Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/ISIS

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/14/2008


Question
Hi my beautiful queen who happens to be named after a goddess ISIS had 5 adorable kittens and well sadly only the two that were 24 hours apart who trippy enough look like identical twins are the only two that survived. Anyways as time went it on and they grew wonderfully, one of my dear friend's mom was lonley and wanted a playful companion so I gave her one of the kittens. Now that the kitten is 6months old I've noticed the past week or so that ISIS( the momma cat)has been trying to pick fights. I'm very concerned about this because I know humans have trouble with thier children/parents but this is like ridiculous. ISIS will be fine until Maddix(kitten) comes around its like she's jealous that Maddix is getting attention and she isn't but that's not so. They are both my babies and I dote on them both equally for this very reason so they won't be at odds over affection. But thisis really leaving me scratching my head. Its like one day ISIS woke up and decided not to like her own flesh and blood anymore. Please help me figure this one out my eyes hurt from looking so long on the web and there isn't a vet out there that can give me a reasonable answer. Thank you for time
Karen, ISIS and Maddix

Answer
Karen,

After kittens are weaned cats have no concept of family and do not recognize each other as related. That is why there is so much incest between cats (father/daughter, mother/son, etc.)

The sudden fighting may be because Maddix may be coming into heat and smells different. Cats go by smell and not by sight, so if Maddix smells different from what she did for any reason then Isis (pretty name!) may think she is a different cat. Also getting the mother spayed if you haven't may help.

Sometimes too, when a cat gets a urinary tract infection or urinary crytals, an infection, etc. the pain may make them aggressive. You may want to take her to the vet for an exam to make sure it is not a medical issue that could be making her act that way.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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