In house cat bullying.

[3catwoman13]

Please can some one help. Basil my neutered cat is 12 years old and he is being driven out of his house and garden by one of our neutered female cats, (Minx), who is deaf and nearly 4 years old. This started a couple of months ago. I could understand it if they had only just been introduced, but they have always tolerated each other in the past and sometimes would greet each other. I have taken Basil to the vet to have a medical, just in case he was ill and Minx was taking advantage. The vet gave him a clean bill of health. He is a really big softy, tabby, but getting very, very nervous and jumpy. Minx is a small white deaf cat, very intelligent and alert and shows signs of jealousy when i give the other two cats attention. There is a lot of chasing off on Minx's part but not really aggression. Missy the other female takes no notice of her, but Basil is slowly disappearing and I don't want to lose him. I bought a plug in of Feliway and this has not helped. The only other thing I thought I could try was to put Minx into a cattery for a couple of weeks and re-introduce them. Can anyone give me some advice please I am at my wits end.

[Lilith]

Ohh dear. I really feel for you; I too have known this situation arise in a group of cats - and you can't even do voice control with Minx if she's deaf.

What has worked for me is a plant spray - this isn't meant to be cruel, but a quick squirt under the tail of the aggressor is very undignified - and also causes them to turn round to see what wet them, in other words, being the first to back down and 'lose face' in front of their victim. No cat has ever seemed to connect me with 'squirty bottle' or see me as the root cause of the insult.

Another thing that has worked for us is territory. This is a tiny house and except in very cold weather all the room doors are kept open for the cats, and the cats themselves have worked out a plan: Emily owns the front room but is pretty feisty; Mouse, who is not feisty at all, owns the back bedroom, which is where they all feed. Sometimes she goes downstairs at night to visit with Emily but she doesn't come into the garden nowadays (the garden is secure.) Em and Mouse are 13 and 14 and have their own favourite chair and cat igloo to roost in. Molly, who's 4 and very like your Minx by the sound, sleeps on the bed with me. She's cheeky with the older ones but since I'm lucky enough to be home 24/7 I can supervise her. Emily will give her a bash anyway. There is a kitchen tray, a bathroom tray and downstairs bowl of biscuits and of course the water bowls...

What I'm wondering, though difficult at this time of year, could it be possible for Basil to be encouraged to claim part of the house as 'his'. Or I'd be tempted to, say, shut Minx up in a room of her own at night and make sure Basil comes in and spends the night in a favourite place - preferably on your bed if allowed, so that you can special him. I realise it's difficult as all roaming cats are off and enjoying the great outdoors in the summer but I can quite see that your boy is in danger of slipping away from you, which would be awful.

It sounds like it's a case of Minx needing to be taken down a peg or two and Basil to be taken UP a peg or two!

This kind of situation often never goes away entirely - I still have to growl at Moll (since her hearing's normal) and threaten her with squirty bottle (she too is very intelligent and knows what I mean but seems to bear me no grudge about the spray) or hiss 'Weezil'! (Weasel) at her when she tries to menace Mouse, but if Mousey wants to, she'll still be first at the wet food every evening; she's got some confidence.

Hope this helps for now - there will be people on here with better suggestions re cat group dynamics, and all the best and hope you keep your lad with you x

[3catwoman13]

Thank you for your reply, I think you are right about Minx being taken down a peg or two and Basil put up a peg or two. It is good to hear you say that, as I thought I was imagining it when Minx gave those looks of hers when I fussed my other two cats. I really do think she wants me to herself, for instance she follows me as close as she can when it comes to bedtime so that she spends bedtime with me, even up to the toilet and bathroom. I think I have caused it, looking at it logically. I will change things by taking your advice with the bedtime regime and get Basil in with me and I have got a spare bedroom that I can kit out for Minx. I will also try the water spray, only she is so fast when she comes out of what looks like a deep sleep into a full pelt after Basil that it could be tricky.
Thank you again for your excellent advice.

[Lilith]

Ooops sorry, do hope I haven't put my foot in it here as I didn't realise the bed was Minx's territory!

But do have to say that my sympathies are with Basil and that I agree Minx can't be allowed to own you exclusively. Do give them all a cuddle from me and hope all goes well!

[3catwoman13]

Hi, its ok Minx slowly wiled her way into sleeping on my bed by following my every move I made just before bedtime. She is a lovely little cat and really knows how to get her own way. I didn't used to let her sleep on the bed but she would meow outside the door and eventually I let her in. This has only been going on for a little while so over the last couple of days she has slept in the kitchen without a fuss. I have managed to get Basil in while she is put in another room. He loves to go out at night in the summer so this should be ok until the bad weather starts. I'm in the process of clearing the spare room so I can settle her down in there in the evenings and let Basil have the choice of his sleeping place. I just hope this works, I think it will be a slow process and something I need to keep on top of.

[Lilith]

Hi again - hey I'm really sorry, I got Minx's name wrong - have edited it now!

Ah it sounds to be going well so far - all the best with them and do keep updating

[greenkitty]

I'm pleased to find someone in a similar position, I have 4 year old deaf Tig, and two females Pip and Noodle, although not quite as extreme he terrorises Noodle, if she's around he's on her case. Pip handles him much better, she just jumps up out of the way but Noodle stays on the floor so he chases her. Tig is not affectionate and doesn't seek out human company so I make sure Noodle and I have time on our own, this really works well and reinforces our bond. I also give Tig a time out if necessary, where he's shut out of where ever we are for 5 minutes. This normally diffuses the situation but if he starts again then he gets another. I will also intervene if I think he's getting too much for the girls. Unfortunately something happened when Tig was born and he sustained brain damage, because of this and while the rescue fought to get him well he spent a lot of time on his own away from his siblings so he isn't very well socialised. Because he's deaf he doesn't pick up on the cues to back off so he's a bully. I'm not sure a cattery is the answer, I thought about it but thought old behaviour would creep back in...