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 ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question Dear Tabbi.I have a 8 year old male cat he is not fixed.Today I rescued a 6 week old female kitten.Harley the male straddled the baby female Willow and started biting her on the back of the neck .I freaked out and said no Harley and clapped my hands .He ran in the next room then came back but didn't try biting willow again.But he started calling to her like he wanted her to follow him into the other room.Harley has never acted this way befor.We rescued a female kitten about 4 years ago.Harley never treated her that way but 2 days before Thanksgiving the female her name was Casper.She drown in our pond Casper and Harley were best buddies and Harley hasn't left home roaming around since.I am just worried he might hurt Willow and I also don't want Harley to be unhappy he has been through enough loosing Casper.If you could give me some advice on if Harley might hurt the baby I would be so gratefully. Thank You.
Answer Diana,
Get your male fixed right away! This is mating season and he is not being a bad kitty, just doing what comes natural to him. He may be reacting to her being female or he may be reacting WITH her to the smells of females in heat in the neighborhood.
A 6 week old kitten is not a good companion to an 8 year old cat. I would not let them together until the kitten is big enough to defend herself. She should be spayed too. Kittens can be spayed from 8-10 weeks old now. I just had two kittens neutered that were 10 1/2 weeks old by the SPCA clinic. Having them both fixed will curb alot of behavior problems.
