Sick Kitten/Kitten Fights

portdevoix

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Hunter and Cougar have been with me for three weeks today. All this time, they have been very close and affectionate with each other: they play, wrestle, follow each other around, groom each other, and cuddle together.

Cougar fell ill yesterday. He is sniffly, congested, and had a fever before I took him to the vet last night. The fever has eased, but the little boy is still cranky and in some pain, because he cries when I try to pick him up.

Hunter has been endlessly baiting Cougar, who, instead of fighting back, cries and whines, which makes Hunter bait him even more. Cougar will go lie down in some corner, and Hunter chases him down. I can't separate them behind a closed door, as I have only one litterbox (I live in a studio apartment, so spare me the one box per cat lecture).

How can I keep them from fighting? How can I keep Cougar in a calm place so he can rest and heal? Is this normal?
 

yayi

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If you were sick, you wouldn't want people bothering you right?

I recommend you put Cougar in the bathroom (the only other room in the apartment?). Put water, food, his bed. If you insist on using one litterbox, make a temporary one (use a large, deep rectangular pan) for Cougar's use during his recuperating stay there.
 
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portdevoix

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Originally Posted by yayi

If you were sick, you wouldn't want people bothering you right?

I recommend you put Cougar in the bathroom (the only other room in the apartment?). Put water, food, his bed. If you insist on using one litterbox, make a temporary one (use a large, deep rectangular pan) for Cougar's use during his recuperating stay there.
Well, the one litterbox already IS in the bathroom. I do have a small "suite" composed of my dressing room (attached to two walk-in closets with closed doors) and the bathroom. In the dressing room I keep a bed, food and water, an array of toys, and their cat tree.

The problem with separating them is that, no matter what the circumstances, if one of them finds that the other is behind a closed door, there will be loud plaintive mewing from both cats, and paws reaching under the door. Last night, when I was about to take Cougar to the vet, Hunter cried so loud that I brought him along for the ride. They have NEVER been without each other.

So Cougar wants to be left alone, as in not wanting to play rough, but he doesn't want to BE alone, and Hunter gets very anxious when he can't see his brother.

I have found that when I put them both in the safe room and turn off the lights, they settle down and sleep more. Maybe Hunter will be lacking in play time for the next couple of days, but Cougar will get his rest without the separation anxiety attacks.
 
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