Expert: Karen Craft - 4/13/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have done a lot of reading on the topic of kitty battles and just feel like I've tried everything, looking for new suggestions.

I have adopted 7 adult cats over the past 7 years, ages range from 4-7 years of age. The last cat was added to the household a year ago.  The 2nd to last cat, a male, was added a year and a half ago. Everything was normal, some small fights here and there until the fall of 2006.  The male cat was very playful and liked to tackle and wrestle all the other cats but was never aggressive.  I was going to buy a new house and had my current one up for sale so when I had a showing, kitties were packed up and we spent a few hours at my parents' home down the road each time.  This happened about 4 times in a month.  

I think this was the trigger event, and suddenly the male cat become much more assertive and the other cats were getting rather annoyed, then there was a huge fight between him and another male cat.  They seemed to make up, the traveling ceased, however, a few weeks later another major battle.  The newer male became the intimidator towards several of the cats and  so I kept him separated for 2 months with the Feliway diffuser running.  

I found a new home for him as the only cat, which was very heartbreaking.  In the 4 weeks since, however, it seems as if the remaining 6 cats just cannot get along.  Even one of my first cats, a small female, who had never been aggressive once, has started after the much larger male.  He's also getting chased by yet another female.  

Meanwhile,  another female whom I had kept with the rehomed male cat for 2 months to keep him company and who has been in my home for 4 years now, has now started tormenting the most recently added female.  I had noticed that she kept her distance but now she is running and cowering.  I've never seen a fight between the two.  

I thought that removing the overly dominant male would help things, but now I feel like I can't turn my back without something happening.  I just can't figure out why they all seem to be after each other constantly.  I have started dating again a few months ago and I am away for a few hours each night, every other day after I come home and feed them dinner, etc.  Are they trying to re-establish the hierarchy now that the male is gone or are they upset that I am not at home every night now?  I can't think of any other way to keep the peace and feel like I have my own kitty soap opera playing out right at home! I only have 2 bedrooms so I can't keep them all separated.  Any advice?  Thanks!
ANSWER: Hi Kim,

Boy, is your plate is full. I understand what is going on in your home. I have 13 cats and can relate. I have found in my experience with large cat households, that cats aren't so much territorial as hierarchical. It seems that you have really upset the balance and harmony in your household with getting rid of the one and moving. I don't know if the balance can be reset but I will try to help you. You have to remember in a large cat household the dynamics usually breakdown to an alpha male and alpha female. Then you seem to have one, who for lack of a better term, is the cop on the block. This one seems to enforce a status quo. And you are always going to have one at the bottom that all are going to pick on. What happened with the young male was that he was trying to assert himself for the top spot. Eventually he would have gotten it and if you added no other males, all would have quieted down.
Now the other cats know there was a shakeup going on and that it was unfinished. They are going to go after the top male until he restores order. I don't know how old he is. It might have been his time to "retire". I wouldn't get the young male back. It's too late for that. But maybe another very young male might do the trick. A male kitten brought in might shuffle the dynamics enough to reset everything. Just make sure if you get one you introduce him the right way. And the younger the better.

They are out of sorts with the move. That will clear up with time. They are upset with you going out. They will also get used to that. When I go out I leave the TV or a radio on for them. They seem to be very calm and relaxed when I get back. I think it's because they equate the sounds of that with me being home. You can try that. The smells from your clothing could upset them. Try changing your clothes when you get home. Throw on a pair of sweats and see what happens there. And keep up with the Feliway. Without it, it would be worse. Good luck and let me know if this helps you. I'll try to think of some other things if these don't work.

Ciao, Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response and insight!  My alpha male (at least I think he is the alpha),is 7 now, and he has no issues with any of the herd. I've had him since he was a kitten and he was my first cat.  My second cat, Susan, was 6 months old when I adopted her. A year later, I added the calico who was two and she ignored both me and the first two cats for two years.  I introduced Neko, who was 3, a year later.   The calico and Neko, a tortie , have always been at odds but nothing too violent, just some swatting and hissing from time to time.

After I brought home Neko, who is very affectionate and started being my "lap cat", Squeaks suddenly changed her tune and started sitting on me. Fighting over my lap ensued but nothing too bad.  Then the litterbox games started last year and poor calico kitty was afraid to use the box out of fear of being ambushed, not only by the tortie but by the alpha male as well.  She developed a bladder infection, I believe from "holding it" but I do see her using the box now.  She was a bit of a bully, then the tables turned one day, that was all prior to the moving activities.

Smudgie is an older male who is now 7 and extremely timid but we're working on that, after 2 years now I can rub his belly but he still runs from me, poor guy.  He gets along great with the "alpha" male but after a year, he had the two battles with the newer male, so bad that I had to use pillows to break it up, I've never seen so much kitty hair pulled and on the floor! As I mentioned, they made up, had another bad fight and I decided that it was time to rehome before someone got hurt badly. The rehomed kitty was also hell bent on harassing the calico, I actually had puddles on my stove one day and on the counter another day when I came home!   He had a habit of tackling all the cats, which was tolerated at first but seemed to grow more annoying as time went on.  The last female I added used to wrestle and groom him endlessly but even she was fed up with him as well near the end and started hissing.  I believe  that he really needed to be the only in a home, as much as I adored him. In the past 2 months, after all this time, my calico and my second, non-aggressive cat, are both after Smudgie.  I don't think it's the clothing, this all started prior to me dating someone new.  I do change as soon as I get home, anyway.  I think they would be over the move by now since it's been about 6 months and we never actually moved entirely since my house deal fell through, we just evacuated for a few hours a few times, but I do understand that cats don't like change!  Who knows what would have happened if I'd actually moved them into a new place! I do think they are just trying to re-establish the hierarchy and are vying for top billing but woe is me!

As much as I'd love to adopt another, I think that there are too many in my 1200 sq. ft. as it is.  I do have numerous litterboxes in place and plenty of kitty beds and scratching posts/kitty trees.
ANSWER: Hi Kim,

I think the best thing is just give them a little more time. They usually settle things out between themselves. Try the TV trick. It does make a difference. You can also try another trick when you come home. I would have some special toy or treat for them when you come home. This will have them associate you leaving with something good when you come back. From what you wrote of the young male, you made the right decision to find him a new home. He was upsetting your pride too much.There is a little hole in the hierarchy that will be filled by your other cats. Again, time is cure. Good luck and let me know how things progress.

Ciao, Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Just one more thought-Do you have any experience using Rescue Remedy?  I was thinking of giving that a try.  The Feliway seemed to work at first but after 3 months I'm not convinced.

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Kim,

I wouldn't use that product on cats. Two of the plant ingredients are on the poison plant list for cats. Star of Bethlehem and Clematis are listed on the Cat Fancy poison plant list. Here's another product you might want to try. http://www.petwellbeing.com/cat-anxiety-p41.cfm
I can't say how good it is but it is worth a try. The ingredients in it have been used successfully for stress relievers for centuries. If you try it let me know how it did. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen