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- Groomed kitty sparks aggresion
Cats/Groomed kitty sparks aggresion
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Question
I have two cat's that have been living as best friends for the past year, ive had Crystal for 6 years and Jade i got just last year, i have never had a problem with either of them. i recently had to get crystal shaved due to a build up of matting on her back :( the kitten Jade seemed to miss Crystal while she was away; searching the house and crying out for the whole 4 hours crystal was gone. When i got home crystal seemed fine with everything and was going back to normal when Jade started savagly attacking her. it seemed at the time that this would be a territory war and i should let them fight it out... but its not so much a fight with Crystal being absoloutly terrified and Jade hunting her down and attacking her. when i pick crystal up she shakes in my arms. is this really a territory war? and if so, how is it going to resolve itself when Crystal is always trying to hide from Jade and they dont really get that chance to fight it out.
Melisa,
It sounds to me like your Jade became afraid when Crystal came home smelling and looking different. My recommendation would be to separate them for a day or two and give each cat a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which should help to calm and reassure both cats. When you let the girls mingle again be sure you can supervise to avoid a repeat of the fighting. Crystal doesn't understand why her buddy suddenly became aggressive with her which is why she's so frightened. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again at any time - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.
Kind regards,
Ali
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Answers by Expert:
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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