New to forum, have questions regarding a cat's aggressive behavior towards kittens

[craftydoodle]

Hi there! My name is Nicole and I am new to this forum. I am a SAHM to my beautiful dd Taylor, and have quite a few pets... We have a dog, two cats and six kittens. The six kittens were a litter that a feral cat had which neighbors called animal control on (which of course we couldn't let happen). We took them in at ten days old, bottle fed them for weeks, and seven months later still have our loving babies. We have grown so attached and can not give them away now, as originally planned. We do have a few problems though, which I would like to ask your advice with...

1. My one cat (Holly) does not like the kittens at all. Holly was the baby in the past. She hisses at them, attacks them, tried to scratch one of their eyes out along with Cinnamon's nose and throat, it is just non stop. We have had them separated since day one, as the babies have the run of our garage, and we flip flop them out so we can minimize problems. I would really like to integrate them, but don't know where to start, and the safest way to try it. Any advice or books out there that I can consult?

 

[tnr1]

craftydoodle..I would suggest you read this thread

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=22138

Welcome to TCS.

Katie

 

[hissy]

If you don't have enough room for all those animals, you might want to think about finding homes for some of the kittens. Not the ideal answer that you wanted to hear. If you can't bear to adopt them out, then invest in some cat condos, cat ramps, etc and give the cats other places to get away from each other. Holly may just feel crowded out all of a sudden and territorial instincts are coming into play.

 

[craftydoodle]

Thanks so much! I bookmarked it so I could refer back to it later.

 

[craftydoodle]

We have been back and forth on it, with three of them, but honestly can not part with them. But we do have a large house, and they believe it or not aren't over-crowded at all. Luckily we have our AC garage, house and screened back porch which our two bigger cats love to relax on. Our gameplan, when we have them integrated is to do a kitty condo in the garage and the screened porch, along with cat doors going to both places. That way they can come and go as they please, and it wouldn't be eight cats right there all of the time. Now, what I have read is that a spayed female feels much more territorial around a non spayed female. Since the boys have been fixed she is more curious then aggressive with them, so hopefully within the next two months we can make the transition. We have a pet sitter come when we are on vacation, and would not feel to comfortable having Holly out there on her own with them when we are gone for two weeks. So, everything takes place after that point. Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it!