I posted a while back for suggestions to help Shamrock stop being
aggressive to Bonnie. Bonnie is the former feral who imprinted on
Shamrock; Shamrock adored her. After Shadow died, and I got the 2
kitten littermates, Shamrock bonded with them and turned his
aggression on Bonnie in the same way he acted with Shadow. I
wouldn't have interfered, but Bonnie was clearly stressed and she
hid under the bed a lot. It's been a few weeks now, but I started
putting Shamrock downstairs during the day and leaving the kittens
with Bonnie upstairs. This has been difficult in the food
department, but it's worked out well for peace. Bonnie has bonded
with the kittens and has gained confidence and plays
with/chases/gets chased with them. Shamrock still chases her, but
she doesn't act nearly as afraid, and Shamrock doesn't seem to act
like he's being punished. I give him lots of attention when I get
home, and he sleeps with me and the others don't.
I think there is a lot more "conditioning" that has to happen, and
this is a long process, but I think it's helping. My initial hope
was that Shamrock would play with the kittens when I'm home because
he couldn't all day being separated, leaving Bonnie alone. He still
tends to look at her funny and the kittens aren't nearly as close
to him as they were, and he'll launch a chase attack around the
house with Bonnie as the target, but it isn't as intense as it was
after Shadow died and the kittens entered the picture. I don't know
yet if this is the right thing. Oh, they (Shamrock and kittens) are
still close, but Shamrock doesn't hover over them and clean them
and protect them like he did.

Signature
Cheryl
Karen - 18 Feb 2005 04:17 GMT
> I posted a while back for suggestions to help Shamrock stop being
> aggressive to Bonnie. Bonnie is the former feral who imprinted on
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> still close, but Shamrock doesn't hover over them and clean them
> and protect them like he did.
Sounds like that is a good thing. He was perhaps too possessive and that was
where the agression came from. It's good to hear there is improvement!
-L. - 18 Feb 2005 04:32 GMT
> I posted a while back for suggestions to help Shamrock stop being
> aggressive to Bonnie. Bonnie is the former feral who imprinted on
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> like he's being punished. I give him lots of attention when I get
> home, and he sleeps with me and the others don't.
Sounds like a win-win to me...
> I think there is a lot more "conditioning" that has to happen, and
> this is a long process, but I think it's helping. My initial hope
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> --
> Cheryl
Maybe eventually they will all make up, with the kittens being the
peacemakers...?
-L.
KellyH - 18 Feb 2005 16:24 GMT
>I posted a while back for suggestions to help Shamrock stop being
> aggressive to Bonnie. Bonnie is the former feral who imprinted on
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> still close, but Shamrock doesn't hover over them and clean them
> and protect them like he did.
I don't have any other suggestions, but I hope everything works out. I know
how frustrating it is to see one of your cats getting picked on for no
reason. Bartleby still does it to NewCat sometimes, all he has to do is
look at her and she runs. The Feliway has helped some, but it still
happens.

Signature
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
"Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG