I need some help with Harvey please

Ruth i think you need to try and get him to the vet he miht be lashing out because there could be something wrong with him. Did you manage to get and feliway to try that? maybe try reintroducing Harvey to the other cats may help.

Keep an eye on any cuts he gave you also!

if the vet is jokin about something like that change vets hun!!

he miht be biting scratchin because he might be hurt, he could of hurt himself while you were away and hes protecting himself

I am sorry for all the distress this is causing you. We have a cat who is aggressive to the others but not nearly that bad. We use Feliway and that works somewhat for her. Sometimes we just have to separate her from the other cats for a bit and that calms her down. I was bitten in the middle of a fight in May and it got infected pretty fast and I had to be on 2 antibiotics.

It is terrible when people mistreat their animals. The poor little guy should have been loved and protected by his owner and not beaten.

This is pretty interesting:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/broch...ggression.html

Hope it helps.

Such a sad situation all the way around. I don't have any advice, but would like to wish you the best in resolving the problem. It sounds like you are trying to do your best for all concerned, and bless you for that.

Ruthy, it's a good article, but when it comes to separating them during a fight, forget the water bottle. Get a blanket, and throw it over one of them. Personally, given Harvey's history, I'd throw it over the other cat. But you have to avoid being attacked, because it's just dangerous for you!

I definitely would get him to a vet - and maybe a different one for a second opinion about his health.

In the meantime, is there a room where you can keep him separate? It seems everyone needs a bit of a break, and at the very least, it also seems he's going to need to be reintroduced, and very slowly.

I'd give it a few days, and then start with positive-association scent swapping, starting with just Billy's scent. Of course, don't rub Harvey down with any rags until you're sure he won't be aggressive. It may have to wait until he's at the vet, and make sure to remember to bring rags with you so he can be wiped down with at least .... six or seven rags. One for each kitty (to put treats down on Harvey scented rags), and you can use those under their food dishes (if you give them individual meals), and if you free feed, you need the five rags, plus however many free feeding dishes you have out.



Hang in there sweetie. I know you're under pressure from DH, but do explain that if you two had a child that was challenged in some way, you wouldn't put your baby up for adoption. The kids learn from you, and pets are for life. If you try to find Harvey a new home, it most likely means his death. Is that the lesson he wants your children to learn? That you can just kill your problems if they're non-people related?

Im at a loss, i know i ignore smooch when he attacks me (which is getting rarer)

but i think im inclined to agree jump a coupke of steps back with him to reintroduce and speak to a vet.

I really hope you can get him calm again

Can he be kept in one of the kids' rooms? Witihout the stimulation of the other cats, and if the child in the room he's in ignores him..... ???? A large bathroom? Just throwing ideas out there. And I know you won't give up on him, you've made that clear. I was just trying to help with ideas for helping hubby.

If there is no way to separate him, I'd focus on loving on and reassuring the other kitties. Praise Harvey frequently when he's awake and NOT attacking the other kitties, but otherwise ignore him. Praise him as frequently as possible, but do NOT try to pet him. And just talk to him. Tell him how much he's loved, and how safe he is, and how committed you are to him... and tell him you just need him to express whatever it is he's trying to communicate more appropriately - and whip out a wand toy. When he plays with it, praise him to high heaven. Emphasize the positives when they happen.

When he's being bad, ignore him. Focus on reassuring the other kitties. If you need to break up a fight, do so, but use the blanket, not your hands.

For now, make his loving verbal, and try to help him focus his aggression on play, not the other cats. I'd talk to the kids about the situation, and get everyone involved, so the message being sent is not mixed.

Hope it's not just a one day thing!

thats great hun, im glad there is progress over night and today

That is good news!

Our cat Soxy does not come in the house, but stays outside in our backyard, where he is perfectly content. Soxy appeared one day, fixed, and we liked him. But it turned out that Soxy is very unpredictable and will bite and scratch. DH thinks he was abused. I never touch him, I still like him, but I cannot live with a cat inside that will attack. We've taken care of him for years now and he is very happy and never strays from our backyard.