Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   My daughter has three cats who live indoors with daughter and boyfriend of 8 years. Their first cat, Gidget, is a five year old spayed female. She was queen of their home until two 8 week old kittens joined their household. One is a neutered male and the other is a spayed female. They are now 18 months old. Gidget has slowly warmed up to the two interlopers, but recently the three of them have started fighting with each other. Whenever they cross paths in the house, they seem startled and start hissing, growling, swatting and chasing each other. The two females are most often involved in the fighting.

   The house has been peaceful for months until last week. Why are they fighting and what can be done to stop this behavior? Is this teenage irritability? Is the younger female trying to move up the dominance chain? Any advice would be appreciated!!

   Posted 4 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

2. 

   KW, it's all about learning who is in charge. Don't worry about it unless it comes to blood flowing.

   We had the same problem with our 'blended family' and they worked it out. It took some hissing, spitting and a few scratches but they will get it all sorted out.

   All that is happening is that the cats are establishing not only pecking order, but favorite spots and the girls are sorting out who is the alpha female. Most important thing is to not show favorites to any of them and let them deal with it.

   Posted 4 years ago by Instinct #

3. 

   I have a great book called 'Cat Versus Cat'. It talks about the same things that Instinct mentions. I can't find it right now to tell you the author, but it is very good to have if you have multiple cats. I found it pretty interesting. Which ever cat is always on the highest perch is usual the top cat!

   Posted 4 years ago by Violetbabykitty #

4. 

   Feliway! A feliway plug in diffuser in the main room(s) they use should help calm things down while they work out the pecking order.

   Posted 4 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

5. 

   Thanks, Instinct, VBK and MCW! I passed your comments on to my daughter.

   Posted 4 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

6. 

   Wait--the 2 young ones will gang up on the older one--sometimes trap her between them! This happened with my 2 Balinese brothers to their older female cousin. (all RIP)

   Posted 4 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

7. 

   Same thing happened with us Sheba's mom. My two would try to gang up on Wicket and that's the point where we would step in.

   Wicket knows she isn't going to be ganged up on now and the other girls know that I won't tolerate it and that I am in charge.

   Posted 4 years ago by Instinct #

8. 

   My friend has this problem also with her 3 cats - there are two brothers, Vinnie and Louis and a female, Milo. All have been neutered but Vinnie persists in attacking Milo and also Louis. Milo is terrified of Vinnie and he just bullies her. My friend wants to get rid of Vinnie but her husband won't let her. This is not a recent thing - has been going on for well over a year. She doesn't know what to do.

   Posted 4 years ago by KapitiKats in NZ #

9. 

   She needs to step in when it starts and make sure that Vinnie knows he's not in charge and that she is.

   Vinnie is trying to make sure everyone knows that he is the top cat. Until she steps in grabs him by the scruff of the neck when he starts being a bully he will keep doing this.

   If she does pick him up by the scruff and stare him down (literally) then he will begin to learn that she is the top cat. It will take a while but once I had it established with my cats they mellowed out a lot.

   Posted 4 years ago by Instinct #

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