First off, I see a behavior forum, but I saw that many people where viewing here...so I hope that is okay. This is my first post.
Of course I've seeked out a forum such as this because we're having some serious cat trouble and it's breaking my heart
Some background - Feel free to skip if my post gets too long
- We have three cats. Willow, a domestic short hair joined us in 2001, the baby of the house, so much fun. Then in 2003 we were finally in a bigger place and decided Willow needed a buddy. I grew up with Bengal cats so we really wanted one, so we brought home Wesley. Then last year we ended up with a mixed bengal, Gunther, born in 1998...which was at one point my cat, when I went away to college, my mom took him, then refused to give him back and long story short, I finally got him back...do to an unfortunate situation actually. So now we have 3 cats...in a 2 bedroom, 1300sq ft apt. Fun!
We really thought Willow and Wesley would hit it off when he joined us. At first it was fine, then as he got larger, he started to play very hard with her...we knew he was playing, she would get mad, and he has a good 5lbs on her...he's a really big cat. So she started hiding more, would only come to me...hate's my husband. Then when Gunther joined us it got worse. Gunther and Wesley completely hit it off, great little buddies and they beat the heck out of Willow. She hisses if they walk by her...would attack Gunther when he tried to eat for the first couple months...she hides and recently she has taken to urinating behind our couch...I managed to catch her in the act today. I don't know what to do. I've tried seperating, distraction, but it's getting us no where. Wesley and Gunther are both reallly loveable cats to my husband and I...but they are far too rough with Willow and I hate to see her suffer....but I'm torn on finding her a new home, I keep thinking all the distraction, seperation will get us somewhere, but it seems that things are only geting worse, even with all the consistency, husband and I are both home with them all day working....
My husband has turned to buying wild anti depressent spray for the cats...seeing the vet says Willow is stressed, that we're doing what we should be, etc... she goes back again tomorrow morning. I'm at such a loss, I hate to see her get beat up by the others...she gets scratches, etc. from the "playing" it's just a game to the other cats and they work together to corner her and chase her...if she enjoyed it, it would truly be hilarious...but she doesn't...
When does the time come that I should suck it up and find her a new home...will she be happier elsewhere...will it make things worse for her... I hate to remove Wesley or Gunther because I really don't believe they mean any harm...there is never yelling, hissing, growling, fluffly tails on their part...am I way off base here...should I have gotten rid of someone a long time ago? I really really appreciate your help on this.
Of course I've seeked out a forum such as this because we're having some serious cat trouble and it's breaking my heart
Some background - Feel free to skip if my post gets too long
We really thought Willow and Wesley would hit it off when he joined us. At first it was fine, then as he got larger, he started to play very hard with her...we knew he was playing, she would get mad, and he has a good 5lbs on her...he's a really big cat. So she started hiding more, would only come to me...hate's my husband. Then when Gunther joined us it got worse. Gunther and Wesley completely hit it off, great little buddies and they beat the heck out of Willow. She hisses if they walk by her...would attack Gunther when he tried to eat for the first couple months...she hides and recently she has taken to urinating behind our couch...I managed to catch her in the act today. I don't know what to do. I've tried seperating, distraction, but it's getting us no where. Wesley and Gunther are both reallly loveable cats to my husband and I...but they are far too rough with Willow and I hate to see her suffer....but I'm torn on finding her a new home, I keep thinking all the distraction, seperation will get us somewhere, but it seems that things are only geting worse, even with all the consistency, husband and I are both home with them all day working....
My husband has turned to buying wild anti depressent spray for the cats...seeing the vet says Willow is stressed, that we're doing what we should be, etc... she goes back again tomorrow morning. I'm at such a loss, I hate to see her get beat up by the others...she gets scratches, etc. from the "playing" it's just a game to the other cats and they work together to corner her and chase her...if she enjoyed it, it would truly be hilarious...but she doesn't...
When does the time come that I should suck it up and find her a new home...will she be happier elsewhere...will it make things worse for her... I hate to remove Wesley or Gunther because I really don't believe they mean any harm...there is never yelling, hissing, growling, fluffly tails on their part...am I way off base here...should I have gotten rid of someone a long time ago? I really really appreciate your help on this.
