I have a household of 2 dogs and five cats (all neutered/spayed.) I have one 3-year old cat who is lovely and sweet except...
Maggie has developed the worst case of fear aggression towards the other animals. Her fears are so bad she has resigned herself to live in a tree in the woods on the outskirts of my field. When I do see/find her, she is thrilled to see me. She will let me pick her up and even carry her through the field. Within view of the house however, she becomes crazy! Once inside the house, she lives under my bed in a constant state of fear. I have to keep a litter box in my bathtub for her.
I know that her problems were in part caused by my adding 2 dogs and 2 cats to the household through rescue/adoption. However, the two cats (one a litter mate) she was raised with and were once beloved to her are now her considered enemies. The animal gang is so intrigued by her appearance in the household they can not leave her alone. They intend no harm towards her but they frighten her beyond belief. The rest of my pets love each other and get along great. There is lots of running, jumping, chasing, cooing, grooming and general fun going on. Dogs groom cats, cats sleep with dogs...it's a wonderfully blended menagerie that continues to amaze even our vet.
Maggie hisses and growls at anything that moves. When she comes out of the bedroom to the kitchen she immediately jumps on the counter where she is fed. She is so fearful of the other cats that she will not leave the counter without human intervention. There are times I awoke in the morning to find she "soiled" the counter top because she ventured out there then was too afraid to get down.
She is loving and sweet with us humans. We would very much like to keep her, but are considering adopting her out to a one-pet household or placing her in a no-kill shelter. I can not in good conscience allow Maggie to continue to live outdoors at her whim. We are so flustered and dismayed at how this wonderful cat is so frightened that she chooses to deprive her self of a warm home and regular feeding.
I do not know what else to do thus I consider this post a last ditch effort. Our vets can offer no insights into correcting this behavior. I fear she is too far gone to help, but do not wish to give up on her.
I need serious advice. How do I help her overcome her fear of my busy animal household?
Maggie has developed the worst case of fear aggression towards the other animals. Her fears are so bad she has resigned herself to live in a tree in the woods on the outskirts of my field. When I do see/find her, she is thrilled to see me. She will let me pick her up and even carry her through the field. Within view of the house however, she becomes crazy! Once inside the house, she lives under my bed in a constant state of fear. I have to keep a litter box in my bathtub for her.
I know that her problems were in part caused by my adding 2 dogs and 2 cats to the household through rescue/adoption. However, the two cats (one a litter mate) she was raised with and were once beloved to her are now her considered enemies. The animal gang is so intrigued by her appearance in the household they can not leave her alone. They intend no harm towards her but they frighten her beyond belief. The rest of my pets love each other and get along great. There is lots of running, jumping, chasing, cooing, grooming and general fun going on. Dogs groom cats, cats sleep with dogs...it's a wonderfully blended menagerie that continues to amaze even our vet.
Maggie hisses and growls at anything that moves. When she comes out of the bedroom to the kitchen she immediately jumps on the counter where she is fed. She is so fearful of the other cats that she will not leave the counter without human intervention. There are times I awoke in the morning to find she "soiled" the counter top because she ventured out there then was too afraid to get down.
She is loving and sweet with us humans. We would very much like to keep her, but are considering adopting her out to a one-pet household or placing her in a no-kill shelter. I can not in good conscience allow Maggie to continue to live outdoors at her whim. We are so flustered and dismayed at how this wonderful cat is so frightened that she chooses to deprive her self of a warm home and regular feeding.
I do not know what else to do thus I consider this post a last ditch effort. Our vets can offer no insights into correcting this behavior. I fear she is too far gone to help, but do not wish to give up on her.
I need serious advice. How do I help her overcome her fear of my busy animal household?