Poor Socialization/Boredom?

bottledspirit

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I have two little kitties.

Benji: 7 years in July. I've had him since he was 4 weeks old or so and he lived in my arms since I was recently graduated from undergrad at the time and home a lot. We did everything together with him in my arms. This has resulted in a very loving, and trusting but bratty kitty. =P I'm definitely alpha and I can bathe him, brush his teeth, do whatever and he just kinda puts up with it with a "But why mommy..." face. He did not have any kitty friends until I fostered one 4 years ago and he went after her like crazy, not even backing away as she hissed/scratched. He ended up with nicks in his chin and still went after her! lol. Benji was declawed as a kitten, a choice made by my parents but (at that time), there were no behaviour changes.

Tyson: Estimated 5 years old. We got him two years ago as we were fostering him but ended up keeping him because he was too sweet. We tried to keep him in the bathroom, the first night to slowly introduce the two, but he cried for hours and Benji cried for hours at the door to the bathroom so we just let him out. They interacted fine (to our unknowing human eyes) and by the second day Benji was lying down pretty much "on top" of Tyson basically saying "yep, this is my friend!" Tyson has claws and he's a crazy polydactyl!

They have no problems eating together, no problems being in the same room, no problems playing with me together or using the same litter boxes or sleeping together or sleeping with me together. They play fight together and Tyson over time started play fighting back so it definitely looks more equal now. Benji grooms Tyson so the heirarchy seems to be Me > Benji > Tyson.

Now to the problem...

Every so often, at least once a day, Benji goes nuts on Tyson and chases him all over, relentlessly. He bites down hard on his backside or neck and Tyson ends up screaming and crying. When Tyson runs away he hisses at Benji, but Benji does not give up. Tyson isn't a fighter so I don't think he's ever really scratched back and Benji never draws blood with his bites but her certainly hurts and scares Tyson! Since Benji won't jump over a baby gate (I don't really know why... he jumps on higher counters), we put it up so Tyson can jump into one of the bathrooms and be free from Benji if he needs. He uses it sometimes.

When we had another foster I rescued from the streets, Annabelle, Benji would go after her too and that gave Tyson some space. Also, Annabelle wouldn't put up with that sh*t so Benji got told via claws. =P

I've tried increasing playtime with the boys, but Benji still does that. 

I've tried the baby gate, but Tyson still gets caught sometimes.

I've got Feliway going.

I'm going to see if putting bach flower in Benji's water helps some.

I still continue to give Benji tons of one on one time because he loves to be picked up and just walk around with me.

Any other suggestions? My only thoughts are 1) Benji doesn't know how to play nice with friends and 2) Benji takes out frustrations on Tyson.
 

Ms. Freya

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One thing you don't mention: are both of the boys neutered? I'm asking because this sounds like it could possibly be dominance behavior on Benji's part. Are you able to re-direct Benji when he gets into this chase-mode? Maybe with a favorite toy? Or is he completely focused on getting Tyson?

Another thing to check is whether or not they're actually playing - I have to male cats who love to wrestle and some mornings it sounds as though they're trying to murder each other. Of course if you say anything, they look at you, completely innocent while holding each other down. 
 
 
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bottledspirit

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Oh yes of course both neutered! Sorry I didn't even think of it because it just seems natural to me.

I can redirect him sometimes. He doesn't really have a favourite toy per say. He likes the mice toys he recently destroyed and I have to replace, and he likes his angry bird (he liked it better when he could wind it up to vibrate, but he broke that). He plays randomly sometimes, but growing up we always played hide and seek and that's what he likes most. So he would never stop chasing Tyson to tackle a toy, even if I threw it or tried to tempt him. I would be really surprised if I saw that since he seems to prefer living playmates.

I can stop him just by walking up to them. He'll back off, but you can tell from his tail it's not a happy back off.

I'm ok when they wrestle and maybe hiss a bit, it actually makes me smile, especially when I see Tyson get in on it. But it's the hissing plus horrible, heart-wrenching cries. I've been trying to get videos so I can explain. Vets never hear me out and they just say it's normal, but I really think they don't understand how Benji will wrestle him to the ground and just latch onto his neck and not let go...

On the plus side... Benji gets more exercise this way... lol. =/

I wonder sometimes if Benji is frustrated for not having claws and this is why he goes after other cats? Or his paws hurt him and when he hurts he goes after them? It's really not JUST Tyson, but the other two "friends" Benji has had were females that did not stand for that behaviour. Tyson is so docile and I'm worried this stress will harm him in the long run and that Benji's going through something I should be looking into as well.
 

Ms. Freya

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The grabbing could be due to not having claws - there is anecdotal evidence that declawed cats are more likely to bite. If he's not comfortable or able to use his paws to wrestle, I'd imagine its possible he'd bite/grab instead.

If you're even wondering a little if there could be an underlying health issue, I'd get them checked out. Better safe than sorry.
 
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bottledspirit

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They had their yearly checkup a month ago and I paid for baseline bloodwork and urinalysis, so it's all good. =)

I just worry about mental health for them.
 

Ms. Freya

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I'm glad everything checks out, physically. :)

Have you tried giving them vertical space? Maybe a cat tree or two. It may give Tyson another place to go for a break. Benji may also be less likely to climb after him without claws.

Just a thought that might help if it is dominance. The different tiers could give the different safe territories.
 
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crazycatlady102

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I'm having some what of the same issue. But, mine were born and raised together. And this just started. They have always been loving and affectionate. One just turned very aggressive all of a sudden.
 
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bottledspirit

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That's a good call about the height. I have two cat trees but neither are super tall and one is at my parents' place because I'm studying in US right now and during breaks we go back there. That way I don't have to lug a tree each trip along with the boys. I'll have to save up (maybe xmas present), but a tall one would be nice for them. As it is, Benji will just jump on top of the current one.

@crazycatlady102  Sorry to hear you're going through something similar. It's really sad to see one of them picked on and the other feeling as though he needs to do the picking. Especially when they get along so well all other times. =( 
 
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