Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/7/2009

Question
I have a four-year old female cat (Gypsy-spayed) since she was a kitten. She has always been extremely shy and timid. Close to a year ago I adopted a kitten (Callie, whom I found abandoned in my neighborhood-spayed) who is great with people but extremely dominant over my first cat. They've managed to deal with each other unitl about 2 months ago. Now the new cat will not let the old cat to come out of the bedroom. Gypsy hides under the bed all day and night. It has gotten so bad that I've started to feed Gypsy in the bedroom because whenever she comes out to just eat she gets chased back under the bed. Now Callie, the new cat, is urinating under the same bed. I've been punishing the new cat by yelling at her everytime she aggravates the the old cat, and I put her in the bathroom for 5 minutes. It isn't working. I'm to a point where I'm looking for someone to adopt the new cat from me. I'd prefer not to do that but I I've run out of patience and solutions. Any suggestions?

Answer
Lisa,

Your first priority is Gypsy's happiness and well being. Sometimes cats, like people, do not get along due to a personality clash. That makes everyone miserable and can cause health, behavior problems, and personality changes in the cats.

Sadly, it may be best for both cats, and for you, to re-home the aggressor so you can restore harmony in the home. Or, you may want to try to let Callie be an indoor-outdoor cat. She may be happier, and then Gypsy can come out when Callie is outside.

For information on cat bullying here are a couple of links with interesting articles:
(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/

or, This article is about the 'alpha cat syndrome' but the site has recently required a free registration to view the article....that is up to you:

http://www.petplace.com/cats/the-alpha-cat-syndrome/page1.aspx

I would try using a rolled up newspaper when Callie goes after Gypsy saying "no!" loudly at the same time. It won't hurt her but the noise will scare her. Cats go by association so you want Callie to associate the words "no!" and getting whapped by the rolled up newspaper with being aggressive to Gypsy. Then wait a few minutes and love on her. You want her scared of the newspaper and misbehaving, but NOT scared of YOU. Some cats are persistent and it takes a while for the association to register. And that doesn't prevent the behavior when you are not home. Though some cats behave like that for 'show' and attention, and the cats get along when no one is home. That depends on the cat and it's personality and temperament though.

I hope this helps give you some food for thought.

Tabbi