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#1
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Cat confined for the sake of another
I have a cat that has been confined to either my windowed half-basement or
a bedroom of his own ever since last August. He was a stray cat that I finally accepted and had neutered because he wouldn't go away, and he had started marking his territory. He stopped the marking, and was/is devoted to me, but he would not stop manacing one of my male cats, whom he was driving farther and farther from the house. My cats are all indoor/outdoor, coming and going as they please, except the confined one. I let him out one afternoon a few weeks ago, but he went right back to stalking the same cat as before, who screams and runs from him. With my other male cat, age seven months, there's no problem, because I have been letting the kitten have long daily visits with him for months, and they are friends. The kitten is also friends with the male who is menaced. My female cat has no problem with the former stray because she is dominant over him. I would love to let the confined cat go free, but just don't see any way to stop his aggressiveness toward one cat. With me, by the way, he is great, wanting to be near me almost all the time. I visit him often, and sleep with him, but he isn't happy being confined unless either the young cat or I are with him. Is there any way out of this situation? Calvin Rice |
#3
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in article , Calvin Rice at
wrote on 4/10/04 8:52 AM: I have a cat that has been confined to either my windowed half-basement or a bedroom of his own ever since last August. He was a stray cat that I finally accepted and had neutered because he wouldn't go away, and he had started marking his territory. He stopped the marking, and was/is devoted to me, but he would not stop manacing one of my male cats, whom he was driving farther and farther from the house. My cats are all indoor/outdoor, coming and going as they please, except the confined one. I let him out one afternoon a few weeks ago, but he went right back to stalking the same cat as before, who screams and runs from him. With my other male cat, age seven months, there's no problem, because I have been letting the kitten have long daily visits with him for months, and they are friends. The kitten is also friends with the male who is menaced. My female cat has no problem with the former stray because she is dominant over him. I would love to let the confined cat go free, but just don't see any way to stop his aggressiveness toward one cat. With me, by the way, he is great, wanting to be near me almost all the time. I visit him often, and sleep with him, but he isn't happy being confined unless either the young cat or I are with him. Is there any way out of this situation? Calvin Rice When you let him out with the other cat, can you distract him from his stalking with food or play? I was thinking you could graaaadually wean him from this behaviour by starting the distraction the moment he starts stalking. I do not have the severe problem you have, but this method has really, really helped with one of my cats that annoys another one. The minute the distraction no longer works, then time out is necessary. it's gotten so that I can actually just put her in the bedroom and not even close the door, but she stays in there and cools off on her own. It may take quite a while, but it seems like this kind of desensitization, as it were, should work. Karen |
#4
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Karen Chuplis wrote in message ...
When you let him out with the other cat, can you distract him from his stalking with food or play? I was thinking you could graaaadually wean him from this behaviour by starting the distraction the moment he starts stalking. I do not have the severe problem you have, but this method has really, really helped with one of my cats that annoys another one. The minute the distraction no longer works, then time out is necessary. it's gotten so that I can actually just put her in the bedroom and not even close the door, but she stays in there and cools off on her own. It may take quite a while, but it seems like this kind of desensitization, as it were, should work. Thank you. I will try what you say, starting tomorrow afternoon. I'll plan some distractions ahead of time, and be ready when he starts the stalking. -cr |
#5
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Karen Chuplis wrote in message ...
When you let him out with the other cat, can you distract him from his stalking with food or play? I was thinking you could graaaadually wean him from this behaviour by starting the distraction the moment he starts stalking. I do not have the severe problem you have, but this method has really, really helped with one of my cats that annoys another one. The minute the distraction no longer works, then time out is necessary. it's gotten so that I can actually just put her in the bedroom and not even close the door, but she stays in there and cools off on her own. It may take quite a while, but it seems like this kind of desensitization, as it were, should work. Thank you. I will try what you say, starting tomorrow afternoon. I'll plan some distractions ahead of time, and be ready when he starts the stalking. -cr |
#6
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In the end, the two cats are going to have to work it out and the
confinement is only delaying the inevitable. Upsetting as the bullying behavior is to witness, it is unlikely that it will go on forever, or that one cat will genuinely hurt each other. But you aren't giving them a chance to settle their hierarchial issues once and for all. You will need to let them confront each other periodically. Do it when you're around for a fairly short period of time and pick a space that each cat can escape from. Expect a lot of hissing, stalking, chasing and maybe some wrestling. You can try sharply clapping your hands to see if that deters an attack, but other wise don't interfere. Slowly make the sessions a little more frequent and a little longer. You can try it unsupervised (still inside) after 5-10 sessions and the cats have gotten used to the idea that they are forced to be in proximity to each other periodically. After a few sessions, they should be able to coexist with only occaisional bouts of hostility and you can slowly reintroduce the outdoors. They will probably always chase and stalk each other and they may well have regular spats, but that isn't necessarily the end of the world. But they will learn how to live together. |
#7
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In the end, the two cats are going to have to work it out and the
confinement is only delaying the inevitable. Upsetting as the bullying behavior is to witness, it is unlikely that it will go on forever, or that one cat will genuinely hurt each other. But you aren't giving them a chance to settle their hierarchial issues once and for all. You will need to let them confront each other periodically. Do it when you're around for a fairly short period of time and pick a space that each cat can escape from. Expect a lot of hissing, stalking, chasing and maybe some wrestling. You can try sharply clapping your hands to see if that deters an attack, but other wise don't interfere. Slowly make the sessions a little more frequent and a little longer. You can try it unsupervised (still inside) after 5-10 sessions and the cats have gotten used to the idea that they are forced to be in proximity to each other periodically. After a few sessions, they should be able to coexist with only occaisional bouts of hostility and you can slowly reintroduce the outdoors. They will probably always chase and stalk each other and they may well have regular spats, but that isn't necessarily the end of the world. But they will learn how to live together. |
#8
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in article , Tracy at
wrote on 4/10/04 7:30 PM: In the end, the two cats are going to have to work it out and the confinement is only delaying the inevitable. Upsetting as the bullying behavior is to witness, it is unlikely that it will go on forever, or that one cat will genuinely hurt each other. But you aren't giving them a chance to settle their hierarchial issues once and for all. You will need to let them confront each other periodically. Do it when you're around for a fairly short period of time and pick a space that each cat can escape from. Expect a lot of hissing, stalking, chasing and maybe some wrestling. You can try sharply clapping your hands to see if that deters an attack, but other wise don't interfere. Slowly make the sessions a little more frequent and a little longer. You can try it unsupervised (still inside) after 5-10 sessions and the cats have gotten used to the idea that they are forced to be in proximity to each other periodically. After a few sessions, they should be able to coexist with only occaisional bouts of hostility and you can slowly reintroduce the outdoors. They will probably always chase and stalk each other and they may well have regular spats, but that isn't necessarily the end of the world. But they will learn how to live together. This is NOT standard advice and if hostile confrontations can be avoided, it is better for all. Karen |
#9
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in article , Tracy at
wrote on 4/10/04 7:30 PM: In the end, the two cats are going to have to work it out and the confinement is only delaying the inevitable. Upsetting as the bullying behavior is to witness, it is unlikely that it will go on forever, or that one cat will genuinely hurt each other. But you aren't giving them a chance to settle their hierarchial issues once and for all. You will need to let them confront each other periodically. Do it when you're around for a fairly short period of time and pick a space that each cat can escape from. Expect a lot of hissing, stalking, chasing and maybe some wrestling. You can try sharply clapping your hands to see if that deters an attack, but other wise don't interfere. Slowly make the sessions a little more frequent and a little longer. You can try it unsupervised (still inside) after 5-10 sessions and the cats have gotten used to the idea that they are forced to be in proximity to each other periodically. After a few sessions, they should be able to coexist with only occaisional bouts of hostility and you can slowly reintroduce the outdoors. They will probably always chase and stalk each other and they may well have regular spats, but that isn't necessarily the end of the world. But they will learn how to live together. This is NOT standard advice and if hostile confrontations can be avoided, it is better for all. Karen |
#10
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