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- Jul 7, 2015
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[ For some background information, my cats were all feral kittens (siblings) when I began feeding/spending time with them. They experienced a fearful kittenhood around humans that scared/mistreated them. They are now 1 years old. They are mostly outdoor cats, but will soon be transitioning indoors when I move in 1 month. They are all neutered and spayed. ]
For three weeks, Osric has not returned home aside from 2 very brief stop-ins for food. Osric used to mostly stay in our yard, play in our yard, and was always on time for food. She'd always come when she was called. Her bonded partner, Sable, was attempting to mount her with increasing frequency in the weeks prior to her leaving. She would paw his face away and hiss. She no longer stayed in the yard, and preferred to stay on the driveway. Then, my family experienced a flea infestation. The cats could no longer come inside for 3 weeks until the infestation was fully treated and their medications switched for a better fit. Sable, who spent 6 hours a day indoors, was the most poorly affected. I'm not sure if the ban from indoors increased his mounting attempts. One day, Osric did not show up for breakfast, and she didn't show up at night during playtime. She continued not to show up til now. I spotted her twice in the yard during her time gone. She came when I called her over. I attempted to feed her, but quickly, Sable would appear and attempted to mount her. Her immediate reaction was to push him off and leave.
I've been trying to curb Sable's behavior, but I don't know where to begin. One article I read mentions reaffirming his dominance to decrease his need to enforce top cat status through force. But he already has first pickings on their resources. He receives the most attention, because he's the most attached and readily available. He gets first feedings (because he's always around me), he gets the most massages (he's the most tactile), he gets the most play (always around to play), and he gets the cozy blankets (he chases his siblings away when he wants them).
One possible factor in Sable's escalation is that a neighborhood outdoor un-neutered tomcat has been beating my cats. 3-4 times a week, he comes by to stalk them, fight them, and mount them. He is bigger than they are. I've been chasing him away at every opportunity. Sable was mounted twice by him before I stopped him. I don't know if this cat as a home; he doesn't belong to my neighbors, but he acts like a fully socialized cat. I don't think he's a feral. Either way, I haven't been able to locate an owner to keep him away. I'm not sure if this is a factor in increasing Sable's mountings of Osric. Previously, he used to mount her from time to time, but she didn't seem to mind as much. They used to everything together, from sleeping, eating, and playing. Then again, they are no longer kittens, and perhaps this is when cat hierarchy begins really setting in.
I'm not sure how to positively curb Sable's behavior and make the yard a safer place for Osric. I've been so worried about her outside, where she's likely been hunting her own food (they are all mousers). She's extremely wary around other people, so I doubt she's approached other humans for food. If anyone has any suggestions, that'd be terrific.
More information on their living situation in last year's thread here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/306878/...-i-have-to-capture-them-for-spaying-neutering
For three weeks, Osric has not returned home aside from 2 very brief stop-ins for food. Osric used to mostly stay in our yard, play in our yard, and was always on time for food. She'd always come when she was called. Her bonded partner, Sable, was attempting to mount her with increasing frequency in the weeks prior to her leaving. She would paw his face away and hiss. She no longer stayed in the yard, and preferred to stay on the driveway. Then, my family experienced a flea infestation. The cats could no longer come inside for 3 weeks until the infestation was fully treated and their medications switched for a better fit. Sable, who spent 6 hours a day indoors, was the most poorly affected. I'm not sure if the ban from indoors increased his mounting attempts. One day, Osric did not show up for breakfast, and she didn't show up at night during playtime. She continued not to show up til now. I spotted her twice in the yard during her time gone. She came when I called her over. I attempted to feed her, but quickly, Sable would appear and attempted to mount her. Her immediate reaction was to push him off and leave.
I've been trying to curb Sable's behavior, but I don't know where to begin. One article I read mentions reaffirming his dominance to decrease his need to enforce top cat status through force. But he already has first pickings on their resources. He receives the most attention, because he's the most attached and readily available. He gets first feedings (because he's always around me), he gets the most massages (he's the most tactile), he gets the most play (always around to play), and he gets the cozy blankets (he chases his siblings away when he wants them).
One possible factor in Sable's escalation is that a neighborhood outdoor un-neutered tomcat has been beating my cats. 3-4 times a week, he comes by to stalk them, fight them, and mount them. He is bigger than they are. I've been chasing him away at every opportunity. Sable was mounted twice by him before I stopped him. I don't know if this cat as a home; he doesn't belong to my neighbors, but he acts like a fully socialized cat. I don't think he's a feral. Either way, I haven't been able to locate an owner to keep him away. I'm not sure if this is a factor in increasing Sable's mountings of Osric. Previously, he used to mount her from time to time, but she didn't seem to mind as much. They used to everything together, from sleeping, eating, and playing. Then again, they are no longer kittens, and perhaps this is when cat hierarchy begins really setting in.
I'm not sure how to positively curb Sable's behavior and make the yard a safer place for Osric. I've been so worried about her outside, where she's likely been hunting her own food (they are all mousers). She's extremely wary around other people, so I doubt she's approached other humans for food. If anyone has any suggestions, that'd be terrific.
More information on their living situation in last year's thread here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/306878/...-i-have-to-capture-them-for-spaying-neutering
