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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

4262.0. "HISSING PROBLEM..." by OFFPLS::SLOAN () Wed Dec 19 1990 13:43

    Hello everyone.  I'm really new at the notes file.....
    can read till my heart's bursting with laughter at some of
    your stories, but don't know how to do any other functions.
    
    Anyway, my problem......  
    
    My kitten (all white, 5 months old 1 Jan), named Elke...
    as in the actress, much dramatized, doesn't seem to like
    children.  I have none, EXCEPT the Kitten.  But my niece
    and my best friend's daugher (both around 5 years) come over
    once every other week on average.   Elke is an angel, although
    still in training, when it's just the two of us, but....
    whenever the children come around she starts hissing and cawing
    
    AUGH  I don't want to lock her up when they come around.  It seems
    a shame to encage her for protecting her territory.  Is there
    any way to change Elke's attitude (ha ha, maybe?!)
    
    You all are soooo helpful.  When I learn how to master the notes
    file, I'll start adding more.
    
    Many, many thanks for your help.
    
    Kathy
    
    P.S.  The actress, Elke, would like to know if spot lights
    will be available at the New Year's party.  She just loves
    to be the center of attention (in case I haven't realized that
    from the above).
    
    Happy Holiday Feliners
    Elke (I love to sit up in the tree)
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4262.1JUPITR::KAGNOI'm51%Pussycat,49%Bitch-Don'tPush it!Wed Dec 19 1990 13:5622
    Has Elke ever been around children before?  You didn't mention if
    you've had her since she was very young, or if she came to you without
    a previous history.  Maybe she was mishandled by children as a baby and
    remembers that.
    
    Are your neice/best friend's daughter gentle with Elke, or do they play
    roughly?  My cats are not around children very often, so when the
    neighborhood kids do come around they tend to shy away from them at
    first.  Children have a tendency to approach an animal abruptly, and
    scare the living daylights out of it!!
    
    If the children are playing nice with Elke, then it is Elke who needs
    the discipline, not the kids.  When she begins her hissing act, pick
    her up and confine her to a small area (carrier or bathroom), and scold
    her with a NO!  Do this each time she hisses at the children, until she
    learns that the behavior is undesireable.
    
    It could be that Elke is associating the children with something bad,
    or simply being territorial of the diversion of attention from you.
    
    --Roberta
     
4262.2Afraid of Little PeopleCHIPS::URBANWed Dec 19 1990 14:1913
    My baby, Linus, doesn't see many little people...the first time he did,
    he was 3 and a 6-year old came over for the evening.  I couldn't
    believe his reaction to her.  He stalked her like a panther all night,
    and he kept his distance to her but he was so curious about her.  It
    was funny but a little scary because I didn't want her to approach him
    at all in case he scratched or bit her--which he never does, he's such
    a love with adults and really friendly.  Last weekend my 2-year old
    nephew came over and Linus started being weird again just at the sight
    of him...I kept him in another room while my nephew was over.  I just
    think he doesn't know little people...he has no reason to fear them
    because he's never been mistreated...
    
    Di & Li
4262.3Green eyed in every senseWJOUSM::GASKELLWed Dec 19 1990 16:3612
    Elke is protecting not only her turf but you.  You are her property
    and when she sees you fussing another "animal" she gets jealous.  When
    the children are around, make an extra special fuss of Elke--scold her
    had she will REALLY get to resent children.  
    
    I get this all the time with my three.  A child comes in the house and
    Miss Mopet says "Oh look, a cute, attention grabbing little
    human--KILL!!!!.  And not just children either, boyfriends are given an 
    even harder time.
    
    Three and Me (still single and no wonder)
    
4262.4*I AGREE*AIMHI::OFFENThu Dec 20 1990 13:1418
    RE .3
    
    Yes, animals *can* put a damper on relationships.
    
    When I got Lightning (against my husbands wishes to have *any*
    animals), I calmly told him *she stays !!!!!*  You can go but she
    definitely STAYS !!!!!!
    
    I STILL have Lightning who is now almost 10 years old.  I DON'T still
    have my husband.
    
    I'm not sorry....  She has given me more love than any human being
    could.   So have the additions I've added to the family over the
    last 9 years.
    
    Sandi, mom to White Lightning, Black Thunder, DejaVu, Patches &
    		   Storm the Dog.
           
4262.5CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Thu Dec 20 1990 13:276
    Its a good thing Jack loves the kitties because I think he knows
    what would happen if he forced me to make a choice. Mao and Bumpytail
    have been with me longer than Jack so they have seniority ;-)
      Nancy
    
    
4262.6THANKS!OFFPLS::SLOANFri Dec 21 1990 10:568
    Thank you.  I guess I'll just have to be persistent.  I was given
    Elke when she was 4 weeks old and had never associated with children.
    
    I appreciate your advice (sounds like Linus and Elke has the same
    traits)
    
    HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
    Kathy and Elke