Kitten Not Sharing/maybe Bullying Other Cat

[Lfeather30]

I have two ragdoll cats. The first one I got when she was 13 weeks old and she came into the house first, she is now 1 yr and 3 months. Two months later the kitten's mother came to live with us, she is 5 years old. From the start the kitten has wanted to run the show. She bullys the mother where she can lay, what she can play with, etc. But, at other times they lay together, they eat side by side on different plates, the sit and look out the door together. I got 2 new toys yesterday and the kitten wants them both and doesn't want to share with the mother. The mother starts to play and then the kitten will come up, jump or her or bite her, to get her to move away. Is this behavior normal or is this something that the kitten should be given some medication from the vet to help her cope?

 

[Lfeather30]

I forgot to mention that they have been together now for 9 months.

 

[ArtNJ]

One year old cats are EXTREMELY active compared to a five year old cat on the docile side. It is pretty normal for the older more docile cat to tolerate active play until the youngster gets a certain size, and then it becomes intimidating for the older cat. This sort of changes the dynamic. Without hearing the sounds they make, it is hard to say for sure, but it is likely that your younger cat is wanting to play, but the older cat doesn't want any of it. However, this situation can sometimes (not common) give rise to genuine problems -- years ago, I had a now passed older cat get bitten (twice!) by the youngster who just wanted to play, but got outraged when the older cat would hiss and swipe. Scratches are far more common than bites and generally not serious, and many times they will work it out eventually without serious complications, but there can sometimes be a lot of stress, along with stress-related problems. So its likely that you misinterpreted somewhat, but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem. The most basic likely partial remedy, is to make a concerted effort to exhaust the youngster by playing with it with toys cats like. For more details and more solutions (including making a "safe area" for the older cat), watch "My Cat from Hell" which is still aired on TLC I believe, and probably available on demand, netflix and sources like that.

 

[Katyosha]

my cat who is the same age as my sister's will be upset if i used her toy to play with the other one. it will simply sit on the side or give me that short i object mumble and walk away.. i noticed she does it as well when i give the other cat a treat .. although i will put it in my two hands for the both of them. whats confusing is that they seem to get along together .. they do the nose to nose think and sniff and maybe lick each other.. i was surprised to notice that my cat was fighting severly with the other one where she gave her a scratch on the eyes and made her limp. still not sure what happened .. my cat is pregnant.. could it be a mood swing? and still the injured cat will want to come and mingle with my cat .. but she banned after the incident from her human.. my cat is kept locked away from the other in case they fight again.. personally i dong like doing so as i believe they have their way in sorting their conflicts the cats way.

 

[Lfeather30]

It's just not the non-sharing of toys or the aggressive playing. The younger one actually jumps on the mother and most times knocks her down and pulls fur out. Then other times when the mother might be just lounging in a certain spot or on a certain level of the cat tree and the young one decides that "she" wants that spot she actually bites the mother, who of course moves before the fur pulling starts. Now this doesn't happen all day long and sometimes not even everyday, but the last two days she has been aggressive toward her mother. Sometimes she gets the mother on her back and holds her down and just starts pulling her fur out. I have actually plucked her off before and put her in "time out" in her playpen, because the mother is so big she is unable to twist away from the strong kitten. The mother weighs about 13 pounds and the kitten weighs almost 12 pounds. I am wondering if the mother just isn't as aggressive back to the kitten since she was a breeding cat. I have spoken to the breeder, but no one seems to have an answer for me. I watch all episodes of My Cat From Hell, but all of the ideas expressed have no effect on the younger one. I have even put her on a herbal "Calming Care" that was developed by holistic veterinarians. She is being aggressive enough to warrant medication, or am I just expecting too much from her for her age? I keep reminding myself that she is a ragdoll and I know they mature at a later age. Thanks.

 

[Katyosha]

its the breed maybe and the personality of the mother. see i do feed a family of street cats.. the mother still beats her children up and she is aggressive like i am the boss here although she is not less than 6 years old. plus teenage cats can be crazy and mean. we have a small feral who is about 6 months old the hesses at my cat whenever she comes close to her and guess what.. whenever my other family members are present she will meaw in away to give them the impression that she is terrified of my 1 year old cat cats are dominant and i believe your kitten plus our feral will try to push the other cats from the way to dominate. the third cat i mentioned before is the oldest in my house .. she is one year old as well but we had her before.. the feral used to get beaten by her like crazy but she seems to be ok with her.. maybe because she is fixed? mine is not and is pregnant.. this can be a code that it will dominate the house and i should play tricks to get rid of her

 

[Katyosha]

ps: the feral is schedualed to be fixed soon so i will see if the behaviour will change as she had all the family members believe that my cat is a bully and she is nothing but cowered .

 

[talkingpeanut]

Sorry, I am having trouble following.

Which cat is pregnant? Is the feral inside too?

Which of the cats are fixed already?

 

[Katyosha]

sorry have to be clear..
first cat is half british half persian is the fixed one it is one year old and we had her first .. then we adopted the feral as a little kitten and its about 6 months old now.. my pregnant cat i adopted about two months ago and she is half british half angora i guess. the feral is to be fixed before it goes into heat

 

[talkingpeanut]

Does the feral stay inside all the time? If no, she can already get pregnant. Silent heats are possible.

You adopted the older cat while pregnant? Is this her first litter?

 

[Katyosha]

They all stay indoors and never leave the house.. my cat was in heat the time i got her and i took her to my sister's .. she lives in a different house and has two cats brother and sister that are half hamilayan and half british.. they are also my cat's age so i thought it will be nice to mate them and see the product

 

[Katyosha]

This will be my first cat litter and i am so excited to have the new kitrens and worried at the same time for any possible complications when she gives birth.. i try as much to stay home and keep an eye on her ..she is a special cat.. high level of stress and anexiety.. i think she might have had a measrable experiences with her previous owners.. she is super sweet and effectionest. she only likes me and will never go to anyone .. terrified all the time.. i try to calm her down as much as possible and insure her that she is safe with me.

 

[talkingpeanut]

Well, I hope your sister plans to spay and neuter her cats.

It's not healthy for cats to be reproducing freely.

I hope your girl is ok. It sounds like this is very stressful for her.

 

[Katyosha]

My sister cats are ALSO indoor ones they never step outside the house.. but to be honest i have something againest neutering cats. Doesn't feel right to me. Reproducing is a part of their nature and any living creature and doing so will deprive them from experiencing that esoecially female cate who are super loving mothers.at least most of them.. if i will do it i will have my cat live that motherhood experience and be normal.. no need to do it every heat cycle but not to permenantly prevent them from being what they are ..

 

[Katyosha]

To be honest and i might be mistaken.. i noticed the fixed cat we had.. she kind of changed personality after she was neutered. As if she is angry and depressed.. she is very effectionest with my pregnent cat though.. and enjoys her company .. she will even hide under my bed from her owner so she stays with her.. before being fixed i can tell how attached she was with her owner but not she will be upset very often and refuse my sister's company as is she us blaming her.. maybe i am dilusional but this is what i see.. cats are super smart and certin things they will not forget.

 

[talkingpeanut]

You may find this article to be helpful:
Why You Should Spay And Neuter Your Cats

Personality changes are not common after a spay or neuter, except that the cats will no longer be driven by hormones.

It sounds like your cat was abused before you rescued her, and would surely be more at peace without the stress of litters and being taken places to mate.

Cats are smart, but they have no desire to be parents or to think ahead about parenthood. It is all instinct. We can help our pets to live happier, healthier lives. They're not wild anymore. Wild cats don't usually live enough to reproduce for their whole life, but can have 3 litters a year.

 

[Katyosha]

Well ..thats why i am here with her to support her.. will see how she copes with it..so far she is more mentally stable than before.. i cab see how calm and content she is now. The amount of shedding has decreased great time.. i feel it in my guts that it will be the super mom .. and i guess i will be the grand mother i had two cats before who had different litters.. its really sweet and nice to have kittens at home.. makes it more alive .. and hopefully the breed will be special and well taken care of

 

[talkingpeanut]

You can always foster a mom in need who is pregnant, or who needs a home.

I hope you will reconsider in the future.

 

[Katyosha]

Yes indeed. Been doing so for past few years.. i have more than four generations that reside my neighbourhood.. the big mama and her fully grown litter plus thier kids.. etc.. i have a full board of receptionests when i reach home .. haha

 

[talkingpeanut]

Yes indeed. Been doing so for past few years.. i have more than four generations that reside my neighbourhood.. the big mama and her fully grown litter plus thier kids.. etc.. i have a full board of receptionests when i reach home .. haha

Do you help to spay / neuter these cats?