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- Feb 21, 2014
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Shadow is 8 years old. He is one of 8 cats. I've had him since he was about 5 weeks, along with his sister, Silver. At the time I got them, I had 6 adult cats, so he has always been part of a multi-cat household. He was of course neutered as a kitten.
He's always had an aggressive streak, and occasionally gone after another cat. Easily stopped, and he would get a time out for an hour in the bathroom alone. It only happened once every month or two.
In January he started going after one of the other cats, Ziggy. Ziggy is fearful, he is one of three shelter cats I have adopted who were considered unadoptable due to their fearfulness. Shadow went ofter him more and more frequently and by late January it was daily. So Shadow was spending more and more time in isolation. I also often put Ziggy in the bedroom and let Shadow hang out with the rest of us in the living room.
Then he went after Smokey, then Sugar. The other two shelter cats. More isolation, started just juggling them all around. I put Shadow in the bedroom alone or outside, or put all the cats in the bedroom so I could have some time with Shadow. He seemed okay with Silver, and with Marley and Tassle so I let them stay in the room.
So of course next he went after Silver. He tried approaching Marley and they were facing off when I intervened. Marley is not afraid of him, and I'm sure there would be real physical damage if they get into it. He tried approaching Tassle, but Tassle just looked at him and he changed his mind - Tassle is king.
So I've been juggling them around, pain in the butt, but had to be done. Then today he accidentally got out of the bathroom when I went in and I didn't see him go thru. Next thing I knew there was a screaming fight in the bedroom. He attacked poor little Bella, who has only been here a few weeks. She is a stray I rescued recently off the street, and she is fearful also.
She was adjusting well, and had gotten to where she allowed the other cats to approach her, but after the attack she is back to growling whenever she sees another cat even across the room.
When I pulled him off her he attacked me, My arm is has at least a dozen puncture wounds. It took a few minutes but he finally relaxed enough for me to unhook his claws from my skin.
I have a small place, only 2 rooms and a bathroom. I can't do this juggling forever. This has gone on for weeks with no sign of improvement. The minute he comes out of isolation he stalks the room looking for someone to attack. Nothing distracts him.
I don't have money to take him to a vet - I barely am able to pay my rent. I certainly can't afford anything like a daily sedative. I can't afford the pheromone dispensers that work on some cats - I really doubt anything like that will have any effect on him anyway.
I can't rehome him either, or take him to a shelter - What if someone let him out or decided to get a second cat? What if he got mistreated because of his behavior, or abandoned? Can't do it.
It''s coming down to only one choice - euthanasia. I don't want to, I love Shadow as I love all my fur babies. But he is terrifying everyone. The shelter cats are especially sensitive. They have changed so much since coming home, and now their sense of security is being ruined. They are nervous and spending a lot of time hiding even tho Shadow isn't in the room.
Any suggestions? This is breaking my heart...
He's always had an aggressive streak, and occasionally gone after another cat. Easily stopped, and he would get a time out for an hour in the bathroom alone. It only happened once every month or two.
In January he started going after one of the other cats, Ziggy. Ziggy is fearful, he is one of three shelter cats I have adopted who were considered unadoptable due to their fearfulness. Shadow went ofter him more and more frequently and by late January it was daily. So Shadow was spending more and more time in isolation. I also often put Ziggy in the bedroom and let Shadow hang out with the rest of us in the living room.
Then he went after Smokey, then Sugar. The other two shelter cats. More isolation, started just juggling them all around. I put Shadow in the bedroom alone or outside, or put all the cats in the bedroom so I could have some time with Shadow. He seemed okay with Silver, and with Marley and Tassle so I let them stay in the room.
So of course next he went after Silver. He tried approaching Marley and they were facing off when I intervened. Marley is not afraid of him, and I'm sure there would be real physical damage if they get into it. He tried approaching Tassle, but Tassle just looked at him and he changed his mind - Tassle is king.
So I've been juggling them around, pain in the butt, but had to be done. Then today he accidentally got out of the bathroom when I went in and I didn't see him go thru. Next thing I knew there was a screaming fight in the bedroom. He attacked poor little Bella, who has only been here a few weeks. She is a stray I rescued recently off the street, and she is fearful also.
She was adjusting well, and had gotten to where she allowed the other cats to approach her, but after the attack she is back to growling whenever she sees another cat even across the room.
When I pulled him off her he attacked me, My arm is has at least a dozen puncture wounds. It took a few minutes but he finally relaxed enough for me to unhook his claws from my skin.
I have a small place, only 2 rooms and a bathroom. I can't do this juggling forever. This has gone on for weeks with no sign of improvement. The minute he comes out of isolation he stalks the room looking for someone to attack. Nothing distracts him.
I don't have money to take him to a vet - I barely am able to pay my rent. I certainly can't afford anything like a daily sedative. I can't afford the pheromone dispensers that work on some cats - I really doubt anything like that will have any effect on him anyway.
I can't rehome him either, or take him to a shelter - What if someone let him out or decided to get a second cat? What if he got mistreated because of his behavior, or abandoned? Can't do it.
It''s coming down to only one choice - euthanasia. I don't want to, I love Shadow as I love all my fur babies. But he is terrifying everyone. The shelter cats are especially sensitive. They have changed so much since coming home, and now their sense of security is being ruined. They are nervous and spending a lot of time hiding even tho Shadow isn't in the room.
Any suggestions? This is breaking my heart...
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