- Joined
- Feb 19, 2016
- Messages
- 10
- Purraise
- 7
Hey,
I'm a bit shaken up as I write this but I would really love some advice as to what to do in this situation. First, I need to go over the history of my spayed, almost two year old kitty, named Missy. Missy is a Black cat mixed with a tortoiseshell cat. She is very beautiful. She can be the sweetest cuddler and she always follows me around the house when I'm home. I talk to her, I give her treats and play with her. And this week she cuddled with me when I was struggling through strep throat. She takes care of me and I take care of her thats just how its always been.
Missy has moved with me through three homes (in her whole life time) and in each one she adapted to the new roommates and the dogs.
I am currently in a apartment with my boyfriend, his brother and his girlfriend (and their baby who the cat ALWAYS loves and cuddles with) and the last roommate is in his 30's and he has a a daughter between the ages of 6-8 who comes over when she's not at her moms. As I am a babysitter, I knew off the bat she'd want to meet the cat...
but they don't seem to get along ever well... And now its causing problems.
My cat never swipes, bites or even growls at anyone unless she's sick or is feeling uncomfortable, and with me around there is a even less of a chance of her becoming in anyway aggressive. She's not always the most social, so she and I have an understanding that she will usually initiate the attention with a slow blink or her coming to me on her own (but like i said she follows me all over the apartment so she usually wants some sort of attention or to be near me)
The daughter of me roommate doesn't understand this. She constantly chases the cat around while she calls her name and isn't quiet about it either.
an example is a game i call peek-a-boo which we all know where you hide and peek your face around a corner and they jump scare you. Missy does this with me but is always happy and gentle. When the child does it, Missy is just playing along as she would with me but when she jumps out, the girl screams and chases her. Missy will get scared, poof up and run into my room. Which the girl understands is off limits to her, Missy needs her room of peace so the girl stays out.
But she has many games that end in chasing and loud noises. She is scaring my cat more than trying to get her attention and she knows this. I've had this talk with her many times and she understands BUT she gets frustrated the cat doesn't just "Click" and change her mind into loving her. So the daughter when i'm not looking (or when she thinks i'm not) chases her, and she makes as much noise as possible to upset Missy. I told her dad (my roommate) and he says thats not his problem or, i don't see her playing mean with the cat. I tell him its fine if she did this with a dog, but cats don't play like that. just ask her to stop. He says i will. then He does nothing...
So, this week was winter break for my roommate's daughter. Meaning she was at the apartment all week. Missy loves wandering the living room and roaming freely in the apartment but she's cooped up in our room because my daughters roommate is too loud for her. I ask her to quite down and she does for the matter of two minutes then goes right at it again. So, at some point while I was out this week (either sleeping or actually out and about at school), the daughter annoyed Missy enough to make her hiss and take a swipe at her. Her claws are always trimmed and so there was no mark left on the daughter, but my roommate was with her and he hit my cat. I mean he slapped her hard enough to get her to start showing aggression to me and almost everyone she is usually sweet to. I know she's scared and doesn't know who to trust right now, i give her treats and her space. She has finally gotten to the point of cuddling with me on my feet but she immediatly runs when she sees me reach to pet her or she growls when i do. I don't like seeing her unhappy.
What do I do to comfort her? she still plays and everything but she doesn't want anyone to touch her. I just want my Missy to be happy. And this situation is not good.
Tomorrow I'm having a very long chat with my roommate. But i just need help with Missy.
I'm a bit shaken up as I write this but I would really love some advice as to what to do in this situation. First, I need to go over the history of my spayed, almost two year old kitty, named Missy. Missy is a Black cat mixed with a tortoiseshell cat. She is very beautiful. She can be the sweetest cuddler and she always follows me around the house when I'm home. I talk to her, I give her treats and play with her. And this week she cuddled with me when I was struggling through strep throat. She takes care of me and I take care of her thats just how its always been.
Missy has moved with me through three homes (in her whole life time) and in each one she adapted to the new roommates and the dogs.
I am currently in a apartment with my boyfriend, his brother and his girlfriend (and their baby who the cat ALWAYS loves and cuddles with) and the last roommate is in his 30's and he has a a daughter between the ages of 6-8 who comes over when she's not at her moms. As I am a babysitter, I knew off the bat she'd want to meet the cat...
but they don't seem to get along ever well... And now its causing problems.
My cat never swipes, bites or even growls at anyone unless she's sick or is feeling uncomfortable, and with me around there is a even less of a chance of her becoming in anyway aggressive. She's not always the most social, so she and I have an understanding that she will usually initiate the attention with a slow blink or her coming to me on her own (but like i said she follows me all over the apartment so she usually wants some sort of attention or to be near me)
The daughter of me roommate doesn't understand this. She constantly chases the cat around while she calls her name and isn't quiet about it either.
an example is a game i call peek-a-boo which we all know where you hide and peek your face around a corner and they jump scare you. Missy does this with me but is always happy and gentle. When the child does it, Missy is just playing along as she would with me but when she jumps out, the girl screams and chases her. Missy will get scared, poof up and run into my room. Which the girl understands is off limits to her, Missy needs her room of peace so the girl stays out.
But she has many games that end in chasing and loud noises. She is scaring my cat more than trying to get her attention and she knows this. I've had this talk with her many times and she understands BUT she gets frustrated the cat doesn't just "Click" and change her mind into loving her. So the daughter when i'm not looking (or when she thinks i'm not) chases her, and she makes as much noise as possible to upset Missy. I told her dad (my roommate) and he says thats not his problem or, i don't see her playing mean with the cat. I tell him its fine if she did this with a dog, but cats don't play like that. just ask her to stop. He says i will. then He does nothing...
So, this week was winter break for my roommate's daughter. Meaning she was at the apartment all week. Missy loves wandering the living room and roaming freely in the apartment but she's cooped up in our room because my daughters roommate is too loud for her. I ask her to quite down and she does for the matter of two minutes then goes right at it again. So, at some point while I was out this week (either sleeping or actually out and about at school), the daughter annoyed Missy enough to make her hiss and take a swipe at her. Her claws are always trimmed and so there was no mark left on the daughter, but my roommate was with her and he hit my cat. I mean he slapped her hard enough to get her to start showing aggression to me and almost everyone she is usually sweet to. I know she's scared and doesn't know who to trust right now, i give her treats and her space. She has finally gotten to the point of cuddling with me on my feet but she immediatly runs when she sees me reach to pet her or she growls when i do. I don't like seeing her unhappy.
What do I do to comfort her? she still plays and everything but she doesn't want anyone to touch her. I just want my Missy to be happy. And this situation is not good.
Tomorrow I'm having a very long chat with my roommate. But i just need help with Missy.