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Kitten is driving my cat crazy!

post #1 of 15
Thread Starter 
Lola who is approximately 9 weeks old now is driving Dexter my almost 2 year old cat nuts!

The two have bonded. I catch him grooming her all the time and he generally wants to be in whatever room she is in. However Lola doesn't seem to understand that it is not okay to jump on his head when he sleeping and that he doesn't like being stalked and pounced all the time.

She stays away from Milo who has made it clear that he doesn't like her but poor Dexter is her favorite toy. She follows him around jumping on his back and face. He is definitley annoyed. His tail will twitch, sometimes when he has had enough his ears will go back and he will swat her to tell her to stop. She doesn't seem to get the message and will continue until he lets out a meow, bites her and takes off. I have even seen him sit on her when she goes nuts on him but nothing stops her crazy antics.

Dexter really likes her when she is calm. He likes to cuddle and groom her but those sessions quickly turn aggressive. I am worried that he might actually hurt Lola when she wont stop pestering him.

Also on a few occasions when Lola is being particularly annoying. Dexter will walk away, see Milo, let out an attack meow and bite him instead.
post #2 of 15
Thread Starter 
I took this video today. It is fairly tame in regards to what I am talking about. This is after about an hour of Lola jumping on Dexter's face. Should I break this stuff up or let it be? Is this fighting or playing?

About 45 seconds into the video you can see Dexter is quite annoyed.

http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m...rent=001-1.mp4
post #3 of 15
Kittens learn appropriate behavior from older kittens and cats. Your older kitty is teaching the younger one what's appropriate. If it seems to bother the older kitty, then use a towel to "herd" the little one into a different area and distract him by playing with him. Young kittens need lots and lots and LOTS of stimulating playtime and interaction with both other cats and humans. You might even find your older kitties watching and joining in on the play.
post #4 of 15
Don't worry about him hurting her. Dexter is very aware of his size and strength, and in that video is being very careful with her. Just keep everyone's claws trimmed. If he grabs her by the neck while playing and holds her still that way he's telling her to chill out.

Lola is growing fast, isn't she?

Do you use any feliway diffusers in the house? It may help with Milo a bit.
post #5 of 15
Thread Starter 
I haven't really noticed her growth but a friend came over the other day and he swears she has almost doubled in size.

Thanks for the reassurance. It scares me sometimes when he pins her down. It would take nothing for him to break her neck

Lola sleeps in my room with the door closed. I give her free rein of the room now and have retired the kennel. Dexter paws incessantly at the door at night. Do you think it would be safe to let him in with her while I am sleeping?

I haven't been able to find feliway. I have been to two petsmarts and they don't seem to carry it. I might order some online.

Milo has gotten better. He doesn't want any part in the 'playing' and generally tries to avoid her but he isn't being aggressive anymore
post #6 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by d3sire86 View Post
Dexter paws incessantly at the door at night. Do you think it would be safe to let him in with her while I am sleeping?
He won't harm her, but you'll likely have wrestling matches on the bed at night if the two of them are up there... If that happens, put them on the floor and go back to sleep.

Milo may accept her later after she settles down. I bet he's just overwhelmed with her right now.
post #7 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Don't worry about him hurting her. Dexter is very aware of his size and strength, and in that video is being very careful with her. Just keep everyone's claws trimmed. If he grabs her by the neck while playing and holds her still that way he's telling her to chill out.

Lola is growing fast, isn't she?

Do you use any feliway diffusers in the house? It may help with Milo a bit.
they are fine!!! There is no violence on the video... just tender kitty-style education! Very cute!
Quote:
Originally Posted by d3sire86 View Post
I haven't really noticed her growth but a friend came over the other day and he swears she has almost doubled in size.

Thanks for the reassurance. It scares me sometimes when he pins her down. It would take nothing for him to break her neck

Lola sleeps in my room with the door closed. I give her free rein of the room now and have retired the kennel. Dexter paws incessantly at the door at night. Do you think it would be safe to let him in with her while I am sleeping?

I haven't been able to find feliway. I have been to two petsmarts and they don't seem to carry it. I might order some online.

Milo has gotten better. He doesn't want any part in the 'playing' and generally tries to avoid her but he isn't being aggressive anymore
Here is where I order Feliway - I get it on Amazon, via entirely pets when I buy only one, or straight from Amazon when I buy more - it is the lowest price, and the shipping is free
post #8 of 15
Thread Starter 
Thanks Carolina. I ordered two!
post #9 of 15
^ I hope that's ok with you being in Canada. I didn't want to recommend any places for you to order since some of the cheap ones would have had you buying from the US then over paying on customs.
post #10 of 15
Your kitten is cute. She will eventually learn what her boundaries are with Dexter.
post #11 of 15
Holly did that to Sneaky for some time. In fact, she STILL drives Sneaky
( who is 9) nuts sometimes, and Holly's over 7 months old now

But at this point, Holly knows Sneaky's limits.

Sneaky did learn to "tolerate" Holly. Holly likes to groom Sneaky, and there are times when it looks like Sneaky's saying "I do NOT wish to be groomed right now"

It's kind of fun to watch the two of them play together. Mistoflees stopped playing with her several years ago when he started getting sick, and I think she missed it.

It'll be sad when we have to put Sneaky down (which I'm hoping won't happen for a LOOOONG time). Because Holly may just not deal well

Cheryl
post #12 of 15
Thread Starter 
So I have a new problem....

Milo has started to show some interest in Lola, which is good but Dexter doesn't seem to think so. Dexter is acting aggressive with Milo when Milo gets to close to Lola. I was hanging out in my room with Lola & Dexter and for the first time since I brought Lola home Milo wanted in the room. Dexter jumped on Milo's back and bit his neck while making some strange noises. I intervened and encouraged Milo to come in. Milo went over to smell Lola and Dexter moved in to swat his brother in the face. The entire time Milo was in the room with her Dexter watched him very closely. Has Dexter claimed Lola as his kitten? Is he trying to protect Lola from Milo? Milo isn't hissing or growling at Lola anymore and he seemed more interested in her than anything else. Do you think they will eventually all just get along? Milo & Dexter are/were very close, will this ruin their bond?
post #13 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by d3sire86 View Post
So I have a new problem....

Milo has started to show some interest in Lola, which is good but Dexter doesn't seem to think so. Dexter is acting aggressive with Milo when Milo gets to close to Lola. I was hanging out in my room with Lola & Dexter and for the first time since I brought Lola home Milo wanted in the room. Dexter jumped on Milo's back and bit his neck while making some strange noises. I intervened and encouraged Milo to come in. Milo went over to smell Lola and Dexter moved in to swat his brother in the face. The entire time Milo was in the room with her Dexter watched him very closely. Has Dexter claimed Lola as his kitten? Is he trying to protect Lola from Milo? Milo isn't hissing or growling at Lola anymore and he seemed more interested in her than anything else. Do you think they will eventually all just get along? Milo & Dexter are/were very close, will this ruin their bond?
IMO you need to let them be... You need to watch, but all should be ok - they will sort out their limits, hierarchy and likes and dislikes withing themselves. If you interfere too much, you might do more harm to that dynamics then good. Also, by interfering, you can create jealousy, as one cat can feel you are protecting the other, and by that you create animosity. This has happened in here... See, cats are really funny like that... You need to be very careful to protect them, but not to show preference, as that can really mess things up...

A lot of times things will scare you, and you will think they are fighting, but they are not.

Fight involves fur flying, loud screams, hisses, spits, and it can get violent - really violent. You will have no doubt that is a fight... Otherwise, they will probably be fine....
post #14 of 15
Thread Starter 
Thanks. I will try to relax and let them work it out on their own. I just hate seeing them upset with each other.
post #15 of 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by d3sire86 View Post
Thanks. I will try to relax and let them work it out on their own. I just hate seeing them upset with each other.
I know... but they will work it out... Specially when there is a kitten involved... If there is a lot of hissing, and you hear loud screaming, spitting, etc, then separate them and start to think towards an introduction. For what you are saying though, it seems to me they are just testing and working out limits. It is important for them to go through that - again, especially the kitten...
As for mommy.... you will get used to it too
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