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About 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).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) > rescued feral aggressing on house cat
Expert: Dear Tabbi - 11/3/2009
Question
QUESTION: i rescued a feral female a year ago and she has been living with me and my 6 yr old male. i did the vet and got her shots and treated for worms, ear mites, etc. i even rescued her kittens and was able to place them with a person how adopts kitties. i wonder if this was a mistake. i thought she and my male were being friends. last night i noticed scratches on his face which broke my heart. when i am home and i witness her aggressing on him i can stop it. they chase each other and play but she is aggressive. i wonder if i need to have her put down. she's not that adoptable, not pretty and i can pet her but she's never around other humans. I'm not heartless but i am protective of my male. he's the sweetest boy and i feel i may have done him wrong by bringing her inside. she has been spayed. she is fed well. i do give her attention and realize she'll most likely never be a house cat who sits in my lap or eats out my hand, etc. what can i do? she doesn't scratch me just my male cat.
ANSWER: Lydia,
What looks rough to us is not to cats. If she were frightening your boy he wouldn't keep playing with her. When to be concerned is when there is major fur flying or serious blood being shed. I would keep her claws trimmed though. Here is a great link with photos that show how to trim the cat's claws: http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm
A feral cat will not change their basic personality which includes their inherited distrust of humans, and aversion to being petted or held. Here is a link that has a good 4-part article on ferals that should be of help in understanding their typical behavior.
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://petplacestation.com/articles/?s=jacobi%26paged=2
Ferals are hunters by nature and she may be a happier cat if she were able to be an indoor/outdoor cat. They enjoy going out to hunt and some can become unhappy and aggressive if they are keep locked inside which is against their nature.
I hope this helps understand your feral a little better.
Tabbi
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: thank you for your quick response. i have also been calling local folks who rescue kitties for their advice. i took my battered male to the vet yesterday for teeth cleaning, yrly shots and wound care. using Neopropene on his worst wound and was given liquid antibiotics. poor kitty. the female misses him and cries all night. keeping them separated until i make the female safer to be around. she's difficult to cage for the vet so placing her food in a small dog cage with a comfy fur padded bottom. this is how i got her to the vet a yr back. she flipped out on seeing it and have been working her since last Saturday. sorry to say i am still undecided because seeing my male's wounds is heart breaking. think my female needs to be an indoor/outdoor kitty in a one cat home. she's cute and lets me pet her, purs, etc.
all the bet.
Answer
Lydia,
If you can pet her you may be able to get a cat carrier, stand it on end close to you with the door open, then grasp the female by the scruff of the neck quickly and drop her down inside the carrier and close the door. If you do it quickly she won't realize what you are doing until she is already in the carrier.
When you get her to a vet, have him trim her claws. That will help her scratching the male.
I hope it works out between the two cats because giving her another new home may stress and upset her emotionally after being used to you. But, of course, that is a personal decision.
Tabbi
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