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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

777.0. "Young Cat's Come of Age" by SQM::MURPHY (Is it Friday yet?) Wed Sep 16 1987 15:01

In April this year, I found an abandoned (7mo)kitten across the street from
where I live.  He was half starved and had ear mite infections in both
ears.  I, naturally, took him in and after a vet check, shots, FELv
and neutering operation, decided to adopt him into my "family".  My
older (10yrs.) neutered male cat, Buffy, accepted him as he has always 
accepted new members - cautiously and calmly.  My spayed female cat, Holly, 
(2yrs.) accepted him immediately (mother instinct I think) and has become
his constant playmate.

I named the "polydactyl", white kitten "D.P. Gremlin" (D.P. for Double
Paws).  D.P. is now 12mos. old and showing signs of dominence over Buffy.    
D.P. seems to delight in pestering the older cat when he is either resting
on the top of the kitty gym or using the litterbox.  

Buffy tries using his "I'm ferocious" routine when D.P. bothers him.
Unfortunately, D.P. is an aggressive beast and doesn't scare easily.  
He accepts the challenge and I usually have to break it up with a 
threat of squirting them with the water bottle (what a handy, dandy 
item that is).  Seems to be the only thing D.P. obeys is that water 
bottle!  Holly usually can hold her own and being the girl cat, she 
knows how to bluff her way out of conflicts - heads for the food 
dishes or hides!

Should I let them have it out and hope that Buffy wins over D.P.?  This
is my first encounter with pets that didn't get along totally.  Anyone
else out there who have had this problem?  Is it a male territorial
squabble?  I've tried to give them all equal love and attention to try
to prevent any jealousy.  D.P., on the other hand, displays a very dominent
attitude; maybe he's just a "spoiled brat" because I felt sorry for
him being abandoned.

Hope problem gets solved soon or I might have to find D.P. another home
(preferably without another male cat).

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
777.1		CIRCUS::KOLLING		`Wed Sep 16 1987 15:44`	15
	Just how serious are these altercations? My Sweetie and Holly went thru a period of adjustment when I brought her home. Sweetie is a gentle male and Holly is a demon female. They basically settled down to being like little kids -- they play a lot, the sometimes sleep together or cuddle up together, they groom each other (the grooming sessions almost always wind up with someone taking offense and boping the other), and occasionally they have a mild fight.By mild, I mean they wrestle and nip at an ear and it's clear it's a little fight, but no terrible cat howling noises or anything like that. Initially, they had some hair-raising fights, and I dove in to protect Sweetie. Things got better after a few weeks, however. I think they just had to sort things out.
777.2	p.s.	CIRCUS::KOLLING		`Wed Sep 16 1987 15:51`	8
	I'd give Buffy lots of love and attention, particularly after you break up a fight. That's what I did with Sweetie since he was feeling upset, I'm sure, about my getting a new cat. It also will give D.P. the idea that causing a fight means the other cat gets cuddled -- let's hear it for behaviour modification. When I scold them mildly now if they have a tiff, I cuddle both of them; that way they have to stay near each other if they want to be cuddled, and it gets them into a relaxed mood.
777.3	ychologist	SQM::MURPHY	Is it Friday yet?	`Wed Sep 16 1987 16:17`	22
	Thanks, .1 and .2 .1 It is to the point of both Buffy and D.P. pinning their ears back, growling and then lunging at each other. No blood spilled yet though. It is funny though; they "all" (3 cats and 1 small dog) sleep on my bed without any problems at night. Sometimes when Buffy and D.P. end up in the livingroom or kitchen at night, I'll be awakened by the thud of bodies hitting the floor together and have to get up and break up the "growling party". When D.P. and Holly play, that's just what it is "play", but there's no playing between D.P. and Buffy. I think it may all have started when D.P. was younger and wanted to play with Buffy but Buffy wouldn't play with him. Now that D.P.'s older and bigger, when he approaches Buffy in (perhaps) a playful manner, Buffy feels intimidated and defensive. .2 I have "taken Buffy's side" in these squabbles but maybe that irritated D.P. even more. I will keep working on getting D.P. over his sudden urge to become "boss cat", if that's possible. Thanks for suggestions.
777.4	correc. to title	SQM::MURPHY	Is it Friday yet?	`Wed Sep 16 1987 16:19`	2
	.3 sorry for that. Should have read "Know of a good cat psychologist?"
777.5	Peace Prevails	SQM::MURPHY	Is it Friday yet?	`Thu Oct 01 1987 12:49`	10
	Well, things have quieted down now. I think the older male, Buffy, had it out with the younger male, D.P. Gremlin. D.P. hasn't bothered Buffy at all this week and even seems to avoid him if he's passing by. They all eat next to eachother in the kitchen with no problems and Buffy still has the top shelf on the kitty gym. Thanks for your replies. Pat