Kitten dominating the older cat

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cdenehy

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Chianna is now 7 months old and she lives with Penny who is 13. Penny has always been a grumpy cat and hissed at her former companion every day for 10 years. Chianna pays no attention to hissing and growling but jumps Penny whever she can. Penny responds with the volume of noise you would think meant she is being torn limb from limb but I haven't even see any fur fly. Chi wants to play and Penny won't. If Penny fought back or even turned around and chased her, this would all stop but she won't. Chi even goes and rousts Penny out of her sleep-igloo just because she can. I have tried separating them, distracting Chianna, verbal commands at both cats, and even the water pistol. Nothing changes either cat's behaviour. I know Penny is beginning to be classed as truly elderly but I didn't want to wait the X years for her to pass on to the litter box in the sky before adding a second cat. I have never had a kitten with the level of energy that Chianna has. She has plenty of toys, taught herself to play fetch, etc. Penny has been checked by the vet and the only thing of note was her age. Can I hope for Chi (Burmese) to calm down wuth age? She has already been desexed.


Carol in Canberra
 
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nano

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It's not really domination -- the kitten just extends too many invitations to play for the senior cat's liking.

Some people would suggest you add a second kitten so the two youngsters can keep each other occupied.

I would suggest building some sort of shelter where the senior cat can "get away" from the energetic youngster. I don't know the layout of your house, or what cat furniture you already own, but there's bound to be something you can do so the senior cat can get some privacy and not be bothered.
 
laureen227

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Originally Posted by cdenehy

Chianna is now 7 months old and she lives with Penny who is 13. Penny has always been a grumpy cat and hissed at her former companion every day for 10 years. Chianna pays no attention to hissing and growling but jumps Penny whever she can. Penny responds with the volume of noise you would think meant she is being torn limb from limb but I haven't even see any fur fly. Chi wants to play and Penny won't. If Penny fought back or even turned around and chased her, this would all stop but she won't. Chi even goes and rousts Penny out of her sleep-igloo just because she can. I have tried separating them, distracting Chianna, verbal commands at both cats, and even the water pistol. Nothing changes either cat's behaviour. I know Penny is beginning to be classed as truly elderly but I didn't want to wait the X years for her to pass on to the litter box in the sky before adding a second cat. I have never had a kitten with the level of energy that Chianna has. She has plenty of toys, taught herself to play fetch, etc. Penny has been checked by the vet and the only thing of note was her age. Can I hope for Chi (Burmese) to calm down wuth age? She has already been desexed.


Carol in Canberra
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This sounds just like Cable & Pixel! they're doing better, especially since Java came to live w/us - Cable plays with her, instead of trying to get Pixel to play. i agree - Chianna (love the name - also a Farscape fan!) probably is just trying to play. she will calm down, but it'll be a while - Cable still tries to play w/Pixel some, even with Java around. Pixel's 7 years, Cable's 9 months and Java's 4 months. would it be possible to get Chianna a playmate? you could name her Aeryn...
 
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Wow, my cats are exactly liek that too. We have three, a 10 month old girl, Aerowyn, a 3 yr old Elliot, and a 19 year old Rosco. Before I got Aerowyn for elliot, elliot would attack rosco ( more of a dominance thing) because rosco wouldnt fight back. One day rosco went insane and started hitting elliot when elliot was picking on him... elliot doesnt bother rosco so much any more.. lol.. but Aerowyn... it seems like she treats him like a toy. Rosco usually walks quickly everywhere, and aerowyn see's his retreating form as someone to chase ( she chases elliot when he walks away too but he doesnt mind this, he'll just turn around and smack her or they'll start playing, lol) I guess I dont really have any advice.. but I think ill be lurking around this thread and mooch off any advice anyone will give. Its nice to see people that have the same problem as you. Rosco is front declawed and is missing teeth, but boy can he get you with his back feet.... I think maybe its a kind of territorial thing? Where when the cat runs away the other runs after it just to get it out of its territory. I dont know. Maybe we'll both get some more advice soon eh?
 
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Bakker as now 9 months has been doing that to Grizzly for a good 4 months now. She's experienced however and will smack him when she has had enough. He trys with Ox but not anywhere as much as he does with Grizzly. Bobber just has to "look" at Bakker and he runs away!! I think he is just figuring out his status with the cats.
 
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cdenehy

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It seems like we have a common problem here. I think Chianna needs a companion but the thought of THREE sets of thundering paws has held me back. Since Chi has taught herself to play fetch we burn up a lot of energy that way. And this afternoon they both got on my lap and went to sleep together. Maybe I can tempt my husband to go to the RSPCA this weekend. Maybe a slightly older kitten (around Chi's age). As long as 2 kittens don't gang up on Penny. How do I know Chi won't teach an new kitten this game called "let's attack Penny"?
 
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I think such as this is very normal for all critters, even humans ! !

Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren can wear you out and still come back for more ! !

I remember when Grey was a pup, he would simply terrorize Bob, our Alpha manx, and Bob would give him a whuppin' that you would think would make Grey never even come close to Bob again, but when Bob had drubbed Grey enough, he would quit and walk away, and Grey would, imprudently, jump up and smack Bob in the butt as he walked off ! !

Grey just couldn't learn, and Betty would often comment that he was mean enough to "take the pitchfork away from the devil" ! !

FWIW, Grey is now the "alpha", and Tico, the new one, does him the same way he once did Bob -- payback's are rough ! !

Leonard.
 
laureen227

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Originally Posted by cdenehy

It seems like we have a common problem here. I think Chianna needs a companion but the thought of THREE sets of thundering paws has held me back. Since Chi has taught herself to play fetch we burn up a lot of energy that way. And this afternoon they both got on my lap and went to sleep together. Maybe I can tempt my husband to go to the RSPCA this weekend. Maybe a slightly older kitten (around Chi's age). As long as 2 kittens don't gang up on Penny. How do I know Chi won't teach an new kitten this game called "let's attack Penny"?
Click to expand...
i can only speak from my own experience... Cable still occasionally tries to entice Pixel into a game, but gives up very quickly. Java never even tries - she's not as aggressive as Cable, & a couple of hisses from the 'big' cat seemed to teach her that Pixel's not interested in playing. nowadays, if Cable is rebuffed by Pixel, she seeks out Java & they take off! i took Java out of kindness (she was a stray found here at the school), but i'm so glad i did because Pixel has seemed so much happier! i think it'll depend on the personality of the new kitty.
hope this helps!
 
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