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- Jun 25, 2016
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This is getting serious. I have a 10 year old domestic shorthair, Saber. He is a 100% indoor cat. Myself, my two adult age sons, and Saber live in my house. A couple of weeks ago, one of my sons, Matt, went over to his grandmother's apartment to help her clean up some of her cat's urine. He used an enzymatic cleaner on her carpet. When he got back from helping her, Saber started treating Matt like he was a stranger, hissing and growling at him when ever he came near. Further complicating matters, Grandma is preparing to move apartments, and Matt has been going over to her apartment frequently to help her pack. I am increasingly getting concerned for my son's safety.
We have tried to keep the interactions between Matt and Saber short, and to stop the moment Saber shows any signs of stress. We've washed Matt's clothes and bedding. Matt gives Saber treats whenever Saber is interacting positively with Matt, and stopping wMhen the behavior changes. Positive behavior only lasts a few seconds before Saber gets aggressive. Matt is taking over feeding duties from me. Matt has been playing with Saber (with a wand toy), but Saber only bats at the toy when it comes near him, otherwise, Saber's gaze is locked on Matt. Still, my house isn't that big, and at night, Matt has to check to see where Saber is before he can to to the one bathroom in my house and make sure that he and Saber aren't going to meet in the hall. This situation can't continue.
Before this came up, Saber and Matt had a great relationship. Saber would spend his days sleeping on Matt's bed. Now Saber is locked out of his room, for Matt's safety.
More about Saber's personality: Saber has always been a very territorial cat. While he does not like strangers, at all, he has always been sweet and loving to those of us in his immediate household. It is a challenge to take him to the vet, his fear aggression is very strong. The vet has to sedate him whenever I take him there. We've tried Feliway products without success.
This can't continue. If I am forced to chose between my son and my cat, I'm going to chose my son, but Saber has been a family member for 10 years, and it would break my heart to get rid of him. Plus, given Saber's attitude towards strangers, I have no confidence that he could be re-homed successfully.
I apologize for the length of this post. I would appreciate any advice that anyone could offer. Thank you.
Keith
We have tried to keep the interactions between Matt and Saber short, and to stop the moment Saber shows any signs of stress. We've washed Matt's clothes and bedding. Matt gives Saber treats whenever Saber is interacting positively with Matt, and stopping wMhen the behavior changes. Positive behavior only lasts a few seconds before Saber gets aggressive. Matt is taking over feeding duties from me. Matt has been playing with Saber (with a wand toy), but Saber only bats at the toy when it comes near him, otherwise, Saber's gaze is locked on Matt. Still, my house isn't that big, and at night, Matt has to check to see where Saber is before he can to to the one bathroom in my house and make sure that he and Saber aren't going to meet in the hall. This situation can't continue.
Before this came up, Saber and Matt had a great relationship. Saber would spend his days sleeping on Matt's bed. Now Saber is locked out of his room, for Matt's safety.
More about Saber's personality: Saber has always been a very territorial cat. While he does not like strangers, at all, he has always been sweet and loving to those of us in his immediate household. It is a challenge to take him to the vet, his fear aggression is very strong. The vet has to sedate him whenever I take him there. We've tried Feliway products without success.
This can't continue. If I am forced to chose between my son and my cat, I'm going to chose my son, but Saber has been a family member for 10 years, and it would break my heart to get rid of him. Plus, given Saber's attitude towards strangers, I have no confidence that he could be re-homed successfully.
I apologize for the length of this post. I would appreciate any advice that anyone could offer. Thank you.
Keith