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Cats/fighting toms

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Expert: - 3/6/2010


Question
I have 2 tom cats that have grown up with each other they were born March 28, 2008. A dog ran into the house and the toms have been fighting since. They will be neutered next tuesday what can I do beside seperation that may get them back to be loving like they were before the dog?

Answer
Barbara,

Your toms may be exhibiting re-directed aggression which could explain their change in behavior. Essentially when the dog came into your house they became frightened, the dog was too threatening to become aggressive with so they settled on directing their aggression towards each other. You may want to try a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a blend of five flower essences designed to calm and reassure. You can find this remedy in most health food stores or you can purchase it online. I would suggest that you take time with each tom and rub 3-5 drops of the remedy into his ear flaps and the skin that's relatively fur free (in comparison to the rest of their body) in front of the ear a few times daily until you see a change in their attitude and behavior. It's very important to try and avoid getting the remedy into their ears because the flower remedies are preserved in a grape alcohol solution which can sting if it gets into the ears. My recommendation would be to keep the toms separate for a day or two while the remedy starts working for them then see what they do when you open their doors (just a little so that they can push their way out when they're ready) and allow them to greet each other on their own in their own time. If that remedy doesn't work you may want to consider contacting a holistic or homeopathic vet in your area for further guidance. Getting the guys neutered will also help to decrease the testosterone (and therefore the aggression) over a period of several weeks, in the worst case scenario you may have to keep the cats separated and reintroduce them as though you were doing a new cat introduction with two cats that had never met in a few weeks when their hormone levels have dropped some after their neuter. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again - I will gladly do my absolute best to help you out if at all possible.

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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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