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Expert: - 4/20/2009


Question
I have a one and a half year old female cat who gave birth to some kittens almost 6 months ago. and i decided to keep one male kitten from her litter. but recently 2 months ago i got her spayed and now she hisses at him and growls and refuses to play with him any more.the male kitten is not neutered but will be soon. i just want to know if i get the male kitten neutered will it calm him down so he doesn't play so rough with her and then maybe the hissing and the growling will stop and she will be civil around him again?
if you have any advice on how i could solve this problem that would be great.
thankyou

Answer
Vivien,

It's perfectly normal for mom to try and keep her son in check and to discipline him when he crosses the line with her. Once your male is neutered and his testosterone levels are back to where they should be for a neutered cat you should start to see things settling down between mother and son. Your male kitten may continue to play rough, if he does then I'd suggest allowing mom to discipline him as she sees fit to avoid further complicating the feline hierarchy and related issues in your home. If the bad behavior continues without letting up once the male's testosterone levels have dropped down you might want to consider seeking the advice of a holistic veterinarian which is a vet trained in both conventional medicine and one or more alternative therapies which may include homeopathy, Reiki, acupuncture or massage just to name a few. Holistic treatments tend to work with the body's natural healing mechanisms rather than using pharamceutical treatments to suppress difficult behavior. My vet is a holistic vet who uses homeopathy in her practice and I have to say that I've seen some amazing results with the appropriate remedies being given at the right time. I think homeopathy may be the answer in this case for mom and her son - just something for you to consider.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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