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 -----
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:)
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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