Cat Fisticuffs

[Jugglering]

My two *new* cats (lol - they were from a rescue centre and are no way new at age 8 and 1 years old)... are starting to fight - especially when my lap is the subject of their interest... The older one (whom I thought was calm and placid) hisses and is being a right royal bully to the sweet natured little one year old... I have tried catnip (yep, they got *stoned* which was hilarious), cuddles, treats, laps, sharp *Oi's*... Does anyone have any idea how long it will take for these two to actually realise they live together and could get on.... ?

[Kleiber]

Oh, could take a while, Jugglering! They'll form a truce eventually - it may be an uneasy one, but they'll tolerate each other. I have 2 ten yr old females (spayed) and 3 yrs ago, I took in a "sweet" little lass who'd been thrown out by her previous owners and was pregnant. They're all tortoiseshell, by the way, which could explain a lot (they can be quite feisty!). Anyway, when the stray was eventually introduced into the house, she promptly attacked the older ladies, so she was banished to one of the outbuildings again. She had 8 kittens in our caravan and I've still got her (now spayed as well!) and 2 of her babies, a lovely little B&W female and a Ginger male. The older cats, who are sisters, get on OK with the little ones, but their mum is still a problem. They all live together now in the house, but they seem to have worked out who goes where and, like I said, there's an uneasy truce. Mind you, when the local nasty tom comes round, they all gang up against him!! good luck & just persevere! K xx

[Jugglering]

Thanks Kleiber... previous cat relationships took about 16 years to form truces..... lol... I was sort of hoping that this one would be a bit faster coming !

[Kleiber]

You've got to be kidding!! We're talking about cats here! K xx

[Jugglering]

Yep... guess you are right there K.... lol

20 years later find J still waiting for cats to start *getting on*... and attaches bandages and plasters to wee one.... whilst warning wee one not to walk past that particular hidden door..

[Kleiber]

Yep - you've got it!! I know the feeling!

[wolf63]

And are they not lady cats - my lady cat looks like butter wouldn't melt but she is pretty scary when she whacks her brother. She punched him last week and I thought that she had knocked him out - he was totally stunned. He is still bearing claw marks on his nose.

[Lucy Thomas]

I don't think they'll ever get on. The best thing for everyone would be to shoot them.

[andy-hughes]

The cat hierarcy does depend on the individuals involved.

As pack animals, someone has to be 'top cat' and the rest have to get into line. Either this happens nice and quickly - everyone knows their place, and apart from the occasional challenge, life is fine.

However, if one or more cats feel that the top place is theirs, the challenge and war of attrition can go on permanently.

You have either to accept that this is the way cats are, or if it distresses you - and them - consider re-homing the culprit.

It seems harsh, but it can be best for all concerned.

[Kleiber]

andy-hughes, I beg to differ, but cats are not pack animals, they prefer to be solitary, that's what the problem is. Domestic cats would rather be the "only" cat in a household, unless they're related (even then, they may not get on that well - my two old ladies only tolerate each other and ask Wolf 63 about Frankie & Merlin!!). In my experience, you just have to accept that they will beg to differ and you have to allow each one their own space. Out of my five, there are fisticuffs, but each knows her territory (even in the house) and they have an uneasy truce. Basically, they get on OK.

[Jugglering]

Thanks folks for the advice.... (J lines up LT in her sights though lol.....) These two wee lovelies have only been together for a week or so now and they have been kept indoors so maybe they are just a bit manic right now.... I understand that one of them will become the *boss* but why on earth would that *boss* be such a meanie to the other little lady... ?? Poor little thing can't even walk across the room without getting hissed at... Maybe things will sort themselves out when they are allowed outdoors ?

[Kleiber]

Mine have "hissy fits" indoors, too, but oddly enough, they're fine when they're outside. It's a territory thing - indoors is small, so they have to lay claim to their own "bit", but outside is big, so plenty room for everyone (apart from the nasty tom who lives down the hill - they all gang up on him and Monty was very brave last night, actually saw him off!! Protecting the "ladies", methinks!)

[andy-hughes]

Kleiber - I am interested in your assertion that cats are solitary. That may be so of domesticated cts, but of you observe an ferral cats, they are almost always living in community groups.

I think that domestic cats are solitary because they tend to live alone with owners, but their natural state and instict is to gather as a group, and the hierarchy of most animal groups comes into play. This is cetainly true of domestic cats in a group of three or more.

[Kleiber]

Absolutely right, andy, it was domestic cats I was talking about. I know feral cats live in communities, but Jugglering is discussing her two new cats who live at home, with her. Lions are very communal cats, too, but most other wild cats are not. Love, K x