Morning everyone!
We have 2 cats, both male. I think the youngest one was taken away from his mum to soon because he has no idea as to what play entails. Our second cat is bearing the brunt of this - he has bites that keep on becoming abscesses. I have a felliway diffuser but poor Merlin still gets bitten.
Cat who plays aggressively
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Lilith
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Re: Cat who plays aggressively
Hi and welcome and sorry to hear of your problem.
This can't go on can it?
Accommodation permitting, I think you need to separate these two and re-introduce them from scratch (No pun intended; not funny at all.) Handy info here:-
http://www.catchat.org/index.php/new-cat-introductions
Or if they must meet, make it strictly under supervision, and put the fear of god into the aggressor if he tries any rough stuff. I don't mean shouting or smacking; an angry hissing whisper is far more effective, along with a terrible unblinking glare, and using a sharp 'no' or even better, a keyword. I have 2 cats in their teens and a 5 year old; this youngest, Molly, is a little devil and tries to boss and bully the older ones sometimes and somehow I ended up calling her 'Weezil' (weasel) when she did this. Nowadays i've only to say 'Weezil! warningly, and she knows she's out of order, and stops it too. This all happened by accident; I don't consider myself an expert in cat psychology although all my cats have been experts in human psychology lol The keyword's useful because the other cat won't understand it, so won't think it's getting told off.
There are varying opinions on this but I've sometimes used a plant mister - but only on the cat's backside, under the tail, so the aggressor has to turn round and check on what wet him - and thus back down from his victim, a significant loss of face. Also the cat may not associate the plant spray with you, although another key word with Molly was, 'squirty-bottle's coming' and she'd stop. Even to shake the bottle nowadays is enough.
There will be other people along who can give more detailed advice but hope this helps for now. And please make a fuss of poor old Merlin; he must feel as if his life isn't worth living at the moment with Weezil mk2 beating him up, poor old chap, give him a fuss from me
ps, edit - DO give the naughty lad lots of fuss and praise when he behaves himself - that's just - twice- as effective as scolding. Good luck!
This can't go on can it?
Accommodation permitting, I think you need to separate these two and re-introduce them from scratch (No pun intended; not funny at all.) Handy info here:-
http://www.catchat.org/index.php/new-cat-introductions
Or if they must meet, make it strictly under supervision, and put the fear of god into the aggressor if he tries any rough stuff. I don't mean shouting or smacking; an angry hissing whisper is far more effective, along with a terrible unblinking glare, and using a sharp 'no' or even better, a keyword. I have 2 cats in their teens and a 5 year old; this youngest, Molly, is a little devil and tries to boss and bully the older ones sometimes and somehow I ended up calling her 'Weezil' (weasel) when she did this. Nowadays i've only to say 'Weezil! warningly, and she knows she's out of order, and stops it too. This all happened by accident; I don't consider myself an expert in cat psychology although all my cats have been experts in human psychology lol The keyword's useful because the other cat won't understand it, so won't think it's getting told off.
There are varying opinions on this but I've sometimes used a plant mister - but only on the cat's backside, under the tail, so the aggressor has to turn round and check on what wet him - and thus back down from his victim, a significant loss of face. Also the cat may not associate the plant spray with you, although another key word with Molly was, 'squirty-bottle's coming' and she'd stop. Even to shake the bottle nowadays is enough.
There will be other people along who can give more detailed advice but hope this helps for now. And please make a fuss of poor old Merlin; he must feel as if his life isn't worth living at the moment with Weezil mk2 beating him up, poor old chap, give him a fuss from me
ps, edit - DO give the naughty lad lots of fuss and praise when he behaves himself - that's just - twice- as effective as scolding. Good luck!