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Cats/Male cat attacking female

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Expert: - 2/17/2010


Question
Hi! i got a 2 year old female cat in october, she has been going outside since November and since then she has been being attacked by a tom cat.  She is neutered and get on really well with my other cat (who is a tom) but when she goes out she comes home bleeding and cut. is there any way i can make her unappealing to the other tom to stop her getting hurt because vet bill are so expensive and i cant afford much more of it. please help!

Answer
Sophie,

Unfortunately there's no way to stop the tom or other cats from picking on your female kitty short of keeping her indoors. It's important to realize that indoor only cats tend to live longer and healthier lives than indoor/outdoor or outdoor only cats because they're not subjected to some of the common risks that go along with going outside unsupervised such as being hit by a car, attacked by other cats, off leash dogs, wildlife, being accidentally or intentionally poisoned or being hurt or killed deliberately through an act of animal cruelty (these are just the more common risks that cats who go outside unsupervised are exposed to). I have three desexed mixed breed cats who live perfectly happy, healthy lives indoors - we make sure that they get plenty of cat friendly stimulation (a bird feeder outside the window will make most cats pretty happy!) and provided that your kitty isn't overfed or allowed to become a couch potato (which can lead to obesity which brings a whole other set of potential issues) you shouldn't have an overweight kitty. A general rule of thumb with most commercially produced cat foods is that the label instructions actually recommend overfeeding the cat by at least 10-12%, often even more so I would recommend feeding the minimum amount recommended on your kitty's pet food label and adjusting the amount based on weight gain/loss, activity levels and general health status. If you're interested I'd be happy to provide you with additional suggestions about how to entertain an indoor only kitty or one that goes out only under supervision on a harness/leash. If you really prefer not to have an indoor kitty then you might want to consider building a special outdoor enclosure for your kitty to protect her from the bigger, stronger or more dominant kitties in your neighborhood. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns I'd be more than happy to help you out to the best of my ability so please don't hesitate to contact me again.

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Ali

Expertise

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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