Think I mentioned in my last post that I'd had to take Paddy to the vet last week for a scratch/ scab on her nose. The vet said what I'd suspected - 'she's been fighting and it'll clear up' - and then charged me a neat little sum of money for the peace of mind.
Anyway, it's very evident that the fighting between Paddy and Little Cow - my two little girls - is getting progressively worse. I've heard lots of caterwauling recently and, this lunchtime, I was with Paddy outside when she must have seen LC in the lean-to and not only chased after her but even ran into one of LC's hiding barns. There ensued utter pandemonium; the noises emanating from the barn were real claws out stuff. I opened the door, got a bucket of water ready and saw, behind all the bric-a-brac my neighbour stores in there, Paddy pawing at one of the gaps in the far corner. Seems that - thankfully - the diminutive one (Cow) had managed to scrabble to safety in one of the other barns.
It's very frustrating and my fear is that it'll get expensive on the vet bills; a scratch now is ok, but abcesses, bites and infections could all happen.
LC is pretty clearly a pariah cat and her fearful, feral nature means that Paddy sees her as an interloper rather than acknowledging Cow as 'one of the family'. It was bad enough with Rudi and LC but, in his defence, he was actually here (albeit as a stray) before LC ever turned up. And, of course, Rudi and Paddy get along ok because they were properly introduced as both are friendly.
I'm not sure I'll ever stop them fighting - it could also be a female thing - but I'd like to run an idea by you all. Feel free to shoot me down in flames! I have a big dog crate around the farm that I don't use. Is there any sense in putting Paddy into this crate for a couple of days with some food, water and bedding and putting the crate in one of Cow's hidey barns? It might be a little late for introductions and it might seem a little hard on my friendly girl, Paddy, but I'd appreciate thoughts. I certainly won't do it till the weather is milder. To my mind it's Paddy who has to change, not LC.
Other options are limited. I can't bring Paddy in because of her pee problem and if the above solution idea is unfair on Paddy, I'd have thought that capturing the 4 year-old uberferal that is LC and bringing her inside would be utterly traumatic for her to the point that she'll not cope. (As an aside, I was talking about LC to a farmer friend of mine who got a couple of ferals from the same shelter at a similar time. His have all tamed up a little - he reckoned he'd taken on a dozen or so ferals over the years and when I told him that mine has a 20ft exclusion zone after nearly 18 months with me, he reckoned I'd got the most feral cat ever as his never accept petting but do, over time, stop running away from you)
I guess the 'let them get on with it' is the only other option I can think of short of putting one of them up for adoption (which would be heart-breaking): but, as the man who foots the vet bills and feeds and cares for his motley but usually loveable crew, I'd really like to find a solution that works for everyone. I wish Feliway plug-ins would work outside!
Anyway, it's very evident that the fighting between Paddy and Little Cow - my two little girls - is getting progressively worse. I've heard lots of caterwauling recently and, this lunchtime, I was with Paddy outside when she must have seen LC in the lean-to and not only chased after her but even ran into one of LC's hiding barns. There ensued utter pandemonium; the noises emanating from the barn were real claws out stuff. I opened the door, got a bucket of water ready and saw, behind all the bric-a-brac my neighbour stores in there, Paddy pawing at one of the gaps in the far corner. Seems that - thankfully - the diminutive one (Cow) had managed to scrabble to safety in one of the other barns.
It's very frustrating and my fear is that it'll get expensive on the vet bills; a scratch now is ok, but abcesses, bites and infections could all happen.
LC is pretty clearly a pariah cat and her fearful, feral nature means that Paddy sees her as an interloper rather than acknowledging Cow as 'one of the family'. It was bad enough with Rudi and LC but, in his defence, he was actually here (albeit as a stray) before LC ever turned up. And, of course, Rudi and Paddy get along ok because they were properly introduced as both are friendly.
I'm not sure I'll ever stop them fighting - it could also be a female thing - but I'd like to run an idea by you all. Feel free to shoot me down in flames! I have a big dog crate around the farm that I don't use. Is there any sense in putting Paddy into this crate for a couple of days with some food, water and bedding and putting the crate in one of Cow's hidey barns? It might be a little late for introductions and it might seem a little hard on my friendly girl, Paddy, but I'd appreciate thoughts. I certainly won't do it till the weather is milder. To my mind it's Paddy who has to change, not LC.
Other options are limited. I can't bring Paddy in because of her pee problem and if the above solution idea is unfair on Paddy, I'd have thought that capturing the 4 year-old uberferal that is LC and bringing her inside would be utterly traumatic for her to the point that she'll not cope. (As an aside, I was talking about LC to a farmer friend of mine who got a couple of ferals from the same shelter at a similar time. His have all tamed up a little - he reckoned he'd taken on a dozen or so ferals over the years and when I told him that mine has a 20ft exclusion zone after nearly 18 months with me, he reckoned I'd got the most feral cat ever as his never accept petting but do, over time, stop running away from you)
I guess the 'let them get on with it' is the only other option I can think of short of putting one of them up for adoption (which would be heart-breaking): but, as the man who foots the vet bills and feeds and cares for his motley but usually loveable crew, I'd really like to find a solution that works for everyone. I wish Feliway plug-ins would work outside!