Conference misery::feline_v1

    re: attacking the other cats.  I've seen this occasionally in my
    crew.  One night after we'd moved into the new house - and before
    we got Dundee, Flame & Jesse - I heard a loud yodeling sound from
    the kitchen.  I knew it was Mao because she has hairball trouble
    and yodels just before she vomits.  This was much louder than anything
    I'd ever heard and I knew something was distressing her very much.
    I ran out to the kitchen to find her nose to nose with another cat
    who was looking into the big kitchen window!  This window is
    4 ft off the ground with no ledge to speak of.  The cat must have
    been hanging by his front paws! 
       Anyway, when I got out there I broke the staring contest that
    had been going on.  Mao flew over the kitchen table to the floor
    and everyone proceeded to attack everyone else and I'm in the
    middle of it all yelling at them!  Isis got so upset she pee'd all
    over the hall rug.  
    
    What I think is going on, is that the cat gets very upset by the
    outsider in his/her territory.  That aggression has no place to
    go since s/he can't fight it out with the intruder so it gets
    displaced onto the other cats. 
    
    As to why he's suddenly gotten upset, I don't know.  Is it to a
    particular cat or any cat that shows up.  If its a particular cat,
    perhaps this one is unneutered and is triggering a stronger response
    in Bandit.  
    
    Please try to use the CAT to break up the fights.  Don't spank Bandit.
    He's responding instinctively.  The CAT will distract him without
    hurting him.  Don't forget that a big 150+ lb man can do alot of
    damage to a 10 lb + cat without intending to.  Especially when upset
    as I'm sure you guys were with Bandit's behavior.
      Nancy DC
    

>Is it to a particular cat or any cat that shows up.  

	There are two cats that he usually sees, one a neutered male
	belonging to my neighbor, and the other a neutered female belonging
	to my other neighbor.  He has seen both of them before and not
	reacted this way.
    
>Don't spank Bandit.

	Actually, I don't spank Bandit (or the others).  And Steve wouldn't 
	usually spank a cat.  I saw him heading for Bandit and before I 
	could say anything, he had spanked him.  I didn't bother saying
	anything after that because the spank that he gave was actually
	more of a tap.  I think Steve was just startled and went to
	break it up as quickly as possible.  

	Karen

    re .1 - 
    
    for those folks who don't know what a CAT is (as opposed to a cat) - 
    as in "use the CAT on the cat", it's a "Cattitude Adjustment Tool",
    such as a squirt gun or spray bottle...
    
    (quite useful, and fun. Unfortunately, I've been told I have to catch the
    cats doing something wrong before I can play "Squirt the kitty".)
    
    jack

    Holly has a fit whenever she sees Toulumne, one of my neighbor's cats,
    at my door.  She doesn't react this way to the other outside cats.
    I have no idea why Toulu triggers this -- he is fixed.  When Holly
    gets into this state, anyone, feline or human, nearby is fair game.
    I think a cat in this state should be given a wide berth, just like no
    one in their right mind tries to break up a cat fight with their hands, etc.
    

    Sniglet has been exhibiting this bizarre behavior for the past year
    (she's two).  It seems to be triggered by only one specific cat
    in the neighborhood...and I've caught this kitty sleeping outside the
    cellar window wells, where Sniglet usually naps (inside) during the day.
    Her vet thinks it is a territorial issue and offered a tranquilizer
    prescription. (Thanks, but no thanks.... it was bad enough that she
    was de-clawed by accident... I will take no more of her kitty-ness
    away).   She has never had contact with this kitty, since Snigs is
    of the indoor variety.
    
    Unfortunately, I am the victim of her violence (and have the teeth
    marks to prove it.)  When she is on the windowsill...her tail begins
    to madly twitch...slowly she turns..the ears are back...the eyes
    are huge.... and I run for cover.....

Re: all

	I got the little antagonist in action the other night.  It is one
	of my neighbors cats.  The little brat comes right up to the window
	and stares in!  No wonder Bandit gets so upset.  I'm beginning to 
	wonder if it is just this one cat that upsets him.  The other cat
	I mentioned (my other neighbors) occassionaly sits on my patio
	but I've never seen him come up close to the window.

	I wonder if the outdoor cats like to tease the indoor kitties?

	Karen

    
    Mine baby used to get upset when this one cat used to come up the
    the porch..  but there was a reason for that.. one fateful weekend
    my roomate let her out by mistake!!  (AND she was in heat 8*()
    she was gone for two days until I found her, and she smelled, stunk,
    and her tail was cucky.  Well you can all guess what happened..
    Anyway, I beleive the cat that used to come around, was an old
    ex-boyfriend she never liked!  She'd growl through the window and
    take a hyper fit..  Maybe some of these cats got out once or twice
    and had a tiff with another cat?  And they remember them..  Or maybe
    even if they've never been outside they still feel teritorial of
    all they can see out the window!! - and if they feel the other cat
    is intruding..  maybe some cats just breeze on through and others
    *intrude* on their territory!!  ??
    
    F.