Young aggressive cat added to household
by Peggy Fernandez
I have taken a stray cat (about 1 year old) into a household of five cats. We were all so happy and contented until Gracie entered the picture! She constantly chases two of the five cats. Ellie and Olivia are terribly afraid of Gracie and I am afraid of what Gracie might do if she catches either one of them. Ellie and Olivia (both 7 years old) live in constant fear of her. At times I am sorry I took Gracie in but I felt it was the right thing to do. I keep Gracie separated during the day when my husband and I are at work. When we are home we let her out of the room but then Ellie and Olivia hide and it just isn't fair. I have considered putting her back outside but I don't know if I could do that with a clear conscience. I believe cats belong indoors. Gracie, living outdoors, has learned to be suspicious and fearful of other cats in order to survive. She is functioning from the "fight or flight" mode and learned that acting as though she is ready to fight any cat, anywhere, any time enables her to survive. Cats don't really want to fight so they put on a big display of aggressiveness in the hope that another cat will back down. Since Ellie and Olivia run and hide, Gracie believes this is the best way to prevent conflict. Also, she is probably bored inside. Outdoors, she was always on the alert, there was lots to explore, and her days were largely spend looking for food. Since coming indoors, her needs are being met by you so she no longer has an outlet for her abundant energy. We have to deal with this issue quite often and there are a few things you can do to help ease her transition to indoors. We highly recommend using Spirit Essences to help with the emotional stress for both Gracie and your other cats. Shelter Adoption or Peacemaker would be good for Gracie and Self-Esteem Remedy would be good for the other cats, especially Ellie and Olivia. (Click the link on the left to read more about them) If Gracie is not spayed, do it ASAP! A sexually mature cat is always more aggressive to other cats than one that has been fixed. In Gracie's seclusion area, before you put her in there, hide a few treat balls, put in a cardboard scratcher, maybe a puzzle box, hide some catnip infused fuzzy mice, etc. Hide things inside paper bags (with any handles cut off) under furniture, even under a towel or blanket. This idea is to feed Gracie's need to hunt and help her burn off some energy while you are at work. Right now, she is saving it all up waiting for the minute she gets to come out and terrorize the other cats! Spend some time playing with her both before you seclude her and after you let her out. A tired cat is a happy cat! You need to work to redirect her energies toward something more fun and positive than chasing Ellie and Olivia. Keep squirt bottles and interactive toys around the house (we use Cat Dancer for this). The second you see Gracie starting to look interested in either chasing or seeking out Ellie and Olivia, pull out the toy and distract her with it. If she starts chasing them, give her a little squirt and a sharp "no". If she continues going after them, seclude her for 10 or 15 minutes, let her out and try again. If they are all in the same room, offer them all treats, petting, etc. Try to associate good things with being around each other. It takes some work but with persistence and patience on your part, you can help Gracie feel safer and Ellie and Olivia feel more confident. We had a similar problem just recently but after a couple of weeks they can all be in the same room without too much of a ruckus. There is still some occasional attempts at intimidation but it is much better! Gracie, Ellie and Olivia may never become friends but, with time, they can all learn to co-exist in the same household! Please let us know how it goes. We look forward to hearing from you regarding their progress! Donna House Full Cats Mom Click here to read or post comments. |
