A Sister's Aggressive Behavior - Carole Wilbourn
Carole Wilbourn, The Cat Therapist, has been the leading voice in feline therapy for over 5 decades. She has helped thousands of cat moms and dads explore, face, and resolve cat behavioral and health issues. Carole is truly the most trusted Cat Therapist in the United States.
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24 Jan A Sister’s Aggressive Behavior

Posted at 16:22h in Blog by

A Medical Problem Triggers A Sister’s Aggressive Behavior.

Four cats in sync

Dixie Beats Up Her Bro Yogi …
(Inter-Cat Hostility)
“Carole, when you told me that ‘fight or flight’ was a reaction to fear, this helped me to better understand the dynamics between Dixie and Yogi.”
I was pleased to receive this update from Ellie several days after her cats’ session.
Dixie, her three-year-old, spayed female started to beat up her bro, Yogi. She was okay with her other two male litter mates. And no problem with Nellie, the matriarchal, nine-year-old who immediately accepted the trio of kittens when Ellie fostered them.

Matriarchal Nellie looks on as Yogi and Dixie share a basket

The Ripple Effect
Yogi has chronic intestinal problems. When he had a recent flare-up with liquid feces that sprayed the wall, Dixie ambushed and attacked him. Another episode on the hard wood floor, and Dixie was after him. Yogi withdrew. Ellie’s instinctive and common reaction was to console Yogi and reprimand Dixie.

The Survival Instinct
When Yogi is fearful, he resorts to flight, whereas, Dixie’s reaction is fight, I explained. Yogi’s outrageous on the wall incident was to communicate that he was in extreme discomfort and needed your help. Dixie’s reaction was to attack the source of her angst—Yogi.

Redirect Angst Focus
Ellie mentioned she now uses the technique I demonstrated during their session: When Dixie grumbles at Yogi, she redirects their focus with an unfamiliar sound or movement. Other times she enthusiastically tosses or waves a toy.

Dixie and Yogi amicably share Ellie’s lap

Communal Nurturement
She has slowly added some prescription food to their diet for Yogi’s intestinal issue, plays the link for the music of their session to create a mellow cat-mosphere and remembers to nurture herself so they can continue to own a feline, familial peace.
“Each day I am seeing improvement, as I implement the treatment (treats) you recommended. We thank you.”
(Inter-Cat Hostility can be provoked by many situations)