Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hi all,
We live in an idyllic spot on a small farm in the foothills of the mountains and because we live in a country without cat shelters and dog shelters which feed the dogs on bread alone before euthanizing them you can guess its a poor country. We try to give a home to those in most need and currently have 8 dogs and 7 cats. Some cats came as a group of four kittens last year, dumped in our meadow. Relationships between the cats and dogs has never been a problem. All the cats.dogs are spayed and castrated as soon as they are old enough. My problem is this; One of our cats, Panda, who was one of last years rescued kittens is extremely aggressive. She was the same as a 4 week old kitten, giving me a smack rather than a nuzzle. They are semi-feral cats but all move freely around the house with the dogs. There is a settled heirachy amongst the dogs but I am not sure about the cats. The older cats spend warm days outside, only coming in for food in the Winter everyone spends more time in the house. The door is always open and there is a window in the storeroom which the cats use and where they are fed (to prevent the dogs from pinching everything) Life was harmonious until Panda was spayed in April. Now she smacks all the older cats (but not her siblings) She also smacks all the dogs, who range in size from hounds to cross chihuahua size. Some of the dogs are cat friendly, some just tolerate them. I am deadly afraid she will be bitten by one of the less tolerant dogs and that she may chase my older cats away. I have no chance of rehousing her. Could this be hormonal? I have asked our vet but in truth, he is more farm vet than pet vet. i welcome any suggestions.

I could be wrong, but it sounds to me as though your girl is one of those naturally dominant females and, as she reaches maturity she is trying to establish her dominance over everyone around her. I suspect that her siblings have already accepted this, which is why she no longer has to assert herself with them. Cats do have hierarchies, and hopefully things will settle down once everyone knows their place and how they fit in.

The Cat Chat advice page on introductions has a section on feline hierarchies that you might find helpful:

http://www.catchat.org/index.php/new-ca ... ierarchies

I'm sure other members will have other ideas too, I hope you do manage to end up with a happy household!

By the way, I hope you don't mind my asking, but from your description of your country I thought maybe Bulgaria, or perhaps Romania?

Thank you for your thoughts, most helpful and yes your assumptions are very close as to where we are! I think poverty plays its part and a belief that cats live on mice and dogs are best chained. There is real fear of rabies and most people, including children are more inclined to use their feet to push an animal away than to pet them! Things are changing for the better in the towns but not in the countryside. However, the preference is for status, pedigree dogs which does not help the urchins!!

Mmm, I know what you mean. Here in rural Ireland there are still some dotty ideas about cats and many 'pet' cats, especially multi-cat households are owned by 'blowins' (people from outside the area, like us)

There are many folk here who think it is quite acceptable to drown unwanted kittens. I did hear of a woman who had her West Highland White puppy put down when she found out it was not the pedigree she thought she had bought. More shame the vet that agreed to do it.

As far as your problem is concerned, I think Helen is right. I have four cats, I did have five. When Tommy died last Christmas, it took mine a few months to sort out the new hierarchy. They are fine now and I'm sure your cats will settle soon.