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 AN UPDATE ON PYSCHO CAT

 
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Gintz
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Prince Rupert

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Hey guys - I just thought that I would update you on the cat situation in my household:

Pepper has had several more incidents with regards to meltdowns - but (touch wood!) is getting a little easier to deal with. I can say that now that the lump on my head and bruise on my knee are both healing. NEVER poke your head out of a narrow doorway to see if a psycho cat has left the vicinity....Okay, so it was totally my fault that in the heat of the moment I slammed the door on my own head! All I was thinking of was protecting Ruby from Pepper...
We have tried Feliway with limited success, and the anti-anxiety meds were also of dubious help. The reconditionning of behaviours seems to be the best, although slowest route to take - and there are setbacks (as in the above incident!) along the way. Things would probably go smoother if Ruby did not have her own issues....
What I don't understand is how Pepper always backs down from StupidCat (aka Cosmo), and Ruby never does. StupidCat leaves Ruby alone but bugs Pepper and Boo. Pepper and Boo meanwhile go after Ruby with impunity....go figure! We have three litterboxes in the house (constantly scooped) and three feeding areas as well. There are plenty of safe havens for sleeping and a few special areas for Ruby. If she is feeling particularily frightened, then we close her in the bedroom where she can't be bothered. If I am going to be working outside in the garden, then we close Pepper up in a bedroom until I have stripped and showered. Any clothes that I have worn to do my gardening go directly into the washing machine and are washed as soon as I am out of the shower. Only then, is Pepper allowed out of the room.
It seems a lot to go through, but that is our best solution to the fear aggression issues. That, and a couple of spray bottles of water that really do help stop him in his tracks - usually!


Revisions : 0   |    Posted:  7/11/2008 2:27:46 AM



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robbie
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Wow Gintz ! .... that's quite the scenario you have going on there.
Poor Ruby.
It seems to me that Pepper and Boo have really bonded, and that could be why when Pepper goes after Ruby, Boo will too (kind of like a pride of lions) and unusual that Cosmo can take out Pepper and Boo, but Ruby will not back down from him.
Could it be that she has been around Pepper longer and 'expects' him to be friendly, and is confused as to why he behaves aggressively towards her ?
We had issues where Smudge was being bullied by his bigger sibling Kramer and spray bottles, yelling and chasing didn't seem to deter him from his behaviour.
Eventually, I 'Alpha maled' Kramer by nipping his ear whenever he tried to attack Smudge, who could not defend himself (Smudge was declawed before we got him).
Eventually they settled down to where they could lie beside each other but at times, Kramer would chase him up the stairs and we'd hear a 'Meeoooow-ch !!!' and that's where I'd end up running to the sound of the screech, most often to be met halfway downstairs by a big black furry blur as he sped past on his way to the front door.
I wonder if there's a 'Cat Whisperer' much like the Dog Whisperer we hear about...good luck with that
It's a hard situation for you to have to put up with, not to mention stressfull for poor Ruby.
I hope it constinues to improve for everyone's sake.

Good Luck and we'll await further updates.




Revisions : 0   |    Posted:  7/11/2008 11:06:27 AM



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Gintz
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Prince Rupert

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Funny thing is, Pepper and Ruby will both sleep with me on the bed - and share from the same dish. I think the intensity of the attacks has to do with the fact that she pees herself when really frightened. (But then, even our vet said that HE'D pee himself, too, if Pepper attacked him like that!) Personally, I think that Cosmo is just too stupid to be afraid - thus our nickname for him.

Pepper's meltdowns are not normal aggression - they are fear aggression and are truly frightening. The girls lock themselves in their rooms when it happens (big help - NOT!) - although Jenn did get the spray bottle the last time. The water spray is set to stream and it's purpose is to divert his attention. In that way, it is quite effective. The vast majority of them are caused by the scent of tomcat urine.......and with so many un-neutered cats running around our neighbourhood.....thus the precautions when I am outside working in my yard.


Revisions : 0   |    Posted:  7/11/2008 11:52:01 AM



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