Prissy, an older DSH, has been living with me for a while now and has always been pretty laid back. When I introduced my rescued mother cat, she was distant, but not really bothered. Now they get along very well, and clean each other. They've had a pretty calm relationship through everything. (We went through a little trouble when Pris wanted to steal the kittens, but now everything's ok. )
But now Mama Cat is preggers again, and Pris is getting violent. Not towards the mother, but a little toward the older kittens, and VERY aggressive towards strays. Let me give you some examples.
Pris was cleaning mama's chin, when one of the 15 wk old kittens came up to try to get her attention. (they still try to suckle, though there's no milk) As soon as the kitten put its nose down, Pris went into a hissing fit, batting at the kitten and chasing it out of the living room. Now mama cat bats at them too.
I have french doors to my porch, and Pris like to sit at the door and look at the strays and ferals that come up to eat. She's done this from the beginning and she usually just sits there and watches them quietly. But last, Pris went insane, clawing and scratching at the door like the house was on fire, using her "I want to sit on the porch" cry. I opened the door to let her out on the porch, but as soon as I did she saw a stray 15 feet off the porch. Even though it was raining, and she NEVER goes out in the rain, she took off after this cat, screaming at it and all bushed out. I didn't even have a chance to grab her before the super-friendly mama who love on EVERY kitty and every person took off through the cracked door too. I really think she only took off like that becasue she was folowing Prissy's cue. I had to go out into the rain to grab them both and bring them back in the house.
This is not normal behavior for either one, and they've had all their shots, so it shouldn't be rabies or anything.
I guess what I'm wondering is if Pris's new aggression is because she wants to protect the mama cat's new litter? Is she acting out because there's too many cats? Do you think she can even tell that Mama is preggers? She's acting more and more dominant every day, and the others are just following her lead. Now this once docile kitty is turning into a ringleader for evil. What can I do?
But now Mama Cat is preggers again, and Pris is getting violent. Not towards the mother, but a little toward the older kittens, and VERY aggressive towards strays. Let me give you some examples.
Pris was cleaning mama's chin, when one of the 15 wk old kittens came up to try to get her attention. (they still try to suckle, though there's no milk) As soon as the kitten put its nose down, Pris went into a hissing fit, batting at the kitten and chasing it out of the living room. Now mama cat bats at them too.
I have french doors to my porch, and Pris like to sit at the door and look at the strays and ferals that come up to eat. She's done this from the beginning and she usually just sits there and watches them quietly. But last, Pris went insane, clawing and scratching at the door like the house was on fire, using her "I want to sit on the porch" cry. I opened the door to let her out on the porch, but as soon as I did she saw a stray 15 feet off the porch. Even though it was raining, and she NEVER goes out in the rain, she took off after this cat, screaming at it and all bushed out. I didn't even have a chance to grab her before the super-friendly mama who love on EVERY kitty and every person took off through the cracked door too. I really think she only took off like that becasue she was folowing Prissy's cue. I had to go out into the rain to grab them both and bring them back in the house.
This is not normal behavior for either one, and they've had all their shots, so it shouldn't be rabies or anything.
I guess what I'm wondering is if Pris's new aggression is because she wants to protect the mama cat's new litter? Is she acting out because there's too many cats? Do you think she can even tell that Mama is preggers? She's acting more and more dominant every day, and the others are just following her lead. Now this once docile kitty is turning into a ringleader for evil. What can I do?
