If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
moving two cats...territory issues?
I'll soon be moving to a new house with my two cats and am wondering
how this might shift the balance of power between them. These are two neutered males, Max is 4.5 years old and Sketch is 1.5 years old. Here's the situation: When I moved to my current house, I only had Max. He spent the first week in the laundry room (hiding behind the washer and dryer for the first two days), before he was brave enough to venture out and explore. About 6 months ago we brough Sketch home, and within an hour he was ready to move beyond the bedroom and explore the rest of the house(we didn't let him out for a week though because we wanted to introduce the cats to each other slowly). The two cats get a long for the most part, but I'm pretty sure Max is the "top cat". I'm thinking this because Sketch licks Max a lot, while Max doesn't reciprocate this behavior. When we move to our new house, here's what I expect will happen...we will keep each cat in a separate room for a few days, then open the door to let them out. If past history is any indication, I suspect that Sketch will have already completely explored the whole house and rubbed his scent on it, before Max ever gets up the courage to go beyond his room. Will this shift the balance of power between them, making Sketch the top cat? And if it does, is it something I should worry about? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
When we move to our new house, here's what I expect will happen...we will keep each cat in a separate room for a few days, then open the door to let them out. If past history is any indication, I suspect that Sketch will have already completely explored the whole house and rubbed his scent on it, before Max ever gets up the courage to go beyond his room. Will this shift the balance of power between them, making Sketch the top cat? And if it does, is it something I should worry about? I think you will experience a power shift. I don't think it's cause for major concern. I'm expecting a slow power shift with my two as they grow. Chablis (5 months) is definitely the Alpha cat. Muscat (3 months) is the newcomer & follows Chablis's lead... But the size difference between them will shrink as they get older & I'm expecting the young male to challenge his big 'sister's' dominance. As they are both young, they are bonding nicely and acting like littermates in many respects... By the time the snow melts in spring I think there may be a more complex 'power sharing' arrangement between them. Fascinating to watch.... Hope your cat's new peace treaty works out well. Can't wait to hear the results. -- Mathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"floralswag" wrote:
I'll soon be moving to a new house with my two cats and am wondering how this might shift the balance of power between them. These are two neutered males, Max is 4.5 years old and Sketch is 1.5 years old. .... Will this shift the balance of power between them, making Sketch the top cat? And if it does, is it something I should worry about? Preventing injury is job one. I think there is a straightforward way of coping just in case. Clip the aggressor's claws. It's about that simple (the clipping might not be simple though). Backed into a corner, the defender probably will inflict damage and help discourage the aggressor. About 14 months ago I took in a stray male. I thought my resident female would enjoy the company. Kiki puts up with him now and I'm not clipping any claws. It's too bad they don't get along better but oh well, I cannot imagine how to force one cat to like another. Good luck. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
How do the two cats get along now?
Moving is stressful but if the cats get along ok, I would leave them in the same room together and only seperate them if they become aggressive to each other. Alison "floralswag" wrote in message oups.com... I'll soon be moving to a new house with my two cats and am wondering how this might shift the balance of power between them. These are two neutered males, Max is 4.5 years old and Sketch is 1.5 years old. Here's the situation: When I moved to my current house, I only had Max. He spent the first week in the laundry room (hiding behind the washer and dryer for the first two days), before he was brave enough to venture out and explore. About 6 months ago we brough Sketch home, and within an hour he was ready to move beyond the bedroom and explore the rest of the house(we didn't let him out for a week though because we wanted to introduce the cats to each other slowly). The two cats get a long for the most part, but I'm pretty sure Max is the "top cat". I'm thinking this because Sketch licks Max a lot, while Max doesn't reciprocate this behavior. When we move to our new house, here's what I expect will happen...we will keep each cat in a separate room for a few days, then open the door to let them out. If past history is any indication, I suspect that Sketch will have already completely explored the whole house and rubbed his scent on it, before Max ever gets up the courage to go beyond his room. Will this shift the balance of power between them, making Sketch the top cat? And if it does, is it something I should worry about? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Most of the day Max and Sketch get along fine, they even sleep a few
feet away from each other in the window. Sometimes they chase each other and there is sometimes growling and wrestling and tufts of fur coming off in mouths. I've never seen any blood or injury. I've never been sure how much of their fighting is play fighting or real turf wars. Regardless of whether I separate them after the move or leave them in the same room, the real issue as I see it is that Max is a scaredy cat when it comes to exploring new places and Sketch is the total opposite. So even if I keep them together, then open the door to the whole house, Sketch will likely have complete head-butted every corner in sight before Max gets the nerve to come wandering out. And maybe it doesn't matter if this is the case...I was just curious about others' experiences in a similar situation. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On 22 Dec 2004 15:14:20 -0800, "floralswag"
wrote: Most of the day Max and Sketch get along fine, they even sleep a few feet away from each other in the window. Sometimes they chase each other and there is sometimes growling and wrestling and tufts of fur coming off in mouths. I've never seen any blood or injury. I've never been sure how much of their fighting is play fighting or real turf wars. Regardless of whether I separate them after the move or leave them in the same room, the real issue as I see it is that Max is a scaredy cat when it comes to exploring new places and Sketch is the total opposite. So even if I keep them together, then open the door to the whole house, Sketch will likely have complete head-butted every corner in sight before Max gets the nerve to come wandering out. And maybe it doesn't matter if this is the case...I was just curious about others' experiences in a similar situation. I doubt that it matters. When I moved into my house the very last thing to arrive was a box containing two (2) cats. I put it into the living room and opened the box. Nico (The Wonder Cat) jumped out, explored the living room, dining room, circled around through the kitchen, discovered the stairs heading up, and went to check out the upstairs. Bushkey (his brother) was still sitting in the box whining. Within a few days they were both all over the place. Moral: There are two kinds of cats, scaredy cats and curiosity killed the cats. It is important to have at least one of each kind. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On 2004-12-23, dgk penned:
Moral: There are two kinds of cats, scaredy cats and curiosity killed the cats. It is important to have at least one of each kind. I tried that, but the curious one was so curious about my scared cat that my scared cat became terrified hidey-cat! Unfortunately, there is no way to communicate to a curious cat that the object of his curiousity would rather be left alone. -- monique, who is sometimes allowed to pet Oscar, a grey^H^H^H^Hblue-cream DLH with an attitude! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
cat trivia | Frank | Cat health & behaviour | 40 | June 16th 04 04:15 AM |
Cat predation studies | Alison | Cat health & behaviour | 48 | February 5th 04 04:17 AM |
American Idol guy & Cats | PawsForThought | Cat health & behaviour | 445 | December 1st 03 07:47 PM |