up until 1) I put Shamrock downstairs to cool off 2) I put the babies in their room for a sort of "time out" 3) I get Shamrock and Bonnie in the kitchen for a treat (Bonnie doesn't need additional food) I really read Bonnie wrong thinking that she'd be better with kittens rather than adults. I think Shamrock would love anyone that plays with him. SignatureCheryl >>> Or do I let the adults work it out since they have such great >>> history? [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > kittens rather than adults. I think Shamrock would love anyone that > plays with him. Well, Bonnie doesn't really know how MUCh you feed her for a treat. You can do like "one for you" and "three for you". but I'd try to do it in the presence of the kittens. Or what about an irresistable toy to distract Shamrock? >Since there is two of them (babies) there is this wierd ganging up >thing going on here. I've noticed kind of an opposite reaction to mine since the kitten is here. They *still* treated Biskit like an interloper, even though she has been here more than 6 months. Now, all of a sudden, they like her. All it took was a new "target" and suddenly she became a member of the "in-club." Sherry [snip] > Watch out to make sure no-one's going over the top, but otherwise > hands off and be nice to everyone, no matter how bad their language. This is the part that's troubling me -- I'm not clear on what's "over the top" behavior. At what point do you intervene? Hissing and growling seem fair, but what about charging, wrestling, torn ears? If Oscar and Eros were ever near each other, it was because one had the other cornered. Also, there was no bloodshed for at least two weeks; then one day, I noticed some black stuff in Oscar's fur. At first I thought of flea dirt, even though she's never had fleas and lives indoors, but then I saw the dried blood on her ear =/ I started to keep her somewhat isolated after that, but in the following weeks she still got a tear in her other ear. I feel just awful about that, but I'm still not sure if that's human squeamishness or a real problem. I assume that some amount of noise, and maybe even confrontation, is necessary to establish the pecking order; it's just not clear to me how much is too much. Signaturemonique >> How do I get the adults to get along now, after bringing in > kittens? The two adults have always adored each other. > > Or do I let the adults work it out since they have such great > history? Hi Cheryl, I think you need to get Bonnie to accept the kittens first .If she is not hissing and spitting then Shamrock won't feel the need to chase her. If you didn't have Shamrock how would you be introducing Bonnie to the kits ? Very carefully I think <BG> Alison >>> How do I get the adults to get along now, after bringing in >> kittens? The two adults have always adored each other. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > introducing Bonnie to the kits ? Very carefully I think <BG> > Alison You have a very good point Alison. In those terms, it makes a lot of sense. I hate to shut out Shamrock at the risk of treating him like he's being "bad" but Bonnie does need to relax around them without Shamrock intimidating and punishing her. I'm going to try combinations of Shamrock/babies, and Bonnie/babies. Maybe one kitten per older cat together, too, for short periods. SignatureCheryl > You have a very good point Alison. In those terms, it makes a lot > of sense. I hate to shut out Shamrock at the risk of treating him > like he's being "bad" but Bonnie does need to relax around them > without Shamrock intimidating and punishing her. I'm going to try > combinations of Shamrock/babies, and Bonnie/babies. Maybe one > kitten per older cat together, too, for short periods. Good luck! :) BTW, This sort of thing comes up a lot on the Think Like a cat forum. It's worth checking it out ( if you haven't already.) Alison > BTW, This sort of thing comes up a lot on the Think Like a cat > forum. It's worth checking it out ( if you haven't already.) I haven't. Where can I find the forum? SignatureCheryl > > BTW, This sort of thing comes up a lot on the Think Like a cat > > forum. It's worth checking it out ( if you haven't already.) > > I haven't. Where can I find the forum? Here :) Think Like A Cat Forum http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ptthinkcat?redirCnt=1 Pam johnson-bennets books are good too . I have pyscho kitty. Its anecdotal but she describes each behaviour "case " and then maps out a treatment plan that you can follow. She goes into more details than she can on her website. You can ask her about questions directly, though she is offboard this week. There are more links to her webpage on my links webpage on the behaviour page, Page 1. http://catinfolinks.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ Gotta go now , mustn't miss my lunch time TV. Third Watch , unmissable! <G> Alison:) > Think Like A Cat Forum > http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ptthinkcat?redirCnt=1 Thank you. Bookmarked it. We've had a breakthrough of sorts in the last couple of days. Bonnie has gone up to them to sniff faces, hissed a little, but it was more like she was telling them to stay still while she checked them over. :) She's relaxing a little and Shamrock is easing up on her. It's a small improvement, but getting better rather than worse. SignatureCheryl
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