Member

Posts: 85
From:Hamilton, ON, Canada
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-09-2003 06:32 PM         

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Those of you who have been reading know that we just took in a stray cat Cleo. She had been picking on our other Cat Amaretto. Cleo bit her pretty bad (needed $64 antibiotics) so we started locking her in the bedroom when no one is at home. Its only been 3 weeks and most of the advice from the postings said give it time, and make sure their boxes and dishes are far away from each other. We have done that, plus we bought a feramone emitter that sends happy cat scent throughout the house. This product is reccomended for cases such as a new pet, urinating caused by stress, and not eating.

Tonight when I came home Amaretto was hiding ontop of the kitchen cupboards (even though Cleo was locked in the bedroom). As soon as I let Cleo out she stalked Amaretto and jumped onto the fridge. She tried to attack her but I stopped it with the water sprayer. Cleo jump looked at me the whole time I was soaking her. She wasn't afraid, later this evening when Amaretto was eating Cleo walked into the kitchen and jumped on her back, biting Amaretto. This is getting serious, I know cats scrap but this is literally stalking and trying to kill. I love Cleo and when she is with my girlfriend or I she is a loving cat, always purring and sleeping near us. I know we did a good thing taking her in but I won't see Amaretto suffer. Can anyone help me out? How long should I keep Cleo Locked up? Does anyone have any ideas?

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Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 08-09-2003 08:57 PM         

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Poor Amaretto. How long have you had Cleo for now? I think the length of time it takes for a cat to adjust to living with another cat is dependent on the individual cat. Its possible that Cleo never lived with any other cats and if she is an older cat the adjustment time will be longer. Cleo possibly being a stray before you took her in could also be a be factor. At some point Im sure she had to fight for food,ect. Maybe you can get a vet or an animal behaviorist's opionion on this. Worst case senerio, Cleo may just need a "one cat home". Here are some links..Im not sure if you will find what your looking for but there worth taking a look at: http://petplace.compuserve.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1806 http://www.allpets.com/petcyclopedia/cats/topic.asp?id=1567 http://www.paws.org/work/factsheet/catfactsheets/newcat.html http://www.homevet.com/petcare/petmeet.html#cats

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Member

Posts: 85
From:Hamilton, ON, Canada
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-09-2003 09:27 PM         

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You raise some good points. Its been 3 weeks now since we took her in. The vet thinks she is about 1 or 1.5 years old but there is no way of telling for sure. Amaretto is 14 months old. They are both fixed females. Amaretto has her front claws, and Cleo had already been declawed when we found her. I'll check into the links you sent me in the morning.

Thanks

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Member

Posts: 85
From:Hamilton, ON, Canada
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-10-2003 07:31 AM         

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After reading the links I have found a few things I have yet to try.

1. Collars with bells for each cat
2. Rubbing a towel with each cat's scent on both parties each day to help get them use to theach others scent.
3. Confining each cat to the oppisite ones territory for a few minutes each day again to help them get use to each others scent.

Has anyone tried any of these things?

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 08-10-2003 01:40 PM         

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I have'nt tried it...but I wish you luck
Hopefully things will work themselves out. Be sure and keep us posted.

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Member

Posts: 49
From:
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-11-2003 11:07 AM         

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You mentioned that you spray your kitty to get her to stop and she just sits and looks at you... We used to do the same thing to our cat and it never worked. We finally realized that he likes water and doesn't mind getting wet. So while we were spraying him to punish him, he was enjoying it and missing the point that he was doing something wrong. Just another thing to think about.
I sure hope everything works out with your kitties... Keep us updated.

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Member

Posts: 85
From:Hamilton, ON, Canada
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-11-2003 11:55 AM         

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She has Taken the higher ground

Amaretto has claimed the top of our entertainment center, and all of the cupboards in the apt, and the tops of our computer desks as her home. Since Cleo hasen't figured out how to get up high she is safe. We actually find her more relaxed now that she sits upon her perch.

I bought Cleo a collar with a bell on it, Amaretto now recieves ampel warming when Cleo is poised to strike at her.

So far so good!

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New Member

Posts: 3
From:California
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-14-2003 07:47 AM         

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You can also read this: http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/catcatag.htm
I wish you the best.

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