Hi everyone,
I just signed up here because I need some advice! I have 2 cats. Cat #1: female, 7-8 years old, got her as a rescue in 2003; she was already spayed. Cat # 2: male, born April 2006, I got him when he was 4 months or so, he was neutered that November (7 months old).
The short version: these two cats have been living together just fine for about 2 years since getting their first introduction settled, now she acts like he's a cat she's never seen before, and she has to chase him out of her territory!
The long version:
It took a LONG time - like 3 months, I think - before Cat #1 seemed to fully accept Cat # 2, but it had (seemed to) happened. Just yesterday I gave them an evening treat together, after earlier feeding them their dinner together, as I always do (well, did until today
). At one point they were laying on the floor just about a foot apart, as I scritched each of them in turn, as I often do. Later while I was watching TV, they were playing - kind of aggressively, but not hostilely - as they often do / did.
But at 1:59 AM this morning (yes I looked at the clock) I was awakened by the most gawdawful noise of them fighting and chasing - and in no sense playful. I went downstairs to see what the heck was up - I was wondering if somehow a wild animal had gotten in the house! But it was my two kitties who were formerly, if not "best of", at least play buddies!
Cat # 2 followed me down stairs and tried to approach Cat #1 very submissively, crawling on his belly and with his tail dragging, but she was having none of it - growled, hissed and then went after him. Poor Cat #2 skeddadled up the stairs to the bedroom again and I just closed the door and tried to comfort him. Perhaps I should mention that this little guy - less than 8 pounds - is the sweetest little "kitten" I've ever known. He seemed genuinely hurt and confused by Cat #1's rejection. Of course I have NO idea what started the fracas. I assumed he was a little too forward in trying to play with her, and that she might get over it by morning. So I went downstairs and tried to calm her down a bit too, then I went back to bed. (With Cat #2 in the bedroom and the door tightly closed).
This morning he was anxious to go downstairs, so I decided to see what would happen. Well I noticed that he spent some time sniffing at the base of the stairs, and I realized that one of them had apparently sprayed a bit there - I assume it was him, because isn't that a male behavior? - but he has NEVER done that before, and he was sniffing all around that area as if not sure what to make of it. Could it be that she did it? Or that he did it out of fear as he was being chased up the stairs?
Anyway, then instead of going to the food dish for breakfast as he normally would, he went looking for Cat #1. He found her and tried the submissive thing again, with the same results. So I made sure he had food, water, and litterbox access and went off to work with him locked in the bedroom.
Tonight I tried the long distance approach - I held him in my arms and approached her to about 15 feet, but she started hissing and growling so I took him back upstairs. I played with him a bit and then went down to make up with Cat #1, but she was by then hiding behind the entertainment center.
So, that's a long story and I don't know if it's clear enough for anyone to suggest what might have happened. Or what to do about it?
Should I have just let them go at it last night, and settle the dominance issue? Should I now keep the little guy isolated for a while and try to re-introduce them?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! I love both these kitties and it's heartbreaking to see them fight and have to keep them separated.
I just signed up here because I need some advice! I have 2 cats. Cat #1: female, 7-8 years old, got her as a rescue in 2003; she was already spayed. Cat # 2: male, born April 2006, I got him when he was 4 months or so, he was neutered that November (7 months old).
The short version: these two cats have been living together just fine for about 2 years since getting their first introduction settled, now she acts like he's a cat she's never seen before, and she has to chase him out of her territory!
The long version:
It took a LONG time - like 3 months, I think - before Cat #1 seemed to fully accept Cat # 2, but it had (seemed to) happened. Just yesterday I gave them an evening treat together, after earlier feeding them their dinner together, as I always do (well, did until today
But at 1:59 AM this morning (yes I looked at the clock) I was awakened by the most gawdawful noise of them fighting and chasing - and in no sense playful. I went downstairs to see what the heck was up - I was wondering if somehow a wild animal had gotten in the house! But it was my two kitties who were formerly, if not "best of", at least play buddies!
Cat # 2 followed me down stairs and tried to approach Cat #1 very submissively, crawling on his belly and with his tail dragging, but she was having none of it - growled, hissed and then went after him. Poor Cat #2 skeddadled up the stairs to the bedroom again and I just closed the door and tried to comfort him. Perhaps I should mention that this little guy - less than 8 pounds - is the sweetest little "kitten" I've ever known. He seemed genuinely hurt and confused by Cat #1's rejection. Of course I have NO idea what started the fracas. I assumed he was a little too forward in trying to play with her, and that she might get over it by morning. So I went downstairs and tried to calm her down a bit too, then I went back to bed. (With Cat #2 in the bedroom and the door tightly closed).
This morning he was anxious to go downstairs, so I decided to see what would happen. Well I noticed that he spent some time sniffing at the base of the stairs, and I realized that one of them had apparently sprayed a bit there - I assume it was him, because isn't that a male behavior? - but he has NEVER done that before, and he was sniffing all around that area as if not sure what to make of it. Could it be that she did it? Or that he did it out of fear as he was being chased up the stairs?
Anyway, then instead of going to the food dish for breakfast as he normally would, he went looking for Cat #1. He found her and tried the submissive thing again, with the same results. So I made sure he had food, water, and litterbox access and went off to work with him locked in the bedroom.
Tonight I tried the long distance approach - I held him in my arms and approached her to about 15 feet, but she started hissing and growling so I took him back upstairs. I played with him a bit and then went down to make up with Cat #1, but she was by then hiding behind the entertainment center.
So, that's a long story and I don't know if it's clear enough for anyone to suggest what might have happened. Or what to do about it?
Should I have just let them go at it last night, and settle the dominance issue? Should I now keep the little guy isolated for a while and try to re-introduce them?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! I love both these kitties and it's heartbreaking to see them fight and have to keep them separated.
