My Cat is a BULLY!

My fur family got its newest member one year ago. Little Thurston is 18 months old now, and full of energy. He is very playful and rambunctious. He has lots of toys and the other cats play with him fairly readily, but he doesn't seem to know when enough is enough.

His playing escalated to biting, scratching, hissing growling fights. My little female cat, Mocha, is the least tolerant of Thurston. Last night I noticed a bite on her shoulder. I know she got it from Thurston. They start out playing nice, but he doesn't listen when they start telling him to back off, and it almsot always ends in a fight. My cats always got along before he arrived, and they still get along very well, unless Thurston wants to play, and they don't.

How can I teach him when enough is enough? I don't think he does it to be mean, but it does seem to be bully behavior, because he "picks on" Mocha, the smallest, weakest cat. This is a five cat household, and I understand establishing pecking order, but I would have thought that process would be done by now, it's been over a year. How can I help Thurston understand his buddies aren't playing when they start screaching at him. If this is a pecking order issue, is there anything I can do to help resolve the conflict? (I know with dogs if the humans feed the dominant dog first, etc, it's help to resolve dominance related fighting. )

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Kobster

... they still get along very well, unless Thurston wants to play, and they don't.
This is a five cat household, and I understand establishing pecking order, but I would have thought that process would be done by now, it's been over a year.

Click to expand...

Looks like the pecking order is established with Thurston on top.
Make yourself the alpha cat. You know, when Thurston starts abusing his powers hiss, stare at him, blow air on his face (like you're blowing out a candle) and say NO.
It works for me and I hope with you too. Good luck!

I agree. That's just what I have done when Red Cat gets a little too pushy with Purdy. I hiss. And when mama hisses, they ALL scatter. Another thing I've done before it gets to that point is stand near them and say in a calm voice, "Love one another!" No, they may not know what the words mean, but over time they get the picture of my expectations. And when they behave nicely toward one another, I PRAISE them. "Oh, what a good kitty!"

An example of that was when Red Cat would lick Purdy's head to show dominance, then JUMP HIM. I'd walk up closely to them while he was licking, so he'd back off instead of jumping him. Then, of course, I'd praise him for backing off, and pet them both. I gradually got it to where he just licks Purdy's head and walks away. And I can tell Purdy is more accepting of the licking now, too, as he no longer fears a fight afterward.

Well, one year later Thurston is still a bully. Last spring he attacked my older cat and beat her up so badly she was in the hospital for a week. (she has since passed away) In the past year my herd has been reduced from five cats to three, from two dogs to one. I am not, and will not introduce any new animals because I don't want to aggrivate Thurstons aggression.

The hissing, and the blowing air in his face really worked at first. Now he just ignores us. Thurston is deffinately dominant, even over us. He even swats the dog in the face just walking by her, she never chases him, or interacts with him in any way. He scratched her eye a few months ago pretty badly. He isn't declawed, and I don't want to declaw him. I recently bought a new HUGE cat tree hoping this might chill him out a bit but at times he seems even more wound up.

My female cat has taken a proactive stance, she hisses and growls at him if he comes anywhere near her. He intimidates her so badly, she will not walk past him, even to get to her food dish at dinner time.

I feel like I need a cat whisperer or something! After three years, I had hoped he would have settled down some. Anyone have any advice?

There are cat whisperers -- they're called feline behaviorists. Although after a whole year of this behavior it's pretty ingrained and chances of any major improvements are slim. But....it's your only option. A good feline behaviorist will come to your residence for an in-home consult so as to see the cats in person. It will probably cost you around $75 for one visit with telephone follow-up. Consult your vet and local shelters for a reference to one in your local area.