Overproctive male cat

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Dale - 25 Apr 2006 00:55 GMT

I have a 14 month old neutered male cat, two weeks ago my wife adopted a 8
week old kitten. The two cats get along great and both seem to enjoy
playing, however we seem to have a bit of a problem with the older cat. It
seems he has taken it as his personal responsibility to protect the kitten
from all enimies no matter how big or small. This includes my 80lb male
Doberman who the older cat will attack violently if he even goes near the
kitten, the poor dog is quite confused at this turn of events. But even more
distressing is that on two consecutive days the cat has attacked and bit our
8 year old son on the legs, leaving severe bites. Tehe first attack occured
because my son did not see the kitten in the laundry pile and stepped on
it's tail, when the kitten yelped the older cat charged and attacked, then
let go and walked away, leaving a nast bleading bite mark on my sons outer
thigh. Then today my son walked past the kitten and the kitten was running
by him and they collided, well the older cat actually charged at my son and
chased him down the hall and bit him on the inner thigh. Gizmo, the older
cat, has never been aggressive and we are quite worried. Any adivce to help
solve this problem? I am quite knowlegeable in trainging dogs, but these
darn cats just perplex me.

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Matthew AKA NMR - 25 Apr 2006 02:13 GMT

>I have a 14 month old neutered male cat, two weeks ago my wife adopted a 8
>week old kitten. The two cats get along great and both seem to enjoy
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>worried. Any adivce to help solve this problem? I am quite knowlegeable in
>trainging dogs, but these darn cats just perplex me.

Don't they all do that

do you have this news group rec.pets.cats.health+behav if so post
your question there In that group there is a few behaviorist that hang out

If forgot the exact name for but it is something like the big brother
syndrome.

Each attack that you stated was when your 8 year old hurt the kitten even
unintentially those cries from the kitten would set off animal instinct in
the other cats I would say.

If I am reading right the cat did not continue the attack gave the child
and the dog some lesson bites sort to say. You said the bites were severe
and nasty. How severe were the bites actually?.

The chase down the hall animals during aggression or pumped up will chase
the target natural instinct all animals do it.

Not saying that anything was done or has been done but has the 8 year old
bothered the other cat before not saying that he did but thinking of all
possibilities for reasons.

Did you witness both the attacks or where they told to you?

The attack on the dog did it leave scratches or was it attack of the
thousand paw strikes I call it

The above question aren't placing blame or incentives of wrong towards
either the cat, child or yourself. They are just questions to try to help
solve a situation or understand a situation that we in the newsgroups are
walking blind into.

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Anna - 25 Apr 2006 16:55 GMT

>because my son did not see the kitten in the laundry pile and stepped on
>it's tail, when the kitten yelped the older cat charged and attacked, then

That is a completely normal reaction for your cat. I accidently stepped on
my cat's tail and the other became upset when she heard the scream. When
they hear the other scream like that, it is very upsetting and they're
defense mechanisms come to life. Your cat attacked your son because he
thought your son was hurting the kitten. It sounds like he is also trying
to protect the kitten from your dog, perhaps he is nervous that the dog may
do something; even though you know he won't, maybe the cat doesn't trust him
like you do.

>let go and walked away, leaving a nast bleading bite mark on my sons outer
>thigh. Then today my son walked past the kitten and the kitten was running
>by him and they collided, well the older cat actually charged at my son and
>chased him down the hall and bit him on the inner thigh. Gizmo, the older

If he is only getting upset when the kitten gets accidently hurt by people,
then everyone just has to try and be careful about this. If he is becoming
very aggressive and attacking/biting people if they simply pick the kitten up,
pet it, etc., then unfortunately, you may have to find a new home for the
kitten in order for your cat to return to the way he used to be. Hopefully
this will not be the case and once the kitten grows up, your cat will calm
down about protecting him.

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