Hi everyone. I have a 3 year old neutered male tabby with serious jealousy issues, who is abusive towards my sweet 5 year old tortoiseshell female. As I'm typing this, he has just randomly jumped her from behind and tackled her to the ground, making her scream in pain. Right in front of me, unprovoked.
Sometimes the attacks are random and unprovoked, like that one, but what really triggers him is seeing her getting any form of affection. Whatever he's doing at the time, he will drop it and stare at her from afar as she is getting patted and cuddled, waiting intently like he is watching prey. You can actually see anger in his eyes. Then, as soon as she is out of our sight, he will violently attack. The worst is when we are woken up in the middle of the night by a blood-curdling cat scream.
This is a daily occurrence and I am beyond fed up. It has been going on pretty much since the day we brought him in as a sick kitten, 3 years ago. Even in his poor health, he would attack her. At first I thought it was play and he would grow out of it, but I was very wrong. I consider myself very good with all matters of cat training, but this cat is unable and unwilling to be trained. No amount of water bottle spraying, clapping, yelling, chasing, or separation over the years has had any affect on his behavior. I've even tried Feliway. Nothing has worked. He fears nothing, like a psycho. He forgets any punishment within seconds. The amount of anger he's caused my husband and I toward him has not been good.
My tortoiseshell always has a bald patch on the scruff of her neck from the recurring wound he inflicts on that area when he attacks. As of tonight he has a new large scab on her head. I feel so bad for her.
I am a cat lover, but it has gradually reached the stage where I don't even like him anymore. I feel so guilty about this.
Things seemed to get better briefly when we moved to a bigger house recently. But, sadly, he has gotten bored with exploring his new digs and has snapped back into his old pattern of daily attacks and stand-offs. The cat will never change.
My vet suggested feline Prozac as a last resort, but I'm not sure I'm willing to go so far as to give my cat heavy duty behavior modifying drugs. Is it even worth the trouble? Not sure what to do at this point, but this can't go on forever. Please help.
Sometimes the attacks are random and unprovoked, like that one, but what really triggers him is seeing her getting any form of affection. Whatever he's doing at the time, he will drop it and stare at her from afar as she is getting patted and cuddled, waiting intently like he is watching prey. You can actually see anger in his eyes. Then, as soon as she is out of our sight, he will violently attack. The worst is when we are woken up in the middle of the night by a blood-curdling cat scream.
This is a daily occurrence and I am beyond fed up. It has been going on pretty much since the day we brought him in as a sick kitten, 3 years ago. Even in his poor health, he would attack her. At first I thought it was play and he would grow out of it, but I was very wrong. I consider myself very good with all matters of cat training, but this cat is unable and unwilling to be trained. No amount of water bottle spraying, clapping, yelling, chasing, or separation over the years has had any affect on his behavior. I've even tried Feliway. Nothing has worked. He fears nothing, like a psycho. He forgets any punishment within seconds. The amount of anger he's caused my husband and I toward him has not been good.
My tortoiseshell always has a bald patch on the scruff of her neck from the recurring wound he inflicts on that area when he attacks. As of tonight he has a new large scab on her head. I feel so bad for her.
I am a cat lover, but it has gradually reached the stage where I don't even like him anymore. I feel so guilty about this.
Things seemed to get better briefly when we moved to a bigger house recently. But, sadly, he has gotten bored with exploring his new digs and has snapped back into his old pattern of daily attacks and stand-offs. The cat will never change.
My vet suggested feline Prozac as a last resort, but I'm not sure I'm willing to go so far as to give my cat heavy duty behavior modifying drugs. Is it even worth the trouble? Not sure what to do at this point, but this can't go on forever. Please help.