Just wondering, because I'm tempted to try and keep my older cat "king of the heap".
He's soooo laid back.
Today I put them together to eat breakfast - this was the very first time I did this. KiKi allowed one of the kittens (Phoebe) to eat from the same dish as his -- (she left her food plate for his food plate) -- he even backed off and just watched her!
Previous to this event, I had to put KiKi back at his food plate because he was more interested in investigating the place the kittens are staying (the "nursery") than eating.
Maybe KiKi was so delighted to be with them he was more interested in them than he was with eating or telling the little girl, "NO, that was HIS food" ?
They haven't had very much "together" time because I've been letting the kittens grow before I let them begin to establish who's the king, or queen.
I don't want them to take advantage of KiKi, my lover guy - they might have stronger tendencies to be the "Top Cat" because they haven't been altered yet?
So, the Q's:
1. Can you influence the choice of who the "Top Cat" is?
2. Should you even try to influence the choice?
3. If you should NOT try, then, what might be the possible ramifications if you DO try to influence the "natural order" of things?
4. Will altering (neuter/spay) influence the "selection process" of who the "Top Cat" is?
(The kittens are going to the vet on Monday (7/24) - to get their second set of shots - and, I'll be scheduling their surgery, hopefully the vet will be able to do it on the 28th (7/28/06), they'll be 4 months.
I very interested in your comments.
Thanks,
Gloria
He's soooo laid back.
Today I put them together to eat breakfast - this was the very first time I did this. KiKi allowed one of the kittens (Phoebe) to eat from the same dish as his -- (she left her food plate for his food plate) -- he even backed off and just watched her!
Previous to this event, I had to put KiKi back at his food plate because he was more interested in investigating the place the kittens are staying (the "nursery") than eating.
Maybe KiKi was so delighted to be with them he was more interested in them than he was with eating or telling the little girl, "NO, that was HIS food" ?
They haven't had very much "together" time because I've been letting the kittens grow before I let them begin to establish who's the king, or queen.
I don't want them to take advantage of KiKi, my lover guy - they might have stronger tendencies to be the "Top Cat" because they haven't been altered yet?
So, the Q's:
1. Can you influence the choice of who the "Top Cat" is?
2. Should you even try to influence the choice?
3. If you should NOT try, then, what might be the possible ramifications if you DO try to influence the "natural order" of things?
4. Will altering (neuter/spay) influence the "selection process" of who the "Top Cat" is?
(The kittens are going to the vet on Monday (7/24) - to get their second set of shots - and, I'll be scheduling their surgery, hopefully the vet will be able to do it on the 28th (7/28/06), they'll be 4 months.
I very interested in your comments.
Thanks,
Gloria