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Long-term Aggression and Cat Feuds
When a cat is threatened and his fear escalates,
he resorts to fight or flight. Flight is usually less offensive to humans,
but fight can be harmful to both the cat and his source of anxiety. The
source can be a companion animal or person. Sometimes an anxious cat who has
become aggressive will attack a neutral person or cat companion in reaction
to a particular trauma. This trauma could be the result of an alien cat or
interloper, a loud noise, or anxiety or hysteria of a companion cat.
General Misconceptions
Fiction: A cat who's started on drug
therapy for misbehavior will become addicted.
Fact: If the particular drug is properly prescribed and used in
conjunction with a behavioral therapy program to integrate new coping
mechanisms to relieve anxiety, the drug can be slowly discontinued. However,
such a drug used with no therapy for major emotional and behavioral problems
will generally lose its potency while the problems
will continue.
Fiction: Once a cat has a serious feud with a companion, there's no
hope of a truce.
Fact: Time, patience, and proper behavioral modification can mend the
relationship. There is every reason to hope for a truce, although the cats
may not return to their past level of devotion. On the other hand, sometimes
the relationship becomes even tighter after the kinks are worked out.
Fiction: Two cats that have lived together and bonded should never be
split up, even if they are now bitter enemies. You love them too much to
make such a decision.
Fact: If reconciliation appears out of the question, you must do
what's best for the welfare of the cats. With a careful search, a loving
person can be located to adopt whichever cat seems most likely to blossom in
a new living situation. Console yourself with the prospect that you can
visit your former cat in a happy environment. Perhaps you can later couple
the cat that remains in your life with a new companion. You can address such
an issue down the road.
Fiction: You don't know what the catalyst was that wreaked havoc with
your cats, so it will be impossible to solve the problem.
Fact: Even if you can't identify the source of discontent, you can
still provide treatment to clear the air. The reconstructive techniques that
I've described will offer them the support they need to increase their
tolerance of potentially stressful situations. The source that ignited their
rift might even surface during their recovery.
Remember: It's important not to treat only symptoms, and
reconstructive therapy is the essential ingredient for diminishing the fear
and sustaining the security and confidence needed to cope comfortably day to
day.
Possible Scenario
One day your younger cat's head became caught in
the handles of a shopping bag. He tore around the room, entangled in the
bag, before you could rescue him. As you reassured him, your other cat came
over and started to growl. You quickly distracted them. Yet you worry that
it will be months before your cats bury the hatchet. What do you do?
Distraction is the answer when the cats will obey
you. But if not, separation should provide the needed time to recover from
the anxiety. If after a few hours of separation there is still tension, once
again separate the cats. Don't forget to include creature comforts and try
to be as relaxed as possible so your tension doesn't add to the mix.
You thought the storm had passed because, despite
a few minor blowups, your guys were seemingly their old selves. But three
weeks later, the fur began to fly. Once again, you separated them, but
unlike before they showed no signs of purr and make up. You felt you
couldn't separate them forever, so what are you to do? No matter what set
them off, you knew deep down that somehow they had to become stronger so
they wouldn't be vulnerable to other loaded situations.
As you might guess, whatever set them off again
is almost immaterial. What's urgent is that you provide the environment
where they can regroup and cope so they won't be the target of each other's
tension. The following tips will help to defuse the tension and start them
on the way to regaining their old relationship:
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Rule out a medical problem. Take both cats in
for a physical exam to make sure no malady instigated or contributed to
the angst.
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It's important that both cats see each other
without physical contact. To establish this, separate them with a screen
or Plexiglas door. You can also use sliding window screens in a doorway.
Measure the height and width of the door frame to determine how many
screens you will need. The screens can be fastened to the door frame with
adhesive Velcro. When you need to gain entrance, you can temporarily
remove the bottom screen.
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A few days after you have arranged this setup,
move each cat's food and water dishes a short distance from the barrier so
they can confront each other without physical contact.
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Each cat should have his particular creature
comforts.
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If your cats generally sleep with you, perhaps
you can accommodate each on alternate nights.
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Remove a catalyst. Sometimes a neutral feline
or other companion can be the catalyst for the hostility. However, the
catalyst doesn't always have to be the target of their aggression.
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Whenever you interact with one cat, even if the
other cat is out of sight, mention the latter's name so he'll feel
included. You want to be a unit moving along in tandem in order to prevent
jealousy on either cat's part.
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To avoid transitional angst, which can lead to
more tension, verbalize any sudden change of motion. Your cats may not
understand you, but this will help to keep your cats in sync with your
change of actions and reduce the startle effect. An example is: "I'm
answering the phone, going into the bedroom now, opening the closet."
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Arrange to spend some quiet time near the
barrier. This might involve reading a book or letter, or interacting with
any object that makes you feel good. Your cats will be soothed by your
low-key energy. The more relaxed they are, the less tense they will be.
When you feel that they are tolerant enough of
each other, you can try to engage them in play. Open the barrier a crack and
dangle a toy (their favorite) or string to each of them. If this is
successful, repeat this for a few days. Next, try dangling the same object
from one to the other. If this is a source of anxiety, return to using the
two objects. Use your judgment as to when to alternate one object between
them. This technique helps to build their tolerance of each other.
Once you have established that they can peacefully cope with each other in
this limited capacity, you can open the barrier a crack so they can gain
entry to the other's space. But don't push them. Sit back on a comfy sofa or
rug and occupy yourself with something that relaxes and/ or amuses you. Turn
on some soft music. The cats may choose to stay put and possibly sniff each
other. A few hisses are fine, but if there's too much tension, close the
barrier. If they decide to interact in the same territory, don't extend
their interaction for more than twenty minutes. But if there's a dispute,
distract and return them to their respective territories. Don't try to get
in the middle if there's a feud, and spray them with water from a plant
mister to cool them off. Lure them back with a favorite toy or small treat.
Be sure to secure the barrier.
When there have been a series of harmonious
twenty-minute sessions, extend the time to an hour. After they've adjusted
to this, you might even leave for half an hour. If this period alone
together was peaceful, repeat and slowly extend your time away from home.
You can tell whether they've been happy together by their reactions when you
return home. Don't be in a hurry or you'll make it hard for them to build
increased tolerance of each other.
If there's a feud, don't give up! They're
stronger now and will recover quickly. Don't let them meet for the next few
days. This will allow them time to regroup. Their next encounter should be a
good one. But if there's an incident, it means they need more time.
Remember, it's important that you stay relaxed so you can give them the
confidence they need. Perhaps a cat-friendly neighbor can help by
interacting with one while you concentrate on the other.
The mending process may take about three months or longer. Each cat
progresses at his own speed. You can only provide the "right" environment to
assist their recovery. Try very hard to see light at the end of the tunnel
so your confidence is contagious.
Read a
testimonial from a
Wilbourn client.
The Complete Guide to
Understanding and Caring for Your Cat
contains more detailed information, diagnostic suggestions and
reconstructive therapy approaches. Buy it from
Carole's Cat Store.
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