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Tabbytudes - Cat Behavior Column (Part 2)

by Amy Shojai

Dear Donna Marie,

First of all, bless you for rescuing this needy kitten-and for all your fostering work over the years. That experience has no doubt given you a good feel for cat behavior and interactions, particularly as they apply to your four resident cats. Thanks for your letter and detailed history of the situation-I'll do my best to offer some suggestions. From your description, Suki does appear to have definite ideas on who is to be welcomed into the family. And as you know, sometimes we make a heart-connection with a kitty waif-as has your daughter-and then must struggle to make the rest of the furry clan accept the newcomer.

I know it's frustrating to have fostered kittens with no problem in the past, and now have Suki protest. Some of that may have to do with Suki's age. You don't mention how old she is, but cats often are quite forgiving of intruders and more emotionally flexible earlier in life. The older they get, the more they seem to cling to the religion of "status quo at all cost!" You should also know that cats tend to reach social maturity between two to four years of age-prior to that age, they may have been very accepting, but once they hit this magic period their tolerance quotient may narrow. Just as it may be love at first sight, there's an equal chance cats will dislike each other on sight.

Also, cats allowed to indulge their anger to the point of reaching attack mode tend to develop a sort of toggle-switch reaction to the mere sight of a hated one. Suki doesn't need to be aggravated by the kitten, nor does she even think about the situation-her lil' kitty brain just remembers that, "when I see him, I hiss and attack" and so she does. It's become a habit, she's almost trained herself to react in this way. In fact, every time the boy has visited the vet clinic, he's come home smelling "foreign" all over again, and that may have also prompted Suki to continue throwing her fits.

Now to the nitty-gritty: Will Suki ever accept this kitty-boy? Is it fair to segregate him? Can anything be done to curb Suki's aggression and integrate the kitten into your household?

There's no way to predict if Suki will change her ways. The lady from the adoption center is right that the odds are not good. Is it fair to segregate the kitten? Right now, YES!!! Stop beating yourself up, Donna Marie. In the current situation, the very best thing you can do for your resident cats AND for the newcomer is to keep them separated. Believe me, Suki is happier not to see him, and he's much happier to feel safely sequestered on the second floor.

Can anything be done? Well-yes, I do have some suggestions. There are no guarantees that they will work in this situation, since it has been going on for quite some time, but certainly you may want to give them a shot. Why not make a deal with your daughter to give these suggestions a try for a month or so, and then if it doesn't work out, find him a new home. You can remind her that after all, your first responsibility must be to your resident pets.

1) Get the boy neutered. Getting those male hormones out of the mix often helps level the playing field. An intact male cat would be perceived by the top cat in the household as a threat to his/her authority.

2) Try using scent to help smooth the relationship. Cats identify friendly family members as safe because they all smell alike-they share scent when they sleep together, groom each other, cheek-rub, and are petted by you. The "vanilla trick" can sort of fool Mother Nature by making the kitten smell like Suki (and like YOU, her favorite piece of territory!), so Suki identifies the kitten as part of her safe family group. Use vanilla extract-or better, your favorite perfume-and dab just a bit on the fur at the back of the neck and base of the tail of ALL the cats.

3) I'm a big fan of Feliway products. This is an analogue of the cat's natural cheek pheromones-scent chemicals-that tell the cat to "calm down, chill, be cool, everything's fine." Feliway comes as a spray or as a plug-in product, is available from pet products stores, and can take the edge off of feline aggression. Try spraying the bottom of the door where the kitten currently lives as a calming influence when Suki explores the area.

4) I also like Bach Flower Remedies, an herbal homeopathic-like product that works on the emotional level. These are often available in human health food stores. Rescue Remedy is a combination of several that could help both the kitten get over fearfulness, and buffer Suki's aggression. You can apply this remedy directly to the underside of the paw pads or the inside of the ear for absorption, or drip a few drops in the cats' water for all-day sipping.

5) After a week, open the door to the kitten room. Don't force an interaction, allow the kitten to come and go as he wishes-and allow Suki to do the same. Try feeding them on opposite ends of the hallway, or playing with a fishing-pole-style toy to keep their attention focused on something other than each other. Help Suki learn to associate the kitten's presence with GOOD THINGS for Suki. Watch the older cat for a first sign of aggression, and toss a towel or blanket over her to stop it and safely separate them. Do not allow her to get "revved up" into attack mode. Very short sessions multiple times a day work better than one long marathon session-and always allow the kitten the option of staying safely in his room.

Good luck! Please let me know what happens.

Best wishes, Amy

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