You are here:
- Home
- Animals/Pets
- Cats
- Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)
- female cat attacking another female cat
Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/female cat attacking another female cat
Advertisement
Question
I have three female cats. I just got one of my cats back from a friend. She lived there for about a year. These cats all lived together previously just fine. Since I have brought Mattie back my Calico has attacked her three times. She also hisses at my other cat all the time but has never attacked her. Is there anything that can be done with her to make her stop. Would spaying help or not? Please help.
Karen,
I'm very sorry I didn't answer your question earlier but the hard drive in my computer died and I was just able to get it replaced.
Yes! Spaying will help. Spaying cures a LOT of behavior problems and helps settle the cats down where their minds aren't on tomcats and breeding.
Cats go by smell in recognition of other cats. Since your cat has been gone she has developed a different smell than when she was at your house, so to your other cats she is a new cat. You should go through the introduction process from the beginning just like she IS a new cat.
It can take 2 weeks, a month, or more for them to start getting along again. You can not just put them together and expect them to get along. That very rarely ever happens.
I am attaching a couple of links on how to go about the introduction process: (copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)
http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=cattocatintro...
I hope this helps.
Tabbi
Related Articles
- Opal, Nigel, and Caterina - Reader Stories: Why I Love Black Cats
- Cats Q and A - Smell on shoes stimulated attack on other cat
- February is Spay and Neuter Month - You can help too
- Will a cats heat cycle end after mating - Feline Reproduction FAQ
- Ask Amy - Cat Attack - How To Stop Cat Attacking Companion Cat
Answers by Expert:
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
***********
Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.