Hello,
I am looking for advice for my 3 outdoor city cats. We have lived in a very small (essentially 2 room) house in San Francisco since we rescued 3 brother kitties 5 years ago. We had a baby 2.5 years ago and this may be when things got a little tense. Our black kitty seemed to get pushed out by the other 2, particularly the gray cat. They get in a lot of fights and hissing matches. And as of the past year, the gray cat chases the black cat out of the house to the point where he now does not come home for extended periods - weeks. We worry sick but about 6 months ago our neighbor across the street informed us that she has been feeding the black cat and that he has territorial issues with her 2 cats as well. She has a cat door and he comes in to eat but now mostly lives in her back yard where he acts very much feral and even attacks her cats. She can't go near him as he runs or scratches. However, when we go get him and bring him home and close him indoors he is mellow and sweet with us and purrs endlessly. Except when other cats are let back in - he still has major issues with mostly our gray cat. We have tried to make more resting spots and keep them somewhat separated but as I said our house is very small. They all 3 get a ton of attention and love from my husband and I and our daughter who is now 2.5 and very gentle with the cats. They all 3 love her and vice versa. The gray cat even tends to sleep with her. Anyway, we want our black cat back home and not living on the streets. We got him back yesterday and he has matching neck scars with the gray cat. He seems to love being home at first but after a couple days wants to get back to the outdoors - he is not a huge fan of the litter box but will use it. In the past we are able to keep him in for about a week and then he will dart out - but to come back and forth again for some time. Then ultimately he is gone again and we see our gray cat (what seems to be) guarding from across the street. Anyway, we are wondering if there is anything we can try to do to mellow things out. We can't have him living outside (so sad) or in our neighbors space (eating her food and attacking her cats) and we want him back. We thought about giving them kitty downers (creepy, I know) or trying to find him another home but we REALLY don't want to as we love him dearly. Please respond with any tips or suggestions. THANKS.
I am looking for advice for my 3 outdoor city cats. We have lived in a very small (essentially 2 room) house in San Francisco since we rescued 3 brother kitties 5 years ago. We had a baby 2.5 years ago and this may be when things got a little tense. Our black kitty seemed to get pushed out by the other 2, particularly the gray cat. They get in a lot of fights and hissing matches. And as of the past year, the gray cat chases the black cat out of the house to the point where he now does not come home for extended periods - weeks. We worry sick but about 6 months ago our neighbor across the street informed us that she has been feeding the black cat and that he has territorial issues with her 2 cats as well. She has a cat door and he comes in to eat but now mostly lives in her back yard where he acts very much feral and even attacks her cats. She can't go near him as he runs or scratches. However, when we go get him and bring him home and close him indoors he is mellow and sweet with us and purrs endlessly. Except when other cats are let back in - he still has major issues with mostly our gray cat. We have tried to make more resting spots and keep them somewhat separated but as I said our house is very small. They all 3 get a ton of attention and love from my husband and I and our daughter who is now 2.5 and very gentle with the cats. They all 3 love her and vice versa. The gray cat even tends to sleep with her. Anyway, we want our black cat back home and not living on the streets. We got him back yesterday and he has matching neck scars with the gray cat. He seems to love being home at first but after a couple days wants to get back to the outdoors - he is not a huge fan of the litter box but will use it. In the past we are able to keep him in for about a week and then he will dart out - but to come back and forth again for some time. Then ultimately he is gone again and we see our gray cat (what seems to be) guarding from across the street. Anyway, we are wondering if there is anything we can try to do to mellow things out. We can't have him living outside (so sad) or in our neighbors space (eating her food and attacking her cats) and we want him back. We thought about giving them kitty downers (creepy, I know) or trying to find him another home but we REALLY don't want to as we love him dearly. Please respond with any tips or suggestions. THANKS.
