Ok well I'll try and make this short.
My older cat Ricky has been sick off and off due to a cold but he's eating now and everything seemed good he was getting along with the new cat Rasta (I adopted her Christmas eve). All was hunky dorey unitil the last week. They have been playing with each other ok but lately Ricky has been a bit aggressive to Rasta who is about a quarter of his size. When they've been playing I've heard her yelp a bit every now and then. I didn't think much of it because she's very vocal and it seemed to be regular playing behavior but the last few times Ricky has grabbed her neck with his teeth...not actually biting but not letting go either. This of course has me worried. I really only noticed he was actually gripping her with his teeth last night. It happened while they were playing then again when I was in bed. Ricky jumped in (which he used to do all the time but quit when I adopted Rasta) They were both on the bed then I guess she got too close and he got hold of her neck again. This time I grabbed him firmly and removed his teeth from her neck (he still wasn't fully biting just holding her firm with his teeth??). I checked her neck both times and it looked fine no blood not bite holes. I not sure what to make of it. I try to make sure to give them both the same amount of attention and sometimes have to push Rasta aside when I pet Ricky as she tries to get in the way (she like a lot of attention...Ricky not so much but he seems to need a certain amount). Any suggestions how to ease his aggression?? I'm not home a lot so I can't be there to babysit them both all the time but I don't want his aggression to get worse. I have even thought of putting him down if it continues. As much as I love him I can't have him attacking the other cat or maybe even people eventually. Other facts. I just moved to a new apartment about 5 weeks ago and I'm wondering if that, old age or some illness I don't see is causing his aggression. He's around 14 years old. Do cat's go senile?? I can't afford Feliway, meds for him or even a vet visit at this point for him. I was forced to make a swift move due to a dispute with a crazy neighbor last month and due to work being slow and money short I've been stressed out maybe some of that is the cause. Any suggestions??
My older cat Ricky has been sick off and off due to a cold but he's eating now and everything seemed good he was getting along with the new cat Rasta (I adopted her Christmas eve). All was hunky dorey unitil the last week. They have been playing with each other ok but lately Ricky has been a bit aggressive to Rasta who is about a quarter of his size. When they've been playing I've heard her yelp a bit every now and then. I didn't think much of it because she's very vocal and it seemed to be regular playing behavior but the last few times Ricky has grabbed her neck with his teeth...not actually biting but not letting go either. This of course has me worried. I really only noticed he was actually gripping her with his teeth last night. It happened while they were playing then again when I was in bed. Ricky jumped in (which he used to do all the time but quit when I adopted Rasta) They were both on the bed then I guess she got too close and he got hold of her neck again. This time I grabbed him firmly and removed his teeth from her neck (he still wasn't fully biting just holding her firm with his teeth??). I checked her neck both times and it looked fine no blood not bite holes. I not sure what to make of it. I try to make sure to give them both the same amount of attention and sometimes have to push Rasta aside when I pet Ricky as she tries to get in the way (she like a lot of attention...Ricky not so much but he seems to need a certain amount). Any suggestions how to ease his aggression?? I'm not home a lot so I can't be there to babysit them both all the time but I don't want his aggression to get worse. I have even thought of putting him down if it continues. As much as I love him I can't have him attacking the other cat or maybe even people eventually. Other facts. I just moved to a new apartment about 5 weeks ago and I'm wondering if that, old age or some illness I don't see is causing his aggression. He's around 14 years old. Do cat's go senile?? I can't afford Feliway, meds for him or even a vet visit at this point for him. I was forced to make a swift move due to a dispute with a crazy neighbor last month and due to work being slow and money short I've been stressed out maybe some of that is the cause. Any suggestions??
