bite caused abcesses

Have you ever known/ seen a # of cats living together to form a dominance hierarchy, with an "alpha" cat?

  • 1. No,

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2. Yes, with ______ (#) cats in the group/ colony.

    Votes: 1 100.0%

  • Total voters
    1

cheddi

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I need info/ resources re: cat bites and abscesses, please.

The cat who lives with me (Bu, short for his Egyptian name, Bubu) is an indoor-outdoor.  He began life feral, so refuses to ever be shut in.  That's OK, as my apartment has a safe garden courtyard, where all the cats who live in my apartment building play, hunt, sleep in the fresh air.  The four castrated male cats who live in 3 apartments here which have back doors to the courtyard are aged 13 - 1 years.  The oldest still insists on letting everyone know who's boss with a hiss now and then.  (And that's the extent of that.  He hisses, the other cat moves right along by him.)  The cat who lives with me will be 10 this year, has been here the longest, and has become good friends with the two younger cats, especially the 2.5 year old, Zissou.  They all play with each other, share both outdoor and indoor space comfortably, nap "together" in their favorite spots in the same room, go in and out of all 3 kitchens for snacks (sharing bowls without protest). 

About a year ago, new neighbors moved into the building next door, and let their large castrated male cat outdoors.  I've posted here before about this cat, as he's acted like an aggressive bully. He repeatedly went after and attacked each and all of the other cats. The new neighbors refused to believe the rest of us, for a long time, when we said, "There's a PROBLEM!"  They kept insisting their cat is friendly, not aggressive -- because he is friendly, with people.  They simply refused to acknowledge the problem.  Finally, the bully cat -- his name is Sugar Bear, so I've been calling him "Bear" for short -- went into my 2nd floor neighbor's apartment to attack his cat (who has never wanted to or fought with any of the other cats).  When Dave ran to rescue his cat, he was down and the Bear was on top of him, tearing into him.  Dave grabbed the Bear and flung him off.  The Bear turned around and attacked Dave -- twice.  Dave ended up with a ruined sweater and a permanent scar on his arm.  Finally, the Bear's people acknowledged the problem.  I gave them some literature to read (including Temple Grandin's book, Animals Make Us Human, which does a wonderful job of explaining cats' emotions), and a calming pheromone collar.  The collar has seemed to help.

Yesterday, the Bear's male person let him out without supervision.  The 3 older cats who live here all retreated indoors.  The youngest, Xing Xing, will be a year old next month.  Even tho the Bear has turned on him twice in the past (he was so much more nimble and so much faster, he ran away before he could get hurt), he still wants to try to play with him.  He wants to play with everybody.  Yesterday, when the Bear turned on him, he didn't run away.  Suddenly, he's grown up.  I saw the ears in fighting position, the fur showing his adrenalin rush, and heard the growl-howl of a male cat ready to fight -- all for the first time.  He's always been fearless, but I saw just how fearless -- tho the Bear appears to be twice his weight, he was ready to fight him.  I hurried down the stairs, clapping and calling loudly to Xing Xing, to get between them if necessary.  (I'm Xing Xing's "Auntie" and I adore him.)  To my amazement, my arrival sent the Bear up the stairs toward his home, but Xing Xing went after him!, chasing him home, still ready to fight! 

Today, when the Bear's female person let him out, I saw her and went out to try to talk.  I described yesterday's incident, and pointed out that Xing Xing, being largely Norwegian Forest cat, has very long and strong teeth and claws.  At 11 months, he already weighs 12 lbs (not fat -- strong, heavy bones and solid muscles), and we expect he will continue to grow for 2 or 3 more years.  And he will fight -- he's made that clear.  If Bear and Xing Xing fight, I explained, it's likely they both will get hurt, both will bite.  Bites lead to abscesses, and vet bills.  The lady doesn't believe me!  I've tried repeatedly to explain to her that cats bite when they fight and their bites often close up infected = abscess. 

The lady thinks, she says, the cats' fights are just "what cats do" to establish who's the "alpha cat," and her cat will "just have to learn."  She thinks 11 months old Xing Xing is the "alpha cat" here!  Nonsense.  There's no dominance hierarchy happening here.  I watch him play with Bu and his friend Zissou, and it's very clear that when Bu says, "Stop that!" Xing Xing knows who's the senior cat.  I've never seen cats form the sort of linear dominance hierarchies the lady is suggesting, and Temple Grandin agrees with me.  Cats will defer to an older cat, especially a much older cat, but that's not the same as dominance or hierarchy.  Bu will sit back and let a very hungry Xing Xing eat first (the youngster's manners still leave something to be desired), he just won't tolerate his tail being played with while he's eating. 

OK, long story.  With some interest for my readers, I hope.  What I'm asking for:  can folks point me in the direction of authoritative info re: cat bites and abscesses?  If my neighbor can't believe me, I need to give her info from someone -- more than one someone would probably be even better -- she can believe.

Thank you so much!

Cheri
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
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So, you just want to be able to prove to your neighbor that when one cat bites another, it can cause an abscess?   Am I apprehending correctly?  If so, I would just google "cat bite abscesses" (or have her ask her Vet!)   Good luck with your neighbor!
 
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