Expert: Tina - 4/28/2004

Question
one of the feral kittens i've saved/socialized has become a resident with me and my two adult spayed females.  Harley is 6 months old and neutered.  he seems aggressive with the girls who are NOT interested in playing or interacting with him.  no blood drawn, but things get tense around here!  he also eats adult dry food as it is the only way to keep the others from ingesting kitten food.  one bowl, one food!  any advice on calming things down and is it OK to give him adult food? initially i kept them separated in different sections of my apartment, but we've been one co-mingling family for a few months now.   he is as big as the adults and vigorous/healthy.  

Answer
Hi mitzi,

Good work svaing these kitties, they are lucky you found them!

First of all, adult food is fine for kittens as long as they get to eat as much as they need. In fact many cat food companies do not make separate formulas for kittens and adults. It's much worse for adults to eat kitten food because it's high in fat and many minerals that coudl cause urinary tract crystals in adults.

I think Harley us just trying to assert himself as the boss of the household. He'll probably mellow out when he reaches a year of age and also sometimes it takes several months after neutering for the hormone levels to subside. Try to give him plenty of outlets for his aggression such as interactive play with a feather wand, chasing a laser pointer etc. If you can get him attacking his toys 2-3 times a day he'll have less energy and aggression to take out on the girls.

It may also help to use a product called Feliway - it's designed to stop territorial urine spraying but it also helps reduce territorial aggression. It's available as a spray that you apply to walls and furniture at cat level around the house, or as a plug-in diffuser. Feliway mimicks the "happy" pheremones that cats give off in their cheeks when they rub on walls and things. It helps them feel at ease and less competitive. You can get it at many pet stores and online at www.drsfostersmith.com

Good luck!

-Tina