I've mentioned before about this cat I am fostering (adopting). TNRd by me in May 2012; always been inordinately friendly. About six months after I first TNRd him, he showed up with a chunk of fur missing that had been professionally clean and sutured. Clearly, he has at least one other caretaker and favorable exposure to humans. Weight is fine.
When it was bitter cold in February I simply picked him up, but him in a cat carrier and took him home with me. ("FOUND Cat" notices went unanswered.) Followed suggestions on TCS and reading. Screen door was very very useful.
About two weeks ago I let them out together for the first time. Ritz charged at Hercules but then stopped short when Hercules did not react. They have progressed to Ritz sniffing Hercules butt and Ritz and Hercules sniffing each others’ noses. Hercules has (had....) always submitted to Ritz; he's walk away or around Ritz, honoring her Alpha stage. Ritz will hiss and sometimes growl if Hercules got too close.
But last week things changed, perhaps because Hercules is very much at home in his new place. To wit: there are two cat condos and one tall cat tree next to each other, facing the garden/front yard, where foxes/rabbits/squirrels/deer/only animals cats can see frequent. Best chair in the house. Ritz was sitting on the far left one (again, these condos/tree about two hands worth apart from each other), Hercules walked up to the cat condo and took a swipe at Ritz to get her off the condo. Ritz of course obeyed, cowered under the table for a while. Yesterday while I was in another room, I heard hissing/growling on both Herc’s and Ritz’ part and based on what I observed, it was Hercules who was chasing Ritz.
But just today Ritz was on top of her cat tree and Hercules under her in the tunnel; and both were enjoying the sights outside. And they will share a sofa (Ritz on my lap, Hercules on the other side of the sofa).
My question is: why the role reversal? Will/does Ritz need to reassert her independence, which only she can do. I can’t do it for her (life lesson somewhere here…..). Ritz is prone to stress induced UTIs and calming remedies don’t have any effect on her. And advice?
Thanks for reading.
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...=d8b291ec9f3f898a12374e9153abcc9f&oe=55AB29B8
When it was bitter cold in February I simply picked him up, but him in a cat carrier and took him home with me. ("FOUND Cat" notices went unanswered.) Followed suggestions on TCS and reading. Screen door was very very useful.
About two weeks ago I let them out together for the first time. Ritz charged at Hercules but then stopped short when Hercules did not react. They have progressed to Ritz sniffing Hercules butt and Ritz and Hercules sniffing each others’ noses. Hercules has (had....) always submitted to Ritz; he's walk away or around Ritz, honoring her Alpha stage. Ritz will hiss and sometimes growl if Hercules got too close.
But last week things changed, perhaps because Hercules is very much at home in his new place. To wit: there are two cat condos and one tall cat tree next to each other, facing the garden/front yard, where foxes/rabbits/squirrels/deer/only animals cats can see frequent. Best chair in the house. Ritz was sitting on the far left one (again, these condos/tree about two hands worth apart from each other), Hercules walked up to the cat condo and took a swipe at Ritz to get her off the condo. Ritz of course obeyed, cowered under the table for a while. Yesterday while I was in another room, I heard hissing/growling on both Herc’s and Ritz’ part and based on what I observed, it was Hercules who was chasing Ritz.
But just today Ritz was on top of her cat tree and Hercules under her in the tunnel; and both were enjoying the sights outside. And they will share a sofa (Ritz on my lap, Hercules on the other side of the sofa).
My question is: why the role reversal? Will/does Ritz need to reassert her independence, which only she can do. I can’t do it for her (life lesson somewhere here…..). Ritz is prone to stress induced UTIs and calming remedies don’t have any effect on her. And advice?
Thanks for reading.
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...=d8b291ec9f3f898a12374e9153abcc9f&oe=55AB29B8