My cat is a jerk sometimes

Well, I have had Jake for over two months now, and him and Elwood seem
to get along okay most of the time. However, once in a while, Jake
turns into a super-jerk! Elwood will just be laying there, minding his
own business, and Jake decides he doesn't like the way Elwood is fur
is looking, or something. Jake then goes over and starts licking
Elwood, very vigorously it seems. Elwood accepts this for a short
while, but gets fed up pretty quickly, and tries to push Jake away. Of
course, this is NOT acceptable to Jake, and he then pounces on Elwood,
VERY roughly, also trying to bite him it looks like. It doesn't look
like Elwood enjoys this, at least to me. Then an all out fight and
chasing ensues.

This also happens when Elwood is laying in one of the premium sleeping
spots.

The question is, what should I do? Should I break them up, like I have
been doing when they start to get too serious, or should I not get
involved at all? I was to the point of leaving them alone during the
day, but twice I came home and Elwood had some nice scratched on his
face. They are now back to being separated when I am not home (again)
which is really defeating the purpose of me getting the 2nd cat in the
first place.

Ay ideas on how to proceed from here?

Justin

"Justin L" wrote in message
...
Well, I have had Jake for over two months now, and him and Elwood seem
to get along okay most of the time. However, once in a while, Jake
turns into a super-jerk! Elwood will just be laying there, minding his
own business, and Jake decides he doesn't like the way Elwood is fur
is looking, or something. Jake then goes over and starts licking
Elwood, very vigorously it seems. Elwood accepts this for a short
while, but gets fed up pretty quickly, and tries to push Jake away. Of
course, this is NOT acceptable to Jake, and he then pounces on Elwood,
VERY roughly, also trying to bite him it looks like. It doesn't look
like Elwood enjoys this, at least to me. Then an all out fight and
chasing ensues.

This also happens when Elwood is laying in one of the premium sleeping
spots.

They are establishing dominance, and it seems natural for Jake,
who is older, to wind up being the dominant one. I used to get
upset at these kinds of things but the fact is, cats are most
comfortable when they have established dominance--even
the submissive cat will be fine--they don't attach the kind
of value judgment we do to such things.

The question is, what should I do? Should I break them up, like I have
been doing when they start to get too serious, or should I not get
involved at all? I was to the point of leaving them alone during the
day, but twice I came home and Elwood had some nice scratched on his
face.

If Jake is actually hurting Elwood that is a concern. Have you read about
a product called Feliway? It is expensive, but for some cats can ease
aggression due to territory and dominance issues.

I'd just keep distracting them *before* it gets serious. I think by now that
you can tell whether it will escalate or not. Give them both treats or
something. Eventually, it will even out.

"Justin L" wrote in message
...
Well, I have had Jake for over two months now, and him and Elwood seem
to get along okay most of the time. However, once in a while, Jake
turns into a super-jerk! Elwood will just be laying there, minding his
own business, and Jake decides he doesn't like the way Elwood is fur
is looking, or something. Jake then goes over and starts licking
Elwood, very vigorously it seems. Elwood accepts this for a short
while, but gets fed up pretty quickly, and tries to push Jake away. Of
course, this is NOT acceptable to Jake, and he then pounces on Elwood,
VERY roughly, also trying to bite him it looks like. It doesn't look
like Elwood enjoys this, at least to me. Then an all out fight and
chasing ensues.

This also happens when Elwood is laying in one of the premium sleeping
spots.

The question is, what should I do? Should I break them up, like I have
been doing when they start to get too serious, or should I not get
involved at all? I was to the point of leaving them alone during the
day, but twice I came home and Elwood had some nice scratched on his
face. They are now back to being separated when I am not home (again)
which is really defeating the purpose of me getting the 2nd cat in the
first place.

Ay ideas on how to proceed from here?

Justin

Have you tried suggesting that they put the band back together? This might
distract them AND help save the Penguin's orphanage all at the same time...

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com

"Mary" wrote in message
news:1112976172.7ad4e8290b3e55844522a4f081ef044b@t eranews...

"Justin L" wrote in message
...
Well, I have had Jake for over two months now, and him and Elwood seem
to get along okay most of the time. However, once in a while, Jake
turns into a super-jerk! Elwood will just be laying there, minding his
own business, and Jake decides he doesn't like the way Elwood is fur
is looking, or something. Jake then goes over and starts licking
Elwood, very vigorously it seems. Elwood accepts this for a short
while, but gets fed up pretty quickly, and tries to push Jake away. Of
course, this is NOT acceptable to Jake, and he then pounces on Elwood,
VERY roughly, also trying to bite him it looks like. It doesn't look
like Elwood enjoys this, at least to me. Then an all out fight and
chasing ensues.

This also happens when Elwood is laying in one of the premium sleeping
spots.

They are establishing dominance, and it seems natural for Jake,
who is older, to wind up being the dominant one. I used to get
upset at these kinds of things but the fact is, cats are most
comfortable when they have established dominance--even
the submissive cat will be fine--they don't attach the kind
of value judgment we do to such things.

The question is, what should I do? Should I break them up, like I have
been doing when they start to get too serious, or should I not get
involved at all? I was to the point of leaving them alone during the
day, but twice I came home and Elwood had some nice scratched on his
face.

If Jake is actually hurting Elwood that is a concern. Have you read about
a product called Feliway? It is expensive, but for some cats can ease
aggression due to territory and dominance issues.

your answer to everything in the world seems to be drugs Mary.

In article , leejustice2
@hotmail.com enlightened us with...
Well, I have had Jake for over two months now, and him and Elwood seem
to get along okay most of the time. However, once in a while, Jake
turns into a super-jerk! Elwood will just be laying there, minding his
own business, and Jake decides he doesn't like the way Elwood is fur
is looking, or something. Jake then goes over and starts licking
Elwood, very vigorously it seems. Elwood accepts this for a short
while, but gets fed up pretty quickly, and tries to push Jake away. Of
course, this is NOT acceptable to Jake, and he then pounces on Elwood,
VERY roughly, also trying to bite him it looks like. It doesn't look
like Elwood enjoys this, at least to me. Then an all out fight and
chasing ensues.

Jeffrey does this to Rowan sometimes, though they don't "fight" fight. No one
draws blood or actually gets hurt. They DO nip each other, but no one cries
and there's never blood or marks. And they're fully clawed.

IMO, forced grooming is a dominance thing. Jeffrey tries to be dominant and
Rowan bitch-slaps him back in place...MOST of the time. LOL
I let them be.


The question is, what should I do? Should I break them up, like I have
been doing when they start to get too serious, or should I not get
involved at all? I was to the point of leaving them alone during the
day, but twice I came home and Elwood had some nice scratched on his
face. They are now back to being separated when I am not home (again)
which is really defeating the purpose of me getting the 2nd cat in the
first place.

Well, my situation is different from yours because no one gets hurt. I left
mine alone to work it out and never separated them, but my cats are all
rather non-confrontational, comparitively speaking.
I think if one of them had scratches or bites when I came home, I'd separate
them, too.

Have a little more patience with the time thing, though. It took Rowan SIX
MONTHS to allow Jeffrey 3 feet from her. Now she actually allows him to groom
her sometimes -- it's been like 2 years now. It didn't happen overnight or
even within a year for them to be almost-friends. They're in a kind of love-
hate relationship.
Isis and Jeffrey, however, LOVE each other. They groom each other, sleep
curled up next to each other, eat together, and all that jazz. It's very
sweet.

--
--
~kaeli~
When you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 12:01:07 -0400, "Mary"
wrote:
snip

If Jake is actually hurting Elwood that is a concern. Have you read about
a product called Feliway? It is expensive, but for some cats can ease
aggression due to territory and dominance issues.

Yes I was trying it before, but I didn't notice a difference other
than making them both sleepy.

I think I may try it again though. If I do, I should keep my windows
closed for it to be effective, right?

Justin

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 11:11:40 -0500, "Karen"
wrote:

I'd just keep distracting them *before* it gets serious. I think by now that
you can tell whether it will escalate or not. Give them both treats or
something. Eventually, it will even out.

Yea, I try to, but I can't always; like when I am asleep or not home.
Hopefully they sort things out soon.


Justin

On Fri, 08 Apr 2005 17:53:33 GMT, "Skip Turner via CatKB.com"
wrote:

Have you tried suggesting that they put the band back together? This might
distract them AND help save the Penguin's orphanage all at the same time...

I have suggested it, but no luck so far.

poor penguins

Justin

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 13:31:52 -0500, kaeli
wrote:

In article , leejustice2
enlightened us with...
Well, I have had Jake for over two months now, and him and Elwood seem
to get along okay most of the time. However, once in a while, Jake
turns into a super-jerk! Elwood will just be laying there, minding his
own business, and Jake decides he doesn't like the way Elwood is fur
is looking, or something. Jake then goes over and starts licking
Elwood, very vigorously it seems. Elwood accepts this for a short
while, but gets fed up pretty quickly, and tries to push Jake away. Of
course, this is NOT acceptable to Jake, and he then pounces on Elwood,
VERY roughly, also trying to bite him it looks like. It doesn't look
like Elwood enjoys this, at least to me. Then an all out fight and
chasing ensues.

Jeffrey does this to Rowan sometimes, though they don't "fight" fight. No one
draws blood or actually gets hurt. They DO nip each other, but no one cries
and there's never blood or marks. And they're fully clawed.

One of them is crying out, but I can't tell which one

IMO, forced grooming is a dominance thing. Jeffrey tries to be dominant and
Rowan bitch-slaps him back in place...MOST of the time. LOL
I let them be.

That's what I was figuring, but I don't know why Elwood won't give up,
and just let him already!


The question is, what should I do? Should I break them up, like I have
been doing when they start to get too serious, or should I not get
involved at all? I was to the point of leaving them alone during the
day, but twice I came home and Elwood had some nice scratched on his
face. They are now back to being separated when I am not home (again)
which is really defeating the purpose of me getting the 2nd cat in the
first place.

Well, my situation is different from yours because no one gets hurt. I left
mine alone to work it out and never separated them, but my cats are all
rather non-confrontational, comparitively speaking.
I think if one of them had scratches or bites when I came home, I'd separate
them, too.

Have a little more patience with the time thing, though. It took Rowan SIX
MONTHS to allow Jeffrey 3 feet from her. Now she actually allows him to groom
her sometimes -- it's been like 2 years now. It didn't happen overnight or
even within a year for them to be almost-friends. They're in a kind of love-
hate relationship.
Isis and Jeffrey, however, LOVE each other. They groom each other, sleep
curled up next to each other, eat together, and all that jazz. It's very
sweet.


aw! Hopefully my two end up like that eventually!

Justin
--