Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Miska picks on Juuei - he's done it for months ever since Juuei started to show signs of weakness and fatigue.

   Juuei seems perky now but the situation with Miska hasn't improved. It is so bad Juuei doesn't dare to use the litter box - that's where Miska usually harasses him. Juuei has a safe place on the kitchen counter with his own mattress which I change as often as needed.

   I feel so sorry for him. I have tried to reserve the living room entirely for him but he has clearly chosen the kitchen counter for 'his' place.

   What should I do? He needs more exercise and he needs to feel safe at his home. I don't want to give up Miska either - he is 7 years old and had at least two families before me.

   Posted 3 years ago by miu #

2. 

   miu good morning, is there any place that Juuei feels safe? Max, my 14 yr old is having issues with Kitty (the newest one in the house who is a bully) and he has taken refuge in a cabinet in my computer room, one of the kitchen chairs, on top of a cabinet, and behind a chair in my bedroom. I understand totally about the harassment issues, and need to get one of the plug-in Feliway things to see if that makes it better; the spray stuff hasn't worked much with calming Kitty down.

   Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #

3. 

   Oh Miu. I have no words of advice. I just send big hugs to Juuei!!!

   Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #

4. 

   Deb: I have a Feliway plug-in.

   Maybe I have read too much kitchen psychology but I think the problem is Juuei take's the victim's role so easily. Miska has tried to bully Misu too but she won't have it any more. She defends herself or flees but she's not constantly afraid of him.

   Posted 3 years ago by miu #

5. 

   Max does too, was the victim when I first adopted him and his mate, Kinker. After they had gotten comfortable in my house, the others left them both alone for the last 5 years. With the newest one which moved in the house in Jan 08, Kitty is a bully and Max has went into the victim role again. I have been trying to deal with it since Jan, about ready to go for the calming herbs or the rescue remedy stuff for the water.

   Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #

6. 

   Maybe I try them too. I went looking for Finnish resale and found some places but they advertise it for humans! Is 'Rescue Remedy' for kits in distress?

   Posted 3 years ago by miu #

7. 

   Hi Miu,
   I am sorry that you are having difficulties with your feline friends. I have 6 cats and this happens in our colony. When it does happen, one of the kits is not feeling well, or has sustained an injury. I just try to stay on top of the kits and make them behave. I will stand there at the feeding station and tell the bullies no and reassure the weaker kitty. Eventually they all start behaving. The bullies will look at me and kind of slink about while I am giving the weaker kitty reassuring petting. I have no idea what happens when I am work. I suspect the weaker ones hunker down and lay low. All of my cats are inside outside cats with exception of Ellie. She is terrified of the great outdoors. Good luck, you can help them work it out.

   Posted 3 years ago by tinafishfrombirthplaceofElvis #

8. 

   Oh poor baby..Is there a way to section off part of the house for Juuei and part for Miska..get another litter box...

   Posted 3 years ago by 2bpurring #

9. 

   {hugs} I want to say I am very grateful for all the tips and sympathies (not sure if that's the right word here).

   Posted 3 years ago by miu #

10. 

    2b: I live in a one bedroom apartment. I have three litterboxes in three rooms. When Miska hears scratching he goes off investigating it. :(

    Posted 3 years ago by miu #

11. 

    miu, if anncetera comes on, ask about the Rescue Remedy, I think that is where I heard about it first....

    Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #

12. 

    Long ago, when I lived with my best friend and Katie was young, Katie used to jump on my friend's cat Freckles. Freck had been an abused kitten and my friend rescued her, but Freck was always timid. The behavior began when Katie was a kitten, but when Katie grew to be bigger that Freck (Katie was half Persian), it was no longer playful. I started grabbing Katie immediately when she jumped on Freck and shutting her by herself in my bedroom; the isolation clearly came as a result of her behavior toward Freck. Not only did she lose all social contact, she also did not see any victim responses that Freck may have made. Before long, the behavior stopped. You might try this with Miska. If there's no room with a door in which to isolate him, you could use a hard-sided carrier and get a soft-sided one for trips, one that he wouldn't associate with correction.

    Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

13. 

    Thanks, Leeny. There are doors but all my kits have learned to open them. I could use the balcony though (it is safe: it is glazed) or the carrier for correction. But there is nobody home when I am at the job and I am a very sound sleeper.

    Posted 3 years ago by miu #

14. 

    Miu, Katie could only be corrected while I was at home, too. My best friend was born with multiple disabilities (her mom had rubella while pregnant), one of which was blindness. She couldn't correct Katie. Even so, the treatment seems to have worked.

    Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

15. 

    Not an inexpensive answer but this is an Item I found that could be a solution for you. If you are crafty or know someone who is you could install this on a home-made space or closet door to give Juuei his own room.

    http://www.nekofeeder.com/?gclid=CKnlt8vD0JECFQERPAodkRm1Cg

    Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #

16. 

    Have you tried "scruffing" on Miska? when you catch him picking on Juuei. It is the discipline that mama cats use on their kittens when they are young. Maybe, after doing it to him for awhile, he'll get the idea to quit picking on Juuei. Scruffing is when you take your hand and put it on the back of kitties head and neck area and gently push his head toward the floor and then hiss like a mama cat at the same time. I've had it work for me on some of my cats when they did things I didn't approve of.

    Posted 3 years ago by Renee in Arkansas #

17. 

    No, Renee, I haven't, but it sounds worth trying. :)

    Posted 3 years ago by miu #

18. 

    Renee has the answer--it should work.

    Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

19. 

    Miu, if I were you I'd try Renee's suggestion; that really is how a mama cat teaches her kittens proper behavior. It's the equivalent of, "Knock it off, kiddo, or else!"

    In addition, I'd separate Miska and Juuei when you're at work. You must have a door that shuts properly, that the cats cannot open. Make sure each separate space has a litterbox, food, and water.

    If you don't want either of them getting territorial or possessive, switch the spaces daily. For instance, on Thursday have Miska in the bedroom and Juuei the rest of the apartment; Friday Juuei has the bedroom, and Miska has the rest of the place.

    Good luck!

    Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #

20. 

    That's a good tip Renee, might try that myself on Eric, who picks on and chases Buton a lot. Thanks!

    Posted 3 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

21. 

    I highly recommend that method, too. I've done that to both boys to get them off the counter where they're not allowed. With Bobby I oly had to do it once, with Milo I did it on two occasions and they've never gone up there again. They look at me pleadingly, but they don't go!

    Posted 3 years ago by GreatDane #

22. 

    Wow...got some great info here. Renee and Anncetera sound like they have some great answers. We're taking notes here at out house as we still, after a the first year with our sibbling family have some issues with some of their bullying. I sometimes fear that Oreo, who has the most dominating personality of the four is actually pushing Sugarfoot and Shady further, and further from our domain. I fear that one day they'll leave for good due to the pressure they feel.
    Miu...I know how you are feeling with Juuei's batterings. Poor Juuei.. :(

    Posted 3 years ago by Karenopa #

23. 

    You are welcome. I'm glad I could help.

    Posted 3 years ago by Renee in Arkansas #

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