LoveToKnow Cats:AllComments

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Hi Andrea,

I don't think the Tom is visiting for sexual reasons, since your cat is spayed. I am concerned she might have an infection. If she is not eating normally and is lethargic, that is pretty serious. You really need to get her back to the vet immediately and have her checked over to be sure she is healing normally.

I would definitely keep her indoors as well, at least for the time being. Please let us know what the vet says.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Lori...Sunshine is 5 months old and was spayed last week (25 Oct). She's been isolated but a Tom has been visiting the yard every nite and S seems to be getting restless, visiting the yard spots where Tom has roamed. Today S has not eaten or drank her favorite...milk. Appears listless and sleeping alot. Is this behavior related to Tom's visits? And why is Tom coming around? Thanks alot.

-- Contributed by: andrea

Hi GCampos,

It does sound like you have some feline rivalry and aggression going on here. My first suggestion is to separate them for a minimum of one week. Since Coco is the one showing aggression and is larger than Bootsy, you may want to put her in isolation. You should still go in and give her attention and love. You are simply allowing them to get used to one another's scent and presence. Then, after a week, put Coco in a cage and bring her into the main part of your living space. Leave her inside the cage for one hour. Allow the cats to sniff through the cage, hiss or whatever they need to do. After one hour, open the door and let her come out on her own. Watch the two cats carefully. At the first sign of aggression from either cat, Coco goes back inside the cage for another hour and then you try again. Try up to three times a day. If they are still fighting, Coco goes back to her isolation room and you try again the next day. Be patient. Your goal here is simply to get them to tolerate one another, but it can still take days and sometimes weeks.

Make sure each cat has a separate litter box and feed separately once they accept one another. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I just recently adopted a female kitten from the shelter, she was six weeks (now 4 months). Then we adopted another kitten about two weeks ago. We separated them first, then gradually let them see each other, sniffing, and the like. after about a week, we had them together under supervision but the older kitten (Coco) began "play fighting" right away, and when the little one (bootsy) would cry out Momma would think she is being hurt and grab her out of the way. I keep telling her that they are playing and they need to get together so they can get used to each other, but Coco just wants to fight all the time, even if we have each one in our arms they're swatting at each other, trying to bite, etc. We're still waiting for them to get adjusted but they seem not to want to, when we have them separated and each is in a room (kitchen vs living room), Coco is constantly crying to get to Bootsy, and as soon as the door opens, Coco is jumping on top of Bootsy fighting away.

-- Contributed by: Hello

Hi Rich,

There really isn't much you can do to change the kitten's personality. You are doing the right things in separating them and not leaving him alone unsupervised. As you know from having had kittens before, he will grow out of it eventually and settle down as he becomes an adult cat.

It really does sound like he is just playing and doesn't mean to be aggressive. Also, cats have much tougher skin than we do, so what might seem like a painful pounce or bite, may not be as bad as you think.

I'd just keep an eye on the situation as you've been doing and keep telling him no and isolating him when he gets too rough. Eventually, he'll learn and also he will grow up and settle down a bit.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

HI,

We have three adult cats who were "combined" Brady Bunch style a few years ago when my wife and I got married -- two on my side, one on her side. We seemed settled in.

Then I found a stray kitten (inside a car engine) and brought him home about 6 weeks ago. He's about 8-10 weeks old now. We've had the kitten tested and vaccinated and all is well on the health front. But, while is a real sweetie, he is also rambunctious much of the time and picks on one adult cat in particular. At first we thought the adult Cat (Bebe) was humoring Henry the Kitten well. But now Bebe seems to be stressed out by Henry much of the time. We separated them for the first week and gave Henry his own room and litter box. But he still jumps on BeBe's back a lot and the playing gets rough very quickly. We started from scratch again, putting Henry in his room overnight and giving him "timeouts" when he is just too rough and playful. I've had many kittens but never one this energetic and even playfully aggressive with other cats.

We love him... but help!

-- Contributed by: Rich

Hi Linds,

That is strange behavior. I've seen cats sniff one another's butts before, but not this. Has she been spayed? If not, you probably want to go ahead and do that. Otherwise, if it isn't bothering the other cat, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It sounds like a quirky behavior :)

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Ron,

Really, the only way to help him get the idea is to contain him with that litter box. This can be done with a large cage (he needs room to move around) or in a bathroom or laundry room with a door. Other than that, you can try watching him very closely and rushing him to the litter box if he starts to defecate in the wrong place. At least he is urinating in the box. That is a good start.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a three month old vibrant female kitten. Along with her i have two older cats, a 5 yr old and an 11 yr old. My kitten and 5yo cat play daily but recently my kitten has been backing her butt up to the 5yr and sitting on his head. Just last week she backed her butt right up against the 5yo cats butt which was very bizarre. It doesnt bother me and isnt a big deal but i just wondering what that behavior meant

-- Contributed by: linds

It is not possible to keep our new kitten in the one location while he learns to use the litter tray. He uses the tray to pee in but not for poo! Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: Ron Nicholson

Hi Sam,

I really don't recommend that your cat live outdoors as there are many dangers for them. There are communicable diseases for which they can't be vaccinated and there are other critters that can harm your feline, including other cats. However, I think the reason he had an accident on your son's bed and the carpet is because he is now a little confused about where the litter box is located. The best way to retrain him is to contain him in the area where the litter box will be permanently located. I would do this for a minimum of one week, going in to give him attention, but leaving him there.

On the scratching and biting, firmly tell him no and then ignore him until he stops the behavior. You are correct that this is a kitten behavior. This is how cats play with their litter mates. However, it hurts human skin, which is not as tough as cat skin, so we have to train the kitten to not do this, especially since you have a child in the home. Hope that helps and good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, we have a lovely 4 month old kitten who we bought from a rescue centre. He is currently biting and scratching and this is Ok as I know he will grow out of it. He has been great at using the cat litter tray. However, he is now starting to go out after his injections and I was hoping he would 'go' outside in the garden and we could do away with his litter tray, but this is proving difficult as he will not go anywhere lese but his tray - I have tried putting his tray outside but he just waits until I bring it in later and then he uses it - he has even weed on the carpet and my sons bed recently whci is not like him! Do you have any advice on how we can get him to stop using a tray all together and use outside? Sam

-- Contributed by: Sam

Hi Lizzie,

You don't mention how old the kitten is. There are a couple of things I would do. First, I would tackle the litter box issue. I would confine her to a small space with her litter box for a minimum of one week. You still go and give her attention during this time, of course, but she doesn't leave the room where her litter box is located.

Next, on the scratching and biting, this is just kitten behavior, but she has to be taught that you are not a litter mate and it hurts when she does this. Firmly tell her no and do not pet her, pick her up or give her any other attention. Another thing that is sometimes successful is saying no and then giving the kitten a toy to play with, so she understands the different between a toy and your skin. Good luck! She will outgrow some of this as she gets older.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

plz help !

i recently have gotten a new female kitty n she wont let you pat her or pick her up and is very naughty n will not stop attacking us !!

and she is toliet trained expect she will go wee in weird places and on my bed if by boifriend is over.

i so dont no wat to do !!

does any one have any suggestions

-- Contributed by: lizzie

Hi Linda,

First, you need to allow them to get used to each other a bit more slowly. Start by giving the kittens their own contained space. Ideally this is where you will also keep their litter boxes permanently. Each cat should have his or her own litter box. Put the kittens in that space with litter, food and water for about a week. Go in to give them attention, of course, but they do not come out.

This does a couple of things. First, it allows the kittens to learn where their litter boxes are. Second, it allows your other cat to get used to their scent in the home.

After a week, place them inside a crate and bring them into the main area of the house where you spend most of your time. Leave them in that room in the crate for one hour. Allow the other cat to sniff the cage, hiss, or whatever she needs to do.

After an hour, try releasing the kittens from the cage. If your adult cat attacks, put them back in the cage immediately and repeat the process of leaving them in there for a hour and then releasing. Try this no more than three times in a single sitting and return them to their confined room if it was not successful that day.

Be patient. It may take a while to work. Some cats are particularly resistant to new animals in the home and are territorial, but she should get used to the kittens over time.

You are not punishing the kittens by containing them. You are socializing them into your household. Never leave the adult cat alone with the kittens until they are grown, even if she seems to be getting along fine with them. I would always return them to their contained area when you won't be home.

Hope this helps.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

We currently have a 3 year old female cat who has had the run of the house for the past 2 years. Recently we adopted two 9 week old kittens (brother and sister). When we brought the kittens home two days ago, the 3 year old was not very happy. All she did was hiss at the kittens and at us. What can I do so the 3 year old stops her hissing and the kittens will come out of hiding?

-- Contributed by: Linda
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