Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/8/2009

Question
Hi, my name is Leticia. First of all... i don't speak english very well because it is not my first language. So, excuse my english if I am not clear enough to be understand.

I have 3 cats: Nikita female cat of 4 years old. Kitykaty female cat of 10 months old. And Frodo male cat of 5 month old. Kitykaty and Frodo are Nikitas' kittens from 2 different "childbirths".

Nikita (the mother) before she got pregnant she was not a sweeeeeet cat. She was "ok". I mean... she didn't like to much affection from us. Sometimes she was tender, but most of the time she "nails" and bits us. BUT SHE WAS NOT an angry cat. We thought that that was her way of expressing her love and her appetite to start a "playing time".

Then she got pregnant last year... and her mood change radically. She was tender all the time. She wanted to be loved all the time. The only thing is that she didn't allow us to touch her belly. Wich is normal, I guess.

Then she had her first "childbirht"... two female kittens. We kept one: Kitykaty. Nikita and Kitykaty used to love each other so much. Kitykaty is sooo loving, tender, sweet!

After 3 months Nikita got pregnant again. And only during the last 3 weeks of gestation, Nikita started to reject her daughter kitykaty. But it didn't surprises us. On the contrary... we thought it was a normal behavior because Nikita had other new babies inside and she had to take care of her new pregnancy.

Then she had her new babies: 4 males and 1 female. We kept one male because we didn't find a home to him: Frodo. He is So sweet!

After Nikita has her 2nd birthchild she didn't reject Kitykaty as much as before. It seemed like she was starting to accept Kitykaty again.

We took Nikita to the doctor to be sterilize. Since then... her relationship with her daughter kitykaty its a completely chaos! We thought that it was because she smelled that her daughter was fertile or something like that. That it was an hormonal rejection.

Then we sterilezed both kittens: kitykaty and frodo. But the situation is the same:
Nikita sometimes... attacks the boy... it is not a common thing. They still sleep together. They still lick themselves. It is a very relax relationship. BUT with kitikaty.. the female one... it is soooo different. And I am wondering if it is going to change some day.

Nikita attacks all the time her little daughter with a lot of anger. She is not playing... on the contrary.... she "meow" with rage! and the poor kitykaty stay freeze. Kitykaty doesn't bother her. She is allways silent, tender and tries no to bother her. But still.... her mom attacks her everytime she has the opportunity!

In consequence... Nikita is angry with us must of the time... unless she wants something to eat of course.

Why Nikita is so angry and attacks her 10months old daughter?... will that behavior change?... will she accept her eventually? Because I see that it get worst with the pass of the weeks. Should I apply any technic?

Please... give me some advice because I am very concern, very very very worried.

Thank you!
Leticia

Answer
Leticia,

Your English is VERY good!

After a kitten is weaned the mother does not recognize the cat as her 'child'. Cats do not have any concept of family (which is why there is incest between animals). They are just another cat to them that they recognize by smell as familiar.

The kitten might possibly have a personal smell that the mom doesn't like or trust. I have heard people putting a small dot of vanilla on each forehead so that the cats smell the same, though I have never tried it.

Cats, like people, do have personality clashes and they can hate another cat for whatever reason is in their minds. Unfortunately, you may have to re-home one of the cats to keep peace in the family. Or, since they are fixed, let the mother be an inside/outside cat so her daughter can run free safely in the house when the mom is outside.

You can use a rolled up newspaper and get after the mom when she behaves aggressively to let her know that you don't accept her behavior.

It's unfortunate that there is not a 'magic cure'. You can try using kitty treats like canned tuna or tinned sardines in oil. Feed the cats together so they will associate each other with something pleasant instead of negative. Using a pet laser light helps too. The cats will chase the 'little red bug' on the floor, walls, and ceiling, and not pay attention to each other which helps them be together, hopefully without problems.

Here is a link to an article about 'bully' cats that may be helpful for you:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)

http://www.catfactfiles.com/how-can-i-stop-my-cat-bullying-another-cat/

I hope this helps because I know it is a miserable situation for everybody when there is conflict between cats.

Tabbi