I posted this under the feral board, but I think it's more behavior; hoping anyone could give me some advice on this one...
I have 4 resident adult cats, 2 kittens (5 months) and a new 13 month previously-feral female (the kitten's mother). Mother abandoned kittens, I raised them from day 5 or 6. Mother was attacked in yard by other ferals, so now she's inside (and happy about it). Mother has her own room, kittens have their own room. Other adults have full run of house.
One of my resident adults, 14yo Female - also bottle raised, doesn't like the new cat at all. I let them visit through gates for week one. After week one, all cats seem "okay" with each other for a short amount of times. Then the 14yo female began to "stalk" the mother, and go after her in an "all out" attack. No vocalizations, no hissing, just stalk and attack.
So, I separated them and allow the new cat to socialize with everyone except the 14yo female. I've tried: Swapping towels (new cat sleeps on towel, 14yo on another towel, then swap)... Feliway going on 3 diffusers... cheek rub with wash cloth... Shared can of tuna, the whole nine yards.
BUT: The most troubling issue is the 14yo female has started attacking the kittens! I've had cats (multiple cats) for over 20 years and have NEVER seen behavior like this. She walks up to a kitten, like nothing is wrong. She leans down and sniffs the kitten on the nose like she's going to groom them - then quickly grabs them in a "bear hug" and flips them over and tries to bite them. All with no vocalizations, hissing or growling. She did this seconds after meowing at me, getting petted on the head - she took two steps and attacked. She's done this twice, once to both kittens.
I'm a cat-health freak, all my cats see the vet very often. She's had a CBC in the last 6 months, nothings wrong with her physically other than she became almost 100% deaf 2 years ago after a Tresaderm treatment (freak reaction).
I've kept her isolated from everyone other than the other resident adults for four days. No contact with kittens or mother (still swapping towels, though). I don't know what I should do - bring her into the kittens room and try to re-introduce them? The kittens play with their mother a lot, so I'm sure they have her scent on them (but, so does every other cat in the house and she's fine with them).
Final note (to this long post): Her brother has been gravely ill for the last four weeks and has been totally isolated. He's had two cystotomy's for bladder stones in as many weeks and was at the vet for 18 days with a urinary catheter. He has to stay by himself for awhile longer as he gets over the surgeries. They're very close (the aggressive female and her brother), so I'm sure it's causing her stress.
Anyone have any suggestions, the tinyest thing could help.
I have 4 resident adult cats, 2 kittens (5 months) and a new 13 month previously-feral female (the kitten's mother). Mother abandoned kittens, I raised them from day 5 or 6. Mother was attacked in yard by other ferals, so now she's inside (and happy about it). Mother has her own room, kittens have their own room. Other adults have full run of house.
One of my resident adults, 14yo Female - also bottle raised, doesn't like the new cat at all. I let them visit through gates for week one. After week one, all cats seem "okay" with each other for a short amount of times. Then the 14yo female began to "stalk" the mother, and go after her in an "all out" attack. No vocalizations, no hissing, just stalk and attack.
So, I separated them and allow the new cat to socialize with everyone except the 14yo female. I've tried: Swapping towels (new cat sleeps on towel, 14yo on another towel, then swap)... Feliway going on 3 diffusers... cheek rub with wash cloth... Shared can of tuna, the whole nine yards.
BUT: The most troubling issue is the 14yo female has started attacking the kittens! I've had cats (multiple cats) for over 20 years and have NEVER seen behavior like this. She walks up to a kitten, like nothing is wrong. She leans down and sniffs the kitten on the nose like she's going to groom them - then quickly grabs them in a "bear hug" and flips them over and tries to bite them. All with no vocalizations, hissing or growling. She did this seconds after meowing at me, getting petted on the head - she took two steps and attacked. She's done this twice, once to both kittens.
I'm a cat-health freak, all my cats see the vet very often. She's had a CBC in the last 6 months, nothings wrong with her physically other than she became almost 100% deaf 2 years ago after a Tresaderm treatment (freak reaction).
I've kept her isolated from everyone other than the other resident adults for four days. No contact with kittens or mother (still swapping towels, though). I don't know what I should do - bring her into the kittens room and try to re-introduce them? The kittens play with their mother a lot, so I'm sure they have her scent on them (but, so does every other cat in the house and she's fine with them).
Final note (to this long post): Her brother has been gravely ill for the last four weeks and has been totally isolated. He's had two cystotomy's for bladder stones in as many weeks and was at the vet for 18 days with a urinary catheter. He has to stay by himself for awhile longer as he gets over the surgeries. They're very close (the aggressive female and her brother), so I'm sure it's causing her stress.
Anyone have any suggestions, the tinyest thing could help.
