TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Brothers fighting after 13 years!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Brothers fighting after 13 years!

post #1 of 5
6/21/11 at 4:37am
Thread Starter 
Our alpha cat, Elvis, recently broke his "wrist" and currently is in a cast and cone of shame. His brother, Lucky, now growls at him, although Elvis started this disagreement and has been chasing Lucky throughout the house. These two used to lay cuddled together all the time. My suspicion is that Lucky doesn't recognize Elvis and is afraid of him. But how can we get them "back together"? They are both "needy" and come to us for constant affection. They can sometimes stay 2 feet apart without any hissing or growling, and sometimes they can't. But they cannot get much closer than that. Suggestions?
Reply
post #2 of 5
6/22/11 at 5:41pm
I'm not sure this will work but a lot of members swear by Feliway plug-ins. You might try it. Since cats go by scent I'd be surprised if he doesn't recognize him but you know how they can act when one goes to the vet when the other doesn't . Does Elvis have to go to the vet? Maybe the wrapping on his paw smells reminds lucky of the vet's office? I hope they find harmony again soon.
Reply
post #3 of 5
6/22/11 at 6:59pm
This can happen when a cat returns from the vets and he doesn't smell the same. This can also happen when one cat is ill and the other tries to run him off. There is also a tip in the balance of power with the alpha being injured.

You might try to reintroduce them again as if they have never met before. Here's a great thread on that topic. http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67321

Another thought is to do what I do with 2 of my cats that get into it from time to time. Every single time they are close together, I go out of the way to make it a very happy time for both of them. They get extra love, head butts, scritches, treats, and whatever they like. What this does is to reinforce positive feelings while they are close to each other - oh, my enemy is right here and you are making me happy in spite of myself.
Reply
post #4 of 5
6/23/11 at 3:05am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone! I think I'll try the vanilla flavoring. I've tried the extra attention, lovey thing - petting them both when they're both near me. Didn't work.
Reply
post #5 of 5
6/23/11 at 3:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by atlnative View Post
Thanks everyone! I think I'll try the vanilla flavoring. I've tried the extra attention, lovey thing - petting them both when they're both near me. Didn't work.
I have 2 chronically ill cats that don't like each other. Their skirmishes started out as a lot of screams with hair flying. It took a while before the mutual loving thing started to work. Don't give up on it yet.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Behavior
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Brothers fighting after 13 years!