Adopted shelter cat now has behaviour problems
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"rainyseason" rainyseasonNOS...@london.com
We got a new friend for 18 month Timothy after the loss of his soulmate a couple of months ago. Maddie is 9 months old and she was in the shelter for just a couple of weeks. Her previous owners would give no history, they handed her over and said if the shelter didn't take her they'd leave her in the ditch (shelter is in open countryside).
When we visited the shelter, Maddie was extremely affectionate. She sat in my arms the whole time and purred and head butted. She wouldn't play much in her little cat run but we figured for a 9mth old we wouldn't have problems in that department.
Problems started soon after she came home. We didn't introduce the cats for a week because Maddie was very hissy with Timothy through the door.
In the end the introduction was accidental as Maddie was a real escape artist and managed to take a swipe at him before we seperated them. Now they tolerate eachother, they sniff eachother and try to play.
They both lie on the bed with me when I take a nap.
I don't think Maddie is used to other cats or knows very instinctively how to play. Each invitation to play on her part is followed up by hissing or swiping at Timothy with her ears back. But she often lies down on her back after that with her back legs spread eagled. Would that be a submissive posture? Or an invitation to play? Now Timothy (such a patient and kind soul) tries to bat her playfully but she's up again, hissing at him. It seems like mixed messages to me.
Well, I suppose they'll work it out in the end, and hopefully Timothy won't be upset by her bad manners.
Comments very welcome.
In this time, though, she's become like a little feral with us. Once she got used to us and was eating properly, she wouldn't let us stroke her or pick her up.
She seemed to want to play with our hands. We don't do this game <g>. I guess that's the way the previous owner played with her. She responds to a sharp no!
now and doesn't hiss at me any more if I'm firm. She attacks my ankles and gets a no! for that too. Her playing has developed nicely with toys on a wand and ping pong balls and a few other catnip toys. I wear her out to panting sometimes. She gets her claws stuck into all kinds of things and doesn't retract them. But she only uses the cat tree to scratch. I can't cut her nails as she won't let me near her.
Putting the flea drops on her neck was a major operation.
Yesterday she shed her collar and now I can't get it back on.
I can't hold her by the scruff, even, as she manages to twist around and scratch me. The collar is not a big issue at the moment as she isn't allowed out of the garden. But I do like the bell so I know where she is. Judging by the appearance of the fur around her neck, she must have worn a collar before.
I'm really open to any advice. Does it sound like she's best as an only cat? She was spayed at the shelter and has been checked over by their vet (a lovely vet that I trust, but that's another story).
Thanks for your thoughts.
--
Barbara
Karen Chuplis kchup...@earthlink.net
Does the kitty have a "safe place"? It sounds like she may be a bit unsure.
It doesn't sound really like she has behavior problems as much as just a different personality. I think I'd give her a room of her own for part of the time and spend some time just with her alone in there, not engaging her, but just sitting with her and talking to her, reading etc. I think she is still coming to terms. I would also get some Feliway to help her adjust.
Karen
"rainyseason" rainyseasonNOS...@london.com
Thanks, I didn't realise that. Since reading your reply I've been able to just scratch her head while she lies in that position right next to me purring. I guess that's more comfortable for her and less threatening than me trying to stroke her whole back.
"rainyseason" rainyseasonNOS...@london.com
She has her own room at night (my office) but for the past 2 weeks they have had the run of the house together during the day. I'm home all the time so can supervise pretty closely incase of real conflict. I take what you're saying about giving her more time without my other cat (and with me on my own). She certainly changed towards me once we ended her isolation period.
We've had a Feliway diffuser in the office since she came to us.
I looked at it today and it doesn't seem to have gone down at all. I'll have to sort that out now, thanks.
---
Barbara
"Karen" kchup...@earthlink.net
I have better luck with the spray than the diffuser. I can get "target" areas.
Karen
OrangeFluffy ...@hotmail.com (k)
It doesn't sound like the two cats are doing badly at all. It takes TIME for a cat to adjust to a new environment. And you seem to be very particular in how you expect a cat to act.
No, that just sounds like she's basically comfortable.
You are trying to make something out of it that it's not.
At least it shows she's not "paranoid" after having an encounter with the other cat. Not mixed messages from her, lack of understanding on your part. I think your expectations are a bit unrealistic. Give them time, they'll probably become best buddies.
And of course she's not going to be wild about you grabbing her by the "scruff" or putting flea drops on her.
That will make her less likely to want to be picked up, held etc. She thinks you are going to do those unpleasant things to her. (In 12 years, 6 cats, I've never once grabbed them by the "scruff"). Think about it, you are giving HER mixed messages. The collar isn't important when she isn't going out. Let her get settled first.
Everything is knew to her, the home, the other cat, you.
Treat her gently, give her time. Being uprooted from one home, sitting in a shelter, now being in a new place, is a lot of change for a cat. She has to learn she is home, and isn't going to be bounced around to places she doesn't understand anymore.
"Bill" atlguynsf2...@hotmail.com
A cat lying on its back may just simply like to lie on its back. One of my cats likes to do this while the other does not.
It can easily take two cats two months to get used to each other, so this will be a long process.
I'd say just be patient and leave the cat alone as much as possible (collars, flea drops, whatever the cat doesn't like) until it reaches its level of comfort. Then everything will most likely fall into place.
Bill
"rainyseason" rainyseasonNOS...@london.com
Thanks, Bill and all. I've kept the cats apart for most of the time since getting advice and will just let them play footsie under the door for a while. Already Maddie is jumping on my lap for a quick stroke.
---
Barbara
"Elaine Rene" chakash...@yahoo.ca
Keep in mind also that she is a very young cat . Her personality is not yet cimented and she has time to change alot as she adjusts to you and your other cat.
Elaine
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