Unfortunately, as much as I love my darling Bob and my Sassie, they do not share a love of each other. Ever since they've been brought to my house as a couple of rescue kitties, the two of them would rather have been only cats. Bob came first as the rescue lady knew I wanted an adult female, but came across Bob and thought I'd like him. About three weeks later, she found a stray female at the county pound on one of her regular visitis to rescue cats from the kill shelters. Bob is older than Sassie but age is not the issue with these two cats: dominance is.
Within the first 6 weeks of these two coming home they were having major cat fights. On one occasion, Sassie gouged flesh out of of the front of Bob's head near his ear. This pretty much told Bob she was able to use her back claws very efficiently and he had better respect her space. I tried the squirt bottle and that did not deter them in their fighting. I used a broom to scoot Sassie out of the skirmish which made her angry at the broom and took her attention off of Bob. But the best method I ever found to break the two of them up has been a towel or blanket and throwing it over Sassie's head. It immobilizes her and gives Bob time to leave the area. Or it gives them both some cooling off and once one of them is out of sight of the other, their anger seems to be diffused.
I can't say the method would work with dogs, but I would not feel letting the animals duke it out with each other is healthy for either of them either. I let that happen the one time with Sassie rooking Bob. (Then again, I know as a human, getting involved in an animals' fight might not be healthy for me as they might turn their aggression on me.) And while it did kind of teach him a lesson, cat's don't retain lessons for long unless the lesson is reinforced. Maybe that's the part of the lesson that has stuck with Bob, which is that Sassie is not a wuss and will take care of herself when backed into a corner.
Since Bob has come home from his surgery, Sassie now is in the regular business of stalking Bob and they have extensive yowling discussions. Bob snorts and yowls while Sassie hisses and her tail bushes out. This noise goes on until my husband or I put a blanket between the two like a wall. The noise stops and they go off to their respective destinations. In the past, both cats had free roam of the house at night, but since Bob is home, the minute either of them stir, they are both snorting and yowling so Sassie now is put in the kitchen at night and Bob has the house. During the day, they are less interested in each other and both can go wherever they want and they don't bug each other. Until Sassie can corner Bob at the base of the basement stairs after he's been to visit the litter box. She waits like a hunter hoping to attack her quarry. He's gotten a lot more timid about wanting to fight or be fought since his surgery has left him somewhat altered. Unfortunately, cats know when something is different and another cat is compromised. Some ignore the change, but Sassie is repulsed by "sick" things. She was unrelenting in her pursuit of Bubba, who died last March from lymphoma. She could smell his sickness and hated him.
Gadzooks! With as complicated as the personalities of just my two cats, I can't fathom what it's like to have 30! Regards, pat Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: J. & S. Hardin To: John Hawkins ; Jan Cc: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 11:32 PM Subject: Dogs Fighting
Sometimes a spray bottle of water or a running water hose will help, if they are convenient. I have stopped cat fights and dog fights that way. I don't mean use hot water. I just use room temp or whatever is in the hose:) Of course it may not always work, but both cats & dogs don't like getting sprayed:) Best wishes, Sherrie:) -----Original Message----- From: John Hawkins [mailto:jhawkins1320@charter.net] Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 12:48 PM To: Jan Cc: candichat@dolls.de Subject: Re: Pets, Anyone?
I guess this would work but it's kind of like throwing a child in a creek & telling them to swim..and set there watching them struggle. If the attacking animal is much bigger then the other animal , I'd think it might shake the one to death when it grabs it by the neck. However, I've always been told, even by the animal lovers in the various animal societies..to never step in between fighting dogs. I once grabbed my cat who was about to attack another cat & ended up in the ER from all the bites & scratches. I should have thrown a blanket over her 1st. On Wednesday, January 28, 2004, at 04:53 PM, Jan wrote:
The dogs had there first big fight today. I had given them each a treat. Bailey ate her's, and went after Sheba's. Well, Sheba attacked her. Grabbed her by the neck and started to beat the crap out of her. Thank goodness hubby was home. He told me to leave them alone as Bailey had to learn that Sheba was the boss. So, I just stood there and cried. Bailey was so scared and has been following me around the house ever since. I've never had 2 dogs at a time, so I don't know how to handle this.
Well, I got some 16" dolls and outfits today, so that made me feel better. LOL!!
Jan ********************
leanne collectimaniac@earthlink.net wrote:
I know what you mean. Crackers was no problem and Milo was great after 1 week or so but Rascal's been a real challenge, lemme tell ya. He's almost perfect now though so hang in there and Bailey will get it too. Good luck, Jan!
Leanne "Barbie Brat" :-) ;-) "The only way to have a friend is to be one."
----- Original Message ----- From: Jan To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 5:27 PM Subject: Re: Pets, Anyone?
I'm having a terrible time training Bailey. Just went upstairs and she had pooped in the family room. We usually have it closed off so she can't get up there. Somehow we forgot to put the gate back up. Good thing I love this little dog. Jan ***********************
Before being down to the 2 cats & 2 dogs...we had 4 dogs, all old. My husband laughed that we had a nursing home for old dogs. 2 died last year . our 16 yr. old Rat Terrior , Trixie, of cancer & a n elderly stray Cockapoo, Snowball, who had congestive heart failure ( you know that a cockapoo is part Cocker Spaniel/poodle...my husband thought I was taking in a bird when he 1st hear this word) Pat Hawkins
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