Hissing, biting and naughtyness.

[gabrielcrowe]

I have a problem with my kittens. Their names are Fidget and Scribble.

They get into scraps, frequently, but recently, they ahve started to fight, loudly, plenty of hissing, etc.

I'm told its something territorial, and previously they ahve just got over any little spats, but this time, its been several weeks of them hating each other, anyone got any ideas?

btw: my kittens are sisters, and are running the latest version of XP home.

[kathynewman]

Well I would advise that you buy them lots of toys, treats etc from Puddle Pet Care - that should then keep them amused and help stop the scraps!!!

Kathy

[pinbrook]

my kittens are sisters

Please be assured that this is perfectly normal behaviour

[los_design]

let one live in the shed and the other in the attic,

That will stop the fighting

[fleetwood]

We have a little female, and a fat male (both the same age, just he's a lard a**e).
Each have specific times and places to be dominant.
He dominates the food bowls funnily enough, and we have to feed them seperately, else he simply eats all (if fed together, she will meekly wait until he's finished).
In every other aspect, she rules the roost.
Daytimes, he's Ok sleeping on our bed, but at night, its hers and only her right to sleep next to us (and woe betide him arguing the point <s>).
At times she even stands guard on the stairs, refusing to let him pass.
Its rather comical, as he is twice her size.
Biggest time for scraps are feeding time (the cats seem to think thats anytime you walk near the food cupboard in our house), or when the litter tray needs cleaning, or when one is sitting in the others place.

Try seperating out their feeding areas if they are together, and also make sure you have more than one litter tray available at all times.
I assume that you are already running the latest version of cat-alog <g>

[gabrielcrowe]

they are indeed running the latest version of acti-meow cat-alog.

and i ahve seperated them, upstairs and down this seems to be the only way forward, and thanks for your input peoples. its probably a simply struggle for dominance, and surely will end fine.

[gabrielcrowe]

actually, i might have something to do with the handheld with nintendogs i bought for my better half.

jealousy, perhaps.

[Jan]

You can buy a plugin from Mole End that guarentees perfect cat behaviour, more details and a free trial at this URL :

http://www.dailykitten.com/

;-)

No real advice to offer though, my cat is currently sulking because we got hamsters at the weekend and won't let her eat them, she is very jealous of them.

Regards,

[kathynewman]

Few questions (last suggestion was a frivilous one!!):

How old are they
How long have you had them
Where did you get them - resuce or breeder
How old where they when you got them
When did problem start
Are they neutered
Any changes in household recently


Kathy
(with 4 cats currently and a fosterer for cats protection!)

[gabrielcrowe]

they are nearly 2. to be honest, i like the word kitten more than the word cat.

we got them at 7 months old, and they were rescued kittens, when we got them, they were with foster parents and we took them in.

they had a scary set of fights about 8-9 months ago, battle the living daylights out of each other, but then it sort of cleared up. and recently, they can not be within 10 foot of each other, without making wierd growly noises and ultimately a big fur flinging scrap.

i'm under the understanding that they are neutered. and there ahve been no changes in the way my house fails to operate effectively. ;o)

[chris ashdown]

Send them both on holiday for a month, that should sort them out

One goes to no 10 Downing street and the other to number 11

After that there troubles will seem very minor, and both get on well again

[oldhasbeen]

We've just been adopted by a kitten that walked into our offices just over a week ago. We're out in the middle of nowhere on a farm, so we checked around and it was from a litter that had been abandoned by its mother - 3 kittens were being kept in one of the stables and this one had made a break for freedom. The "owner" wasn't bothered that it had been missing for over 3 days and was quite happy for us to take him in.

Poor wee thing was flea ridden and scrawny although extremely friendly and just would not leave! I couldn't bear to turn him out so after a quick trip to the vets for flea and worm treatment he ended up at home. After several hours flea combing (must have taken at least 500 fleas off him), and a good feed he's now well and truly landed on his feet and is tubbing up quite nicely and behaving like a happy kitty should.

Unfortunately I just couldn't take the other 2 as we already have 4 cats - a brother & sister (Gomez & Morticia who are 7), and 2 brothers (Fester & Chunky - don't ask - they are 4). All have had the chop.

When we got the 2 boys, Morticia wouldn't come in the house for about 2 weeks so we were expecting problems with her. However, she's been fine as has Gomez - provided the kitten doesn't "rush" them too often, he gets the odd hiss and slap but a general disregard. Fester has a new playmate.

However, Chunky is behaving like a spoilt brat! Even after only a week I can quite happily leave any of the other cats in during the day with the kitten, but Chunky would rip him to pieces - he hisses and snorts so much he makes himself cough!

He's a big, powerful cat, very friendly in any other situation and a total pushover in that he will let any other cat just walk in and eat his food if the door is open! So this is probably a jealousy issue - if he walks past the kitten, he will deliberately rush him and hit him even though the kitten is being submissive to him, so I daren't leave them alone together.

Hopefully he'll eventually get over it - at the moment he comes in when his appetite gets the better of him so at this rate we'll have to rename him Slim Jim!! Is this just a jealously thing - any ideas? He is getting barely better, but it's teeny tiny steps compared to the rest of the gang.

I'm well on my way to being an old lady with lots of cats (but no wee and cabbage yet thank you very much!!).

[completerookie]

I haven't a clue, my cat hasn't spoke to me since the day I got her, she seems to live her onw life in her own way, and has never, ever needed to ask me for advice.
sorry can't help further.

[completerookie]

I forgot to mention, I do have SIX sisters (no really, and I have a brother as well) but I don't speak to them either!

[brian.mc]

Just as long as you all remember - you don't own a cat, or adopt one - they do the owning and adopting.

As long as you follow their rules you will be ok.

For example, when they want to be stroked, stroke them - when they don't, look for the band-aids!!

In a way they're a bit like children - lots of grief but well worth it in the end!

By the way, I've had cats for nearly 50 years, and I've only experienced behaviour problems in the last 15 years or so. I think E-Numbers in their food may have something to do with it!?! Again a bit like children!