Hello,
I promised my sister i'd post a message on here to ask if anyone has any advice on a problem she's having with her cat.
Two years ago she got a ragdoll female cat called megan from a breeder. As shes at work in the day, and meg gets bored, she decided a while ago to get her a friend.
She visited the same breeder several times to look at what kittens she had and to ask the breeders advice. Eventually she choose a cross, half ragdoll and half english short-haired. She called him max, and went today to collect him. He is the softest thing you could meet, and tiny for 12 weeks.
About three hours ago my sister phoned me in tears. She said that meg, who is enormous next to max, is growling and watching him like prey. Max went behind the t.v. and megan went after him..when my sister tried to pick megan up, she attacked my sister really badly making her arm and finger bleed; meg didn't hold back.
I rushed down there and seen it for myself, and i ended up pinning meg down, which didn't help! The thing is she is scared to leave meg alone with the kitten, and i don't think she should either.
The breeder did say that she was probably in for a rough couple of weeks and also to get megs claws clipped, which she did yesterday.
We didn't realsie how viscious meg was and it has shocked me.
It's upsetting because this little kitten must be so scared, and could do without this as coming to a new home must be upsetting enough.
Has anyone any advice or ideas? We're hoping they will eventually get on but have no idea how to go about it.
Hi, Awww your poor Sister and Meg, I don't know a thing about cat behaviour only dogs but I know some fantastic people who are telepathic animal communicators who would be able to help if you want their details please PM me.
Love
Rebecca x
They'll get used to each other soon enough - probably grudgingly. She just asserting herself as the Alpha female that's all.
Trouble is, they're not like dogs and anything you say or do will be met with a look of utter contempt. Unless you have food.:D
Thanks to you both,
I'm hoping you're right. I would love to be able to show you the size difference. Meg is a really large ragdoll, and max is exceptionally small for his age. The breeder was concerned herself and took him to the vets. Apparently he is very small for his age but in good health. Although, the vet did have trouble listening to his chest, because all he does is purr.
My sisters friend came tonight, who also has a ragdoll who is the opposite temprament to meg. She bought my sister a book which said that you can put the new kitten in a special cage just while they're getting used to each other for safety; i think she's going to try it.
Some flower essences would also help:
Bach Holly for feelings of resentment and any jealousy
Bach Walnut to help them adapt to the change
You could try Feliway spray which mimics a pheromone to help cats feel safe and secure. It's possibly not usually used in your sort of situaiton but it's worth a try. I was recommended it on HP and it helped my cat no end, she was back to her usual self within a week of using it.
Sx
Thankyou for all your advice,
I went there today and meg hates me! I sat not far from her and she hissed and growled. I stayed put and just ignored her, and she got up and moved behind the computer, somewhere my sister said she never usually goes.
Shes got max in a large cage with soft bedding, his food and water and his litter. When meg went and lay on the bed, sonia shut the livingroom door and let max out, though he didn't seem bothered as all he does is sleep.
One time meg edged up to the cage and looked at max. He meowed at meg, and she hissed and moved slowly away; we really didn't expect all this.
Meg's had 2 years there and now it's her home. All of a sudden someone has come along to invade her space. We had the same problem when we took on a rescue cat. Our cat wouldn't settle with it and ended up sitting outside in the pouring rain, looking into the house but he wouldn't come in. We had to give in and the cat went back to be rehomed but quite often things do work out in the end. It was awkward for us because the whole of the downstairs was open plan and upstairs the new cat knew how to open doors by jumping and hanging from the door handles!
Feliway is replicant facial pheromones. This same ones that are released when a cat rubs its head 'lovingly' on something, leaving a calling card loaded with information for the next visiting cat to disseminate. Feliway is mostly used for cats who spray or pee in the house. A regular squirt of Feliway in the same place as the cat spray is supposed to change the offending cat's behaviour by encouraging the facial rubbing rather than spraying to deposit pheromones (it's not a deterrant).
Often the kitty punch-ups appear more alarming than they really are ...lots of noise and tufts of fur can be spectacular to watch, but usually the cats just walk off sulking, no wounds exept bruised ego.
Thought you might like this related clip, it's on my Favourites:D