One cat decides he dosn't like his housemate anymore!

by Amanda
(Dubai)

We have rescued 5 cats this year and a dog...the eldest one is female and she is 18 months old! She is "Top Cat" her name is Pebbels but we affectionately call her Queen Bee (the boss). Yes she has trust issues and stays away from the other cats and does her own thing and does not like to be disturbed. Her issues stem from her owners kicking out on to the street and then she had to fend for her self when she was 6 months old.
We also have 3 male teenager kittens all around 6 to 7 months of age. These guys were rescued from various serious situations one was even chucked out of a moving car and tried to survive in a tunnel with serious injuries at 6 weeks old. They get on fine together and sleep and play together no issues at all... The dog was also rescued this year she is now 10 months old and loves the cats to bits. She will play and wash them they will come and sleep with her...
Now this is where the problem starts...4 days ago I found clumps of cat fur on the floor in the mornings for 3 mornings in a row! I just thought being boys they play rough and that's the result. Then 2 days ago my husband found at the airport in the middle of a loading bay a baby kitten around 4 weeks old starving and in need of some help. So he brings this little fellow home! This little fellow has his own room upstairs during the night and is downstairs with us in the day but we do take him up stairs for his naps during the day... Yesterday the youngest of the 3 Teenage boys started screaming and had cornered the older female cat in a corner at 6am in the morning! I broke them up and then it started again. I let the three boys outside in the garden to play. Then 2hrs later they come back in and all hell breaks loose and the youngest teenager again has the older female cornered behind the TV! Now the other 2 male teenagers just sit either side and about 2ft back from the aggressor but they say and do nothing...I then split it up again and now I let her outside. 8hrs later she is still outside and will not come in and she sits on our 20ft garden wall... I leave her food and water. I then let the others out as they cannot reach her... Again he was doing his damn hardest to get to her. So I sprayed him with water and still he would carry on and on and on. So I bring him in. She refused to come in and stayed on the wall all night. She came in this morning and he started again so I put him outside.
What the hell is going on? What should I do?

RESPONSE:

Is the female spayed and have the boys been neutered? If not, the problem is likely sexual in nature. Getting them all fixed will help a lot. If they are all de-sexed, the problem is likely that the younger wants to be "top cat".
Start by separating the aggressor from the other cats. Put him in his own room with food, water, litter box, toys, a climbing tree, bedding etc. Keep him in there for a couple of weeks. Give him Vine Bach Flower Essence or Bully Remedy Spirit Essence. Put it in his water and rub a few drops on his head and around his ears 4 times a day. This will help him to calm his aggressive urges.
Play with him a couple of times a day. A string toy is great for this. Play until he is very tired. (A tired cat is a happy cat!) Also give him some quiet attention with brushing and petting sessions.
While he is sequestered, be sure to provide play time and brushing/petting attention to the other cats as well. After couple of weeks, bring the aggressor out in a carrier where he can see and be seen by the other cats. Don't let him out. Give all of the cats treats and happy talk. This will help them to associate good things with each other. Bring him out for visits for about 10 minutes several times a day for a couple of days. Then, bring him out in the carrier and open the door. Give them all treats right away. Have a string toy and start playing. If all seems well, leave him out but keep an eye on him. If he starts acting like he wants to get aggressive, use the toy to distract him and toss a treat or two. If he remains calm during this period, start cutting back on the Essence - 3 times a day - two times a day, etc. Keep using it in their water for a while.
If there is any back-sliding, go back a step or two in the process and try it again. We have found this method to be very effective in controlling the bullies in the group. Try it and let us know how it goes. Feel free to email if you have any questions! Good Luck!

Donna
House Full Cats Mom