Conference misery::feline

    This brings back awful memories of when I lived on the first floor of a 
    building that had strays everwhere.  The bully cat would see my cat
    sitting in the window, and he'd latch himself on to the outside screen
    and screech.  I almost had a heart attack every time this happened. 
    Also, my male cat developed seizures because this was so upsetting to
    him.  What I did was have screens made to sit inside the window sill
    (so that you could shut the window down on it to keep it in place). 
    That way, my cat couldn't sit right against the outside screen where
    the bully cat could easily see him and get to him.  It did help, but
    the bully cat always came by to see what was up anyway.  If I could
    have caught him, I would have had the poor thing neutered...he was a
    mess.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Di & Li & Lu

        One of those plastic squirt-bottles that you can buy at most
    hardware stores is one way to deter this twerp! Just plain water, and
    the little adjustment knob set to shoot a sharp stream... Whenever he's
    in range give him a good squirt, and he'll soon begin to avoid the
    entire area...and it will not harm him a bit either....except a little
    of his 'dignity'..
    
      JMc

    I suceeded with the waterspray bottle, too. I could not catch him. 
    
    The 'therapy' took a short week only. I hit him every day, sometimes
    twice (Luckily I was on holidays at home to that time) and I 'shoot'
    him as I saw him. He then avoided my windows like hell... later on he
    was cought by one of the neighbours, got neutered and became a normal
    indoor cat. He is now living happily and in peace.
    
    Nat
                                                

    This may not be the most appropriate place for this note, I am normally
    a read only person, so if it should be moved please feel free.
    
    I have hit a problem this weekend where my female cat has started
    attacking my male cat.
    
    Background:
    
    Floyd (male)  3 yrs old, fairly big and around 15 lbs.
    Elsa (female) 2 yrs old, medium size and around 9 lbs.
    
    I have had both since they were six weeks old and they have always got
    on very well, they play rough and Floyd usually comes off better due to
    his size and weight.  They sleep together at the bottom of our bed
    every night, eat out of the same bowls etc.
    
    On Saturday I let Floyd outside, Elsa only goes out when the sun is
    shining and she can be bothered which wasn't Saturday.
    
    Floyd was out for about two hours before coming back in.  As soon as he
    come through the door the hair on Elsa's back went up in a ridge, her
    tail went to three times its normal size and she flew at him growling
    and hissing.  He ran and got up onto the highest window ledge which is
    too narrow for both of them.
    
    Elsa sat guard under the dining room table until he came down and then
    she went for him in the same way.  At first he didn't seem to know what
    was happening but this has gone on all weekend and he is now acting
    very frightened of her.  Last night he spent the night in his bed in
    the living room, this is the first time he hasn't lain with her on our
    bed.
    
    He is showing no signs of fighting back and yesterday went from the
    window ledge in the bedroom to the window ledge in the living room.
    
    I am sure she can smell something on him.  I cannot detect any strange
    odour.  I shut her in the bedroom for awhile yesterday so that he could
    have something to eat without being terrorised.
    
    If she hasn't calmed down by tonight I am going to try and bath him
    which I am not looking forward to as he has never been bathed before.
    
    Has anyone else come across this or have any idea what it can be?
    
    Floyd has fought with other cats but Elsa has never reacted in this way
    before.  I don't really want to let him out until I find the cause but
    he is used to getting out every day and I don't want to shut him in
    with Elsa attacking him all the time.
    
    Thanks in advance for any answers/advice,
    
    Kirsty
                                         

    Is it possible that Floyd had got in a cat fight outside and
    came home with the scent of an un-neutered stray???  I do 
    believe it was Floyd's scent that triggered your female
    attacking!!  
    
    If your bathing one tonight...I would suggest bathing both
    of them, so they smell similar!!   Also the best time to
    try and keep things calm with the two of them is either
    during feeding time or play time.  Start by feeding them
    in the same room...but in different corners and then
    try playing with one of them to see if you can get
    the other one to join in.
    
    Sandy   

    Here's an update (I posted the original note):  The cat is still
    attacking the windows, new twist, the blinds were down AND drawn shut
    but this wild animal STILL jumped from the porch to the screen on the
    window.  Needless to say, my animals thought the walls were coming in
    and were spooked all evening.   
    
    On Saturday, my mother was outside watering the plants and spotted the 
    beast, she attempted to turn the hose on it, but it ran away real fast.  
    She also applied vaseline on the cellar window sills and then sprinkled 
    black pepper on the vaseline.  Don't know if this will have any effect but
    she thought it was worth a try.
     
    I still don't know where this animal lives, I have found a house in the
    neighborhood that has a cellar window out and a hose coming from the
    open window.  Guess when the wake up one day with skunks or racoons in
    the house they will remedy the 'open door' concept.  
    
    Stay tuned...I think we're in for a looong summer.

    re: .5
    
    Perhaps, if you have never bathed your cat, it might be less traumatic
    if you try rubbing BOTH cats with a cloth which smells fairly strongly 
    so that the scent is on both cats? You might get away with not having
    to bath them.

    
    When I went home last night both Floyd and Elsa were wanting out, the
    sun was shining for once in Scotland.
    
    I let them out for about 2 hours and when they came back in Elsa kept
    slinking up to Floyd and sniffing him but the attacks had stopped.
    
    They both spent the night at the bottom of our bed as usual so it looks
    like the problem is solved.
    
    If it happens again I am going to rub them both down with a damp cloth
    straight away.  I couldn't go through another weekend like last.
    
    Thanks for the advice
    
    Kirsty