Kitties not getting along

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Ollie - 03 Nov 2005 19:58 GMT

Tigger (female spayed) is 8 years old and quite the prima donna. We never
thought she would have any trouble putting the youngster in his place. But
Tank (male nuetered), the youngster is such a little monster to her. Tigger
has been known to poop on the floor when her litterbox is dirty but has never
peed. Well somebody pooped and peed last night on the good rug and we've had
some peeing on the throw rugs (which have now been thrown away). We've been
having problems with Tank attacking Tigger when she comes out from using the
litter box. He has been banished several times to the other bathroom for his
behavior. Tigger has always been a little standoffish and Tank is just the
most lovable guy. He has to be on our laps or on the bed or just near us all
the time. Which means Tigger hardly ever comes on the bed or even away from
her tower anymore. I feel so bad for her, she looks so sad. We have tried
Feliway and it seems to give a very slight improvement. We did the whole
introduction thing but obviously something has gone seriously wrong.

The current plan is to put one cat the large bathroom with a litter box and
give the other the run of the house with the other box while we are at work.
Then switch places the next day. One mistake I think we made was to keep
Tank separated in the bedroom when he was first new instead of a more nuetral
place. Now he thinks the bedroom belongs to him. We really don't have room
for a third box (we have a very open floor plan). And I'm going to get some
more Feliway and clean the litter boxes every day and try to spend some time
just with Tigger every day.

Any other ideas would be a big help!

Thanks

Reply to this Message

edie humperdink - 03 Nov 2005 23:04 GMT

easy fix:
cut tank's nails and let kitty's grow looong. this gives ktty a
fighting advantage. 8)

Reply to this Message

Spider - 04 Nov 2005 14:37 GMT

> Tigger (female spayed) is 8 years old and quite the prima donna. We never
> thought she would have any trouble putting the youngster in his place. But
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Thanks

Hi Ollie,

I had similar problems introducing the second of 2 female cats. Cheetah was
less than a year old when I introduced Panther at 8 wks old. Panther is a
real minx, full of herself and up-front adorable, *and* she knows it!
Cheetah has always been a quieter sort of cat. She utterly adores me and
was really upset when Panther joined our household. Spitting, growling and
fights ensued. I made it clear that this was going to stop, and punished
(gentle smacks) unnecessary temper. Once they realised spits and spats
wouldn't be tolerated, I started praising whichever cat behaved well when
joined by the other in the same room. This paid dividends. However, the
real breakthrough came when they had to be separated to stay in different
catteries for a week. They obviously missed each other and, although still
temperamental at times, started to get along much better. You'll have to
work out for yourself how best to recreate this separation.

As soon as I had two cats, I knew it was up to me to establish the feline
'pecking' order. Therefore, I always called Cheetah's name before
Panther's; always put Cheetah's dinner down before Panther's; always said
"goodnight" to Cheetah before Panther. In itself, that is not enough, but
it is an essential start. I make sure Cheetah has individual quality time
with me. If Panther tries to interfere with this, she is firmly told off in
front of Cheetah. Overall, I am top cat in our household, but Cheetah is
top cat between my two felines. I never let them forget it.

I was concerned that Tank attacked Tigger as she left the litter tray. With
such an open plan layout, it is hard to see how Tigger could have been
cornered. Cats hate coming head-to-head like this .. unless they choose to
greet on their own terms. Even if my two cats pass through a doorway, I
always open that door wide enough so that they don't meet head on. Perhaps
Tigger is playing the martyr and wants to be attacked - at least while
you're watching. Cheetah still behaves like this when she knows I'm
watching. When she's unaware of my observation, she stalks Panther and
jumps on her back. She will also tempt Panther into a fight 'head on',
making sure she (Cheetah) is on her back with the fullness of her weaponry
available. Believe me, she doesn't look anything like a martyr or victim on
these occasions.

You are going to have a difficult time for a while. The hardest advice I
took from myself was not to feel sad or guilty about Cheetah. You will need
to stop feeling bad about Tigger. She's known you longer, knows you love
her; I think she's just playing hard to get. When she wants to be 'got',
she will come to you and it will be mewtually wonderful! Be harder with
Tank, too, or he'll think he can get away with anything. He must certainly
not be allowed to do anything you stopped Tigger from doing in the past.

Hope this has been of some help. Good luck with T&T.
Spider

Reply to this Message

Ollie - 07 Nov 2005 18:27 GMT

Thank you everyone for your advice. I especially like the idea of us
establishing who will be the dominant cat. I give them treats every morning
when I wake up and I was passing them both out at the same time with the
effect that Tank would glare at Tigger and she would retreat leaving him with
double treats. Now I give Tigger her treats and scold Tank if he tries to
get them. Then I give him his treats - if he was a good boy. I've also
attempted to speak to Tigger and pet her whenever I see her. I will try
speaking to her first and then him and see if it helps. The swap around
every day seems to be working too. Tigger is coming around more.

thanks again.

Reply to this Message

Spider - 08 Nov 2005 17:47 GMT

> Thank you everyone for your advice. I especially like the idea of us
> establishing who will be the dominant cat. I give them treats every morning
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Message posted via CatKB.com
> http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/cats/200511/1

This sounds like a great start, Ollie. Well done. It's good that you're
seeing benefits so soon and, of course, your dear Tigger is seeing and
feeling those benefits, too. I'm sure she feels less hurt already. The
important thing is that you're starting to feel in charge, and both cats
will now be aware of that.

About 15 years ago when my first 2 cats had firmly learned their pecking
order (Tiggypuss first, Shandy second), Shandy one day 'told' me in no
uncertain terms that she wanted to be brushed! I brushed her into a frenzy
of purrs, and this became an ongoing habit. Tiggypuss, naturally, decided
he wanted lots of 'brushie' too... and so I brushed him ... but not before
I'd brushed Shandy. I explained to Tiggypuss that he was first in
everything else, but that Shandy had introduced the brushie habit and that,
subsequently, she would always get brushie first. He seemed to understand
and happily went along with the arrangement. I'm telling you this so that
you will one day be able to offer Tank a position of being 'first' in
something. It's not to give him outright dominance, but just his own
moments when he can be first without causing offence. I think it's a
friendly reasonableness that both cats and humans can understand. I sense
that you will really enjoy offering this one day in the future. Just now,
though, its 'Tigger first, Tank second'.

Regards,
Spider

Reply to this Message

alt4 - 04 Nov 2005 18:14 GMT

Take Spider's advice. When we first had this with Nightshade and Rainbow,
the vet said "let them work it out for themselves." They did, but it took
years. Now we have Miss Kitty (a big longhair) who will fight with Rainbow
when she gets a chance (if my wife or I aren't there). At times Nightshade
will fight with her. Or kind of like the Tank and Tigger thing, we have our
kitten Ornery(about 9 months) who will fight with Hobbes lol twice his size
and male but passive, Momma about the same size even more passive, or
Nightshade. Now that one is fun to watch, but I break them up. I don't want
them to think fighting is okay. Can you imagine all 6 fighting?

Signature

"Other than telling us how to live, think,
marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our
children and now, die, I think the
Republicans have done a fine job of
getting government out of our personal
lives."

> Tigger (female spayed) is 8 years old and quite the prima donna. We never
> thought she would have any trouble putting the youngster in his place.
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
>
> Thanks

Reply to this Message

edie humperdink - 04 Nov 2005 22:16 GMT

ok, lock them into the bathroom for 2 days and let them go at it. it
will get it out of their system once and for all.

Reply to this Message

Catlover Medway - 04 Nov 2005 19:36 GMT

From the UK. I’d recommend Vicky Hall’s book Cat Confidential
http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=11616 and Cats Protection’s leaflet
Living in Harmony - send an email to helpline@cats.org.uk. – it isn’t
downloadable from their site.

Could have a scan of the back issues from this site
http://www.yourcat.co.uk/ – they’ve published a number of articles and
letters on the subject of feline acrimony.

Regards

>Tigger (female spayed) is 8 years old and quite the prima donna. We never
>thought she would have any trouble putting the youngster in his place. But
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
>Thanks

Reply to this Message