Angry Cat!

[Barmaid]

We have 4 cats. One was mine (he's OK, he's the coolest of the lot). My BF has three - 2 boys and a girl. The old boy is 16. He wasn't well cared for by his previous owners (whilst he was not badly treated per se, they didn't cuddle him and fuss him and he didn't know how to play when my BF got him). Now generally, he's a happy boy. However, just lately, he has taken to attacking the other cats. He particularly picks on the girl cat and she HATES him. He picks on the others too (not so much on my boy though but he has a regular go at the other boy). Initially it was only every now and again, now it is getting to 3 or 4 times a day.

I have no idea why he has suddenly taken against the others and in particular against the others who have lived with him for the last 4 years. Anyone got any ideas?

He appears completely healthy. His coat is in fantastic condition, he loves cuddles and fuss and is very active with a good apetite. He just seems to have acquired an attitude problem.

[LoftyLottie]

He's just an old boy Barmaid. Suppose like human males he has got grumpier with age. Typical. Actually, he could be suffering from a bit of dementia - which is common in cats and does affect their personalities. Does he yowl a lot and pace around on occasions?

[LoftyLottie]

And is he more unsettled at night?

[tamborine]

he's a randy old devil & wants his wicked way with the little girl......typical ! :)

[Barmaid]

He doesn't yowl cos he is mute (and toothless, bless). He's actually very good at night and tends to like to sleep on some of my clothing - so I always leave a cardy for him under the bed. If the others are not around he has taken to jumping on the bed for a cuddle just lately - which we both welcome because he finds coming to us for a fuss hard (at least we think so - his previous owners didn't really cuddle him).

But yes, he does pace around quite a bit. I hadn't thought of dementia though which I suppose is possible. And now I think about it, he is just like a grumpy irrascible old man!

[LoftyLottie]

Just old age Barmaid. If he is wanting extra fuss and attention from you it may be because he is confused. That would also account for the bad temper and the personality change. Pacing around is also a sign or just doing out of character things in general.

He sounds so sweet in a toothless sort of way!! Give him lots of hugs x

http://funnymotivatio.../2009/07/pic09795.jpg

[wolf63]

I think that the Feliway pheromone spray and diffuser is supposed to help in situations like this.

My last cat was old when I got him and he was grumpy and always moaning about something. But he was in a one-cat household, so I could pander to all his whims and demands.

Is the marauder from next door still visiting - stuff like that unsettles cats more than people realise. They are sensitive souls. ;-)

[boxtops]

We've got three cats here and the one I chose to have (No. 1 son - now 11) hates all the others. He came from a family of nervous cats (having been found in a bag) and has always needed extra cuddles. Rover (12) arrived 4 years later as a stray and is a gem, but there was a female kitten in between who No1 son liked and Rover pursued (until snipped) and when she got run over, the dynamics changed. Rover likes goading No 1 and No 1 always rises to it. For the last 4 years it's been complicated by Black Spot who is 4 years younger and came from next door when they couldn't keep him. Each individually is lovely but No1 son spends time under the sofa swearing and using industrial language most days, and there is a lot of hitting going on (not actually scrapping, that's reserved for Rover and next door's cat rolling round the garden in a bill with the back legs going). Fortunately the house is large enough for them to find their own spaces, and we make a point of making a fuss of them as individuals when each of them wants a cuddle and a groom. However - they all eat together, and they band up if there is an enemy in the garden. As long as nobody is being prevented from eating, and everyone seems well, you might just want to consider a quick trip to the vet just to make sure the old boy's not developing any illness in old age - a blood test can check things out, and the suggested demantia is a possibility at his age. Let us know - we love our furry friends!

[Barmaid]

lmao at Boxtops - "industrial language". I have actually got a Feliway diffuser (which I bought to help with a harmonious relationship between my thug and my old lady - now sadly departed), so I will try and refill.

And yes, the marauder from next door is still around. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

[LoftyLottie]

LOL at Boxtops!! What joy our furry friends bring us!

[wolf63]

I was told to get two kittens from the same litter as they would 'bond' for life. Nah - it doesn't really work that way. They tolerate each other and sometimes play together (although they may actually be trying to kill each other) but they do not snuggle up together looking all cute and cuddly.

Cats are very complicated animals.

[boxtops]

I did have two kittens from the same litter - Hamish and Fergus, my Glaswegian cats, now long departed, and they loved each other to bits, Sure, there was fur flying from the behind the sofa sometimes but they did what cats are expected to do, shared their bed, and so on - Hamish really missed Fergie when he died, but sadly he died the same weekend a year later - and when Hamish was the only cat, he came out of himself, he'd always been the background cat of the two before. Fond memories!

[Barmaid]

They ARE funny. Two of ours are sister and brother from the same litter. They tolerate each other because they have no choice. However, the girl and my boy are inseparable! It's so cute. They cuddle up together on the bed. If one appears you can bet the other will not be far behind and they do lots of soppy face rubbing.

I have no idea how their minds work though.